Spinone Italiano vs Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

A Spinone Italiano
Photo: Timberdoodle Kennels, Ron & Pat Rosinski (User:Rrosinski)
A Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Photo: Liv klesta

Side by side

Spinone Italiano
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Adult weight
Males 32–37 kg (71–82 lb); females 28–30 kg (62–66 lb)1
Males 23–32 kg (50–70 lb); females 16–23 kg (35–50 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 60–70 cm; females 58–65 cm1
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 11.9 years3
No sourced figure
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes4
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Pointing dogs1
Pointing dogs5
Coat
Wire or harsh coat1
Wire or harsh coat5
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
Plenty
Health
Inward-rolling eyelid (far more likely); Outward-drooping eyelid (far more likely)6
No sourced figure
Class
Field
Field

Which suits you

Size
The Spinone Italiano is larger on average: about 32 kg (70 lb) as an adult, against 23 kg (51 lb) for the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
Temperament
They differ most on intelligence (Spinone Italiano: easy-going, simple routines; Wirehaired Pointing Griffon: needs daily brain work) and on affection (Spinone Italiano: a lap or leaning dog; Wirehaired Pointing Griffon: affectionate on its own terms).
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Spinone Italiano
Pointing dogs · Large

In temperament the Spinone is sociable, patient and affectionate, and generally easy-going with people and other dogs.

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Pointing dogs · Medium

Griffons are generally affectionate, keen to please and responsive to training, and they form close bonds with their households.

The Spinone Italiano page →The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Spinone Italiano
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Easy-going, simple routines
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Suits a first-time owner
Needs steady training
With people
Spinone Italiano
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Affection
Differs
A lap or leaning dog
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Spinone Italiano
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Differs
Quiet
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Spinone Italiano grows to the heavier adult, about 33 kg against the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon's 24 kg.
Spinone Italiano
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
0102030402m4m6m9m12m18m
0102030402m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Spinone Italiano with
German Shorthaired Pointer vs Wirehaired Pointing GriffonOtterhound vs Spinone ItalianoAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·