Stichelhaar (German Roughhaired Pointer)

The Stichelhaar is one of the rarest German continental pointing breeds, developed in the 19th century as an all-around gun dog able to work both on land and in water. The harsh, wiry coat protects against brambles and cold, and a build reaching 30 kilograms gives it the stamina for a long day's hunting. Once more widely kept, it is now among the rarest FCI-recognized breeds, sustained mainly by a small circle of enthusiasts in Germany. It is a genuine working dog that needs a job and regular exercise to stay content. Life expectancy runs 12 to 14 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Stichelhaar (German Roughhaired Pointer): how old in human years?

58–66 cmHeight
25–30 kgWeight
12–14 yrsLife expectancy

Pont-Audemer Spaniel

FCI group: Pointing Dogs
FCI section: Section 1.3: Continental Pointing Dogs, Type Griffon
FCI: 232
Country of origin: Germany

Energy level

4/5
Trainability

4/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

3/5

At a glance

Height

Males 60–66 cm

Females 58–63 cm

Weight

Males 25–30 kg

Females not specified

Life expectancy

12–14 yrs

Coat

harsh, wiry, dense (wire-haired)

Temperament & Family Life

Stichelhaar (German Roughhaired Pointer)'s average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 4/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 3/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 4/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Stichelhaar (German Roughhaired Pointer)'s energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 4/5
Exercise need 5/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 4/5
Hunting instinct 5/5

Guarding & Alertness

Stichelhaar (German Roughhaired Pointer)'s guarding and alertness traits are moderate.

Guarding instinct 2/5
Watchfulness 3/5
Barking level 3/5

Grooming & Care

Stichelhaar (German Roughhaired Pointer)'s grooming needs are low.

Shedding 2/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 3/5

Living with the Stichelhaar (German Roughhaired Pointer)

Bearded, with a serious look under bushy brows, it resembles an old forester, and it behaves rather like one: in the field it works thoroughly, calmly and without any fuss. The Stichelhaar (German Roughhaired Pointer) is a rare German all-round gundog, bred to search, point, track and retrieve on land and from water. It has energy to spare and needs a great deal of exercise: long off-lead runs every day, swimming, search work or real hunting.

It learns well and willingly, particularly when a task looks like work, but it expects consistency and a calm, steady owner. Its hunting instinct is very strong, so a reliable recall is the result of long work, and cats and small animals call for careful introductions. It usually gets along with other dogs, meets strangers with reserve and lets you know when someone arrives, though you couldn't call it a guard.

With its own family it is affectionate and gentle, good with children, and after a good day's work it is happy to settle at your feet. A flat is too cramped and a sedentary life too dull for it; it does best with a hunter or an active family who have a garden and time for fields, woods and water.

Grooming and coat

The Stichelhaar (German Roughhaired Pointer) wears a harsh, wiry, dense coat, rather like a brush the dog uses to scour the undergrowth. That coat guards well against thorny scrub, cold and water, but it doesn't look after itself: brush it through with a stiff brush once a week, and a few times a year pluck out the dead hair by hand (this is called hand-stripping) so the new coat comes in strong and harsh. Clippers don't suit it, because they soften the coat and take away its protective quality. It sheds little, mostly at the turn of the seasons.

The beard and eyebrows bring home part of the food bowl after dinner and part of the pond after a swim, so keep a towel by the door. After hunting or a walk in the fields, run your hands through the coat for ticks and seeds, check the paws and lift the ears: redness, discharge or a bad smell is a reason to see a vet. Trim the nails if they don't wear down on their own.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (30 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 355 g of dry food a day, from €19,42 a month For a neutered, normally active 27,5 kg dog. Calculate for your dog