Moscow Water Dog vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison

Moscow Water Dog is originated from Russia but German Wirehaired Pointer is originated from Germany. Moscow Water Dog may grow 8 cm / 4 inches higher than German Wirehaired Pointer. Moscow Water Dog may weigh 23 kg / 51 pounds more than German Wirehaired Pointer. Both Moscow Water Dog and German Wirehaired Pointer has almost same life span. Both Moscow Water Dog and German Wirehaired Pointer has almost same litter size. Both Moscow Water Dog and German Wirehaired Pointer requires Moderate maintenance.

History

The Moscow Water Dog was developed in the Soviet Union around the same time as other classic Soviet dogs. The Moscow Watchdog and the Black Russian Terrier are a couple of these other dogs. The Water Dog came from crossing the Caucasian Oytcharka with the Newfoundland. The breed is known by many names including the Vodolaz which means “diver of deep Water”. The Moscow Water Dog was only bred in the Russian state’s Red Star Kennels as working dogs for the military.

Following the second World War, most of the working dogs had been destroyed during the war. Not enough dogs could be imported to begin a breeding program for any working breed. So, the Soviet Red Star Kennels began to create several working breeds. Included in this group with the Moscow Water Dog, were the Moscow Newfoundland, the Moscow Great Dane, the Black Russian Terrier, and the Brudasty Hound.

The only really successful breed coming from this program is the Russian Black Terrier. All the rest are either extinct or found only in Russia today. The Moscow Water Dog was supposed to be a life saver/water rescue dog, but the dogs they developed were too aggressive, and the program was scrapped. It seemed that the cross had bred a dog that had too much of the working water dog traits and not enough of the rescue dog traits. The military breeders tried to pass the dogs off as a Russian Newfoundland and sell it to the non-military.

These non-military owners of the few “Russian Newfoundland”, did not try to change the dogs through breeding. Instead over time they bred the Russian Newfoundland with pure bred Newfoundlands almost eliminating the “Russian” portion of the breed. By the early 1980’s the stock had been so diluted with the pure Newfoundland that the Russian Newfoundland was basically extinct.

The Red Army kennel had other breeds with some of the genes of this breed in their lines. This included the Brudasty Hound, the Moscow Great Dane, the Caucasian Oycharka, the Moscow Watchdog and the Russian Black Terrier. The Russian Navy was unhappy with the situation and never again let the army developed the Navy’s waterdog.

german wirehaired pointer - historyMedium to large sized, the German Wirehaired Pointer is a griffon type dog breed hailing from Germany and developed for hunting purposes in the 19th century.

Known as the Drahthaar in Germany, the dog is a mix of griffon, Deutscher Stichelhaar, German Shorthaired Pointer, Deutscher Kurzhaar as well as the Pudelpointer.

He was imported into the United States in the 1920s, and it was in 1953 that the German Drahthaar Club of America was formed.

Description

The Moscow Water Dog was intelligent, vigilant, an excellent swimmer, and great in artic waters. However, he was too aggressive and instead of saving the swimmer, they would attack them. The Moscow Water Dog is a tall, balanced and powerful dog. They have a wide muzzle and a square head like the Newfoundland. Their eyes are dark and small while the ears are triangular. The nose and lips are black. He has webbed feet of course and a hanging tail.

The coat on the Moscow Water Dog was of course waterproof and double. The top coat is very dense, straight and soft. It is usually a dark brown with some black and white.

german wirehaired pointer puppy - descriptionWell muscled, this is a medium to large sized dog standing at between 57 and 68cm in height and weighing between 27 and 32kg.

He has a weather resistant wiry coat which is of medium length and which is wiry and harsh. Coat color is liver and white as well as black flecked.The undercoat provides insulation against the cold.

He has quite a bit of facial hair in terms of eyebrows, beard and whiskers.He has webbed feet, typical of German Pointers. His tail is docked to about two-fifths of its natural length, but these days it is often left long.

Temperament:

Lively, playful, affectionate and intelligent, the German Wirehaired Pointer is easy to teach. He becomes wonderfully obedient with training and socialization and responds well to instructions to sit, come and stay.

He is an active dog and likes to be involved in the activities that his human family are involved in. He becomes bored and frustrated when he doesn’t get the exercise and attention he craves.

He isn’t suited to life in the city where the premises are small as he needs plenty of vigorous exercise every day. They do well in the country where they have plenty of place to run and where their hunting skills come into action.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

yes

Special talents

Swimming and stamina

Adaptability

Yes but needed some land. Better in countryside.

Learning ability

This is an intelligent dog, but he could not be trained out of his aggressiveness.

german wirehaired pointer dog - characteristicsGerman Wirehaired Pointers make awesome pets as they’re lively, playful, social and loving. They particularly suit living in a home where the people are active, outdoor types.

They make superb jogging- or cycling companions and will thrive on sharing these activities with a family member. He is a dog who has a need to be loved and included in all that his family gets up to. He wants lots of pats and stroking to show him that you care.

Give him the love and care he craves and you’re guaranteed to have the most wonderful loving pet.

Health Problems

Because the breed was around for such a short period there is not a lot of documentation or information regarding genetic or propensity health issues. There are however a few issues that just his heritage and Newfoundland blood would lend itself to.

  • Tendency toward obesity. Do not free feed.
  • Hip and elbow dysplasia – could lead to arthritis.
  • Bloat or gastric torsion – could be fatal.
  • Cardiovascular issues.
  • Addison’s Disease
  • Hypothyroidism

german wirehaired pointer puppies - health problemsGerman Wirehairs are generally healthy, and when you look after them well they can reach 12, 13 or 14 years of age. Also, if both German Wirehaired Pointer parents have certificates proving they were tested and cleared of hip dysplasia, hereditary eye diseases and blood-clotting disease, then your pet will have less risk of developing these conditions.

Your pet isn’t likely to get sick, but like all breeds of dogs, they're prone to certain diseases and conditions. Hip Dysplasia is something that can be noticed when your pet is still a puppy.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a heritable condition where the thigh bone doesn't fit properly into the hip joint. Your dog can battle with pain so that he no longer wants to play, he battles to get up after lying down and he may even begin to show signs of lameness. Arthritis can develop too.

Cataracts:

You’ll notice cloudiness on the eye lens that can grow over time. Not all cataracts impair vision, although there are some instances where vision loss is experienced. Cataracts can sometimes be surgically removed with good results.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

Required high quality food made specifically for large or giant puppies. Feed 3-4 times a day a total of 21/2 -3 cups.

Feeding the adult

Required high quality food made for large or giant dog breeds. Feed twice a day a total of 2 cups.

Games and Exercises

The Moscow Water Dog did not need a high level of exercise, but they did have a lot of stamina. They loved to swim. Not overly active – more of a couch potato.

german wirehaired pointer dogs - caringYour German Wirehaired Pointer isn’t a heavy shedder so brushing his coat twice a week will be ideal for him to rid the coat of loose hairs.

Diet:

Your German Wirehaired Pointer is an active dog and this has to be taken into account when looking at diet. He will require a diet with quality protein. You’ve also got to look at things such as whether your dog is neutered or spayed as they require less calories. On the other hand there are dogs that will require more calories because of their activity levels.

Make sure your German Wirehaired Pointer eats a top quality dog food. Add in some homemade food such as cooked brown rice, chicken and vegetables from time to time as well as some raw meat. You have to constantly remember that your dog’s health depends on the nutrition you provide.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Sporting dog
Origin:
Russia
Germany
Height Male:
66 - 76 cm
25 - 30 inches
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
Height Female:
64 - 74 cm
25 - 30 inches
57 - 68 cm
22 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
45 - 55 kg
99 - 122 pounds
27 - 32 kg
59 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 12 Years
10 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 12
6 - 10
Size:
Giant dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Moscow River Dog, Московский Водолаз, Moscow Vodolaz, Moskovsky Vodolaz, • Russian Newfoundland,Moscow Diver, Vodolaz, Moscow Retriever,
Deutsch Drahthaar, Drahthaar
Colors Available:
dark brown to black, black
black flecked , Liver and white
Coat:
double coat
Straight, wiry, harsh
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Aggressive, Alert, Courageous, Intelligent
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pyrenean Mastiff vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  2. Spanish Mastiff vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  3. St. Bernard vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  4. Moscow Water Dog vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Moscow Water Dog vs Newfoundland Dog - Breed Comparison
  6. Moscow Water Dog vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  7. Moscow Water Dog vs Leonberger - Breed Comparison
  8. Moscow Water Dog vs Alaunt - Breed Comparison
  9. Moscow Water Dog vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  10. Moscow Water Dog vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  11. Moscow Water Dog vs Moscow Watchdog - Breed Comparison
  12. Moscow Water Dog vs Kars Dog - Breed Comparison
  13. Moscow Water Dog vs Ciobanesc de Bucovina - Breed Comparison
  14. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  15. Mountain Burmese vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  16. Nebolish Mastiff vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  17. Scottish Deerhound vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  18. Shiloh Shepherd vs Moscow Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  19. Moscow Water Dog vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  20. Moscow Water Dog vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  21. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  22. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Chesapeake Bay Retriever - Breed Comparison
  23. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Bull Arab - Breed Comparison
  24. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Eurohound - Breed Comparison
  25. Gordon Setter vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  26. Magyar Agar vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  27. Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Noir vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  28. Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Orange vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  29. Grand Anglo-Francais Tricolore vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  30. Tweed Water Spaniel vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  31. Samoyed vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  32. Labradoodle vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  33. Mixed vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  34. Great Pyrenees vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  35. Old English Sheepdog vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  36. Presa Canario vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  37. Labrador Husky vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Perro de Presa Canario vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  39. Irish Setter vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  40. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  41. Giant Schnauzer vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  42. Greyhound vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  43. Goldador vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  44. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  45. German Wirehaired Pointer vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds