Mudhol Hound vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison

Medium 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.

This seems to be the breed of many names. The Mudhol Hound comes from India and has been called the Caravan Hound, the Pashmi, the Karvanit, the Karwaani and the Pisuri Hound. Like so many other Indian breeds, the Mudhol Hound bears a strong look of the Greyhound. He is a sight hound and as such is lean and fast. He is ancient, healthy and loves his people.

The ancestors of the Mudhol include the hounds bred by the tribes of Bedar near Mudhol and Halagali. In Maharashtra the Maratha warriors were also breeding hounds which are included in the Mudhol Hound lineage. It is believed that there is Tazi and Saluki heritage in the Mudhol as well.

All of these Indian hounds were good at guarding, hunting and as companions. Then the King of Mudhol began to breed them specially for hunting and succeeded in developing a sleek, slender dog. The King of England at the time, George V, was so impressed he dubbed them the Hounds of Mudhol.

The Mudhol Hound hunts rabbits and other small animals with their incredible sight. No matter if the breed was on a postage stamp in 2005 and is a great family companion, it is first and foremost a working dog. He was specifically bred for the tough working conditions in the mountains of India. They are courageous, loyal and graceful. They are committed to their people but a little standoffish with anyone else and make good guard dogs.

They were used by the Indian Army as border protection and surveillance dogs. They use them for testing of their veterinary corps. They have been deployed by the Army in Kashmir and Jammu in 2017, just as they were centuries ago. They were effective at taking down soldiers and horses alike.

They were also chosen for breeding at the Canine Research and Information Centre, part of the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University in Bidar. With a very high prey drive they can get along with other dogs their size but cannot be trusted with smaller pets.

The Indian National Kennel Club lists them as the Mudhol Hound while the Kennel Club of India recognizes them as the Caravan Hound.

Well 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.

The Mudhol Hound is a good looking sight hound. Slender, sleek, muscular. They have narrow, long heads with a muzzle that tapers. They have long and powerful jaws with a large black nose. Their eyes are oval, large and brown with a look that pierces, and they have long, muscular, and clean shoulders. The legs are straight, long and strong with a broad, muscular, long back. Like most sight hounds when you seen them coming at you straight on, they have the appearance of being one dimensional.

There are two types of coat and many acceptable colors. The coat can be silky on the tail, legs and ears or it can be completely smooth from head to toe. The coat can be grey, black, cream, red, fallow, and fawn. It can also be one of these colors and a small amount of shite blended it.

German 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.

Children friendliness

Yes but they are much better with older children.

Special talents

Speed and stamina

Adaptability

They can adapt but they are better off in the country than an apartment.

Learning ability

They are very smart and learn easily.

German 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.

Like so many of the old breeds raised in a lot of isolation, the Mudhol is a very healthy breed. There are no genetic illnesses and they have a long line of dogs able to deal with the weather in India and avoid any sickness. However, they do have a few conditions they are prone to.

• Skin susceptible to burns and cold as the Mudhol does not have any fat layers.
• Marasmus – a liver condition in which the food eaten is not absorbed. The dog can eat a lot and not gain weight.
• Hip and Elbow Dysplasia – can cause arthritis or lameness.
• Eye Issues such as cataracts and luxation of the lens.
• Prone to ear infections.

Your 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.

Feeding the puppy

The Mudhol puppy needs a high quality dry food. They should eat three to four times a day in smaller portions. A total of 3 to 3.5 cups per day.

Feeding the adult

The adult Mudhol should eat about two and a half cups of high quality dry food twice a day. Do not overfeed the Mudhol and don’t let him run right after eating.

Points for Good Health

Outstanding speed and stamina

Games and Exercises

This is a high energy, active dog that needs a lot of space and exercise. She needs to be able to run freely as long as she wants at least a couple times a day. He has incredible endurance and a very high prey drive. They must be in a fenced area unless on a leash. They are great at lure coursing, fly ball and agility.