Wirehaired Pointing Griffon — Newborn & Baby Care

The arrival of a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon litter is an exciting but critical time that demands close observation and a calm environment. Puppies are born blind, deaf, and entirely dependent on their mother for warmth and nourishment. In these initial hours, your primary role is to ensure that each puppy has been cleaned by the dam, that breathing is unobstructed, and that the umbilical cord has been properly severed and is not bleeding.

Within the first hour, every puppy should find a nipple and begin nursing. This first feeding delivers colostrum, a nutrient- and antibody-rich fluid that provides the foundation of the puppy's immune system for the weeks ahead. Because Wirehaired Pointing Griffon litters can range from six to ten puppies, you may need to rotate smaller or weaker pups to ensure they receive adequate colostrum before the milk transitions.

Keep the whelping area warm, quiet, and draft-free. The ambient temperature should remain between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit for the first several days, as newborn Griffon puppies cannot regulate their own body temperature. Use a heat lamp or heating pad positioned safely to one side so the dam and pups can move away if the area becomes too warm.

Monitor the dam closely for signs of distress, excessive bleeding, or failure to bond with her litter. A healthy Wirehaired Pointing Griffon mother will instinctively clean, nurse, and curl around her pups. If she shows disinterest or aggression toward the puppies, consult your veterinarian immediately, as intervention may be necessary to protect the litter.

For the first three to four weeks of life, the dam's milk provides complete nutrition for Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppies. Nursing sessions happen frequently — often every one to two hours during the first week — and gradually space out as the puppies grow and their stomachs can hold more. Ensure the dam has access to a high-quality, calorie-dense diet and fresh water at all times, as milk production places enormous nutritional demands on her body.

Weigh each puppy daily using a kitchen or postal scale. Healthy Wirehaired Pointing Griffon newborns typically weigh between ten and fourteen ounces at birth and should gain weight steadily, roughly doubling their birth weight within the first ten days. Any puppy that fails to gain weight or loses weight over two consecutive days needs immediate veterinary attention.

If the dam is unable to nurse — due to illness, rejection, or an exceptionally large litter — you will need to step in with a veterinarian-approved milk replacer. Bottle-feed or tube-feed on a strict schedule, mimicking the frequency of natural nursing. Never use cow's milk or homemade formulas, as these lack the correct protein and fat ratios for canine development.

Around three to four weeks of age, you can begin introducing a gruel made from high-quality puppy food softened with warm water or milk replacer. This weaning process should be gradual, allowing the puppies to explore solid food while still nursing. By six to seven weeks, the puppies should be eating softened kibble regularly and relying less on the dam's milk.

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppies develop rapidly in the first several weeks. During the neonatal period, which spans birth to roughly two weeks of age, puppies spend the vast majority of their time sleeping and nursing. Their eyes and ear canals remain sealed, and movement is limited to slow crawling toward warmth and the dam's body.

Between ten and fourteen days, the eyes begin to open, though vision is initially blurry and light-sensitive. The ear canals open shortly after, around two to three weeks, and puppies start responding to sounds in their environment. This is when you will notice the first wobbly attempts at walking and a growing curiosity about littermates.

The transitional period from two to four weeks brings dramatic changes. Puppies begin to stand, take tentative steps, and interact with one another through play. Teeth start to emerge around three weeks, and puppies will mouth and chew on objects as they explore their surroundings. This is also when the first tail wags appear, a charming milestone that signals developing social awareness.

By four to five weeks, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppies are walking confidently, playing vigorously with their siblings, and beginning to develop individual personalities. You will notice the breed's characteristic curiosity and energy emerging even at this early stage. Puppies in this period benefit from gentle handling and exposure to different textures and mild sounds to begin building the sensory foundation for later socialization.

Maintaining the correct environmental temperature is one of the most critical aspects of newborn Wirehaired Pointing Griffon care. Because puppies cannot shiver or regulate their body temperature during the first two weeks, they rely entirely on the dam's body heat and external heat sources. Hypothermia can set in rapidly and is one of the leading causes of neonatal puppy mortality.

During the first week, keep the whelping box at 85 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Reduce the temperature gradually — by roughly five degrees each week — until it reaches around 72 degrees by the fourth week. Use a reliable thermometer placed at puppy level to monitor conditions, as air temperature at your height may differ significantly from what the puppies experience on the floor of the box.

The whelping area should be clean, dry, and free from drafts. Line the box with washable bedding such as fleece pads or clean towels, and change the bedding frequently to maintain hygiene. Avoid using newspaper or cedar shavings, which can harbor bacteria or release irritating oils. The box should have low sides that the dam can easily step over but that contain the puppies safely.

As the puppies grow and become more mobile around three to four weeks, you can expand their living space to include a small exercise area adjacent to the whelping box. This gives them room to explore and begin the natural process of eliminating away from their sleeping area. Keep the expanded area warm but allow for a slightly cooler zone so puppies can self-regulate as their thermoregulatory abilities develop.

Although intensive socialization begins later, the groundwork starts in the neonatal period through a practice known as early neurological stimulation. Between days three and sixteen, brief and gentle handling exercises — such as holding the puppy in different positions, lightly touching the paws, and exposing them to a cool surface for a few seconds — can promote neurological development and build stress resilience. These exercises should be kept to a few seconds per puppy per day and never cause distress.

From two to four weeks, puppies begin to interact meaningfully with their littermates and the dam. This is when they learn foundational social skills such as bite inhibition and appropriate play behavior. The dam's corrections — a gentle growl or repositioning a puppy that nurses too roughly — teach early lessons about boundaries that will shape the puppy's behavior for life.

Human handling should increase gradually during weeks three through five. Allow different family members to hold and gently pet the puppies, exposing them to a variety of voices, scents, and touches. Introduce mild environmental sounds — a radio playing softly, household appliances running at a distance — so the puppies begin to acclimate to the rhythms of a home environment.

Wirehaired Pointing Griffons are a breed known for their strong bonds with people and their eager, outgoing temperaments. Positive early experiences with humans set the stage for the confident, sociable adult this breed is known to become. Puppies that receive regular gentle handling during the neonatal and transitional periods tend to adapt more readily to new situations later in life.

Schedule the first veterinary examination within 24 to 48 hours of birth, especially if this is a first litter or there were any complications during whelping. The veterinarian will check each puppy for congenital abnormalities such as cleft palate, heart murmurs, or umbilical hernias. They will also assess the dam's condition and ensure she is recovering well from delivery.

Dewclaw removal, if desired, is typically performed between three and five days of age. Discuss this with your veterinarian, as opinions vary on whether removal is necessary for Wirehaired Pointing Griffons. Some breeders prefer removal to prevent potential injuries in the field, while others leave them intact.

At around two weeks, puppies should receive their first deworming treatment, as intestinal parasites can be passed from the dam during nursing. A second deworming typically follows at four weeks, with additional treatments continuing on a schedule your veterinarian recommends. Parasite control is essential for maintaining healthy growth and preventing complications in young puppies.

The first vaccinations generally begin at six to eight weeks of age, though your veterinarian will tailor the schedule based on the health of the litter and local disease prevalence. Keep detailed records of each puppy's weight, deworming dates, and any health observations, as this information will be invaluable for the new owners and their veterinarians.

Newborn Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppies are fragile, and recognizing warning signs early can mean the difference between a minor issue and a life-threatening emergency. Persistent crying or restlessness often indicates that a puppy is cold, hungry, or in pain. While some vocalization is normal, a puppy that cries continuously and cannot be soothed by nursing or warmth needs veterinary evaluation.

Refusal to nurse or a noticeable decline in nursing vigor is a serious red flag. Puppies that were feeding well and suddenly stop, or those that seem too weak to latch, may be experiencing an infection, a congenital issue, or fading puppy syndrome. Immediate veterinary intervention is critical in these cases, as neonatal puppies can deteriorate within hours.

Watch for physical signs such as bloating, diarrhea, or unusual discharge from the eyes, nose, or umbilical site. A swollen or reddened umbilical area may indicate infection. Pale or bluish gums suggest poor circulation or oxygenation, which requires emergency care. Healthy puppies should have pink gums and a vigorous rooting reflex when touched near the mouth.

The dam's health directly affects the litter, so monitor her closely as well. Mastitis, an infection of the mammary glands, can cause fever, swollen or painful teats, and discolored milk. A dam that suddenly refuses to nurse, appears lethargic, or develops a foul-smelling vaginal discharge may be experiencing a serious postpartum complication. In any of these scenarios, contact your veterinarian without delay.