Members
Claire Wisch Abraham is the breeder behind Mountain View German Wirehaired Pointers. Read about the kennel’s beginnings, the dogs, and more!
The Weekly Brief
The best of SHOWSIGHT editorials, weekly wins, and breeder commentary — delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning.
Claire Wisch Abraham: I have been involved in dogs for 31 years; 25 years for German Wirehaired Pointers, four years involvement with Spinoni Italiano, and I will be breeding this year.
Claire Wisch Abraham: My kennel name is Mountain View. I currently keep 11 dogs.
Claire Wisch Abraham: I have 75 acres in Northern Virginia. I have a small building with indoor/outdoor covered runs beside my house. It has epoxy floors in the insulated portion and tree floor runs with chain link. The space is completely roofed. In my home, I have a dog/mud room with metal crate and wash stall, and a Dutch door into my kitchen.
Puppies are whelped in a guest room of my house that is converted for the big event! It’s close to my patio for easy in and out. When the weather is pleasant, pups are outside for supervised playtime. I have birds on my property, and the puppies are exposed to birds and walking in a group in large fields before they leave.
Claire Wisch Abraham: Puppies are evaluated as they grow; my daughter, Kelly Shupp, helps evaluate puppies. All GWP/Pointer and Spinoni Italiani pups are allowed playtime with feathers, and dead and live birds. We look for intensity and general interest in the activity.
Claire Wisch Abraham: No, I do not compete in these events.
Claire Wisch Abraham: Yes. German Wirehaired Pointers and Spinoni Italiani are versatile breeds that point, retrieve, and track. I also participate in the North American Versatile Hunting Dog (NAVHDA) program.
Claire Wisch Abraham: My dogs get a lot of free-time to run. I usually don’t need any additional conditioning.
Claire Wisch Abraham: The GWP and Spinone are definitely seeing an increase of cancers.
Claire Wisch Abraham: Yes, I do.
Claire Wisch Abraham: Spinoni Italiani are great family dogs. The German Wirehaired Pointer in the right situation can be great as well. The German Wirehaired Pointer is a real working breed. They need activities to keep them mentally stimulated and out of trouble.
Claire Wisch Abraham: German Wirehaired Pointers should have a slightly sloping topline. They should not have a rounded croup and tailset like a Vizsla. The coat should be hard and wiry, never soft/fuzzy. Balance and type are most important.
Claire Wisch Abraham: Go to your National every year! Find the best foundation bitch you can and be honest about her faults. (No dog is perfect.) Hopefully, you can find a mentor!
Claire Wisch Abraham: Hunt Tests and Field Trials with horses and dogs are some of the best times!
The best way to ensure a long and happy relationship with a purebred dog is to purchase one from a responsible breeder. Not sure where to begin finding a breeder?
Contact the National Parent Club’s Breeder Referral person, which you can find on the AKC Breeder Referral Contacts page.
Did you know nearly every recognized AKC purebred has a dedicated rescue group? Find your new best friend on the AKC Rescue Network Listing.
Showsight Magazine is the only publication to offer dedicated Digital Breed Magazines for ALL recognized AKC Breeds.
Read and learn more about the German Shorthaired Pointer dog breed with articles and information in our German Shorthaired Pointer Breed Magazine.
If you enjoy the German Shorthaired Pointer Breed Magazine, help us educate the community by sharing it.
Meet the Breeders
Breeder Adam Levy discusses Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, dual-purpose breeding, mentorship, and preserving the breed's working ability.
