The Korthals griffon was created in the late 1800s by Dutchman Edward Korthals, who sought a versatile gundog that combined resilience, vigour and devotion to its owner. To refine these traits, he crossed rough-haired pointing dogs from France, Belgium and Germany and possibly other breeds.
The Korthals is a solid and heavy boned dog with a square head, round friendly eyes, shaggy eyebrows and moustache and a coarse protective coat in grey and brown or other colours. A sensitive and gentle dog that is devoted to its owner, it matures slowly and requires patience and time to train and will switch off to harsh methods. It is a good choice for very active sportsmen and families that love outdoor activities. It is considered friendly with children, other dogs and people.
In the UK this dog is used for rough shooting upland birds, wildfowling, stalking and hawking. It is especially well-suited to working in heavy cover, rough terrain and water.