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Weimaraner
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The Weimaraner is a dog that was originally bred for hunting in
the early 19th century. Early Weimaraners were used by royalty
for hunting large game, such as boar, bears, deer, and foxes. As
the popularity of large game hunting began to decline,
Weimaraners were used for hunting smaller animals, like fowl,
rabbits, and foxes. Rather than having a specific purpose such as
pointing or flushing, the Weimaraner is an all purpose gun dog.
The Weimaraner is loyal and loving to his family, an incredible
hunter, and a fearless guardian of his family and territory. The
name comes from the Grand Duke of Weimar, Karl August, whose
court enjoyed hunting.
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Weimaraner
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Country of Origin
Germany
Weight
Male: 70-85 lb
Female: 55-70 lb
Height
Male: 25-27 in
Female: 23-25 in
Coat
Smooth and very short; except for
long-haired
Color
Silver-gray
Life span
10-12 years
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Description
Appearance
The Weimaraner is elegant, and athletic in appearance. All parts of
the dog should be in balance with each other, creating a form that
is pleasing to the eye. It must be capable of working in the field,
regardless of whether it is from show stock or hunting stock, and
faults that will interfere with working ability are heavily penalized.
Traditionally, the tail is docked to a third of its natural length at
birth and dewclaws are removed. This is part of the AKC breed
standard. However, these alterations have since been illegalized in
several other countries; as such those dogs are shown with their
natural tails.
Coat and Color
This breed's short and very smooth gray coat and its unusual eyes
give it a regal appearance different from any other breed.
However, the breed has been deemed very similar to the Vizsla
even though the Vizsla is a much older breed. The eyes of the
Weimaraner may be light amber, gray, or blue-gray. The coat may
range from charcoal-blue to mouse-gray to silver-gray, it has been
elegantly described as "moonlight on chocolate". Where the fur is
thin or non-existent, inside the ears or on the lips, for example, the
skin should be a pinkish tone rather than white or black. Eyes
sometimes blue or brown mostly.
The silvery-gray color is rare in dogs and is the result of breeding
for a recessive gene. It has also lent the breed the nickname 'silver
ghost' or 'gray ghost.' The coat is extremely low maintenance; it is
short, hard, and smooth to the touch.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC) standard, a
distinctly blue or black coat is an automatic disqualification, though
a small white marking in the chest area only is permitted. However,
dogs with blue coats are not disqualified from field competition and
are recognized as purebred Weimaraners by the AKC. There is
another variety that occurs now and then, the 'mark of the hound',
where the dog is the usual gray color, with faint tan markings
(similar to Doberman). It's said that early in the breed this was a
common color that was selectively bred out and suggests that the
color is indeed a black dilution.
There is a long-haired variety that is recognized by most kennel
clubs around the world except in North America. The long-haired
Weimaraner has a silky coat, with - contrary to the short coated
variety - an undocked, feathered tail. The gene is recessive, so
breeding will produce some long-haired puppies only if both
parents carry the longhair gene.
Size
According to the AKC standard, the male Weimaraner stands
between 25 and 27 inches (63-68 cm) at the withers.
Females are between 23 and 25 inches (58-63 cm). Of course,
there are many dogs taller or shorter than the breed standard. The
breed is not heavy for its height, and males normally weigh roughly
70-85 pounds. Females are generally between 55-70 lb (25-32
kg). A Weimaraner carries its weight proudly and gives the
appearance of a muscular, athletic dog.
Temperament
Weimaraners are fast and powerful dogs, but are suitable home
animals given appropriate training and exercise. These dogs are
not as sociable towards strangers as other hunting dogs such as
Labradors and Golden Retrievers. Weimaraners are very
protective of their family and can be very territorial. They can be
aloof to strangers, and must be thoroughly socialized when young
to prevent aggression. They are also highly intelligent, sensitive
and problem-solving animals, which earned them an epithet "dog
with a human brain". They are ranked 18th in Stanley Coren's The
Intelligence of Dogs, being of excellent working/obedience
intelligence.
From adolescence, a Weimaraner requires extensive exercise in
keeping with an energetic hunting dog breed prized for their
physical endurance and stamina. No walk is too far, and they will
appreciate games and play in addition. An active owner is more
likely to provide the vigorous exercising, games, or running that
this breed absolutely requires. Weimaraners are high-strung and
often wear out their owners, requiring appropriate training to learn
how to calm them and to help them learn to control their behavior.
Owners need patience and consistent, firm (yet kind) training, as
this breed is particularly rambunctious during the first year and a
half of its life. This breed is known for having a penchant for
stealing food from table and counter tops whenever given the
chance. Like many breeds, untrained and unconfined young dogs
often create their own fun when left alone, such as chewing house
quarters and furniture. Thus, many that are abandoned have
behavioural issues as a result of isolation and inferior exercise.
Weimaraners are often kind to children, but they may not be
appropriate for smaller children due to their tendency to knock a
child down in the course of play. The breed is so full of energy that
early training to sit (through positive reinforcement) is critical to
prevent jumping in the future, as these strong dogs may knock
over elderly people or children by accident.
It should never be forgotten that the Weimaraner is a hunting dog
and therefore has a strong, instinctive prey drive. Weimaraners will
sometimes tolerate cats, as long as they are introduced to the cats
as puppies, but many will chase and frequently kill almost any small
animal that enters their garden or backyard. In rural areas, most
Weimaraners will not hesitate to chase deer or sheep.
This breed of dog tends to be very stubborn. However, with good
training, these instincts can be curtailed to some degree. A
properly trained Weimaraner is a wonderful companion that will
never leave its master's side.
Health
The Weimaraner is a deep-chested dog, which makes them a
breed which is high on the list of dogs affected by bloat or gastric
torsion. This is a very serious condition that causes a painful rapid
death when left untreated. It occurs when the stomach twists itself,
thereby pinching off blood vessels and the routes of food traveling
in or out. Symptoms include a dog showing signs of distress,
discomfort, no bowel movement or sounds, and a swollen stomach.
Immediate medical attention is imperative when bloat occurs and
surgery is the only option if it is caught early enough. One way to
help prevent bloat is to spread out the Weimaraner's feedings to at
least twice daily and to avoid any vigorous exercise right after
feedings. It is also recommended that the dog's feeding dish NOT
be placed on a raised platform, to stop the dog from gobbling the
food too quickly and to keep air from entering the stomach. There
are special bowls made for gulping dogs, as well. Weimaraner
owners might never see this problem in their dogs but should be
familiar with the ailment and keep emergency vet numbers handy.
According to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Weimaraners
suffer from low rates of dysplasia. The breed is ranked 102nd of
153 total breeds and has a very high test rate and a very high
percentage of excellent rating among those dogs tested. It is
generally recommended to acquire Weimeraners only from
breeders who have their dogs' hips tested using OFA or PennHIP
methods. Other health issues include:
* Cryptorchidism
* Elbow dysplasia
* Distichiasis
* Von Willebrands Disease
* Entropion
* Hypothyroidism
* Hypertrophic osteodystrophy
* Pituitary dwarfism
* Hypomyelinogenesis
* Renal dysplasia
* Progressive retinal atrophy
History
Today's breed standards developed in the 1800s, although dogs
having very similar features to the Weimaraner have been attested
as far back as 1200s in the court of Louis IX of France. One theory
is that the ancestor is the St. Habertus Branchen. Though these
dogs are black, these dogs can produce a gray dog when bred.
Like the Vizsla at the time, the breed was created exclusively for
the nobility and alike. The aim was to create a noble-looking,
reliable gundog. As ownership was restricted, the breed was highly
prized and lived with the family. This was unusual, as during this
period, hunting dogs were kept in kennels in packs. This has
resulted in a dog that needs to be near humans and that quickly
deteriorates when kennelled. The Weimaraner was an all purpose
family dog, capable of guarding the home, hunting with the family,
and of course, being loving and loyal towards children.
Originally, Germany was possessive of its skilled all-purpose
gundog. But starting in the late nineteenth century the breed
became increasingly more common throughout Europe and the
United States. Although slower than many other gundogs, such as
Pointers, the Weimaraner is thorough and this made it a welcome
addition to the sportsman's household. Furthermore, its happy,
lively temperament endeared it to families, although it is perhaps
too lively for families with young children. Unfortunately, with the
rise in popularity, some careless matches were made and some
inferior specimens were produced. Since then, both in Britain and
America (where the breed remains popular) breeders have taken
care to breed for quality and purpose.
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Long-haired Weimaraner
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The most affordable Dog Breed Test
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