Weimaraner - Breed Introduction
The Weimaraner–also lovingly called Weimies by its faithful owners-- is a beautifully formed, medium-weight dog. Lively, cheerful and affectionate, it is a great companion dog, loves children and excels in hunting. They are a picture of grace, alertness and balance. And when seen out in the field, they exhibit speed and stamina.
Its intelligence is so high, it’s called the dog with the human brain! It listens and learns quickly, is in tune with its owners feelings, and seems to have a sixth sense about what to do in a particular situation.
Males should measure 23 to 28 inches (59 to 70 cm) while the females measure 22 to 26 inches (57 to 65 cm). The males weight between 70 to 85 pounds (32 to 38 kg).
History of the Breed
The breed is several centuries old. A Weimaraner appears in a Van Dyck painting of the early 1600’s. there are various theories as to its origin: some feel it is the result of albinism that overtook some ancient German pointing dogs. Others feel it is descended from the German hound, the Braken. Others feel it is the fruit of crossing overseen by Grand Duke Karl August of Weimar between a regular pointer and a certain yellow pointer.
When first bred, it was called the Weimar Pointer. It was developed by breeding various hunting dogs such as the Red Schweisshund, a scent and tracking dog itself descended from the Bloodhound by the noblemen of the Court of Weimar. the Weimaraner is a cousin of the German Shorthaired Pointer. The Weimaraner was bred to hunt large game such as board, elk and deer. Later it was used extensively as a bird dog in Germany. Only aristocrats were allowed to breed and own the flashy gray dogs.
In 1929 an American, Howard Knight, was allowed by the German Weimaraner club to import two dogs to the United States. He later imported six more, and built the foundation of the breed in the United States. In 1943 the breed was accepted by the American Kennel Club for registration and competition.
In the 1950s the breed was almost depleted, but soon became popular in Canada as a hunting dog. This helped get the breed back on its feet, and soon to become of the most popular dog breeds for working and companionship.
Color and Coat
The Weimaraner is a mouse-gray to silver gray. Often the body is darker and blends to lighter shades on the head and ears. A small area of white is allowed on the chest.
The coat is short and sleek. It should be smooth, and not coarse to the touch. Although a longer coat is possible, it is not permissible.
Personality and Temperament
Friendly, fearless, alert and obedient. That’s what the breed standard calls for in the Weimaraner. And although obedient, it can be headstrong. If given the chance, it will take the upper hand and run over the household. Housebreaking can be a problem, as well as destructive chewing.
Since it was raised to hunt and kill, the Weimaraner can be a danger to smaller dogs, cats and other animals, as well as birds. It is good as a house dog, and surprisingly does not like to be kenneled.
The Weimaraner loves to go for brisk walks, play ball, and romping in the field. If not properly exercised, it will become bored, and then destructive. If his mind and body are in good condition, the dog will behave and be under control. The temperament should be friendly, fearless, alert and obedient.
Exercise is a must for the Weimaraner. He loves to hike, play ball, and romp and enjoys nothing more than a day in the field. Deprived of sufficient work-out, he may become frustrated and get his exercise with boisterous indoor activity.
Daily brisk walks will keep his mind and body in good condition, and obedience training will keep him under control. It needs human companionship and cannot be left by itself: it can become neurotic and destructive.
Show Characteristics
The first thing a judge looks for is the characteristic blue coat that should shine with good health. Then it’s attitude. A true aristocrat, the Weimaraner is a powerful-looking dog and should look like it can work in the field tracking and retrieving game all day long. Well muscled for strength and stamina, deep chested for endurance. His long legs give him reach, drive and energy….making him the hunter’s ideal companion.
The Weimaraner should have a kind, and intelligent expression to its face. Its eyes can be light amber, gray or blue-gray, set well apart and adding to its wide open expression. The nose should be gray like his coat.
Moderate in length, the body has a straight and strong line. A well-developed and deep chest with deep shoulders. The ribs are well sprung and long, while the abdomen is moderately tucked up and firmly held.
The forelegs are long and lean, giving him stamina and stride to cover distance quickly and easily. The hindquarters are well muscled giving the push power. The feet are firm and compact, webbed for jumping into the ponds and lakes to retrieve game. It’s tail is docked at a young age to a length of six inches.
Typical Health Concerns
As a large breed, the Weimaraner is susceptible to hip dysplasia which is a potentially crippling genetic disease. It is also susceptible to von Willebrand’s Disease—a bleeding disorder, bloat, tumors, allergies and hernias.
Bloat is common in deep-chested dogs. Gulping food can bring on bloat, so Weimaraners should be fed twice daily to avoid hunger pangs that lead to eating too quickly.
Also raise their bowls so they can easily eat, and also do not exercise them right after eating. It is also susceptible to hygromas, which are tumors of a joint–typically the elbow. Eye disorders include entropion and ectrotropian.
Grooming
The Weimaraner's short coat requires very little care. A brief brushing once or twice a week is sufficient. Called a “wash-and-wear” dog, the Weimaraner is very easy to care for. If you use the dog for hunting, then he will need to be examined for fleas, ticks, grass burrs and other debris from being outside.
Average Life Span
The average life span for a Weimaraner is 10 to 12 years.
|
