About Weims:About the Breed
About the Weimaraner
Height:
23-27 inches
Weight:
55-85 lbs.
AKC Group:
Sporting Life Span: 10-15 yrs.
General Appearance:
A medium-sized gray dog, with fine aristocratic features. He should present a picture of grace, speed, stamina, alertness & balance. This is a sleek, muscular dog with a grace of carriage & noble attitude, which are his alone. His physical structure should reflect the purpose for which the breed was developed-a capable pointing bird dog & retriever.... a finely conditioned athlete...strength without coarseness & beauty without frailty.
Coat & Grooming Needs:
The coat is short, smooth & very sleek. The AKC disqualifies blue, black & longhair coats. Despite their short coats, Weimaraners are not allergy-proof dogs, so if you have allergies, you may not be able to own this breed. They require occasional bathing & ear cleaning and frequent nail trims.
Mental Characteristics & Exercise Needs:
Weimaraners were bred to hunt all day in the field. They are very energetic and require a great deal of both physical and mental stimulation. To quote Roger Caras, "Few dogs can be more of a nuisance than a Weimaraner that has had its vital energy levels, its need to perform, and its exuberant love affair with life ignored. They need exercise, they need training, and they need opportunities to participate in vigorous, ongoing events. You ignore those facts at considerable risk to your property." Failure to provide adequate exercise and mental games can result in development of destructive behaviors in Weimaraners. They do best when kept busy learning new things. This breed is known for its versatility. Weimaraners in Central Ohio participate in recreational hunting, agility, obedience, tracking, search & rescue, therapy visits, and conformation shows.
Health Issues:
Hip displaysia, torsion, tumors, heart problems, eye problems, autoimmune deficiency, etc.
To reduce the possibility of acquiring a Weimaraner with health problems, screen the breeder carefully. Ask if they have done any genetic screening including tests like OFA on hips & elbows, CERF for eyes, ECG's on the heart & blood work, DNA testing, Thyroid testing, etc. They should be able to produce certificates of proof for these tests. Ask if the breeder adheres to the WCA Code of Ethics. Do not buy puppies from pet stores or puppy mills. In addition, follow the WCA vaccination policy to help prevent vaccine reactions.
History:
Timeline: 1700’s breed began to be promoted by Grand Duke Karl August of Weimar, Germany. 1896 Breed recognized by the German Stud Book. 1929 First Weimaraners arrived in the U.S. 1942 American Kennel Club recognizes the Weimaraner.
Much of the history of this breed is a mystery. The Weimaraner's development was a closely guarded secret of Karl August's private hunting club. It is known that the Weimaraner was developed traditionally as a hunting dog to point, track & retrieve game. They originally hunted big game including wild boar, wildcats, and deer, then later developed into a quick thinking, intelligent bird dog.
Other considerations:
Weimaraners require close contact with family members. They cannot be left in a kennel or chained outside with little human interaction. They are a highly bonded family dog. Many Weimaraners earn the nickname "Shadow", because of the way they will follow their owners wherever they go in the house.
All Weimaraners should be crated when left alone since their intelligent, inquisitive nature can get them into serious trouble very quickly. Weimaraners have been known to learn how to open doors, refrigerators and cabinets. Its not unheard of for an uncrated & unoccupied youngster to destroy sofas & chew through wires, and so on.
Weimaraners can be excellent with children, but all interactions between children and these robust hunting dogs should be supervised.
Weimaraners must be obedience trained, or you may find yourself being outsmarted, out manipulated, and outdone by these intelligent, fun-loving, creative dogs. If you come home tired at night and aren't willing to go the extra mile with an enjoyable, fun daily training sessions that will challenge your Weimaraner mentally and physically, this might not be the breed for you!