Weimaraner or Weimaraner Dog

Although dogs similar to the Weimaraner are shown in paintings and engravings before the year 1800, the history is unknown and, although there has been much speculation on the subject, none of the proposed hypotheses can be confirmed with certainty. However, from the 19th century onwards the story is well known. At the beginning of that century, Grand Duke Charles August ruled the duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, in territory that is now part of Germany. Carlos Augusto was a nobleman who was very fond of big game hunting and on one of his many hunts he met the ancestors of the current Weimaraner.

So strong was the impression that these gray and robust dogs made on the Grand Duke that he decided to develop a breed of very versatile dogs for hunting. Furthermore, he decreed that these dogs could only be bred by the nobility and used for hunting . Therefore, the breed remained almost unknown to the people. At that time, the Weimaraner dog was used mainly for hunting large game. That’s where their strong temperament and greater aggressiveness than other current breeds come from.

At the end of the 19th century, the German Weimaraner Club was formed, a club where the breed was kept in the hands of a few breeders, prohibiting the sale of these dogs to people who did not belong to it. Therefore, the breed was developed among hunters who were very busy selecting dogs based on their hunting skills.

With the passage of time and the invasion and destruction of the habitat of large game species, hunting was oriented mainly towards small prey, such as rodents and birds. Thus, thanks to their versatility, Weimaraners went from being big game dogs to pointing dogs .

In the mid-20th century, the Weimaraner left its native region thanks to Howard Knight, a fan of the breed and member of the German Weimaraner Club who brought some specimens to the United States. This happened in 1928 and that was the crucial moment for the breed to gain more prominence in other regions . Afterwards it gradually spread to different parts of the globe until it became a breed known throughout the world.

Today the Weimaraner is used as a search and rescue dog , participates in dog sports, has an important presence in dog shows and is an excellent pet in many homes.

The Weimaraner is a beautiful, slender, medium to large dog. The best-known variety of this breed is the short-haired one, but there are also long-haired ones. He is strong and muscular, as well as athletic. Some of the characteristics of the Weimaraner dog are the following:

• The length of his body is slightly greater than his height .
• The height of the Weimar dog varies : it is between 59 and 70 centimeters in males, according to the FCI standard, while females can reach a height of 57 to 65 centimeters.
• The weight varies : that of the males ranges from 30 to 40 kilograms. The ideal weight of females ranges from 25 to 35 kilograms.
• The back of the Weimaraner is relatively long and the rump is slightly inclined.
• The chest of the Weimaraner dog is deep : reaching almost the height of the elbows, but it is not very wide. The lower line rises slightly to the height of the belly.
• The head is wider in males than in females: but in both cases it is in perfect harmony with the rest of the body. In the middle of the forehead there is a cleft, but the naso-frontal depression (stop) is not very pronounced.
• The Weimaraner’s nose is flesh-colored but gradually turns gray towards the base.
• The eyes change : they are from light to dark amber in adults, with an expressive look. In puppies the eyes are blue.
• The ears are wide and long : they hang on the sides of the head.
• The tail of the Weimaraner dog is strong and is inserted a little below the dorsal line. When the dog is active he carries it horizontally or slightly raised, but at rest he carries it hanging. Traditionally it was amputated at one third of its length , but fortunately today that is not a requirement of the International Cynological Federation (FCI) standard and is considered illegal in most countries .

Weimaraner colors

The Weimaraner’s coat can be short or long , depending on the variety to which the dog belongs. In the short-haired variety, the outer coat is strong, dense and close to the body. In this variety there is almost no internal hair. On the other hand, in the long-haired variety, the outer coat is long and soft, and there may or may not be any undercoat. In both varieties, the color of the Weimaraner dog must be silver gray, deer gray, mouse gray or any transition between those shades.

Now that you know what the characteristics of Weimaraner dogs are, let’s get to know their character. Keep reading and don’t miss it!

The Weimaraner is a very dynamic, curious, intelligent and loyal dog . If we decide to adopt a dog of this breed, we will be surprised by its sweet and dedicated character as well as its patience and kindness. Precisely because of this very positive character, the Weimaraner is one of the most recommended breeds for families with older children or young families and, in general, people with an active and stimulating lifestyle .

That does not mean that they are not appropriate dogs to live with small children, but in this case it will be advisable to always supervise both members of the family to prevent the sudden movements and temperament of the Weimaraner from accidentally hurting the little ones . On the contrary, it is not an appropriate breed for sedentary people.

Something important to mention is that their hunting instincts are strong and emerge easily. You will soon discover his love for fetch games and his fixation on toys with sound.

On the other hand, the Weimaraner can be a somewhat distrustful or shy dog ​​with strangers , especially if we do not work properly on socialization, a process in its education that we will talk about later. Precisely because of this reserved nature, it is common for Weimaraners to effusively alert their owners to the presence of any stranger in the home.

If you want to know more about Socializing a dog , do not hesitate to read this other AnimalWised article that we recommend.

The Weimaraner’s coat, both short-haired and long-haired, is relatively easy to care for, as it does not require special attention . In this way, the care of the Weimaraner dog is:

• Nutrition : the Weimaraner has basic nutritional needs, as we can see in other dogs. Even so, depending on the size of the dog, we will consider offering more or less amount of food and, being one of the large dog breeds, we will also have to take this into account. The Weimaraner dog needs between 2 and a half and 3 and a half portions of food per day, always providing high-quality feed. In addition, we will also have to give him fresh, clean water to avoid dehydration.
• Hygiene : regular brushing is necessary to remove dead hair and avoid tangles in the long-haired variety. You only have to bathe the dog with the appropriate frequency (between one and two months is normal) but we should also bathe it if it is excessively dirty. Remember that excessive use of chemicals damages the dermis of our best friend, so it is not advisable to abuse the bath.
• Exercise : It is important to highlight that the pointer needs a lot of exercise and company . His origins as a hunting dog have given him great resistance, temperament and predatory instinct, which is why he needs to run freely in safe areas almost daily. Playing fetch and fetch is undoubtedly one of the most recommended activities, but you can also discover other exercises for adult dogs such as Agility, running or swimming. Remember that it is a dog with great emotional needs , so it is not advisable to leave it alone for prolonged periods each day or confine it to a garden. You can discover more ” Exercises for adult dogs ” in this other post that we recommend from AnimalWised.

Given its great need for exercise, the Weimaraner is not a dog recommended for apartment living, although it can get used to it if it receives between two and three long walks daily . If you live in the city, it is also advisable to go with him to the forest for excursions. New experiences will provide the Weimaraner dog with the stimulation he needs to stay happy.

The Weimaraner’s education begins from early childhood, when it imitates its mother and siblings, learning to relate to them correctly. Later, and when they are missing, it will be essential to continue with the socialization process that becomes fundamental after three months of life. You must introduce him to other dogs , people, animals and the environment on a daily basis, thus avoiding future fears or negative attitudes typical of poor socialization.

Although they are not easily trained dogs, if we start early, our pointer can learn everything necessary, such as learning to urinate in the street or basic obedience commands. To do this, it is best to use positive reinforcement , that is, rewarding our dog whenever he does something correctly. We can do it with treats, caresses or words of encouragement. Remember that positive reinforcement encourages them to learn more and better.

When a Weimaraner dog is well educated and socialized, behavioral or temperament problems do not usually appear. However, if the dog does not receive enough physical and mental exercise, as well as plenty of company, he can become barking and destructive . In these cases we will act quickly by offering varied activities, affection and active exercise.

Aside from socialization and basic obedience, it will be important to continue educating our Weimaraner with new tricks, advanced commands and even initiation into Agility, a physical activity that combines exercise and intelligence, highly recommended in this breed.

You can find more information in these other AnimalWised posts on How to Socialize a Puppy Correctly? u Basic commands for dogs .

The Weimaraner is undoubtedly one of the healthiest dog breeds with the least predisposition to hereditary diseases. Even so, the Weimaraner is very prone to gastric torsion , so you should avoid exercising immediately before and after eating. Other diseases that occur in this breed with some frequency are:

• spinal dysraphism
• Hip dysplasia
• Entropion
• Hemophilia A
• von Willebrand disease

To ensure the good health of your Weimaraner, it is essential that you visit the veterinarian approximately every six months. In this way, the specialist will be able to detect any disease or health problem promptly and improve treatment expectations. It will also be necessary to correctly follow your vaccination schedule and the regular deworming that you must follow. If you follow our advice you will enjoy a healthy and healthy dog ​​for a long time.

You can learn more about the most common diseases in Weimaraner dogs and how often should you deworm a dog? in these other articles that we recommend.

Although the Weimaraner dog gained great popularity and widespread distribution among different regions, it is also true that being able to adopt a Weimaraner can be a more difficult task. Some animal shelters, associations and shelters do have this breed of large dog, although it can be more complicated than it seems. In Spain we can highlight the following places to adopt Weimar dogs:

• SOS Weimaraner : a shelter that rescues dogs of this breed and gives them the necessary veterinary care and treatment. First they look for a temporary foster home for our furry friend until they find a family to adopt him permanently.
• Weimaraner Rescue : a non-profit and completely voluntary association. It is also dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming pointer dogs, whether they are Weimaraners, German pointers, French pointers or even crosses.