Dog Breeds Info - The Weimaraner
Dog Breeds Info - The Weimaraner:
The
Weimaraner is a Gundog, and is a member of the HPR category which means
Hunt, Point and Retrieve. This breed was thought to be developed in the
Weimar region of Eastern Germany, however they are popular around the
world these days, including the UK, Europe, Australia and USA.
Weimaraner Characteristics:
The
Weimaraner has a really distinctive colour, classed as silver-grey, and
also shades of mouse grey or roe-grey. Ideally without any white
markings, however a small white mark on the chest is allowed. Their
sleek coat and colour really is of a striking silver sheen, and they can
be both long haired or the more common short haired.
They are a
large dog breed, the height range being from 57cm to 70cm to the
withers, with an average weight range of 25kg to 40kg, bitches tend to
be at the smaller end of the spectrum and dogs at the larger end.
As
a puppy his eyes are an incredible blue colour, but as he matures they
generally turn more to amber coloured. Another lovely feature of the
Weimaraner are his ears, they are long and floppy, but have a slight
fold too.
Their body should be sleek and muscled in the correct
places, so not skinny or emaciated, and also not overweight and fat.
These are traditional hunting dogs and are able to run and work for
hours, so their condition should reflect a dog that is in fit looking
condition rather than fat or skinny.
One variation which is seen
is that some have their tails docked and others have a full tail. The
law regarding this changed, and hence those with docked tails will
generally be older in age than the Weimaraner's seen today with full
tails which have been born after the docking law changed.
The
Weimaraner is an incredibly intelligent and friendly dog, but can be
very determined and dominant too. It is because of such strong
characteristics that they suit some owners much more than others, and it
is therefore essential that you are fully aware of this and ensure you
have the temperament, time, ability and correct environment to have a
Weimaraner before considering getting one.
Dog Breeds Info - The Weimaraner - At Home and Outdoors:
They
are very owner focussed and are naturally protective of their family
home too. They like to be with you; in fact they like to be so close to
you they have to be touching you. So you will find that they like to lie
with a paw or head on your feet when settled down in the evening, and
if you get up to leave the room they will generally follow! They do not
like to be shut away on their own, and like human company. They also
require a lot of exercise so be prepared that 10 minutes in the park or a
walk on the lead around the block is not enough daily exercise for an
adult Weimaraner.
You must make the effort to socialise your
Weimaraner when he is young to get him used to all sorts of everyday
experiences, such as children, strangers, other dogs, livestock,
traffic, bikes, etc. If this is done properly it will work wonders for
him throughout adulthood as he will be well adjusted and sociable
animal.
Weimaraners are fine as a family pet as long as you know
and understand his health, training and welfare needs, and his strong
character. They are generally good with children, but this obviously
needs careful monitoring. However it must be remembered that they are
big powerful dogs and care needs to be taken, especially when around
little people, and particularly when these boisterous dogs decide to
have a crazy 5 minutes!
Dog Breeds Info - the Working Weimaraner:
Although
they are fine as a pet, these dogs are bred as working dogs, primarily
to fulfil main role as a Hunt Point and Retrieve dog. However,
Weimaraner's are quite a versatile breed and can be used for showing and
agility too.
When these dogs are properly trained they are an
absolute pleasure to watch, using their HPR skills, as they were bred
for, either out in field trials or shooting. They are attentive and
obedient to the master's commands, they have a great nose for scent,
with their tail wagging showing their enjoyment of working, their
patience when pointing over game or target, swimming when required, and
then the precision of returning the shot bird or target directly into
the master's hand.
To get to these levels of training with a
Weimaraner takes a lot of hard work, and it is well worth seeking the
advice of a professional or attending proper training classes. However
even if you have no intention of working your dog, it is essential that
he has basic training. This includes him being house trained, and
understanding basic commands such as sit, stay, lie down, walk to heel
properly, and to come when called. These dogs are instinctively hunting
dogs and so it is important that they are trained correctly and are
controllable, otherwise they will go hunting!
