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.
Dog Breeds Info – 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.
They 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, Weimaraners 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!
This Dog Breeds Info has been a very brief overview of the Weimaraner, there is so much more to them and so much more to learn about this stunning and wonderful breed.
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