The Weimaraner was actually bred to be a gun dog. Nowadays, this Sporting dog can easily top the choice list of a hunter as well as a simple pet owner. They are nicknamed as Gray Ghost or Silver Ghost for tirelessly following you around the house. This is one of the best dogs for children.
Moreover, put him on a course to hunt a deer, boar or a big game. It will make him the happiest pet in the world. So, the Weimaraner is suitable for both a tranquil family life with plenty of exercise opportunities and a challenging time in the hunting grounds.
This is certainly one of the most versatile dogs coming from Germany.
Weimaraner personality:
‘Relentless worker’ is a fitting title for the Weimaraner. No matter how tiring the job is, he will be always up to the challenge every single day.
Imagine that such a resounding dog sticks to each of your actions and yes, you have got an unmistakably velcro companion in your Weimaraner. This dog abhors the idea of living alone for a long period of time.
He is loyal and loving to his family. His aristocratic bearing gets its true joys when he can spend time with the family. First time owners will especially face some difficulties because of his high energy and witty devices.
If left alone, this dog is capable of causing some disturbance in the force as chewing is what he does the best during a leisure.
Moreover, they will become high strung and it is a situation that calls for tactful handling. Still, Weimaraner fans will not go for any other dog because of its profound courtship, gentleness, unbeatable appearance and liveliness.
This wonderful dog runs and swims alike. Friendly, fearless and obedient Weimaraners are one of a kind dog breed. However, he has a chasing tendency.
So, the house cat might be an occasional fair game. High confidence is a natural side of his character. With enough physical workouts, he demonstrates a mellow temperament.
Measure Weimaraner smartness:
You are dealing with a highly smart creature. He has a mind of his own as has been pointed out by Professor Stanley Coren. He places this dog on the 21st position in the dog intelligence list. You have to keep him busy in a job such as running, swimming, hunting, hiking or the Weimaraner will always come up with something new.
His skills gets fully blossomed in a hunting ground. Few dog breeds can challenge the superiority of a Weimaraner there. He is strikingly alert to the circumstances and it makes him an outstanding watchdog and he is fit for your protection too. This dog will regularly test the boundaries you impose upon him. He is assertive and in a few instances willful.
So, your consistency is of vital importance. Sports, obedience, rally, flyball, agility, hunt tests and tracking are some of his fields of expertise.
What & how to feed:
A Weimaraner is truly in love with his food. Highly active adult Weimaraner needs 3-4 cups of daily intake. For an adult dog, you can supply it in two meals respectively in the morning and in the evening.
But food provision is actually a dynamic issue and there will always be a difference in amount from dog to dog. This quantity actually relies on age, sex, activities, health and so many other issues. You can determine the amount of food the dog requires as you continue feeding him for a long time.
The Weimaraner can get along well with both homemade and commercial products as long as they fulfill his energy necessities.
However, you can feed him medium sized dog foods. You just should not free feed the dog. It creates some bad habits.
A 70 pound and adult active Weimaraner demands an average of 1688 calories per day as has been pointed out by the National Research Council of the National Academics.
But you cannot give him as much as this amount if your dog is prone to sitting out the days. But such a tendency is not common to this dog breed. A hunter might even demand as much as double to this prescribed amount.
Protein and fat ingredients should be the foundation of his meals. At least, 18-26 percent of proteins in each meal will provide him with ample energy. Beef, chicken, fish, turkey, eggs, dairy items and lamb are excellent sources of proteins.
Barley, cereals, vegetables and oats will give him some plant proteins. But vegetable proteins are not proficient in amino acid which is vital for a dog.
On the other hand, flaxseed oil. Safflower oil, olive oil and fish oil are going to supply the dog with necessary fat. Fat repels an injury by protecting the internal organs by creating a protective layer. Bone and joint strength also derives from it.
Tapioca, brown rice, sweet potatoes, fruits, beetroot, pumpkin and vegetables serve him with carbohydrates and fibers. Carbohydrate provides long term strength. Vegetables should not exceed 1-2% in amount of his total diet.
A commercial item should be free of preservatives, dyes and flavors for the betterment of his health. You may want to feed him large breed dog foods. You can follow the guidelines established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Clean water is a vital requirement for the dog.
Unnecessary use of treats causes overweight. You have to be careful in this regard.
Escape a few health issues:
The Weimaraner is a healthy dog breed and usually keeps away from most of the diseases. But you always have a chance to exercise some precautions before buying a puppy.
A few health clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), and the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) will clear the dog out of a list of major physical conditions.
DNA tests are also vital for his good health. However, your dog may not suffer from any of these listed diseases in his lifetime. But your proper concept on some of these diseases can save both of you from a lot of troubles. Factor XI deficiency (Hemophilia C) happens to be bleeding disorder.
Clotting of blood requires Factor XI protein. Lack of this element causes incessant bleeding in case of an injury, surgery or trauma. This is often a family contribution.
The Weimaraner is a large as well as deep chested dog and is likely to develop gastric dilation volvulus or bloat. Gas, food or fluid expands his stomach and creates pressure on the other organs. Thus the dog experiences heavy breathing.
In a serious condition, his stomach wall may tear down. The stomach also suffers from twists. This is very often a fatal case and requires immediate vet visit. You have to keep the dog away from exercise just before as well as after the meals. Stop large meals, voluptuous gobbling of the food, stress and eating from an elevated bowl.
This dog is susceptible to stone formation in the kidney due to high amount of uric acid in their urine. Moreover, hip dysplasia is the result of a disjointed socket along his hip and femur. It is often an inherited condition. The dog experiences difficulty in movement in such a case. The ultimate solution is surgery. Entropion and distichiasis are two eye related issues.
Some Weimaraners react negatively to vaccination. The Weimaraner Club of America suggests separate vaccination programs rather than pushing all the doses on the same day. Then there is hypothyroidism which often attacks a middle aged (4-10 years) dog. Dysfunctional thyroid gland causes hair loss, dull looking coat, obesity, muscle loss and sloth movement.
Insightful care program:
He has a short and smooth coat. You do not have to do a lot of grooming to protect it except for brushing once a week. This session is dedicated to removing the dead hair. He sheds and an occasional use of a rubber curry brush will keep the peace of your mind.
You should not bathe him too often unless visible dirt and debris appears on the coat.
On the other hand, trimming his nails are of paramount interest. He is a hunter and flashes around a lot. Long nails will give him a real hard time. Their ears are long and drooped. As a result, they obstruct natural air flow into the ear canal.
So, regular inspection and cleaning of his ears are mandatory. He has a tremendous wanderlust potential and is likely to mouth a lot of known and unknown objects by the way. Brushing the teeth 2-3 times a week will keep the germs and tartar at bay. You can take him to a vet for a yearly thorough checkup.
Proper exercise method:
Let him exercise for at 1.5-2 hours a day. You can employ all the tricks and techniques for him he is good at running, swimming, jogging, hiking and so many things. He can participate in a game of fetch, flyball or frisbee. Get out riding a cycle and he will happily accompany you for miles.
You have to put a fence around the yard so that he can freely run at will. This enclosure will also make sure that he does not start chasing something and get lost by the way. Full speed races are their basic trademark and they are going to do it a lot.
Weimaraner training cues:
Training this intelligent and people pleaser is relatively an easy task. Socialization should commence at the very beginning of the program. This big dog should not be allowed to jump on the lap. It might seem okay when he is a puppy.
But this nuisance is going to trouble you a lot within a few months. Take the dog to the park and street and let him meet people and pets.
So, he can master the art of encountering a stranger. Teaching him non-aggressive approach is a top priority. This dog is going to benefit from obedience training. It will set the stage for complex commands later. Crate training can give him a valuable lesson on how to deal with anxiety. They are known for separation issues.
Crate will also help him build up a sound potty practice. But you should confine an adult dog than 2-4 hours at a stretch. The first thing to a successful training is to attract his full attention. Treats and praises can do this job.
This sleek, elegant and fearless hunter is actually do-it-all type dog. He can excel at tracking, scent work, agility, rally and almost all the training ideas. You can feed him just any technique.
So, think twice before allowing a bad habit to take its root in the dog.
Weimaraner origin:
The Weimaraner comes from Weimar, Germany. Their origin goes back to the early 19th century. The Weimar court contributed immensely to their breeding. The court royals wanted a dog with substantial hunting capacity including immense bravery, sufficient intelligence and fighting potentials.
In order to achieve the goal, they crossed the Bloodhound with the German Shorthaired Pointer, the English Setter and several other formidable hunters. The final outcome was preferably the Weimaraner.
The AKC recognized this dog breed in 1943. Shortage of hunting grounds led these dogs to be more actively integrated into the families. They are now outstanding family companions and currently, this dog enjoys the 36th position in the AKC breed popularity list
