Dog
Weimaraner Champions
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Pronunciation:
vahy-muh-rah-ner
Breed Description:
The Weimaraner is a medium sized breed of dog that should have the appearance and lines of an athletic dog. This is a breed that has the stamina, speed and grace of a hunting breed and their build should be well-balanced and graceful. The head should have a long muzzle and should be carried in a regal manner. The top line should slope towards the long tail, which is commonly docked. The ears should be long and should hang but the whole appearance of the dog should be a regal one.
The coat of the Weimaraner should be short and smooth. It should be course to the touch and should cover the dog completely while still lying close to the skin. The color should only be gray; however, the gray can range in shade from a mouse-grayish brown to a silver gray. No other colors are allowed, however, a small marking of white is acceptable, although not desired. The eyes of the Weimaraner are usually amber, gray or blue gray in coloring.
Temperament:
The Weimaraner breed of dog is a happy and active breed that is known for being playful and rambunctious. IN fact, they can be very hard to control and this only increases if this intelligent breed is not given proper exercise and training. The breed is exceptional at learning, however, they do need a firm hand and need a strong owner who will set rules. They are very loyal to their family and tend to be gentle with children of all ages. The breed can learn to live with other dogs, but without proper socialization, they can be aggressive towards them. In addition, the Wiemaraner can have a strong prey drive and are not usually recommended for homes with small pets. They are naturally suspicious of strangers and can make an excellent guard dog while still maintaining the playfulness one looks for in a family pet.
Height:
The average height for a Weimaraner is between 22 to 27 inches.
Weight:
The average weight for a Weimaraner is between 50 to 70 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Weimaraner breed of dog is considered to have low-average health and they do have a large number of health problems. In addition, the breed can experience an autoimmune reaction to vaccines that can be life threatening. It is very important that your veterinarian knows this and administers vaccines in separately instead of all at once. Other health problems the Weimaraner can be prone to are Congenital cysts, Entropion, Retinal Atrophy, Nictitating Membrane Eversion, Distichiasis, Umbilical Hernia, Persistent Right Aortic Arch, Hypothyroidism, Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy, Thymic Atrophy, Cryptorchidism, Syringomyelia, Elbow Dysplasia,Hip Dysplasia, Factor XI Deficiency, Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia, Hypomyelinogenesis, Pituitary Dwarfism, Mastocytoma and Gastric Torsion, which is also known as Bloat.
Living Conditions:
The Weimaraner breed of dog can do well in apartments if they are given proper exercise, however, the ideal living condition for this breed is a home with a large fenced yard. The breed should not live outdoors and they should be given protection from cold weather since they do not have a thick coat.
Exercise:
The Weimaraner breed of dog is an active breed and you should expect to give it between 30 to 60 minutes of exercise each day.
Life Expectancy:
10 to 12 years
Grooming:
The Weimaraner breed of dog does not require a lot of maintenance and can be kept tidy with only one brushing each week. In addition, the Weimaraner only requires a bath every few months and can do with only one or two baths a year. In between baths, the Weimaraner can be kept clean with a damp cloth. Ears should be cleaned on a weekly basis and nails should be trimmed once or twice a month.
Origin:
The Weimaraner breed of dog was developed in Weimar, Germany and was actually protected from anyone other than the Nobles of Weimar from owning the breed. Originally cherished for their ability as a versatile hunting breed, used to hunt deer, birds, and bear, the breeding of the Weimaraner was kept secret until the late 1920's. At that time, a Howard Knight from the United States managed to import two dogs from Germany, however, the dogs were sterilized and it wouldn't be until 1938 that Howard Knight was able to bring Weimaraners to the United States. It was through his efforts and the four dogs he imported that the North American breed was established, however, they did not gain popularity and almost became extinct in North America if it weren't for the efforts of a few dedicated breeders. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
