Weimaraner

Weimaraner

This breed is best known for its ghostly gray coloration, but it is also an outstanding and versatile companion and hunter.

History:

The Weimaraner is another of the purpose-built breeds, although there is no confirmed history. It has been dated positively to the 1600s through a painting by the Flemish artist Van Dyck. This breed was developed in the Grand Duchy of Weim to be a useful companion to foresters. They needed a dog that would hunt and retrieve small game, work land as well as water, work for hours at a steady pace, have a good nose for fur and feathered game, be protective but never vicious, and be easy to train. They started with a local breed that was Hound-like in appearance, that had some of these qualities and was being used to hunt wild boars, bears and wolves. It is generally accepted that Bloodhounds were used to develop the Weimaraner.

For years there was a restriction on the breeding of the Weimaraner; at first only nobility were allowed to breed this dog. Even after this restriction was relaxed there were other strict controls, and no breeding outside Germany was permitted until 1930. This has led to the development of a breed that is very strong in type. These days the breed is well-known worldwide.

Physical characteristics:

The Weimaraner is a large dog. Height: 23 - 27 in (59 - 69 cm) at the shoulder. Weight: 70 - 85 lb (32 - 38 kg). The most striking feature of the Weimaraner is its unique ghostly gray coat. It is possible that the color is a result of a mutation during the early days of the breed's development. There are two varieties of Weimaraner: the short-haired and the long-haired. The coat is uniformly short and sleek in the short-haired, and in the long-haired it is only slightly longer with fringing on the ears, legs and tail.

To match the outstanding coat, the Weimaraner also has striking eyes. The eyes can be blue or amber, and they express much intelligence. The ears are fairly wide and long, and are set high on the head to hang close to the neck with a small fold. As befits a working gun dog, Weimaraners have a deep chest and a level back coupled with strong hindquarters. The tail is docked to 6 in (15 cm) and is carried level with the back.

Behavior:

This large dog has a wonderful character. Looking into the eyes of a Weimaraner, you can tell this dog is very intelligent. Not only does it have the ability to learn commands quickly from its owner, it is also able to work things out on its own. The Weimaraner can make a very good guard dog if given a little training.

This dog should be given plenty of daily exercise. It is a wonderful sight to see the Weimaraner running at full stretch. As long as it is not allowed to become too bossy, the Weimaraner makes an excellent companion dog for the family. This dog requires assertive training but it is important not to be too overbearing, or it may become confused. Noses which are only lightly pigmented should be covered with sun block in the summer. A marvelous dog that is easy to care for.