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The Canine Chronicles Directory
Weimaraner
Weimaraners are moderately large, athletic dogs with beautiful lines. There are
two varieties of this breed: the short-haired and the long-haired. The latter is
less common than the other and is not accepted in the United States. The coat is
generally a shimmering, smooth gray coat with the head and ears being slightly lighter
than the rest of the body. The moderately long head should be aristocratic with
a prominent occiput and a moderate stop. The eyes are medium-sized and should be
amber, blue-gray, or gray in color. The long, pendant ears should be set high on
the head. The strong jaw has teeth that meet in a scissor-like bite. The flews should
be moderately deep and the distinct neck moderately long. The well-developed body
has a square shape to it. The chest is deep and the topline slopes gently towards
the withers. The forelegs should be straight and strong with the dewclaws removed.
The hindlegs should be slightly angled with well-turned stifles. The hocks should
have well-developed muscles and be well let down. The feet are webbed with well-arched
toes. The tail is normally docked.
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Temperament
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Weimaraners are happy, rambunctious, brave, loving and loyal. They are a friendly
breed but are ever-alert, making them excellent guard dogs. They enjoy family life
and are generally kind to children. However, Weimaraners are not recommended for
smaller children since they can be knocked over during the dogs' energetic, rowdy
play. They do not do well in kennels and need a lot of attention. If they are left
alone for long periods of time they can become destructive and restless. They are
usually reserved with strangers and very protective of their territory. They can
also be combative with other dogs if not socialized at an early age. If properly
trained they can also get along with other household animals. They should not be
trusted with small non-canine animals since they have a strong prey instinct.
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Height, Weight
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Male Height: 24-27" ; Weight: 55-70 lbs.
Female Height: 22-25" ; Weight: 50-65 lbs.
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Health Problems
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This breed is prone to bloat, hip dysplasia and tumors. Feed them two or three small
meals each day instead of one big meal.
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Living Conditions
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The Weimaraner will do okay living in an apartment. It does best with a large yard.
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Exercise
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This powerful breed has lots of stamina and needs lots of regular exercise. They
should not be allowed to exercise after they eat.
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Life Expectancy
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About 10-12 years
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Grooming
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This breed is easy to groom. Brush with a firm bristle brush and dry shampoo when
necessary. Check the mouth and feet after strenuous activity. Keep the nails trimmed.
They are average shedders.
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Origin
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The exact origins of this breed are still unknown although they are believed to
be descendants of a stock similar to the German Short-Haired Pointer, Bloodhound
and crossed with one or more of the various schweisshund breeds. A dog of the Weimaraner
type appeared in an early 1600s Van Dyke painting. The breed received their name
from the nobles of the court of Charles August, Grand Duke of Weimar. They were
used to hunt big game such as wolves, wildcats, deer, mountain lions and bears.
In the late 1800s, big game disappeared from Europe and the Weimaraner became a
rare breed. Over the years, with selective breeding, they became small game hunters
and bird dogs. Their popularity once again increased. The breeding of the Weimaraner
was kept top secret by the German breed club. It wasn't until 1929 when they were
finally introduced to America by Howard Knight, a member of the Breed Society Club
of Germany. Mr. Knight founded the United States breed club and the breed was officially
recognized by the AKC in 1943 and by the UKC in 1955. Weimaraners have been used
as rescue dogs, service dogs for the disabled and as police dogs in England and
Germany.
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Group
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AKC Sporting, UKC Gun Dog
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