The Weimaraner is a tall
dog with a deep chest and short grey fur. This
dog has energy and stamina for hunting upland
birds, and when birds are found, it points.
Any birds shot are also retrieved to the hunter.
This
breed can have a great personality but they
are very energetic and require a lot of human
attention. A dog of such size and strength
needs to be trained or it can be nearly impossible
to control.
History...
Developed
in Germany as a big game hunter, but was used
for small game and birds as larger prey became
scarce. Many breeds were likely used to develop
this breed, with the bloodhound and numerous
hunting dogs as possibilities. The breed as
we now know it has likely been around for about
200 years, but was not even brought into the
U.S. until 70 years ago.
Traits...
This
breed should almost always be trained to do
something as it really needs the mental and
physical exercise. Weims are great upland bird
hunters, and therefore enjoy a variety of hunting
competitions as well. Tracking, obedience tests,
and agility are other activities Weimaraner's
can do well in. Talk to a breeder or other experienced
Weim owner to learn about more activities. Remember
to consider your desired activity before choosing
a pup, as breeding can play a big role in the
determining the skills and desires of each individual
dog.
Good
aspects...
This can be a great dog for the serious hunter and
veteran dog owner. This dog needs to be part
of the family and prefers to do so, but it must
learn that it is not superior to any family
members. This breed can probably do well in
any activity that requires brains and athletic
ability, for this reason, this is a good breed
for someone who loves to train their dog(s)
for canine competitions.
Health...
The
biggest worry with this breed is hip dysplasia,
do not even consider a pup unless both parent
dogs have been x-rayed, checked, and cleared
of this disorder. Allergies, bloat, von Willebrand's
Disease, tumours, and hernias are also potential
problems and should be discussed before purchase.
Be
aware...
If
the needs of this dog are not fulfilled there
can be big trouble. This dog needs to be socialized
as a pup, obedience trained, exercised, and
given lots of attention. This is a beautiful
dog, but please do not overlook the large amount
of time and energy this dog needs from its owner(s).
This may not be a good breed for the first time
dog owner, as this breed is smart and can be
tricky and stubborn, it takes an experienced
trainer to train this dog. If you like a dog
that lays around all day, forget it, the Weimaraner
is an active dog and will do best with an active
family who will include it in those activities.
This can be a great dog for the serious hunter and
veteran dog owner. This dog needs to be part
of the family and prefers to do so, but it must
learn that it is not superior to any family
members. This breed can probably do well in
any activity that requires brains and athletic
ability, for this reason, this is a good breed
for someone who loves to train their dog(s)
for canine competitions. 
