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The Weimaraner is one of
the 50 most popular dogs in America, as a family pet
and as a hunting companion. This is a breed known
for its excellent temperament and friendliness,
though a Weimaraner can be a bit headstrong at
times. To help you understand this beautiful breed,
we have gathered 10 common questions and provided
answers for each.
1. What is the history of the Weimaraner?
The Weimaraner was bred in Europe in the 1800s to be
a hunting dog that worked well on land and in the
water. The first Weimar pointers appeared in the
middle of that century. At first, the breed was a
dog that followed scent similar to a bloodhound but
over time, the Weimar was crossed with a pointer and
is now also a pointing dog when hunting.
2. How big does the
Weimaraner get?
Males of the breed can grow to 24 and 27 inches at
the withers and may weigh up to 70 pounds. On the
other hand, females will stand about 22 to 25 inches
and weigh 50 pounds to 65 pounds.
3. Can I train my new dog for hunting or field
trials?
The Weimaraner is an excellent hunting and
retrieving dog, on land and in the water.
Weimaraners may also perform very well in agility
and field competitions. Formal training by a
professional can make some dogs champions.
4. What is the best way to give my Weimaraner
exercise?
Because this dog was bred to be a hunting dog, you
should plan to give him plenty of outdoor exercise.
The Weimaraner will do reasonably well in a smaller
home as long as there is space and time to exercise
outdoors. In fact, the Weimaraner will not do well
living outside. This is definitely an indoor dog
except when hunting or exercising.
5. How should I choose a breeder?
You should first read all you can about the breed
and be prepared with questions about health and
general care of the Weimaraner. Then it would be
best to learn all you can about the various breeders
in your area. We recommend visiting at least three,
asking questions and looking closely at the living
conditions of the dogs and the way the breeder
interacts with the dogs. A breeder should put
emphasis on good socialization of the young dogs so
that they are comfortable with other dogs and with
people.
6. What should I feed my Weimaraner?
Experienced owners recommend staying away from
low-quality commercial foods with excess amounts of
grain (corn, wheat, and soy). Some dogs are allergic
to these grains. This energetic, outside dog should
receive the correct amount and type of food to
sustain his activity. A quality diet of lean meats
and some vegetables, with adequate protein, is a
good place to start, but you should talk with your
veterinarian and breeder to determine which
long-term diet is best.
7. What health problems should I watch for?
With many purebred dogs, you should ask about hip
dysplasia when you visit a breeder, which is also
the case with the Weimaraner. This degenerative
joint disease can be detected early with the OFA
radiograph test. A puppy should be certified as free
from this tendency. A Weimaraner may also be prone
to genetic eye conditions such as retinal atrophy.
Ask your breeder about these conditions in the
parents of a puppy you are looking at.
8. What is the best way to housebreak my
Weimaraner?
There are several different methods for this, but we
recommend crate training because it gives the dog a
safe place to go when it needs to be alone and it
gives the dog a natural den that it will want to
keep clean. Prevention is a key in this type of
training, so you should take the dog outside early
in the morning and again late at night.
9. Is the Weimaraner good for a family pet?
Generally, yes. The Weimaraner is a friendly and
loving dog that does well as a family pet. Just
remember, you must remember this breed is energetic,
needing to run and exercise. The dogs of this breed
tend to be a bit willful and stubborn at times too.
It is best to plan on plenty of exercise for the
Weimaraner and show plenty of patience.
10. How hard is this breed to groom?
The short, sleek Weimaraner coat will need very
little grooming. A good brushing will keep the
beautiful gray coat in nice shape. You should
probably not bath the Weimaraner unless absolutely,
necessary. With regular brushing, you will find the
Weimaraner to be an average shedder.
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