Different breeds of dogs.

WEIMARANER

by Dennis Fisher

This article is one of a great many articles written by Dennis Fisher about a very wide variety of subjects concerning different  dogs, such as obedience training, breeding, showing, health matters, training problems and other subjects.  All these articles appear on Dennis Fisher's websites.   Visit  http://www.allaboutgermanshepherddogs.com the site that has been set up specifically for German Shepherd Dog enthusiasts, or http://www.freedogadvice.com  if you interested in a breed   other than German Shepherd Dogs

This is an animal that originated  as a hunting dog in Weimar, Germany in the early 1800’s.   It is similar in certain respects to the German short-haired pointer.

Because of its unusual silver-grey colour and the fact that it moves very silently while hunting, it is sometimes called the “grey ghost”.  The eyes, nose and lips are similar in color to the coat.

The Weimanaraner is quite a large dog, approximately  25 inches at the shoulder and weighing up to 85 lbs.  It was bred for hunting and was used  as a hunter of game birds.

The silver-grey coat is short and smooth and requires very little grooming.

The dog is very agile indeed, as one would expect of a dog bred for hunting.   It moves with great speed and grace.

Because of its lively nature and the fact that it was bred as a hunting dog, it is an animal that does require a great deal of exercise.

It is a highly intelligent animal with a remarkably good sense of smell.   A number of Weimaraners have done exceptionally well in obedience tests.  This  is not surprising because it is an animal that responds very well to training.

In structure it gives the impression of an a strong athletic  animal with well-developed hind-quarters, firm back and strong, straight forequarters.

The head is long with powerful jaws and pronounced flews. The eyes are an unusual combination of bluish- gray, similar to the coat , or yellowish-brown.

From the limited personal experience I have had with only a few specimens of this breed in my training classes, I gained the impression that very firm handling is necessary. They appear to be a very high-spirited breed and very energetic. The Weimaraner must know who is the boss otherwise it will take advantage of an indecisive owner.

Because of so many  stories about the Weimaraners unusual intelligence , the breed  became very popular very quickly.  As a result there was a great deal of injudicious breeding and  temperaments suffered.

It would appear that there is a wide variation in the temperaments of Weimaraners.  The same advice with regard to the choice of a Weimaraner pup is applicable to this breed in the same way as any to other breed.

 Make sure that you examine the parents of the pup you intend purchasing in its home environment to make sure both Sire and Dam  are self-assured and confident.  They can be stand-offish, reserved, aloof but not timid.  

Because of it’s easily manageable short coat and high intelligence it is an animal that, when well trained, can fit in easily in a family home.