The Weimaraner, or “grey ghost” as it is commonly nicknamed, is an intelligent, loyal dog originally bred in Germany for hunting large game. The Weimaraner’s majestic beauty, friendliness and loyalty are enough to win over any dog lover, though a Weimaraner does not make the perfect pet for just anyone. The Weimaraner thrives on adequate exercise, intellectual stimulation and being a part of a family in which the dog’s role is clear.

The Weimaraner is an exuberant lover of life who needs an active and equally enthusiastic owner. To say the Weimaraner is boisterous would be an understatement. If you are looking for a lethargic couch dog, steer clear of the Weimaraner. If you are looking for a companion ready to hike miles into the wilderness with you, join you on regular runs, swim with you in the lake and curl up in bed with you at the end of the day, the Weimaraner may be the family member you are seeking.

High energy and stamina along with a strong scenting ability and intelligence make the Weimaraner an excellent hunting dog. Intense loyalty, a protective nature and an eagerness to obey its leader make the Weimaraner the perfect member of the right family-and a member of the family is just what a Weimaraner wants to be. However, a Weimaraner who does not receive adequate exercise, discipline and stimulation will take out its energy through unwanted behavior, and that could mean destruction to belongings and a headache for the entire family.

If you decide to bring a Weimaraner into your home, obedience training and discipline are absolutely critical from the start. While a disciplined, well-exercised Weimaraner will be eager to fulfill your every command and come back for more, an undisciplined one will exhibit unwanted behaviors such as chewing, jumping and being a colossal pest. Such behavior is simply a show of dominance or an outlet for releasing pent up energy, and can be prevented through exercise and proper leadership. The Weimaraner is headstrong and determined, and will naturally assume the role as leader of the household if not taught otherwise. Every member of a household adopting a Weimaraner must be willing to actively participate in creating an environment of structure and discipline in which the dog will thrive.

Before adopting any purebred dog, it is encouraged to educate yourself about the temperament, care and health issues associated with the breed in consideration. If possible, speak with others who have owned or had experience with the breed. Resist the temptation to take home a puppy of a breed with which you are unfamiliar, even if an adorable puppy dog face is luring you in. Dogs of different breeds vary widely in personality, energy level and maintenance. Be sure that you select a dog based on your lifestyle and ability to fulfill the needs of the dog.

Very intelligent and sensitive these dogs crave companionship. They are at their happiest when amongst humans and a member of the family. Many pet owners do mention that they’re just like humans in the way they think about problems. So like humans they need plenty of companionship and exercise.

The breed can be described as a medium to large sized bird dog with a muscular body, deep chest, and a long neck with a slightly pointed face. Its long ears rest folded and hang close to the head.

A Weimaraner has only two color alleles and in order to make a Blue Weimaraner, at least one allele should be blue. If a Weimaraner has inherited a blue allele, then it will be blue.

Training of a Weimaraner should start as soon as the dog is brought home to enforce the house/family rules and these should be kept strict so the dog understands what is allowed and what is not.

Owners need patience, as this breed is particularly energetic and difficult to control during the first year and a half of its life. Like many breeds, untrained and unconfined young dogs often create their own diversions when left alone, such as chewing house quarters and furniture.

Historically, ownership of these alluring gray dogs was carefully guarded and breeding was strictly controlled by the nobles, and later by The Weimaraner Club of Germany. In fact ownership of the Weimaraner was carefully restricted for decades and only members of the upper class German Weimaraner Club were allowed to own the breed. Given this exclusive ownership, almost all of these dogs lived indoors and where highly pampered, leading to the strong attachment to family life which continues to this day.

A Weim (as they are affectionately known) is not for a person or family that works all day or who doesn’t have a lot of time to devote to the dog. Their energy level is very high. A Weim is a lot of dog and obedience training is a must. In obedience training, you will learn that to heel is a very specific position for your dog, and you will need to use it a lot when out with them.

Nevertheless, Weims are a very special breed of dogs and most fall in love with them because they have such human characteristics. But, please be sure to research the breed before purchasing, and be careful to make sure a Weim is right for you. Weims have to be tolerated as world-class house un-decorators and de-landscapers. They can be like having and extra child!

They have lots of energy, as they were bred originally to hunt all day with their master. Changing this behavior changes that essential Weim requirement at your peril, so make sure you exercise you Weim continually.

Weimaraners are often kind to children, but like any dog are not recommend for very young ones because they can be boisterous enough to accidentally knock a child down.

This breed likes to bark as well!

But, most will love their dependence on human companionship which is exceptionally strong among these dogs, and the fact that they will give so much unconditional love and affection for the family.

Weimaraners’ have been coined with the title “dog with a human brain,” indicating their vast level of intelligence. While this breed is one that is naturally smart, if you have a Weimaraner puppy, he must still undergo at least the basic levels of obedience training, just like any other breed. This will ensure he is pleasant to be around and safe around children and other dogs. These dogs are smart, but they will not pick up on even the most basic puppy training commands unless you go through the motions of training them properly.

The come command is one of the most important you can teach any dog. Begin your training indoors where there are few distractions. During your first few sessions with your puppy, keep him on a leash. Say his name firmly to get his attention and gently pull the leash toward you.

When he approaches you due to the pulling leash and stands directly before you then this is when you praise him. Repeat these steps, gradually removing the leash and moving to a more distracting location. Get your family involved to provide distractions rather than taking him to an unfenced area where the early stages of puppy training are not good enough to prevent him from running into the street and possibly being injured.

The sit and stay command is a basic one you should incorporate into your Weimaraner puppy training goals as well. As you teach the sit command, begin by observing your pup and when he begins the act of sitting by himself, make sure the “sit” command is given quickly and praise him when his rear touches the floor. This will make actual training sessions go naturally smoother as he is already familiar with the word. The stay command should be taught in a similar manner to the come command. Begin with a leash in a quiet place and gradually increase the difficulty of the situation.

Once your dog knows sit and stay in the sitting position, the down command is a good one to teach next. Let him smell a treat in one hand as you grasp his collar firmly with the other hand. Very gradually transfer the doggie treat toward the floor and your puppy should follow it with his head. When he gets close to the floor, say the down command and praise him when he follows through.

To be effective , Weimaraner puppy training needs to acknowledge the breed’s naturally strong and powerful personality with a definite stubborn streak. You will want to work with your puppy in achieving training goals. If you upset or frighten your puppy he will set his heels against you and training will become a nightmare. Training your puppy should be a cooperative exercise and for that to be effective you need to understand how your puppy thinks and processes commands. Consistency, specific, simple word commands and positive reinforcement are the tools you will use for training.

Your new Weimaraner puppy will be wondering who is new alpha is. In his life to this point he will have had litter mates and a mother to interact with and all of his behaviors will have been tailored to these family members. Your puppy will have no idea of what ‘human rules’ are and no concept of right and wrong as we view them. Consistency is your biggest ally in Weimaraner puppy training. If you do not want your puppy to jump up on strangers then you cannot allow him to jump up on yourself or any member of your family. If the couch is ever going to be off-limits, it must always be off limits. This type of consistency will help your puppy quickly understand the new hierarchy and acceptable behaviors.

You also need to use basic command words in a consistent manner. Say each command once and immediately award the proper response with kisses, petting or a treat. Your Weimaraner puppy will be anxious to please you and this type of positive reinforcement immediately tells him he has succeeded. Be sure to use the exact same word for each command every time. A big part of Weimaraner puppy training is word association and getting your puppy to understand that a given command is for an exact behavior.

If you work carefully and consistently from the moment you get your new puppy, Weimaraner puppy training will help you create a dog that is happy, well adjusted and well behaved. The same stubborn streak that can make untrained Weimaraner puppies so troublesome can also make them respond well to training and become the most attentive and responsive adult dogs. Remember that for dogs, learning human behaviors and manners is learning a new culture and language – patience, consistency and positive reinforcement are the keys.

Looking at a litter of cute little puppies makes it easy to look over the hard task of raising a good well-mannered dog. Choosing the puppy you take home is much simpler than actually managing and teaching the puppy and many people only come to realize that too late. How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With is a well revised and expanded book that will help you do this with ease.

In this book you will learn:

o Choosing a Puppy

o Behavior: Environmental Factors

o The First Three Months

o The Breeder’s Responsibility

o Puppy Goes to a New Home

o Socialization Continues

o Domesticating Your Puppy

o Development from Three to Six Months

o The Importance of Personality

o Dog Signals Using Body Language

o Behavioral Problems

o The Rewards of Puppy Training

o The Second Six Months

How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With is a book that is highly recommended for the new puppy owner, but it will also help the person who already has a dog. It teaches the importance for puppy owners to learn the basic rules and tricks to raising a dog. Not only does this book cover the physical aspects of the puppy, but it also covers the psychological.

If you are in the market for a cute puppy but don’t know the basics of raising one, this book needs to be on your shelf. How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With is the book that you wish would come with the puppy package when you pick him up from the pet store.

The Weimaraner is a dog that needs plenty of exercise and a place to run. Try to avoid running them after a meal as they may develop a life threatening bloat. This breed of dog will do better with three smaller meals a day rather then two or even one large meal. This is a very protective dog and can be a one person or one family dog. They may not be trusted with other pets due to their strong prey instinct. They may fight other canines. They need to be socialized with children and very young children are in danger of being knocked over but this athletic, highly active dog. They have a coat that is very pleasing to the touch. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.

Special Health Considerations

Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Weimaraner is no exception. Be on the look out for bleeding disorders, gastric tension and Canine Hip Dysplasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness). This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.

She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.

Grooming

The Weimaraner has an easy care sleek, short and smooth coat that feels like heaven to the touch. She should be brushed regularly and rubbed down with a chamois to make her coat shine. Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy coat, help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.

Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.

Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet.

Life Span

The Weimaraner can live between 10 and 12 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.

History

The Weimaraner comes from Germany where they were used to hunt big game. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1943.

Some Registries

• Weimaraner Club of America
• UKC United Kennel Club
• NKC National Kennel Club
• CKC Continental Kennel Club
• APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
• AKC American Kennel Club
• FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
• NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
• KCGB Kennel Club of Great Britain
• ANKC Australian National Kennel Club
• ACR American Canine Registry

Average litter Size

5 to 7 Weimaraner puppies

Category

Sporting, Gundog

Terms To Describe

Aristocrat, speed, grace, balance, alert, friendly, affectionate, obedient, alert, fearless

SPECIAL GOOD POINTS

• Very good watch dog.
• Very good guard dog.

SPECIAL BAD POINTS

• May be a bit headstrong.
• Must be kept exercised.

Other Names Known By

Weimar Pointer, Gray Ghost

The Weimaraner is an exuberant lover of life who needs an active and equally enthusiastic owner. To say the Weimaraner is boisterous would be an understatement. If you are looking for a lethargic couch dog, steer clear of the Weimaraner. If you are looking for a companion ready to hike miles into the wilderness with you, join you on regular runs, swim with you in the lake and curl up in bed with you at the end of the day, the Weimaraner may be the family member you are seeking.

High energy and stamina along with a strong scenting ability and intelligence make the Weimaraner an excellent hunting dog. Intense loyalty, a protective nature and an eagerness to obey its leader make the Weimaraner the perfect member of the right family-and a member of the family is just what a Weimaraner wants to be. However, a Weimaraner who does not receive adequate exercise, discipline and stimulation will take out its energy through unwanted behavior, and that could mean destruction to belongings and a headache for the entire family.

If you decide to bring a Weimaraner into your home, obedience training and discipline are absolutely critical from the start. While a disciplined, well-exercised Weimaraner will be eager to fulfill your every command and come back for more, an undisciplined one will exhibit unwanted behaviors such as chewing, jumping and being a colossal pest. Such behavior is simply a show of dominance or an outlet for releasing pent up energy, and can be prevented through exercise and proper leadership. The Weimaraner is headstrong and determined, and will naturally assume the role as leader of the household if not taught otherwise. Every member of a household adopting a Weimaraner must be willing to actively participate in creating an environment of structure and discipline in which the dog will thrive.
Before adopting any purebred dog, it is encouraged to educate yourself about the temperament, care and health issues associated with the breed in consideration. If possible, speak with others who have owned or had experience with the breed. Resist the temptation to take home a puppy of a breed with which you are unfamiliar, even if an adorable puppy dog face is luring you in. Dogs of different breeds vary widely in personality, energy level and maintenance. Be sure that you select a dog based on your lifestyle and ability to fulfill the needs of the dog.