The Weimaraner is a large breed of dog from Germany. He is considered a versatile hunting dog that fulfills his task reliably and with great endurance. An attitude as a pure family dog is possible under certain conditions. However, it is still the exception in the Weimaraner.
Key facts at a glance:
- FCI: Group 7, Section 1.1, Standard No. 99 (with working test)
- Life expectancy: 12 to 14 years
- Origin: Germany
- Size: males 59-70 cm / females 57-65 cm
- Weight: males 30-40 kg / females 25-35 kg
- Colours: fawn, silver or mouse grey
- Character: moderately temperamental, affectionate, intelligent, self-confident
Origin and history of the Weimaraner
There are various theories about the origin of the Weimaraner, so that its exact origins are unclear today. What is certain, however, is that the Weimaraner was kept at the court of Grand Duke Carl August von Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach in Weimar at the beginning of the 19th century and was used for hunting there.
Evidence of the deliberate breeding of the Weimaraner, however, is only available around the year 1890. The association for breeding the silver-grey Weimaraner was finally founded in 1897. The association is still active today under the name Weimaraner Klub eV.
In Germany, the Weimaraner is still primarily a hunting dog, which is also reflected in the fact that many breeders only give their puppies to hunters. In the USA, on the other hand, the Weimaraner enjoys great popularity as a family dog, which is why the main focus when breeding there is on the appearance and less on the performance of the animals.
Description of the Weimaraner
The average life expectancy of the Weimaraner is 12 to 14 years. Male specimens reach a shoulder height of up to 70 centimeters and a weight of up to 40 kilograms, while female Weimaraners weigh a maximum of 35 kilograms and grow to a maximum of 65 centimeters.
The Weimaraner has a slim build that gives it an elegant appearance. The large, broad ears hang sideways down to the level of the corners of the mouth. The eyes are always light to dark amber in adult animals. However, Weimaraner puppies start out with sky blue eyes.
The Weimaraner’s coat is fawn, silver, or mouse gray, with both long-haired and short-haired animals being bred. Short-haired Weimaraners have a very dense, strong, and smooth-lying coat with almost no undercoat.
Long-haired Weimaraners have a soft top coat that can be smooth or wavy and can appear with or without an undercoat. Since the long coat is a recessive inheritance, short-haired Weimaraners can also have long-haired puppies.
Character of the Weimaraner
The Weimaraner is considered to be self-confident and sovereign. At the same time, he proves to be extremely affectionate. He builds up a close bond with his caregiver, while often leaving the other family members largely unnoticed.
A certain level of expertise is required when training a Weimaraner. Because it is important to take into account the sensitive nature of the animals as well as to show the necessary consistency in order to assert oneself against the strong-willed four-legged friends.
In contrast to most other hunting dogs, the Weimaraner has a strong protective instinct, which makes it an extremely capable guard dog in addition to hunting.
Possible uses for the Weimaraner
At least for us, the Weimaraner is and will always be a powerful hunting dog that can optimally show off its strengths when working with a hunter. It proves to be a reliable companion, especially when working after the shot.
Occasionally, however, Weimaraners are trained to be therapy dogs and then work with their owner as part of animal-assisted therapy procedures.
However, the Weimaraner is only suitable to a limited extent for keeping as a pure family dog. Anyone who still decides on this breed should be aware that the intelligent animals must be sufficiently challenged both mentally and physically.
Simple walks are far from sufficient for this purpose. Instead, mantrailing or dummy training are suitable, for example, to keep Weimaraners as appropriate as possible without hunting.
Weimaraner diseases
Basically, the Weimaraner is a fairly robust dog breed. However, there is a certain risk of developing hip dysplasia, which is why the joints of animals intended for breeding must be examined in advance.
Another health problem that is typical of large dogs and can therefore also occur in the Weimaraner is the so-called stomach torsion. That being said, the breed enjoys good overall health thanks to strict breeding regulations.
However, in recent years the Weimaraner has increasingly been bred as a fashion dog outside of the influence of the Weimaraner Club eV. There is therefore at least the possibility that this will not remain the case in the long term and that health problems will increase in the future.
Weimaraners and the risk of inbreeding
The Weimaraner is one of the dog breeds that quickly stopped crossing with other animals. This makes him the oldest pointing dog in Germany, but at the same time ensures a relatively small breeding base and thus a comparatively high risk of inbreeding.