Weimaraner

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Description

Looking for the perfect hunting dog that's built for endurance, and great speed? Dog breeds with a high alert demeanor, great stamina and grace are highly sought after. Why? They help hunters track prey such as game birds and deer.

Thanks to their keen sense of smell, loyal nature and boundless energy, they are perfect for the job. There are many hunting dog breeds out there. One of the most popular dog breeds is the Weimaraner.

Also nicknamed the "Gray Ghost" or "Silver Ghost," its a medium-sized dog. It has fine aristocratic features such as their sleek mouse-gray coat and blue-gray or gray eyes.

Today, the Weimaraner is enjoying renewed popularity. It ranks 41st in popularity which is a 2-point drop from position thirty-ninth in the past decade. Beloved as hunting dogs, they have excessive amounts of energy.

As such, they excel in tracking, pointing, hunting and retrieving. As a seasoned hunting dog, the Weimaraner is also referred to as "the dog with the human brain." It's the 21st smartest dog in the world.

Although it's a smart dog, it requires a gentle touch during training. The Weimaraner learns best from another seasoned hunting dog.

Weimaraner - General Appearance, Personality and Temperament

General Appearance

The Weimaraner has a height of 23 inches to 27 inches at the shoulder. It weighs 55 to 90 pounds and has a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. Nicknamed the "Silver Ghost," they have a short coat with various shades of gray.

The coat color can be mouse gray or silver-gray. Around the head and ears, the shade is light. If the Weimaraner has a distinctly black or blue coat, that's a disqualification.

The chest is normally well developed with the shoulders well laid back. The ribs are long and well sprung while the abdomen is firmly held. When it comes to the forelegs, they are straight and strong.

Personality and Temperament

Weimaraners have a great personality. They are happy, friendly, playful and curious. As intelligent dogs, they are good with children. They are loyal and attached to their loving families.

What you ought to know is that they require lots of attention. Don't be surprised when they follow you everywhere. They are great watchdogs and have incredible levels of energy. Weimaraners love to go for walks, run, hunt or essentially any outdoor activity that involves playing.

As a loving companion, Weimaraners will often gift you with dead things. They include birds, frogs or even the neighborhood cats. Don't reject the gifts as you may damage your relationship with the Weimaraner.

When it comes to training, be sensitive. You should also be firm and have a sense of humor. To stay a step ahead of the Weimaraner, you have to be smart. If not, the dog will outsmart you.

Remember, harsh treatment will make the Weimaraner resentful.

Wrapping Up

The Weimaraner is a versatile dog. It can help with tracking, hunting, and retrieving both on land and water. Since they are great trackers and hunters, they have been popularly used in search and rescue missions.

As hunting dogs, they don't like living outdoors but they love the closeness of their owners.

As a dog owner, never ignore your Weimaraner. If you do so, they bark excessively, soil your home or destroy it. To avoid this, always socialize with your Weimaraner.

History

The Weimaraner dog breed is an all-around hunting dog that dates back to the 19th century. Bred in Weimar, Germany, the Weimaraner was purposely bred for hunting large game. They include bear, deer, and boar.

The German royalty were avid sportsmen. They used the Weimaraner to hunt a variety of big game. In fact, Karl August, the Grand Duke of Saxe Weimar-Eisenach kept the dogs in his court. The court is today located in the state of Thuringia in modern-day Germany.

Based on history, the breeds used to create the Weimaraner include the German Shorthaired pointer, Bloodhound and the blue Great Dane. You also have the English Pointer and the silver-gray Huehnerhund.

The Weimaraner gets its name from Weimar, Germany. The Nobles of Weimar needed a dog with great tracking ability, courage, and speed. Thanks to the breeding program, they finally produced a breed with distinctive gray coat color.

This has become the hallmark of the Weimaraner breed.

Did you know that the signature Weimaraner silver coat was developed by accident? Well, now you do.

he Founding of the German Weimaraner Club

In the early 19th century, the Nobles of Weimar controlled the breeding and availability of the breed. To ensure the future of the Weimaraner dog breed, they founded the German Weimaraner Club in 1897. There were restrictions on club membership.

In fact, members could buy a puppy but it was difficult for many people to gain access to the exclusive organization. Also, they did not promote themselves and preferred to stay under the radar.

Back then, few outsiders knew about the Weimaraner dog breed. The club only allowed 1500 dogs to be registered. Around the mid 19th century, the popularity of large game hunting declined.

This was due to the declining forest cover in Germany. As such, the Weimaraner eventually hunted rabbits, foxes, and game birds.

Introduction of the Weimaraner in America

The Weimaraner was popularly referred to as the Weimar pointers. Due to the protectiveness of the German club, it proved difficult for breeding outside Germany. In fact, the Englishmen could not import the breed to England.

It was not until the 1920s when Rhode Island-born Howard Knight learned of the breed. As a New England sportsman, he applied for membership in the German Club. Despite the club's protectiveness, they sent two pups to Howard Knight.

Problem was, they were both sterile. In 1938, the club sent four dogs â€“ three bitches and a pup. Others joined Howard Knights efforts and in 1942, the Weimaraner Club of America was formed.

The club applied for the American Kennel Club recognition and granted membership in the same year. In the 1940s, imports of the dog breed began. This was largely attributed to World War II in Europe.