The Weimaraners are the tallest of the gundog breeds. With their gleaming, short, and smooth coat, as well as their blue or amber eyes, they remain one of the most beautiful breeds. Weimaraners are also intelligent dogs who are frequently referred to as ‘dogs with human brains’.
The Weimaraner is a pretty recent breed that was designed to hunt huge prey, such as deer, bear, and boar. Their duty required extraordinary tracking skills, great athleticism, as well as a sharp mind. Weimaraners should make wonderful companions for any activity. Besides their love for learning, they are incredibly loyal and easy to handle.
However, this does not imply that your Weimaraner will not develop unpleasant behaviors if not properly trained. Like other breeds, Weimaraners have a number of behavioral problems when not properly trained and we will take a look at them in a minute. But first, let’s understand why this pooch can be the right breed for you.
How Big Do Weimaraners Get?
The Weimaraner weighs between 50 to 90 lbs with a height ranging between 24 to 28 inches.
Weimaraners’ bodies are robust and well-built for work, sleek, and capable of long-distance running. With broad chests, these canines have an athletic appearance.
Physical Appearance
Weimaraners are strong dogs with large ears drooping on the sides of their heads. They have a smooth and short distinctive gray coat that varies in color from silver to mouse gray. They will often have white spots on their belly.
Weimaraners are also easily recognized for their unique bright blue eyes as pups. As they grow older, the color changes to gray-blue or amber.
What’s It Like Owning A Weimaraner?
Ranked within the top 25th most intelligent dogs on Stanley Coren’s list, Weimaraners can learn fairly quickly and be taught a great number of tricks and commands. However, they do require constant mental stimulation, in order to avoid destructive behaviors, like incessant barking.
Weimaraners are also renowned for being affectionate and loyal pups who thrive in active and loving households. If you enjoy long walks with an agile and obedient doggie companion under all weather conditions, then a Weimaraner is the best breed for you.
Some of the personality traits you can expect from your Weimaraner include:
Loyal
Weimaraners are completely loyal to their families. These pooches enjoy giving standing hugs and frequently take over the bed for napping. They make great companions for dog-show competitors, active families, and swimmers.
Protective
Weimaraners are more protective than any other sporting breed. These canines are fearless, obedient, and brave. They will always become aggressive when they feel that their family is in danger.
Sociable
Weimaraners are sociable, outgoing puppies that get along with kids. However, due to their size and high energy, they will unknowingly knock over young kids. Weimaraners only need their family’s love and affection for them to be completely comfortable and happy.
Are Weimaraners Right For Me?
Yes, Weimaraners can make excellent companions. These doggies will be easily content, as long as the owner is active and engages them with an adequate workout routine. They have a deep link with their families and are caring, making them acceptable even for households with young kids.
How Long Do Weimaraners Live For?
Weimaraners have an average lifespan of 10 to 14 years.
Make sure you get your Weimaraner from a reputable breeder with health records and assurances on puppies, so you don’t end up paying a lot of money for vet bills later.
Generally, Weimaraners are very healthy dogs. Here are some health problems that Weimaraners will be susceptible to.
Gastric Torsion
This severe condition often referred to as ‘bloat’, is a result of consuming large meals rapidly. Serving your dog multiple smaller foods every day is the easiest approach to avoid this condition.
Hip Dysplasia
This is a problem with the hip joint. It will cause pain in one or both parts. Maintaining your Weimaraner’s healthy weight will assist in reducing pressure on the joints. You can as well provide your pet with joint supplements like glucosamine for healthy joints.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
This degenerative eye illness results in total blindness by depleting photoreceptors at the back of the eyes. Have your pup’s eyes examined yearly by a vet ophthalmologist, and never buy or breed pooches with this condition.
Hypothyroidism
This is a condition caused by a lack of thyroid hormone. Its signs include obesity, tiredness, infertility, and mental dullness. Give your dog daily pills for thyroid replacement in order to manage this condition.
Entropion
This condition is noticeable when the pup reaches 6 months of age, and it causes the eyelid to fold inward, irritate, and injure the eyeball. It affects one or both eyes. If the condition worsens, it is always managed surgically.
How To Take Care Of Your Weimaraner?
There are a number of ways to provide the right care for your Weimaraner. Engaging your pooch with routine exercises to keep it fit, providing a great diet to keep it healthy, as well as taking care of its oral health, are some of the important steps to take in maintaining a healthy life for your beloved pooch.
How Much Walking Does A Weimaraner Need?
To avoid undesired habits and keep them mentally stimulated, Weimaraners usually require one to two hours of intense exercise daily.
They may become highly destructive or develop behavior disorders, such as chewing furniture and incessant digging if they don’t get the exercise they require to relieve their pent-up energy. You can start by doing the following:
- 45 to 60 minutes of walking every day
- 15 minutes of intense exercise (running)
- 15 minutes of mental training (puzzle toys, tricks)
The Best Weimaraner Pup Food
Give your Weimaraner a high-protein diet since it’s an active and energetic breed. To maintain your dog’s muscle mass, provide it with 15% fat and 38% protein.
Pet Plate is an excellent choice for ensuring that your doggie gets the right nutrients.
Give Your Weimaraner The Right Amount Of Food
Avoid overfeeding Weimaraners in order to keep their slim figure. Feed your Weimaraner 3 to 4 cups of high-quality meal daily. To balance the amount of caloric intake, start by feeding your pooch with small portions of meals throughout the day.
Supplement A Diet With Multivitamins
Supplement your pet’s diet with multivitamins such as calcium to maintain its body functions like building muscles, boosting the immune system, and digestion. Vitamins will also help in boosting your pup’s energy level. Choose highly palatable supplements with natural ingredients for easy absorption.
Dental Care For Your Weimaraner
Brush your Weimaraner’s teeth twice a week. Use a dog toothbrush with very soft bristles in cleaning your puppy’s teeth. Brushing should be done on a regular basis to avoid food buildup, which will lead to gum disease and infections. Dental water additives will maintain your doggie’s fresh breath.
Are Weimaraners Good Family Dogs? Temperaments Of Weimaraner Dogs
Yes, despite the intimidating sizes Weimaraners can grow to, they make excellent family dogs. They are affectionate and can form a strong bond of loyalty with their families, making them ideal even for households with young children, especially when trained well.
They are protective dogs who will occasionally jump onto the bed next to their owners during the night for cuddles or for standing guard.
Do Weimaraners Bark A Lot?
Weimaraners will bark a lot if not properly trained. These pooches require a lot of human interaction and therefore if left alone for an extended period of time, they will bark excessively.
Also, Weimaraners will often bark when they are bored and when they feel their family is in danger. Give your pup vigorous exercises, obedience commands training, and regular socialization to keep them mentally stimulated and calm.
Are Weimaraners Aggressive?
Weimaraner puppies are born with the ability to be aggressive, protective, and aloof from visitors. If not properly trained, encountering strangers can cause these pooches to become very apprehensive and cautious, and they may turn excessively aggressive toward these people.
Given that Weimaraners are bred for hunting, it is vital to socialize them with a number of individuals and settings when they are young and all through their lives.
Can Weimaraners Be Left Alone?
No, it is not a good idea to leave Weimaraner alone at home. When left alone for longer than 6 hours, they tend to display destructive behaviors, such as gnawing furniture, incessant digging, and barking.
This is because Weimaraners often suffer from separation anxiety and prefer to be near their families. Do get them to undergo crate training for at least one year to curb their anxiety and develop the ability to be alone while you are away from home.
Are Weimaraners High Maintenance? Grooming Tips For Weimaraner Dogs
A Weimaraner is a low-maintenance dog or the simplest breed to care for. You will find out more as you continue reading this section.
Furthermore, grooming your Weimaraner is usually done once every 4 to 6 weeks to ensure the skin and coat are in healthy condition. Grooming on a regular basis will also ensure early detection of various health problems, remove pulling mats, and lower the chances of ear infections.
Are Weimaraners Low Shedding?
Yes, Weimaraner shed moderately. You are unlikely to notice shedding if you own a short-haired Weimaraner. The amount of shedding varies greatly according to age, surroundings, gender, and even diet.
Are Weimaraners Hypoallergenic?
No, Weimaraners are not a hypoallergenic breed. Despite the fact that this breed has short hair and lacks a double coat, it sheds moderately. These pooches will tend to shed more during the autumn and spring seasons.
Having seen much of its coat characteristics, let’s take a look at the different ways of grooming your Weimaraner pooch.
Brushing The Coat Regularly
Brush your Weimaraner once a week. Brushing your pooch on a regular basis maintains its coat’s healthy condition and reduces shedding. Use a bristle brush to keep your doggie skin healthy and chamois to make the silvery coat shine.
Use FURminator Undercoat Tool to make clean-up a breeze by easily eliminating loose short hair. It will prevent knots and tangles.
How Often Should You Wash Weimaraner?
Wash your Weimaraner once a month. Use Pro Pet Works All Natural 5 In 1 Oatmeal Shampoo regularly to keep your Weimaraner’s coat healthy. It has sensitizing ingredients that remove unpleasant odors.
Use a slicker brush to detangle knots and mats, remove loose fur, and gently remove dirt and debris.
Related Questions
How Much Does A Weimaraner Dog Cost? A Weimaraner typically costs between $700 to $1,500. This breed’s price depends on gender, pooch’s age, location of the breeder, and pedigree. Investing the effort to select a reputable breeder that produces healthy pups properly will boost your chances of having a joyful, healthy dog who lives a long life.
Why Do Weimaraners Sit Like Humans? Weimaraners, like humans, maintain a healthy sitting posture to relieve stiffness and back pains. Since they are highly intelligent and affectionate pups, this sitting posture is their way of showing affection to their families. They will prefer to sit on the floor being next to you or sit on your feet.
Can Weimaraners Swim? Yes, Weimaraners are excellent swimmers that enjoy being in the water. Some Weimaraners may be apprehensive at first, but with practice and experience, you can train them to trust you. You must be patient as the entire process will take some time. Always keep in mind that your goal is to demonstrate to your puppy that swimming is a joyful and enjoyable sport.
