Information on Weimaraner Dogs

The Weimaraner originated from Germany as a hunting dog. The typical Weimaraner is a high-energy animal that makes an excellent watchdog and is affectionate with children. Weimaraners get along well with other dogs and if raised with cats will easily tolerate their presence. The breed relishes human contact, and owners often find their dogs close to them in a home scenario.

  1. Early History

    • The Weimaraner came from the German court of Weimar in the beginning of the 1800s. The German nobility sought to breed a hunting dog with great intelligence. Although the exact combination of breeds that formed the Weimaraner is unknown, it is probable that dogs such as the bloodhound, German shorthaired pointer, English pointer and blue Great Dane were involved. Once big-game hunting fell out of favor, the Weimaraner became a bird and rabbit dog. The breed stayed exclusively in Germany until the middle of the 20th century, when World War II precipitated the number of breeders giving up their dogs.

    Popularity

    • Soldiers brought Weimaraners home with them from overseas; President Dwight Eisenhower had a Weimaraner named Heidi that lived in the White House. The Weimaraner became popular enough to get all the way up to number 12 on the American Kennel Club registry of dogs, but the love affair of the American public was short-lived. The breed lost favor and much poor breeding decreased the quality of dogs in the United States. However, dedicated breeders brought the Weimaraner back to prominence by breeding animals that raised the health and standards of the breed.

    Size and Coat

    • The male Weimaraner averages between 70 and 85 pounds and is about 26 inches tall at its shoulder. The females are smaller at 24 inches and weigh 55 to 70 pounds. The dog possesses a short, smooth coat that is one solid shade of gray, with this hue often being silvery-gray. The gray coloring even extends to the dog's nose. The short hair of the breed makes it easy to groom.

    Health

    • Weimaraners have the potential to develop certain health conditions. One is hip dysplasia, where the hip joint or joints are abnormal. Another, much more dangerous, health concern is gastric dilation volvulus, a possible life-threatening problem that causes the dog's stomach to fill with air or gas and twist. This can result in a serious circumstance where blood pressure drops and the dog cannot even vomit to get rid of the gas in its stomach.

    Habits

    • The Weimaraner has loads of energy and tends to be high strung. Separation anxiety is a problem with some, and this can cause the dog to bark excessively and try to destroy things. The breed prefers to live inside despite its hunting background. Strangers are often unaccepted by Weimaraners that have not had social training as puppies. The dog's intelligence can become problematic when it learns to open doors and gates that allow them to escape a house or yard.