How to Care for Weimaraner Puppies

Weimaraners were developed in Germany by the nobility in the grand duchy of Weimar. They make good sporting dogs when trained as pointers and are devoted as family pets. Puppies grow into large dogs that can weigh between 70 and 86 lb. and have a height of up to 27 inches at the shoulder. As large, strong dogs, they need early socialization and training from puppyhood. Weimaraners love the outdoors and need plenty of exercise, at least two 15-minute walks per day.

Things You'll Need

  • Puppy crate or indoor kennel
  • Soft grooming brush
  • Chew toys
  • Chew deterrent spray
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Instructions

  1. Housetraining

    • 1

      Keep a close eye on the Weimaraner puppy to learn the signs that it needs to "go." Signs include walking in decreasing circles and sniffing the floor.

    • 2

      Scoop the Weimaraner puppy up as soon as you think it needs to relieve itself, and take it outside. Put the pup on the ground and give whatever command you have chosen as the toilet command. Good commands include "be good" or "hurry up." Other times to take the puppy outside are after a play session, after a feeding and as soon as it wakes from a nap.

    • 3

      Praise the puppy enthusiastically when it relieves itself in the correct place, but ignore mistakes in the house. Clean up mistakes quickly to avoid leaving telltale stains and smells that will tempt the Weimaraner to toilet again in the same spot. Praising good behaviors and ignoring undesirable behaviors works better than any form of punishment. Never rub a Weimariner's nose in its mess or shout at it. This will only frighten and confuse the puppy. Crate training can help you housetrain the puppy overnight.

    Grooming

    • 4

      Use a soft brush to get a Weimaraner puppy used to being groomed. Gently run the brush over its coat every few days to stimulate the skin and remove dead hair.

    • 5

      Lie the puppy on its back and gently brush its tummy. Calmly and quietly discourage wriggling and squirming, and do not allow the puppy to bite the brush. Good grooming training at a very early age will make adult grooming much easier.

    • 6

      Clean the Weimaraner puppy's ears with tissues or a soft cloth to help avoid ear mites and infections. Wipe the insides of the ears, removing any dirt or wax. This is especially important as the puppy grows and begins to go out more.

    Playing and Chewing

    • 7

      Provide the puppy with plenty of chew toys; Weimeraners love to chew, especially when they are bored.

    • 8

      Keep the puppy safe by puppy proofing the house to the extent possible. Keep items such as small plastic toys, electrical wires and cords or potentially poisonous houseplants out of reach, as these can all become substitute chew toys.

    • 9

      Deter chewing on furniture by applying bad-tasting sprays, available from pet stores. These sprays can also protect items such as shoes and purses.