THE WEIMARANER

This information is to familiarize the family of a newly adopted Weimaraner with a short history of the breed and what life with a Weim is like. A great number of people decide they want a Weimaraner based upon their unusual looks, that being their color and amber eyes. However, some do not know anything about them as a breed. Hopefully this information will enable a person to know something about the breed by understanding where these dogs came from and what they are about.

First, the correct pronunciation of Weimaraner: the W in German is pronounced as a V. thus the German pronunciation is Vi-ma-ronner. However, many people will pronounce it as Y-ma-rayner. Some will just say Weim. Either is correct.

The dogs originated in Weimar, Germany in the 1800s. They became known in the USA in the 1950s. The Weimaraner breed was developed originally to hunt large animals such as stags and wild boar. After the large game was somewhat depleted, the Germans began to develop them for birds. Although utilized as hunting dogs, the Germans believed that if the dogs lived directly with their people they would hunt better for them. The breed was not kenneled but lived directly with their people. That trait is still very strong in the breed today. Most Weims in rescue are there due to their inability to be left alone.

Weimaraners MUST have human contact in their lives or they become VERY destructive.

It is not unusual for them to open refrigerators, doors, chew siding off house exteriors, climb fences etc.They will bark all day and become a nuisance to the neighbors or dig holes in the yard. Many escape yards by climbing fences, digging out from under them or unlatching the gates. These stories are told over and over by frustrated owners who are not at home all day and the dogs are left to themselves.

Rescue is extremely stressful experience for some Weims. They have been removed from familiar surroundings and placed in a shelter. The reasons vary. They may have been picked up running loose or placed there by his family.Then the dog is placed in a shelter and picked up by Rescue.He then may end up in a veterinary hospital where he under goes treatment, sometimes surgery.From here, he may be moved to a Foster Home until a permanent home is found. By the time the dog gets to his “Forever Home”, he is stressed beyond belief.Now, its time for more training and getting used to new surroundings. Some acclimate faster than others. Something to remember is ---- just let him adjust to his new surroundings, become acquainted with the family, their rules and possibly other pets already there. As this dog’s journey continues we will never know what he has experienced prior to the situation he is now in. He needs quite and understanding until he begins to adjust to yet another situation. Don’t bring him home with you and immediately head out leaving him alone to figure out what his boundaries are. Remember, he has not lived with you before much less laid eyes on you. He will gain your trust and respect your rules in time. With understanding and kindness, the transition will be much smoother and quicker.

Good luck and try to put yourself in the dog’s position. MOST of all – please remember this breed was developed to live DIRECTLY with their people as well as the family hunter. They are very intelligent and do not do well when left alone for long periods of time and were not bred to live in kennels. This does not mean that they can never be left alone for periods of time. It is up to you, the human, to see that they are confined to a place they are comfortable with while you are away for the greater part of the day, otherwise you will not be happy with your dog and he certainly will not be happy with you!!!

Sonja McClain is a volunteer with our rescue group and has owned Weimaraners for some 40 years. She graciously scripted the text above from her personal experiences and questions posed to her over the years. She got her first Weim in the early 1960's - Baron and continues to love the breed. She has visited the city of Weimar, the birthplace of the Weimaraner breed, where even great composers were inspired to create their masterpieces. Thank you Sonja for sharing your experiences and further educating our readers about these marvelous creatures.

Basic Standards...

About the Breed
The Weimaraner is a sleek, moderately large, athletic dog with beautiful lines and a short, fine, smooth gray coat. All shades of gray are accepted. The head and ears are a bit lighter in color than the rest of the body. The head is long and aristocratic and the muzzle is strong. The eyes are amber, blue-gray or gray - with an intelligent expression, and the nose is gray. The ears are moderately long and pendant. The topline slopes gently downward from the withers. The forelegs should be straight with dewclaws removed. The tail is docked to 1½ inches (4cm) when the dog is two days old. The limbs are long and muscular. The Weimaraner has webbed feet for swimming.

Temperament
Happy, loving cheerful, affectionate and very rambunctious. Intelligent, but can be highly opinionated and willful, therefore this breed should have firm, experienced training from the start. Quick to learn, but resistant to repetitive training. Reserved with strangers and sometimes combative with other dogs. Socialize them well at an early age. Protective on his own territory. Very brave and loyal, it has a strong prey instinct. Do not trust with small non-canine animals. This is definitely not a herding or farm dog. The Weimaraner needs to live indoors as a member of the family. He needs attention and companionship. If relegated to a kennel life or if left alone too much, he can become very destructive and restless. He is a natural protector. Weimaraners are often kind to children, but are not recommend for very young ones because they are energetic enough to accidentally knock a child down. This breed likes to bark. Very hardy, with a good sense of smell, and a passionate worker, the Weimaraner can be used for all kinds of hunting.

Height, Weight
Height: Dogs 24-27 inches (61-69cm) Bitches 22-25 inches (56-63cm) Weight: Dogs 55-70 pounds (25-32kg) Bitches 50-65 pounds (23-29kg)

Health Problems
As they are prone to bloat, it is better to feed them two or three small meals a day rather than one large meal. They may also suffer from hip dysplasia, but are in general a hardy breed of dog. Hip dysplasia has been reduced to only 8% through conscientious breeding. Prone to hypertropic osteodystrophy (too rapid growth) and tumors.

Living Conditions
The Weimaraner will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. They are relatively inactive indoors and will do best with at least a large yard.

Exercise
These are powerful working dogs with great stamina. They need plenty of opportunities to run free and lots of regular exercise. Do not exercise them after meals.

Life Expectancy
About 10-12 years.

Grooming
The smooth, short-haired coat is easy to keep in peak condition. Brush with a firm bristle brush, and dry shampoo occasionally. Bathe in mild soap only when necessary. A rub over with a chamois will make the coat gleam. Inspect the feet and mouth for damage after work or exercise sessions. Keep the nails trimmed. This breed is an average shedder.



Roger Caras, “The Voice of Westminster” died on February 21, 2001 at the age of 72. Below is an excerpt from his book “The Roger Caras Dog Book”. The Westminster dog show won’t be quite the same without him and he will be sorely missed.

The Weimaraner is an all-purpose hunting dog developed in Germany from the Bloodhound. He is a large, assertive, intelligent animal of unmistakable quality. He is also a dog who requires special qualities in his master.

The Weimaraner makes a better watchdog than almost any other breed of sporting dog because he is aggressive and quite fearless. He is a dog of great character, and he spends much of his time telling everyone about it. If allowed to have the upper hand, there is no worse pest than this breed. He should not be a person's first dog.

This is a breed that simply must be given a full course of obedience training at the professional level. If the owner is competent, that is fine; if not, then the cost of taking your Weimaraner to a top obedience school should be considered a part of the acquisition price. An untrained Weimaraner is going to walk all over his owner, his family, and their friends. While not dangerous, he can be pushy and extremely unpleasant to have around. Conversely, a well-trained Weimaraner is one of the most splendid looking and gentlemanly of all breeds, sporting or otherwise.

The only real problem with the Weimaraner as a breed is that he is often more intelligent than the person who owns him. When this happens, it is not the happiest of man-dog relationships. The owner should always be in command. Any person smart enough and strong willed enough to properly select, train, and manage a Weimaraner is in for an unparalleled dog-owning experience. The owner who overrates him self or under-rates his Weimaraner is in for an ordeal.

Reprinted from "The Roger Caras Dog Book" 2nd edition, copyright 1992