All About The Weimaraner Dog Breed

The history of the Weimaraner dog breed

It all began in the times of the Grand Duke Karl August and the nobles of the Court of Weimar (a German city). The Duke and nobles loved to hunt in the nearby forest. To join them in their hunts, the monarch wanted a dog that was “up to his standards”.

Theories claim that the Weimaraner breed comes from a cross between bloodhounds and other German and French hunting dogs during the 17th century. Others claim the Weimaraner is a direct descendant of the Saint Hubert Hound.

By the end of the 19th century, the Weimaraner dog breed was the most popular dog for hunting. In 1882, it was recognized in the entire continent. Soon it came to serve as a guardian as the forest as well. After the Second World War, hunting and the possession of firearms became illegal. As a result, many dogs were exported–especially to the United States, where they became very popular.

The 1950s were the “golden age” of the Weimaraner dog breed. At that time, society considered them to be high-class dogs, representing good taste and near-human intelligence. Many celebrities also chose them as pets.

The physique and behavior of the Weimaraner

The Weimaraner is a robust and vigorous dog, with a powerful build and medium size. Males can measure up to 27 inches and weigh up to almost 90 pounds. Their hair can be short, tough, or long, and comes in various tones of grey. These include light amber, grey, or blue-grey. Their heads and ears may be a bit lighter than the rest of their body .

The Weimaraner dog breed has a long head, but it’s in proportion to its body. Its ears are long and wide and its nose is dark. Weimaraner puppies have blue eyes that later turn turquoise-green or amber.

This beautiful dog breed is energetic, intelligent, and passionate for hunting. Weimaraners are not at all temperamental and are very easy-going. At the same time, they are submissive and easy to train. They are the perfect dogs to keep you company as long as you have enough space for them to exercise and burn energy .

This breed is not particularly friendly with strangers. That’s why it’s common to see them with muzzles when they’re out on the street. They do however love physical contact and being close to their owners. They experience a great deal of anxiety if they spend long hours alone at home. In some cases, these dogs become very dependent on their families and need to be close to them at all times.

It’s also worth pointing out that the Weimaraner dog breed is very intelligent, protective, affectionate, and brave.

The health and care of the Weimaraner

This is a pet that doesn’t demand a great deal of care when it comes to special foods and illnesses. However, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s a very active breed. Weimaraners need a lot of daily exercise to keep them from becoming destructive in the house, or becoming somewhat aggressive. Long daily walks and some playtime should be enough .

Even if they have short hair, it’s a good idea to brush them on a weekly basis. This will help to get rid of dead fur and keep your dog’s coat shiny and healthy.

You should also clean their ears periodically to prevent your dog from suffering from an infection. This is especially true if your dog has got wet. The way their ears hang doesn’t allow them to dry properly. Therefore, after bath time, you can use a hair dryer to prevent the appearance of fungus from lingering moisture.

The illnesses that can affect the Weimaraner dog breed are hip dysplasia, entropion, twisted stomach, cryptorchidism, and cherry eye.

Source of images: Ranveig and Miguelrubiofernandez