Bean Town Dogs
A Service Guide for New England Dogs
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Physical Appearance
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The Weimaraner is a medium sized breed, with unusual light eyes - they stand tall and proud giving an overall impression of power,
stamina and balance. They are roughly square in shape with a straight muscular back, very deep chest, well muscled legs and a
clean cut and moderately long neck. Their head is quite long, lean and aristocratic with a fairly square muzzle and powerful jaw. The
eyes of medium size, round, well spaced and unusually light in shades of amber or blue-grey. Their high set ears are long, lobular
and folded. The Weimaraners coat is short, smooth and sleek with colouring in shades of silver grey.
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Breed Origins
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The Weimaraner's origins are not known, the earliest reference to the breed is one appearing in a Van Dyke painting of the early
1600's and there are various theories as to its origin. Some believe it is the result of albinism that overtook some ancient German
pointing dogs, others that it is descended from a German hound, the Braken, and still others believe they are the result of deliberate
crossing by the Grand Duke Karl August of Weimar between a regular pointer and a certain yellow pointer - certainly the breed takes
its name from the latter. They were originally developed to hunt big game, wolves, wildcats, deer, mountain lion and bears etc. but
when the big game disappeared from Europe by the late 1800's Weimaraners became a rarity. However, with selective breeding, they
became small game hunters and bird dogs, once again, increasing their popularity. Their breeding was kept a close secret in
Germany for many years and only became available to the world at large in the 1930's.
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Temperament
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This breed can make an excellent companion, being good all round dogs who love family life. They are friendly, intelligent and
energetic but, with their vigilance, make excellent guard dogs if their home or family are threatened. They are highly energetic and
can be boisterous, they require firm and consistent obedience training from day one. If they are properly trained when young, they will
mix with other animals in the household although they may well be aggressive with strange dogs. They are ok with older children but
cannot be recommended for homes with young children as their boisterous nature is likely to result in little ones being bowled over.
Weimaraners are quick witted, eager to please and have the intelligence to understand what is required of them. Their handler needs
to be very confident when dealing with them as they are a very dominant breed and will attempt to take over the house if allowed to -
they are not recommended for the dog owning novice.
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Day to Day
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The Weimaraner needs lots of exercise and without it they can become unmanageable in the home, they are born working dogs with
huge reserves of energy and stamina and need to be worked hard and regularly. Grooming is simple, just requiring an occasional
brush, or once over with a grooming mitt, to remove loose or dead hairs.
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Kennel Club Group
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Gundog
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General Size
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Large
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Exercise requirements
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High
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Adult Height
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22-27 inches (56-69 cms)
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Suitability for Children
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Medium
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Adult Weight
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50-70 lb (23-32 kgs)
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Compatibility other pets
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Low
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Average Lifespan
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10-12 years
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Grooming Requirements
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Low
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Potential Health Problems
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Weimaraners are generally a healthy breed but can suffer from a condition known as spinal dysraphism which is a severe though
non-lethal condition, affecting the gait and giving an unusual stance which resembles a crouched position. Like most large breeds hip
dysplasia is a potential problem but is not common in the Weimaraner. Perhaps the most serious worry is bloat / gastric torsion, a
condition common in deep chested breeds which can be fatal, to keep the chances of an occurrence to a minimum ensure their daily
food is spread over a number of smaller meals rather than one large meal and do not allow them to exercise for an hour or two after
eating.
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Copyright Perkins & Company 2006-2007 All Rights Reserved.
All content, including graphics, on BeanTown Dogs Website is Copyright Perkins & Company, unless otherwise noted,
and may not be copied or reproduced without prior written permission.
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Please Note: The BeanTown Dogs website provides information and listings of dog breeds, clubs and associations, rescue organizations, health and nutrition, breeders,
trainers, groomers, boarding kennels, and other pet services and products. However, we do not recommend, endorse, or support any one of these listings over another.
The links provided on the site are for information purposes only and should not be viewed as a recommendation or endorsement. Accuracy of information is the sole
responsibility of the owner of the listing and we cannot be held responsible for any misrepresentation. We reserve the right to refuse any listing at our sole discretion. The
BeanTown Dogs website is not affiliated or associated with any organization or business - It is a completely independent project. - Archie and Mum
