Weimaraner

The German emperor Wilhelm I issued a decree stating that the owner of a Weimar pointer can only be a person with documented 4 generations of noble descent. Today, the Weimaraner can be a pet of almost anyone. Almost, because it is a dog for an active person who will be able to raise him.

Nature

The Weimaraner is a dog with a highly developed hunting passion, cut in relation to animals, but balanced and with a moderate temperament. Of all continental pointer, he is most closely associated with the owner (in the field he is closer to man and works more closely with him).

It is an excellent family dog, cheerful, attached to the household, needs close contact with the owner. At a young age, a little excitable, with time it becomes more stable. He has a tendency to dominate (this mainly applies to males), so he needs a strong and firm guide, otherwise, he will try to rule in the family.

His relations with children are correct. Due to the size and mobility, however, it is not very cautious, so it’s better when the games are held under the control of adults.

He is generally friendly towards people, although there are distrustful individuals. As the only pointer, he will prove himself as a guard and guard dog. In general, it does not provoke dog fights, although sometimes it comes into conflicts with representatives of the same sex. He is active and needs a lot of traffic. Short walks are not enough for him, and having a house with a garden does not release you from the obligation to go outside; inaction can cause destructive inclinations for Weimar.

Every day he should be able to run freely for 1-2 hours, e.g. in a meadow outside the city. Without prejudice to health, he will cover a 10-kilometer distance by bike (but you need to gradually prepare for it), swimming is also great training for him.

Skills

Weimar are talented hunting dogs. Although at work they are slightly slower than other continental pointers, they are equally effective; they are strong and durable. While working in the field, they systematically search the area in front of the hunter and put the animal out until they get the command to scare him away. They hunt water and land birds, small and big animals, are great as retrievers or hunters, they are great swimmers.

They can take part in field trials and versatile and multilateral pointer competitions. They are also suitable for dog sports, e.g. agility and flyball, and individuals with a strong character can cope even in sports training IPO (guard dog). In some Western European countries, dogs of this breed are used in police and border guards.

Weimaraner. Training and education

They are intelligent dogs, they readily and quickly learn, but they need firm treatment from puppy age. The beginnings of learning can be difficult and require a lot of patience from a guide. The effort, however, pays off, because working with a well-trained Weimar is pure pleasure.

Who is this race for?

Weimaraner is a dog for an active person who will be able to raise and subordinate him. If someone has no experience in dealing with dogs, it will be advisable to start training early, preferably in puppy kindergarten.

Weimaraner. Advantages and disadvantages

Disadvantages

• he sometimes conflicts with foreign dogs of the same sex
• requires a lot of movement and attachment

Advantages

• versatile hunting dog,
• endowed with great hunting passion
• obedient and very attached to the owner
• intelligent, eager to learn
• good watchman and defender

Health

Weimar pointer is disease resistant. Like most large dogs, however, they have a predisposition to expand and twist the stomach, so after eating they should be given a 1-2 hour rest.

Feeding

Food should be well balanced and adapted to your lifestyle. You can prepare food yourself or use ready-made food. Puppies and working dogs require high-protein food. The daily dose must be divided into at least two meals.

Care

Weimar has an easy-care coat that only requires combing during molting periods. We bathe this dog in shampoo for short-haired dogs. The pointer’s ears should be checked regularly and thoroughly cleaned.

Weimaraner. History

According to some cynologists, the ancestors of the Weimar pointer may come from France. Apparently they came from gray dogs, which until the mid-15th century were part of the royal pack. Others, however, believe that this is a purely German breed.

Its creator is considered to be Prince Weimar Karol August, who in the eighteenth century became interested in these four-legged dogs and initiated their breeding. He needed not only excellent hunting dogs, but also companions for hunting guards whose task was to fight poachers. In addition to hunting passion, his animals had to be defensive.

After the prince’s death, the pointer was forgotten. They were rediscovered by the German emperor Wilhelm I who appreciated their merits. He issued a decree stating that the owner of such a dog can only be a person with a documented 4-generation noble origin.

Initially, the Weimar pointer was a tracker (he had an admixture of blood of Leithund type hunting dogs). With time, when the demand for these quadrupeds decreased, the pointer was crossed, among others with a pointer, which resulted in the ability to display animals in the field. Among the ancestors Weimar are reportedly also bloodhound, German Shorthaired Pointer and Scenthound.

Weimar pointer have been bred for over 100 years in purity. In 1897, the first breeders’ association was founded in Berlin, and the breed flourished in the 20th century; a detailed pattern was developed in 1925. In the 1930s, the Weimar pointer became interested in the United States, where it quickly became one of the most popular breeds, where it was baptized as the “silver ghost”.

Template

Weimaraner – group VII FCI, section 1, reference number 99

• Country of origin: Germany
• Original purpose: hunting dog
• Character: moderate temperament, balanced, strongly developed hunting passion, cut in relation to animals; excellent family dog, cheerful and attached to the household; tends to dominate, a good watchman and defender; active, requires a lot of movement and attachment
• Size: dog height at withers 59-70 cm, bitches 57-65 cm; dog weight 30-40 kg, bitches 25-35 kg
• Coat: short, dense, smoothly covering the body; without undercoat or with a small amount
• Color: shades of silvery gray, silvery brown, mice and all intermediate; the head and ears are usually slightly lighter, sometimes a darker band appears on the back; slight white markings on the chest and fingers are acceptable
• Reaching puberty: 2-3 years
• Lifespan: 10-14 years
• Molting: moderate
• Activity: high; must be able to run freely
• Training: indicated basics of obedience; You can train for hunting and dog sports
• Vulnerability to training: high – learns quickly, but requires firmness
• Attitude towards children: tolerant
• Attitude towards other dogs: friendly to their own herd; sometimes there are conflicts with foreign dogs of the same sex
• Weather resistance: medium; due to the short coat, it is hardly frost-resistant
• Apartment: it can live anywhere, but requires a lot of traffic and contact with the owner, it should not be kept in the pen
• Preparation for exhibitions: no special preparation required
• Possibility to buy a puppy: no problems with buying

Interesting facts

Weimaraner loves to eat. His bowl will certainly be empty, and the roast or sandwich left on the kitchen table, which the child holds in his hand, will not despise either. For dessert, he will eat everything he encounters during a walk, and additionally, he will taste rubbish from a bucket.