Weimaraner

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Description:

The Weimaraner is a sleek, well-built, medium-sized gray dog. The body is slender, with long, muscular legs. Although not particularly robust, the Weimaraner gives an impression of strength, grace, and athleticism. The coat is short, fine, and smooth, found in a variety of shades of gray, from mouse-gray to silver-gray, and is usually a little lighter on the head and face. Some Weimaraners have a white spot on their chest. Because of their unusual coloring, Weimaraners have been nicknamed, “the gray ghost.” The head is long, with an aristocratic air, and a strong muzzle. The ears are moderately long and pendant-shaped. The Weimaraner’s eyes can be amber, blue-gray, or gray. The forequarters are straight, while the hindquarters are well-muscled and strong. Weimaraners have webbed feet suitable for swimming. The chest is deep and well-developed, and the tail is docked.

Temperament:

The Weimaraner is a friendly, curious, attentive, somewhat aloof but obedient dog. Weimaraners are highly intelligent and can be trained in many tasks, but they are also very independent and thus require an experienced trainer or handler. They are highly energetic, very loyal to their families, and make excellent watchdogs. The dog tends to be suspicious of strangers and protective of its territory, especially with other dogs. They do not get along well with cats or other smaller animals, and usually chase and even kill animals which wander across their path—even larger animals such as deer or sheep. Although they do get along with children, they can easily down a small child in one of their rambunctious states and it is recommended that they live with older children. Weimaraners like to bark.

Caring for a Weimaraner:

As Weimaraners are highly energetic dogs, they require active homes, preferably with a yard or other outdoor space. The Weimaraner is able to live in smaller places such as apartments, but the owner must be willing to spend a significant amount of time exercising the dog outside. The Weimaraner is a playful breed, and enjoys games and other activities in addition to its daily walk. The breed tends to be high-strung and territorial, which means its needs good, strong, effective training. Good training can also curtail the instinct to chase after smaller animals, such as cats, and prevent the animal from becoming destructive when left alone. The Weimaraner’s smooth, short hair is easy to care for and only requires the occasional bath or brushing. Health problems specific to this breed include gastric torsion, canine hip dysplasia, von Willebrand’s disease, spinal dysraphism, hemophilia and hypertrophic osteodystrophy