Weirmaraner By Geoffrey English At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

The Weimaraner is a pointer and an all-around hunting dog. They were originally destined only for royalty to use to hunt, track and bring down big game such as boar, bears, elk and deer. Today the Weimaraner is adapted to smaller game and upland birds and has a reputation as a fine water retriever.

A certain amount of aggression is innate to the breed and they serve well as personal and property protection. They make good pets for families with older children and a firm, experienced trainer.

The Appearance

Height: 22-27 inches
Weight: 50-70 pounds
Lifespan: 10-12 years

The Weimaraner is a relatively large and very athletic and muscular dog. The head is long and aristocratic and the muzzle is strong. The ears are moderately long and pendant. It has long legs with defined muscle tone and webbed feet for swimming. The tail is docked to 1½ inches.

The Weimaraner is nicknamed 'silver ghost' or 'gray ghost' because of their distinctive blue gray coloring which is very rare in dogs. Even more rate is the longhaired variety. The smooth, short-haired coat is easy care for.

Using in the Field

Weimaraners were once used to hunt large game. Today they are mostly used for retrieving and flushing out small game but, if given a chance, will go after bigger game like deer and even bear as this dog is fearless. It can hunt well in the water as well as on dry land.

Although slower than many other gundogs, the Weimaraner is an energetic and powerful dog with a good sense of smell. A passionate worker prized for their physical endurance and stamina, it can be used for all kinds of hunting.

At Home

The Weimaraner is a loyal companion who will protect his family and chase away or even kill any animal that comes into your yard regardless of size. They are frequently kind to children but are energetic and may harm smaller children accidentally due to their enthusiastic playfulness.

This is not a breed that can be left along for long periods of time as they tend to suffer sever separation anxiety. The Weimaraner also has a tendency to steal food from counter tops and chew furniture if not adequately supervised and given the opportunity to work off excess energy.

This breed likes to bark, and may be combative with other dogs unless properly trained from a young age.

The History

The breed is several centuries old and is believed to have descended from the Mastiff and the Vizsla with albinism as the main cause of their unusual coloring. Similar dogs date back as far as the 13th Century. These prized dogs lived with the family instead of in kennels, something that was very unusual at the time. As a result, the Weimaraner of today needs the companionship of its human owner and will not thrive in a kennel environment.

The Weimaraner name comes from the Grand Duke of Weimar, Karl August, whose court enjoyed hunting. The dogs first came to the United States at the beginning of the 20th Century where they soon became a popular hunting dog as well as a family pet.

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