A THING OF BEAUTY SHOULD BE A JOY FOREVER
Whilst beauty is subjective, being beautiful is, in many ways, the Weimaraner’s downfall.
Many people are attracted to the Weimaraner for his athletic and regal good looks but it is important to understand that beneath his beautiful silver-grey exterior is an extremely intelligent and headstrong dog. Sadly, the harsh reality is that some people are simply not cut out to own a Weimaraner.
EDUCATION
There isn’t any breed book, which hasn’t aptly covered what I am about to share with you here but what follows are my own thoughts on the breed.
First of all, it is not my intention to create a negative picture of the Weimaraner but more a case of trying to give an insight into Weimaraner ownership – an insight based upon a lifetime’s experience with the breed. By doing so, I hope to create awareness and hopefully, in turn, help steer those who are cut out for Weimaraner ownership in the right direction and conversely, steer those who are not - elsewhere!
This breed needs an owner who is one step ahead of him and an owner who has the time to train him to make him a respectable member of society. With the right training and a kind but no nonsense approach, the Weimaraner is an unbelievably loving and devoted family companion and he is selfless in what he gives back.
COMMITMENT
Before taking on a dog, you have to consider that owning a Weimaraner or indeed, any dog for that matter, can be a twelve-year or more commitment so it is important for you to consider your circumstances with some foresight.
Some of the questions you need to ask yourself before even considering taking on a dog:
Do you work? Do you have enough time to dedicate to training a dog? Are you prepared to meet his exercise needs? Are you planning a family in the near future? Do you have fenced garden? And so on.
SIZE
Another important factor is the Weimaraner’s size. Bitches should be smaller than the males but that is not always the case. However, you can generally gauge that a Weimaraner will be anything between 22 and 27 inches at the shoulder.
For those adult dogs tipping the upper end of the scale – size coupled with substance and muscle, that’s a lot of dog. Are you prepared for that when he wants to greet you at the door? Or how about when he sees a squirrel over the park and wants to pull you in the same direction? These are all things that you need to think about. Carefully.
Dog ownership is not about taking on a breed, and then finding out it isn’t for you a few months down the line – this will only cause heartache and upset for everyone involved – dog, breeder and you. Dog ownership is something which needs to be thought about long and hard before you take the dog on. Be truthful to yourself and if there are other family members in the household, then it is imperative to consider their needs too.
COAT
There are two varieties – shorthaired and longhaired. I have owned the shorthaired Weimaraner all my life, and generally speaking this coat type is easy to manage. They do moult but perhaps only two or three times a year.
TEMPERAMENT
The Weimaraner is an all-purpose gundog originally bred to hunt large game and as such, any prospective owner must be prepared for the innate behaviour that will accompany him. The Weimaraner is a highly intelligent dog. He is strong, fast and powerful. He is fearless, loving, devoted, protective, territorial, wilful and persistent. Also given half the opportunity, he is also an opportunist and a thief ;-)
To many prospective owners these are just words on a page but let me try and put the above in to some day-to-day situations for you.
The Weimaraner is a hunting dog. This means he may have a predisposition to chasing other animals or wildlife – the next-door neighbour’s cat, for example.
He is fearless. This means he may take it upon himself to scale the fence to scope out the sheep on your country walk or maybe even the fence in your back garden that you
think is high enough.
He is strong, fast and powerful. This means you will have to consider your surroundings and the people within them. A vase on a side table may look pretty but when it is next to the window where the Weimaraner can indulge in some bird watching from afar, the vase will inevitably end up smashed and the dog may end up with cut paws too.
The Weimaraner is an opportunist and a thief. This means if you do find a breeder who trusts you to have one of their Weimaraners, then you cannot afford to be absent minded. Putting things away will soon become second nature, for if there is a sandwich precariously left on the sideboard, the opportunist Weimaraner will think it mighty considerate that you left it for him…and the same goes for anything one carelessly leaves around – shoes, tights, children’s toys – the list goes on. Any experienced Weimaraner owner will tell you time and time again to put things out of the way and out of sight.
Remember, you have to be one step ahead, and you have to have the time to train him. All the above, can be curbed and/or prevented - by you!
Along with his wilful ways, the Weimaraner thrives on human companionship and when one to one, can be remarkably quick to learn.
TRAINING
Every dog should be exposed to some form of training. Usually this means that when you get your puppy and it has had all its inoculations, you can join up with a local dog-training club so you and your dog can pick up some training techniques. Not only will this be great for socialising your puppy and laying the groundwork for the future but you will also have the opportunity to meet like-minded dog owners. Training is a prerequisite for anyone taking on dog. If you do not have time to put in training, do not get a dog.
If you are prepared to put in the hard work and training, you can have a rewarding partnership for life. If not, you are likely to end up at the end of your tether.
MENTAL & PHYSICAL STIMULATION
The Weimaraner needs mental and physical stimulation so you need to be prepared to cater to his needs. Every year, thousands of canine events are licensed by the Kennel Club for dogs and owners to enjoy. Activities range from showing, working trials, agility, obedience to field trials so there is plenty of opportunity to get out there and try your hand at an array of disciplines. Keeping your dog’s mind occupied whilst burning off some energy is a great way to prevent him from becoming bored and in turn, re-decorating your dining room chairs and destuffing the sofa.
I am often emailed and asked whether this breed chews and/or whether it is destructive. Not only does this concern me, for if a person’s main concern is whether a dog may tuck into their dining room chair, whether it be a Weimaraner or indeed any other dog, then dog ownership isn’t for them but above all, it’s all about ha
ving a little common sense. Chewing will happen with any puppy if you let it happen but if you "think dog" and are one step ahead then you can prevent such problems. Keeping your dog physically and mentally stimulated will also help prevent him from becoming bored.
CHILDREN
This is a two-way thing. It would be hypocritical to say that this breed is not good with children, for I was brought up with this breed right from birth. However, this is not just about the dog. Children also need to be respectful of any dog which they encounter. Certainly, any family with young children should consider whether they could juggle the demands of young children and that of a Weimaraner.
EXERCISE
An adult Weimaraner will not be a happy dog with just a walk around the block - he needs plenty of exercise. Therefore it is important to think whether you have the time or inclination to accommodate his needs - wind, rain or shine. To deprive the Weimaraner of exercise will only result in unwanted behaviour around the home.
To summarise, the Weimaraner is a challenging breed. It is not a breed for everyone but if you are prepared to put in the time, dedication and training and can laugh at the mishaps along the way then the Weimaraner can be a loving, loyal companion who will keep you on your toes and enrich your life.
