Weimaraner
 Male Weimaraner with docked tail | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other names | Weimaraner Vorstehhund | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nicknames |
Weim Grey Ghost | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country of origin | Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The Weimaraner (/ˈvaɪmərɑːnər/ VY-mə-rah-nər) is a large[2] dog that was originally bred for hunting in the early 19th century. Early Weimaraners were used by royalty for hunting large game such as boar, bear, and deer. As the popularity of large game hunting began to decline, Weimaraners were used for hunting smaller animals like fowl, rabbits, and foxes.
The Weimaraner is an all-purpose gun dog. The name comes from the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Karl August, whose court, based in the city of Weimar (now in the state of Thuringia in modern-day Germany), enjoyed hunting.
History
Today's breed standards are alleged to have developed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, although dogs having very similar features to the Weimaraner have supposedly been traced as far back as 13th century in the court of Louis IX of France. One theory is that the ancestor is the St. Hubert Hound (also known as the Bloodhound and Sleuth Hound). Though these dogs are black, they can produce a grey dog when bred. Like the Vizsla at the time, the breed was created exclusively for the nobility. The aim was to create a noble-looking, reliable gun dog. With its restricted ownership and natural instinct, the breed was highly prized and lived with the family. This was unusual since during this period hunting dogs were kept in kennels in packs. This has resulted in a dog that needs to be near humans and that quickly deteriorates when kenneled. The Weimaraner was an all-purpose family dog, capable of guarding the home, hunting with the family, and of course, being loving and loyal towards children.
Originally, Germany was possessive of its skilled all-purpose gun dog. Some of the earliest Weimaraners, prior to being sent to America for breeding, were sterilized in order for America not to popularize their special breed. But starting in the late 19th century the breed became increasingly common throughout Europe and the United States. Although slower than many other gun dogs, such as pointers, the Weimaraner is thorough, which made it a welcome addition to the sportsman's household. The breed's happy, lively temperament has endeared it to families. With the rise in popularity, some changes have been made to the breed. Both in Britain and America (where the breed remains popular) breeders have taken care to breed to a standard.
Description
Appearance
The Weimaraner is athletic in appearance. Traditionally, the tail is docked. In countries where this is still carried out, the docked tail should measure approximately 6 inches in the adult dog, and this is part of the American Kennel Club breed standard. Tail docking is illegal in several countries, where the breed is shown with an entire tail. The British Kennel Club breed standard describes a tail reaching to the hocks and carried below the level of the back when relaxed, and the German breed club standard calls for a full tail that is strong and well coated, which can be carried above the line of the back when the dog is working. Weimaraners are great water dogs as evidenced by their webbed paws.
The eyes of the Weimaraner may be light amber, grey, or blue-grey.
Coat and color
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This breed's short coat and unusual eyes give it a distinctive regal appearance. The coat is extremely low-maintenance, short, hard, and smooth to the touch, and may range from charcoal-blue to mouse-grey to silver-grey or even blue-gray. Where the fur is thin or non-existent, inside the ears or on the lips, for example, the skin should be pinkish rather than white or black. This breed does not have an undercoat, so extreme cold should be avoided. While their coat is short, this breed does shed. The Weimaraner's coat color led to its nickname of "the Grey Ghost".
In November 2009 and January 1, 2010, the United Kennel Club (UKC) removed the disqualification from both Blue and Longhair Weimaraners. A black coat remains an automatic disqualification, though a small white marking in the chest area only is permitted. Dogs with blue coats are disqualified from conformation/show competition,[3] but are recognized as purebred Weimaraners by the AKC. There is another incidental variety, described as having the "mark of the hound", where the dog is the usual grey colour but with faint tan markings (similar to Doberman). Weimaraners can have several unique physical characteristics such as small lobes on the inside of the ear known as "Harrasburg Horns", and "Grafmar's Caps" very light gray patches between the ears [4]
A long-haired variety is recognized by most kennel clubs around the world except the American Kennel Club. The long-haired Weimaraner has a silky coat, with an undocked, feathered tail. The gene is recessive, so breeding will produce some long-haired puppies only if both parents carry the trait.
Size
According to the AKC standard, the male Weimaraner stands between 25 to 27 in (64 to 69 cm) at the withers.
Females are between 23 to 25 in (58 to 64 cm). Of course, there are many dogs taller or shorter than the breed standard. The breed is not heavy for its height, and males normally weigh roughly 70–80 lb (32–36 kg). Females are generally between 55–70 lb (25–32 kg). A Weimaraner should give the appearance of a muscular, athletic dog.
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Short haired male
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Female Weimaraner, short coated
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Female Weimaraner, long coated
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Weimaraner with uncropped tail
Temperament
From adolescence, a Weimaraner requires frequent exercise in keeping with an energetic hunting dog breed prized for its physical endurance and stamina. No walk is too far, and they will appreciate games and play in addition. An active owner is more likely to provide the vigorous exercising, games, or running that this breed requires. Weimaraners are highly energetic and often wear out their owners, requiring appropriate training to learn how to calm them and to help them learn to control their behavior. Owners need patience and consistency, firm yet kind training, as this breed is particularly rambunctious during the first year and a half of its life. Even after that year and a half of a rambunctious puppyhood, they still remain hyperactive, even when they are settling into old age. Like many breeds, untrained and unconfined young dogs often create their own fun when left alone, such as chewing house quarters and furniture. Thus, many that are abandoned have behavioral issues as a result of isolation and inadequate exercise.
Weimaraners are generally good with children, but may not be appropriate for smaller children due to their tendency to knock them down in the course of play. They also may knock over elderly people or children by accident. Early training to sit through positive reinforcement is critical to prevent jumping in the future.
The Weimaraner is a hunting dog with a strong, instinctive prey drive. Weimaraners will sometimes tolerate cats, but usually do not; they tend to still follow their urge to hunt, no matter how long they have known a particular cat. They are likely to chase, and will frequently kill, a small animal that enters their garden or backyard. In rural areas, most Weimaraners will not hesitate to chase deer or sheep.
This breed tends to be very stubborn. However, with good training, this instinct can be curtailed to some degree. A properly trained Weimaraner is a companion that will never leave its master's side. While they do thrive on play and exercise, Weimaraners are well suited to an indoor, family lifestyle, and generally are not suited for life in a kennel because of their strong desire to be with their owner and family. Weimaraners are highly athletic and trainable, characteristics which allow them to excel in a variety of dog sports, such as agility.
As a hunting dog
Weimaraners have an excessive amount of energy that requires a good outlet. Weimaraners are well-rounded hunting dogs that excel at hunting, tracking, pointing, and retrieving both on land and in the water. The Weimaraner is a very people-oriented breed. They have a very strong desire to work and live with their owners, making the breed a good choice for the novice hunter. It requires a gentle touch when training to hunt, and it often learns best from a seasoned hunting dog.[5]
Behavior disorders
Weimaraners are not an independent breed and love to be with their owner, never leaving them alone. This can create very severe separation anxiety in the breed.[5] The causes of separation anxiety are not always known but there are precluding factors including, genetics, litter rearing, dominance, submission, boredom, and stress. Weimaraners with severe separation anxiety can destroy property or injure themselves in trying to escape. Good training can curb some of the separation anxiety. A Weimaraner with separation anxiety is likely to bark, whine, howl, and even dig until its owner returns home.[6] Further manifestations of this problem can include panicking, and excessive drooling, along with destructive behaviors and injury.
Health
According to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Weimaraners enjoy low rates of dysplasia. The breed is ranked 102nd of 153 total breeds and has a very high test rate and a very high percentage of excellent rating among those dogs tested.[7] It is generally recommended to acquire Weimaraners only from breeders who have their dogs' hips tested using OFA or PennHIP methods.
As a deep-chested dog, the Weimaraner is prone to bloat or gastric torsion, a very serious condition that can cause painful and rapid death when left untreated. It occurs when the stomach twists itself, thereby pinching off blood vessels and the routes of food traveling in or out. Symptoms include signs of general distress, discomfort, no bowel movement or sounds, and a swollen stomach. Immediate medical attention is imperative when bloat occurs and surgery is the only option if it is caught early enough.
One way to help prevent bloat is to spread out the Weimaraner's feedings to at least twice daily and to avoid any vigorous exercise an hour before or after meals. It is also recommended that the dog's feeding dish not be placed on a raised platform to discourage it from gobbling its food too quickly and keep air from entering the stomach. Raised food bowls have been found to more than double the risk of bloat in large dogs.[8]
Skin allergies can affect some dogs. Take your dog to the vet if he starts to lose hair, itch constantly or develop rashes. You should also check for parasites, as they can cause an allergic reaction in addition to the normal irritation resulting from bites.
Other health issues include:
- Cryptorchidism[9]
- Elbow dysplasia[10]
- Distichiasis[9]
- Von Willebrands Disease[9]
- Entropion[10]
- Hypothyroidism[9]
- Hypertrophic osteodystrophy[10]
- Pituitary dwarfism[9][10]
- Hypomyelinogenesis[10]
- Renal dysplasia[10]
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Congenital peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia[11]
References
- ↑ O’Neill, D. G.; Church, D. B.; McGreevy, P. D.; Thomson, P. C.; Brodbelt, D. C. (2013). "Longevity and mortality of owned dogs in England". The Veterinary Journal 198: 638–43. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.09.020. PMID 24206631. "n=26, median=12.6, IQR=11.1–13.5"
- ↑ "thekennelclub/breed/display/Weimaraner". www.thekennelclub.org.uk.
- ↑ Weimaraner Page
- ↑ Taguchi, Anne. "Smart Bumps, Harrasburg Horns and Other Weimaraner Peculiarities". JustWeimaraners. Taguchi, Anne.
- 1 2 Dearth, Kim D.R. "The Gray Ghost Weaves Its Spell". Dog World.
- ↑ "Phase IV: Troubleshooting your Mission: Dealing with problem behaviors". Adonai's Weimaraners.
- ↑ "Weimaraner". OFFA.
- ↑ Bloat (GDV) Study
- 1 2 3 4 5 "List of common problems afflicting Weimaraners". Weimaraner Club of America.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Weimaraners". Canine Inherited Disorders Database.
- ↑ "Peritoneopericardial Diaphragmatic". Vet Med. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
External links
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