All about Weimaraners

Weimaraner belongs to rare and unusual representatives of the animal world. This breed of dog is characterized by an unusual coat color, as well as expressiveness of gaze. This magnificent pet is considered not only a virtuoso hunter, but also an excellent home companion.

The origin of the Weimaraner dog breed is controversial. Accurate data on dogs has been available only since 1969, when the animal was recognized by the International Cynological Federation. For the first time this representative of the animal world was mentioned in the XVIII century, the information had a direct connection with the French king Louis IX. In addition to his high position in society, this man is famous for two failed Crusades. When attacking Egypt, a crusader detachment was defeated in areas of the Nile River.

Louis escaped with the surviving warriors. After four years in Syria, the king returned to his homeland after his mother died. It was at this time, and more precisely, in 1254 with the ruler arrived dogs that were characterized unusual gray-blue coat.

Even after the death of the king, the dogs continued to live with royal status. Due to their unusual appearance, the French called their pets "silver ghosts." As numerous references to dogs testify, they were great hunters for large animals. In the XIV century, the number of representatives of this breed rapidly increased.In addition to professional use, animals became part of the fashion trend of the time.

Confirm the noble position of the Weimaraner in society paintings of the XVII century. On these canvases the dogs were imprinted not as an accessory, but as loyal companions of people.

There is information that The animal’s debut at an exhibition in Berlin was a failure, since the founders of the event did not notice any unique characteristics in the dog’s appearance, considering it a mestizo.

The Weimar Pointing Dog is a relatively large dog with special characteristics of appearance and character. Some inhabitants consider this animal to be similar to a kurtshaar with a strange coat color, this is due to the fact that many German breeds of dog dogs have a direct resemblance to each other, especially to the “face”.

Weimaraner is a hunting dog breed with medium body size and well-defined gender. The bitch is more elegant, refined, she is more complaisant than a dog. The hound has certain standards of height and weight, namely:

• the weight of the male is from 30 to 40 kg, the height at the withers is from 62 to 67 cm;
• the weight of a bitch can be from 25 to 35 kg, growth at the withers - from 59 to 63 cm.

With proper care and proper nutrition, the “silver ghost” lives from 10 to 14 years. Description of the breed according to the standard looks like this.

• Head. The skull is medium in size, it is proportional to the body. A small mound stands out on the rounded nape. A wide furrow divides the wide forehead; when concentrated or stressed, it is covered with skin folds.

The cheekbones and orbits are inherently pronounced. When chewing, there is a good muscle expression, eyebrows are actively involved in facial expressions.

• Teeth. Weimaraner is characterized by a complete set of strong teeth with medium sizes. The scissor bite has no gaps. Strong and powerful jaws have a very strong bite.

• The nose is large and classic in shape. Its ending extends beyond the lower jaw. Dark hepatic pigmentation is inherent in the nose of the nose. The color gradually turns to gray.

• Organs of vision. The eyes of the animal are round in shape, they are neat, medium in size. The outer corner of the eyelid is raised to the auricle. Dry eyelids are characterized by body color or pigmentation according to the tone of the fur. This animal is characterized by amber-colored eyes; in puppies this is usually bright blue color.

• Auricles. The large ears of the Weimar Pointing Dog are triangular in shape and rounded at the edges. The hearing organs of the dog have a high landing and close proximity to each other. Ear cartilage is moderately soft. During the tranquility of the pet, the ears hang from the sides of the head, their ends are located at the level of the jaws. During concentration, the ears rise and turn forward.

• Body. The animal has a moderately elongated body shape, a rounded middle neck with a bend that is thickened to the shoulder girdle and has a smooth transition to the withers. The latter is well expressed, the erect back is characterized by a moderate width and rounded croup.

Breasts are inherent in depth and small width, which contributes to the absence of interference when running or a sweeping step. The skin is characterized by elasticity and moderate tension. The ribs have a rounded shape, they are elongated and flat.

• Limbs. The front legs are characterized by dryness, sufficient length, evenness, they are set under the withers. Strong hind legs have well developed muscles, their joints are firmly articulated.The hock, elbow and metacarpus are parallel to the body. Dog brushes are gathered in a tight lump, they have strong fingers with powerful claws.

The color of the claws is gray. On the pillows of the paws there is elastic skin that is painted in tone with the pet’s coat. The structural features of the front weimaraner hand include visual highlighting of the middle finger, which is longer than the rest. Dewclaws must be removed at the very early age of the animal.

• The tail of the dog is strong, thick, tapering towards the end. It has a low set, in a state of excitement, it rises to the level of the spine. The tail is not inherent in bending and contact with the back.

Depending on the length of the coat, the “silver ghost” It is divided into the following types.

1. Shorthaired Weimaraner. Has short outer hair with a large thickness, which are tight and characterized by stiffness, hence the name.
2. Longhaired weimaraner. The coat of this pet is long (up to 5 cm), wavy, soft. There is dense short fur on the head, and fringe on the ears. The tail is presented in the form of a breeches, on the hind legs and between the fingers is a long hairline. The presence of undercoat is not considered mandatory.

The rarest variety of these animals is recognized as a straight-haired Weimaraner. The animal has a two-layer coat, a thick undercoat, as well as upper hair with medium length. The strictly limited range of coat color of the Weimar Pointing Dog is the main indicator of the thoroughbredness of modern dogs. The standard provides 3 color options for animal fur:

• silver, smoky gray with a possible non-intense copper tint;
• brown-gray, but if the pet is chocolate-colored or has saturated brown spots, then it is not purebred;
• gray mouse.

Many representatives of this breed are observed brown coloring wool, which is washed out with a recessive gene. If you cross-breed non-purebred dogs, then the litter will have puppies of brown, chestnut and black colors.

The following are the vices of this breed of hunting gundogs:

• rudeness or lightness of the constitution of the body;
• failure, hunched back;
• barrel barrel, underdeveloped back;
• excessive tightness of the abdomen;
• inverted elbows, the plane of the paws;
• constrained movements;
• the sharpness of the short muzzle;
• concavity of the back of the nose;
• very fluffy fur;
• malocclusion;
• the intensity of the shade of the coat color, which displaces the gray color;
• cowardice, lack of temperament.

In addition to activity and friendliness, representatives of the Weimar Pointing breed have the following advantages:

• high mental development;
• good attitude towards children;
• affection and devotion to the owner;
• the ability to easily learn and train;
• unusual appearance, in particular, coat color and eye color.

Among the minuses of this pet are the following:

• the need for frequent and long walks of the pet;
• poor tolerance of loneliness;
• the need for active leisure;
• predisposition to certain ailments;
• disobedience while chasing game.

Weimaraners are creatures that are very loyal to their masters, they prefer to always be near a person. Loneliness an animal does not tolerate well. The pet is not characterized by aggression, he likes to spend time with children and is always ready to defend them. The Pointing Dog is a friendly, fun, fearless, fast and agile creature.. It should always be occupied with active entertainment, for example, sports or hunting.

Often the animal is involved in a pitch and go, frisbee, agility, coursing and other activities where it is possible to throw out the accumulated energy. Representatives of this breed are considered excellent hunters, with the help of a rack they indicate the location of the game. This dog is able to get a duck out of the water, find and raise a boar. However, if living in an urban environment, hunting instinct can be a problem, for this reason the dog should always be on a leash.

Keeping an active large dog in a city apartment is not a good idea. The best option for a Weimar gundog is a private house, around which there is a fenced area, ideal for dog walking.

This animal needs regular walks in the fresh air, as well as intense exertion. Together with the pet, the owner should walk, hunt, train for a long time.

Before you bring a puppy to the Weimar Pointing Dog, you need to do the following:

• organize a place to relax in the form of a comfortable and soft sunbed;
• prepare a place for eating, a large bowl is suitable for eating a thoroughbred pet, preferably with the ability to adjust the height;
• make the room safe for the dog: remove objects that are beating, are under electrical voltage, as well as small objects;
• buy accessories, clothes for every season, as well as equip a small aviary for keeping at home.

The issue of feeding dogs of the Weimaraner breed is quite a responsible one. It is worth deciding on the type of pet food before it appears in the house. The diet of a gundog has significant differences from the human. The rules for feeding representatives of this breed are very similar to the nutrition of dogs of other breeds.

The basic nutrition rules of the Weimaraner look like this.

1. Hunters and athletes need more nutritious foods. In this case, it is worth taking into account the activity of the dog, its lifestyle, weight, age.
2. When choosing a natural diet it is worth remembering that the gundog needs more products than other dogs with the same weight. The reasons for this are accelerated heat transfer and metabolism of the pet.

Weimaraner puppies need at least 1 liter of food for a day, and adults need 1.5-2.5 liters or kilograms.

It is undesirable to feed your pet from your table. In the diet of a dog, it is necessary to adhere to fullness and balance. The owner may prefer to feed the animal with dry industrial food of the highest class or self-prepared food. Holivics and high-quality feeds fully satisfy the needs of the dog in all the components it needs.

Brand products are great for puppies. Orijen Puppy Large, for adult representatives of the breed - Acana Heritage Adult Large Breed Grain-Free, Platinum Adult Dog Lamb & Rice. for a hyperactive animal, feed is suitable Acana Heritage Sport & Agility Grain Free,

The following ingredients should be present in the pet's diet:

• cheese, cottage cheese and kefir;
• beef and lamb;
• buckwheat grain;
• vegetables, fruits, greens;
• special bones from the pet store;
• offal in the form of a spleen, trachea, scar;
• boneless sea fish.

A puppy of this breed should be accustomed to all products from an early age. After some time, a matured pet will be happy to eat raspberries or carrots. Homemade food is the best way to feed the Weimaraner, but you should include mineral supplements in it. If the animal is properly fed from an early age, then many health problems can be avoided.

Also, the owner should be aware of the list of foods that are forbidden to feed the gundog. These include:

• tubular bones;
• fresh and dried grapes;
• chocolate;
• garlic;
• beet;
• corn, wheat, soy, white rice;
• bow.

Frequency of feeding dogs of this breed:

• puppy in 2-3 months - about 6 times a day;
• a pet in 3-4 months - 4 times a day;
• dog in 4-9 months - 3 times a day;
• from 10 months of age, you need to feed the dog 2 times a day.

The Weimaraner owner should remember that the beast cannot be fed immediately after walking or practicing with a dog handler. The animal should rest for about 30 minutes, after which water is poured into the bowl for drinking. Food is given to dogs about an hour after exercise. In the hot season, the dog can be fed once a day. With two meals a day, more nutritious and high-calorie foods should be served in the evening.

Nutrition features of puppies that are contained in home products

Food that was put in a bowl to a dog should have a moderate temperature. If the products are too cold or hot, the pet may temporarily or permanently lose its scent.

The animal should spend a lot of time walking in the fresh air, while it should return to a warm room. Shorthaired weimaraners do not have an undercoat, so they do not need to be combed, it will be enough to clean the fur with a rubber glove or brush. To remove dead hair, it is necessary to brush the pet's body in the direction from the head to the tail. This procedure should be carried out every 7 days.

Weimar Long-haired Pointing Dog it is worth combing every day, using a brush with a long pile.

If you keep your pet clean, you can avoid the development of a mass of ailments. Every week, the dog needs to cut its claws using a clipper. Shorthair “silver ghosts” should be bathed no more than once every 30 days. However, an active animal can quickly become contaminated, and therefore it may require an additional water treatment.

Long-haired representatives of this breed require more care, as their coat is special and molting is more noticeable. When bathing dogs, you should use a special veterinary shampoo.

The most common animal pathologies to be wary of may be these.

1. Morell-Barlow Disease. This is an ailment of fast-growing large breed dogs. A sick animal has long bones. You can recognize the disease by lameness, poor appetite, lethargy.
2. Hip dysplasia. The disease manifests itself through joint degeneration in the pelvic and femoral areas. At the same time, it is observed that the animal wags backwards while walking, its croup is lowered.A sick pet refuses to go down and climb the stairs.
3. Von Willebrand disease manifested in a violation of blood coagulation. With this disease, the animal has spontaneous nosebleeds, and blood is also present in the urine. The injured dog has significant blood loss.
4. Intestinal inversion - This is a disturbed structure of the intestinal loops. The ailment can manifest itself as lingering constipation. In the absence of proper treatment for this disease, death can occur.
5. Diseases of the organs of vision. The most common include retinal atrophy, eyelid inversion, an additional ciliary row.
6. Expansion and inversion of the stomach. Extremely large dogs suffer from this pathology. The disease is characterized by rapid development, as well as the possibility of a pet's death.
7. Hypothyroidism - This is a disturbed functioning of the thyroid gland. A sick dog may experience obesity, infertility, and mental retardation.
8. Myasthenia gravis. This neurasthenic pathology manifests itself in muscle weakness. With the occurrence of an ailment in an animal, loss of voice, ability to swallow and blink can occur. Sick dogs cannot tolerate physical exertion.
9. Degenerative myelopathy - This is an ailment that destroys the brain. Often they suffer from elderly pets. The disease can manifest itself in the form of loss of coordination, weakness in the legs. A sick dog can swing and fall sharply when walking.

To protect against dangerous diseases, the owner must timely vaccinate the Weimaraner. Inoculate the "silver sign" follows from the following ailments:

• rabies;
• parainfluenza;
• carnivore plague;
• trichophytosis;
• leptospirosis;
• paravirus enteritis;
• coronavirus;
• infectious hepatitis.

Engaging in training the Weimar gundog is a simple event that will bring a lot of positive emotions. Thanks to the care of dogs and their stable psyche, these pets are diligent and attentive students. A puppy is able to easily master standard working teams, as the blood of a hunter flows in his veins. Dog training should be based on his need to have a companion. Weimaraner has a great desire to be near a person and to please him, therefore, understands all his requests.

Sometimes high intelligence and a desire to be independent, as well as a desire to break free and pursue prey at any moment, can interfere with training. When educating Weimaraners, you should heed these tips:

• start raising a puppy is from the moment he appears in the house;
• you can’t change the rules: initially setting the limits of permissibility, you should adhere to them on an ongoing basis;
• it is strictly forbidden to use violence and physical punishment in relation to a pet of this breed;
• It’s better to train a dog in a quiet place where there are few people and other animals so that the dog does not get distracted;
• in the eyes of a dog, it’s worth being a leader and not losing your authority;
• You can train your puppy at the dog site only after he gets used to the smell and noise of the street;
• to accustom to active games, you can use the inherent natural dog activity.

Weimaraners are smart and masterful creatures that are not too common at present. According to the reviews of the owners of these animals, a pet does not have enough simple walks with a person, an active puppy needs constant running and chasing prey. The pet gets everything that catches his eye, it can be frogs, neighbors' cats, pigeons. These creatures have a lot of energy that needs to be constantly directed somewhere.

“Silver ghosts” are not toys for people, but smart and interesting animals.. A dog needs proper nutrition and timely vaccination in order to lead a long and happy life. The dog also needs attention, competent training and a responsible attitude from the person.

Weimaraner is an ideal pet for active and curious people who are prone to long walks. Owners of dogs of this breed have already managed to evaluate the fidelity of permanent companions who are able to fully participate in any adventures and adventures, as well as protect the owner if necessary. These dogs can not leave indifferent any dog ​​lover, as they are characterized by elegance, aristocracy of unusual appearance and excellent character.

You will learn even more information about this breed from the following video.