About Weimaraners

W	Wilful, Willing & Woeful
E	Energetic, Eccentric & Essential
I	Intelligent, Ignorant & Inquisitive
M	Moody, Mischievous & Manic
A	Athletic, Arrogant & Aloof
R	Resourceful, Responsive & Regal
A	Aristocratic, Artful & Amiable
N	Noble, Naughty & Nosey
E	Expensive, Excitable & Expressive
R	Reliable, Rambunctious & Ritualistic

History

Weimaraners were first bred by the court of Weimar in Germany during the early 19th century. While the dog's earliest origins are something of a mystery, the historical record and various theorists have tried to fill in some of the holes. Some believe the Weimaraner is the result of albinism in an old breed of German pointing dog, while others claim to see traces of the Bloodhound in the Weimar, and others still believe the Weimaraner is simply an amalgamation of many German hunting breeds. A Van Dyck painting from the early 1600s portrays dogs that bear a distinct resemblance to the Weimaraner, though it is impossible to prove whether they are related. The Weimaraner is a pointer, and was originally used for hunting, tracking, and bringing down big game. They were popular in German courts for their speed, athleticism, sense of smell, courage and stamina. Because they have webbed feet Weimaraners are fine swimmers, and as big game became scarce in Germany the dog was put to use retrieving downed waterfowl from lakes and streams.

The Weimaraner was introduced to the United States in 1929 by Howard Knight. Up until that time it was extremely difficult to obtain a Weimaraner, as they were only sold to members of the German Weimaraner Club. After becoming a member himself, Knight began breeding the dogs in America, thereby propagating the once elusive breed. The Weimaraner was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1943; since then, the dog's popularity as a family pet and a contestant in competitive obedience shows has steadily grown. Over the years, the Weimaraner has been used as a rescue dog, service dog for the disabled, and as a police dog in the UK and Germany.

Weimaraners were introduced into the UK in 1952 from Germany at a time when the USA was suffering from over breeding of them and thus seeing some bad tempered and ugly examples of Weimaraners which took them nearly 40 years to recover from. American Weimaraners and UK Weimaraners are very different in looks. The American ones are larger with strong sharp features compared to the UK ones which are still very much like those in Germany. Unfortunately, due to media coverage showing this lovely dog being so well mannered, their popularity has increased recently and the puppy farmers are cashing in on this and churning them out by the dozen. Could the same be happening here as what happened in the US back in the 1950's?

Today Weimaraners are seen as fashion accessories and many people just don't realize what they are taking on. They then are given up to the breed rescues that have the job of finding the correct homes for them. They are by no means a ‘special' breed, but neither are they for inexperienced owners. To own a Weimaraner you need to be able to understand fully what the breed is like before you take that step into buying or rescuing one.

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Is a Weimaraner the right dog for you?

In his book "A Celebration of Dogs" the late Roger Caras, once known as "The Voice of Westminster", wrote - "The Weimaraner is a perfect example of a highly refined breeding experiment that paid off, but it did produce a breed that is exactly right for some kinds of people and perfectly dreadful for others. The snobs of Weimar weren't entirely wrong in the degree to which they protected their creation."

Research the breed; meet as many owners as you can before you even go looking for the right one for you. They may look graceful and elegant, but under all that is a dog who will challenge you everyday, who will embarrass you and have you pulling out your hair sometimes and all this before its even 6months old! They are a breed that do benefit from having a job to do whether it is working out in the field flushing game or rearranging your home, they like to be active and using their brains.

Exercise

Weimaraners are a high energy, intelligent dog. And once he becomes bored he will find something that will satisfy his time. He will need a minimum of 1 hour walk twice a day to tire him out for a few hours. However this is a dog that will work all day, go on a 10 hour hike up mount Everest. A couch dog he is not, you have been warned.

Grooming

Very little is needed to keep his coat in good condition. They have short dense hair which falls straight to the floor and very little is noticeable in day to day life. Nails must be kept short or if allowed to grow long the dog will have flat feet. Ears need checking weekly and cleaned out if needed. Teeth, if feed a good diet of BARF or dried complete little is needed to keep these clean.

Diet

Weimaraners should be fed twice a day either a good dried complete food like Arden Grange or James Wellbeloved, or fed Barf which is raw meat and bones. Stay away from dried food like Wagg, Bakers or Pedigree Chum as these only serve to make the dogs hyper from the additives and preservatives that are added to make it more appealing looking to us humans. Dogs do not care if their food has green or yellow pieces added. If you have a Weimaraner with a sensitive stomach a good food to feed them is Chappie tinned or complete.

Bloat & Torsion

This is a serious and often fatal condition that not only Weimaraners suffer from but deep chested dogs like the German Shepherd, Great Danes, Gordon & Irish Setters & Standard Poodles. There is no one singular cause for this, it is really unknown why they do and advice differs depending on who you speak to. All you can do is what seems to suit your dog the best and know the symptoms inside out. If you suspect bloat then you mustn't hesitate but call your vet as you on your way there to warn them you are coming in with suspect bloat. You may only have as little as 20mins to get the dog to the vets before things become too serious.

What Happens?

Gas builds up in the dog's stomach; you will see their stomach blow up like a balloon, at this point its bloat. In some cases you won't even have this symptom. Torsion is when the stomach twists on itself which stops the gas from escaping, but worse if left starts to kill off other organs. To determine what's going on an x-ray is taken, unless it's clear what's happening, and then surgery is needed to allow the gas out and if torsion has happened, untwist the stomach. Often a gastroplexy is done which stitches the stomach to dog's internal wall to prevent the stomach twisting again. This is not a permanent preventative as its thought to only last a year at the most.

Causes

Bloat in dogs is likely caused by a multitude of factors, but in all cases the immediate prerequisite is a dysfunction of the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach and an obstruction of outflow through the pylorus. Some of the more widely acknowledged factors for developing bloat include increased age, breed, having a deep and narrow chest, stress, eating foods such as kibble that expand in the stomach, overfeeding, and other causes of gastrointestinal disease and distress. Studies have indicated that the risk of bloat in dogs perceived as happy by their owners is decreased, and increased in dogs perceived as fearful. This may be due to the physiological effects of the dog's personality on the function and motility of the gastrointestinal system. Dogs with inflammatory bowel disease may be at an increased risk for bloat.

Symptoms

You may see all or some of these, a firm distended stomach, pacing and generally listless. He might be trying to vomit but nothing coming up. He might just stand and appear to be in a lot of discomfort for no reason. You might see weakness, depression, difficulty breathing & hyper salivation. High rates of dogs with bloat have cardiac arrhythmias (40 percent in one study). If you suspect bloat, don't second guess yourself, call the vet and get your dog down there. Better to be safe than sorry.

Prevention

This is where many experts disagree and the advice can change often. Feeding at least twice a day is agreed on, as is waiting an hour either side of having a meal, before or after exercise. Do not allow your dog to gulp down lots of water in one drink especially after exercise or on hot days. Eating from a raised feeding stand is thought to reduce the amount of air taken in while eating, especially for those dogs who inhale their food. Giving a small meal at supper time, this allows the stomach acids something to work on during the night. Most importantly is knowing your dog and knowing if something is wrong to be able to take immediate action should the worst happen.

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Do you really want to own a Weimaraner?

Check out the pros and cons below and honestly ask yourself if this is the right breed of dog that will fit into your lifestyle for the next 12-15 years?

PROS	CONS
Weimaraners are highly intelligent, fast learners. This is part of what makes them so appealing. They're so expressive. Sometimes they seem to be trying to communicate on a human level, with their exaggerated expressions, yawns, and vocalizations. Weimar ’s learn basic commands, housebreaking, and simple tricks like shaking paws quite easily.	Sometimes they're too smart. They quickly learn how to open doors... some are escape artists. They need abundant attention and lots of interesting Weimaraner-proof toys, chews, bones etc. A bored Weimaraner WILL find fun things to do young or old.
Weimaraners are highly skilled hunters. They are superb tracking dogs. A all round gundog.	Their enhanced sense of smell finds anything. A Weimar will empty a trash can for the jelly bean on the bottom. High 6ft fencing is needed to keep a Weimar from travelling to whatever smells good a street away.
Weimaraners are loyal and devoted to the people they love.	Weimaraners must be close to those they love...very close... like on your lap, or in your bed... sharing your pillow. Separation anxiety might result in destructive behaviour. Crate training is essential.
Weimaraners are fun loving and very playful.	Young Weimaraners can be mischievous, stubborn and demanding. Firm, consistent training is a must for their whole lives.
Weimaraners are canine athletes. They're great for sportsmen, hikers, and outdoor types.	Most Weimaraners are high energy dogs. They need lots of exercise. If you don't give them enough exercise then you’ll have a bored Weimaraner on your hands that’ll make his own entertainment. Any large, high energy breed is not a good choice for the elderly or for families with small children.
Weimaraners are natural watch dogs. They are protective of those they love.	Some Weimaraners bark because barking is fun. Some Weimaraners will bark incessantly when left alone if they are not trained properly to be left alone. Maximum of 4 hours is longest they will be happy to be left.
The sleek, classic Weimaraner coat needs only light maintenance, just an occasional brushing, to stay great looking. The short length and neutral colour means little, if any, visible dog hair on your clothes and furniture.	Long haired Weimar’s are the only exception here.

Dates in History of the Weimaraner

The origins of the Weimaraner. The German Weimaraner Club gives 1631 as the first official date; although others make claims going back to the 16th Century.

1881	First "pure-bred" litter.
1896	Breed officially recognized and breed standard agreed.
1897	First club was formed, in what would become the Republic of Weimar, named "Club for the Pure Breeding of the Silver-grey Weimaraner Vorstehhund".
1898	First recorded Weimaraner in the Dutch Kennel club stud book.
1903	First Weimaraner born in Holland
Little documentation is available until 1924: Before 1924 the Weimaraner registrations in Germany were held in local breed registers by wardens and few were published, some that were called the 'Stammbuch Kurzhaar' (shorthaired album) printed by a company called 'Neudamm'. These were primarily for the German Shorthaired Pointers but also held early records of the Weimaraner.
1929	First Weimaraner arrived in America.
1935	First documented long-hair litter in Germany, although longhairs were mentioned in 1879.
1943	Weimaraner recognized by the American Kennel Club.
1952	First Weimaraner arrived in Britain, imported from Germany. All had been trained and trailed in Germany before being brought to Britain.
1953	First appearance at Crufts, 12 were shown.
1953	Weimaraner Club of Great Britain was founded, 34 dogs registered.
1954	First Weimaraner arrived in France.

In Britain, Weimaraners have been worked as gundogs since they were first introduced; and trialled from soon after, but until 1961 had to compete against Setters and Pointers, because there was no separate Hunt, Point and Retrieve trials until then.