Information about the breed, the appearance of the Weimaraner, the characteristics of the character of the dog and its health, advice on care, the nuances of training, interesting facts. Purchasing a puppy. There is something mesmerizing about them. Excellent hunting pets - virtuosos in their field. They can unravel the most intricate tangle of smells and fulfill any of your whims. They are loved not only as four-legged hunters, but also as pets. These animals have been valued since ancient times. Ordinary people couldn't afford them. They were the favorites of nobles and monarchs. It was considered a great honor when such a puppy was presented to someone.
Historical data on the Weimaraner breed
Weimar is a very small city, which is located twenty-five kilometers east of Erfurt. It was here: Bach composed his immortal toccatas and fugues, scattered the seeds of violets, and wrote poems by Gette, read sermons and lectures by Herder, painted the walls of ancient churches in Cranach, conducted the Feren Liszt orchestra, Schiller wrote his last dramas. And in the same city, the most interesting, mysterious unimaginable breed of dogs was born - the silver ghost Weimaraner.
As a hunter, this is a versatile dog - a jack of all trades. He searches, apports and follows the blood trail. However, this versatility may turn out to be a disadvantage. Canines of other breeds that specialize in one thing are more likely to surpass the Weimaraner. He hunts rather because it is interesting not only for him, but also for his master.
They are very strong, beautiful, harmoniously built dogs. According to one of the versions, short-haired marriages, which are abundant in Europe, are considered their ancestors. Another says that they came to Europe from Asia, together with the French king Louis XIX. When he went to the holy land on a crusade, from there he brought silver-colored dogs. Naturalist L. P. Sabaneev.
It has been a pure breed for a century. Similar dogs are found in engravings since the XIV century. Similar to modern cops, we can see on the canvases of Van Dyck. This artist painted his paintings in the 17th century. The Weimaraners were so popular that by the end of the 16th century they were in almost all the royal courts of Europe.
These dogs were not considered for commoners. They were bred by dukes and barons. In those days, hunting was not considered a simple pastime. Various state issues were settled here. If the monarch gave a puppy to a cop dog, it was not just that, but was considered a sign of respect and eternal friendship between states.
Until the end of the 18th century, the Grand Dukes of Weimar and Saxon jealously guarded this breed, passing it from hand to hand. You had to be of noble birth to have it. Even Otto Bismarck, at the height of his fame, was denied this honor. At first, among the Weimaraners there were several individuals of a silver color. By crossing them with each other, the breed was bred based solely on the recessive color. At that time, these dogs did not yet know how to do the stance. First, the blood of a bloodhound was inoculated, or as it was also called the dog of St. Hubert. Until now, there are heavy individuals, with a large suspension, this is the influence of the genes of the Hubert hound. From time to time we came across "copies" who knew how to make a rack. On this basis, the selection was again carried out. Here the blood of the closest relative - a German cop helped.
Officially, the breed was recognized in 1897. It is from this moment that the silver-gray cops are called Weimaraners. After the Second World War, their trace was completely lost. Then they appeared in England and the United States of America under the name - gray ghosts. Where they were used in various fields, including as watchdogs.
The Weimaraner has undergone significant evolution over the last century. There were smooth-haired, long-haired and wire-haired varieties. Today, the coarse-haired look has disappeared, leaving only short and long hairs. In the litter of smooth-haired dogs, long-haired puppies are regularly found - their gene continues to wither.
Of course, the blood of the setter was infused, from which they inherited the instinct. This was done to move away from inbreeding, a method of closely related relationships that was actively used in breeding work. However, almost all breeds were bred in this way.
There is a beautiful legend about how the Weimaraner appeared. A little girl named Remi, daughter of the Duke of Weimar, went for a walk in the forest and got lost there. Evening was approaching, twilight was deepening, and she could not find the way to her beloved castle. At that moment, a dazzling white star fell from the sky.
Noticing the light, the girl went to the clearing, which was all flooded with silvery light, and in the middle of it lay a puppy. Remi took him in her arms and he licked her nose. At that moment, she saw her house. The girl took the puppy with her and never parted with him. This was the first Weimar Pointer. Every legend has a little bit of a fairy tale, and everything else is true.
Weimaraners belong to the group of continental cops. This group includes German drathaars, shorthaired pointers, Czech foussek, Hungarian vizsla. There is also a group of island cops, these are setters and pointers. If you do not take into account external data, then they differ from each other, according to the type of hunting. Island, go on a bird, and continental, take a duck, large game and birds - they are more versatile.
These are excellent hunting dogs. Possessing an excellent instinct, they can unravel the most complex tangle of smells woven by a cunning bird. When the pheasant feeds, he makes long walks and here, everything depends on the skill of the four-legged hunter. Having caught a barely noticeable smell, the dog begins to analyze it, and answer to itself the questions: “Where did the bird go? How long have you been here and where is she?"
Sometimes the cop is distracted by other odors, such as mice. Dogs in the field often "mouse" and inexperienced owners do not notice it. But an avid and experienced hunter understands when a pet is distracted and tries to put him on the right path. Agree, a pheasant tastes better than a mouse, at least to human taste.
Description of the external appearance of the Weimaraner
Weimaraners are the largest canines among the cops. Strong hunting dog, dry build. Height at the withers in males: from 60 to 69 cm, in bitches: from 59 to 64 cm. Powerful, with a slow gallop and excellent instinct. Easy to learn. They have a stable nervous organization.
- Head well covered with leather, embossed, harmonious to the whole constitution. The occipital protuberance is highlighted, and a furrow in the middle of the forehead is visible. The Weimaraner holds her confidently. When the dog is in stance, it serves as an extension of the back line.
- Muzzle slightly longer than the skull, straight or humped. The flews slightly overlap the lower jaw. Lips with black pigmentation. Scissor bite.
- Nose must match the rest of the color so that it does not stand out from the general appearance of the dog. It should not be very light or pink. Its lobe is well developed.
- Eyes isabella or yellow, but not transparent. Weimaraners with overly bright eyes are discarded. Slanting, oval-almond-shaped. The look is kind.
- Ears set high and close together. Broad at the beginning, moderately rounded at the ends, long. In a calm state, close to the cheekbones. When the Weimaraner is alert, it lifts them up, turning slightly forward.
- Neck strong, no dewlap. Of course, there are individuals in the breed with skin folds and a drooping eyelid, but this should be avoided.
- Sporty bodystretched out. The chest is strong, deep, spacious. The back is straight, mesomorphic. The croup is long, sloping. Ribs stand out. The lower abdomen is slightly tucked up.
- Tail located high. Docked by one second or third, of the total length. When the Weimaraner is at rest, it hangs down.
- Front limbs erect, dry mesomorphic constitution. The blades are inclined. The hind limbs are drawn behind the line of the ischial tuberosities, with developed thighs. If they stand up straight, the dog will not be able to run well.
- Paws feline, well-tied. The pads are dense, the nails are strong.
- Coat thicker than other species of cops. There is an undercoat. There are long-haired individuals. Their hair in the area of the ears, neck, hind legs, lower abdomen and tail forms a beautiful feathering.
- Color - smooth, uniform, one-color - no white spots. Silver gray, mouse or roe deer - when the gray hairs are mixed with the brown ones.
Weimaraner's character traits
These representatives of cops are increasingly attracting the attention of hunters. After all, they are suitable for both flat terrain and forests. Pets are not very fond of steppe areas, but they cope with the task in such an area. With them, you can hunt quail, sandpiper and various other game in swampy places. In Germany, the emphasis is on bullying, when the dog chases the game on the blood trail. In France, they are used as a dog with a good stance.
Weimaraner desperately needs contact with the owner. For a breeder-hunter, this is not necessary if he prepares his pet for work in the field. But this will be an advantage for those people who do not need a four-legged friend for a gun hunt. It all depends on the chosen breeding line. More active individuals are looking for among the producers who participated in competitions and were selected for working qualities. These dogs lend themselves very well to training.
When communicating with children, the dog shows itself perfectly. And even with the animals that live in the house, they are friendly and communicative. They love to run and play. These are real comrades and friends. The dog is devoid of aggressiveness. And this is due to the fact that individuals with an unstable psyche were not taken for breeding.
Dog health
Weimaraners generally have excellent health. They are quite sturdily built. Life expectancy is also related to the size of the dog. Since they are quite large, they live on average for twelve years.
Their drooping ears, which are poorly ventilated, are prone to otitis media. Therefore, they are regularly cleaned of excess sulfur deposits. As for eye diseases, there are: entropion and ectropion. This is a genetic pathology associated with volvulus and inversion of the lower eyelid, that is, its deformation. For treatment, therapeutic procedures can be prescribed, as well as surgical intervention. Thanks to selection, such a flaw is less and less common, although this flaw was originally inherent in the breed.
Among other congenital diseases, it should be noted, dysplasia of the joints, which makes an animal a disabled person. Not only does this disease restrict normal movement, it also brings painful sensations to the dog. It cannot be completely cured. At an early age, all Weimaraners are taken x-rays to identify a predisposition to the disease. Of course, such individuals are withdrawn from breeding.
It is also very important to monitor your diet. Of great importance is the diet, which in no case should be broken. The food should be balanced, with the necessary content of phosphorus and calcium. We must not forget that this is a large and rather voracious dog. She swallows food whole and at the level of the stomach a spasm may occur, which usually leads to volvulus.
In this case, urgent surgical intervention is necessary, otherwise gastric necrosis will develop, and inevitable death will occur. Therefore, food should not be concentrated. It is divided into several doses and given in small quantities.
Also, Weimaraners are sensitive to flea bites to the point that dermatitis can occur. Therefore, year-round treatment for parasites - fleas and ticks is required. Also, once every three months, disinfection from helminthic invasions is carried out.
Remember to vaccinate your pet regularly. After all, there are infectious diseases that you need to be insured against. Vaccinations are done up to a year three times, and then once a year.
Weimaraner care tips
- Wool requires little effort. They are bathed once a month, or as they become dirty, with typed shampoos diluted with water. They are combed out minimally, more often during the molting period. This is done using a comb with densely spaced natural bristles or a special mitten.
- Ears the Weimaraners are hanging, so they are not very well ventilated. It is necessary to regularly remove excess sulfur from them to avoid otitis media. The manipulation is carried out using a liquid sulfur-destroying agent. Applied, massaged and wiped - that's all.
- Eyes do not require much effort. They are washed if necessary.
- Teeth teach to clean from an early age. These preventive procedures will keep your mouth healthy.
- Claws necessarily, with regrowth cut. Otherwise, they will cause discomfort to the dog.
- Feeding the weimaraner must be well matched. In the diet, the presence of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the right proportion is required, as well as a vitamin and mineral complex, with an increased content of calcium and phosphorus.
- Walking dogs need regular exercise and space. But keeping in an apartment is also possible. Only in this case, you need to provide long walks and loads.
Weimaraner training
The Weimaraner has a natural toe cap, which is a big advantage. But they do not give the game easily, they want to eat it themselves. They do not have a toast, but rather associated with the habit of returning to the owner. The grip is iron, so they need to be taught to give prey. This is where a person comes into play. They also need to be weaned from clenching their teeth strongly, because if they find a wounded animal, they will strangle him.
Interesting facts about the Weimaraner
The Weimaraner has a keen instinct and can smell game at a great distance. It's all about the structure of his nose. The dog can rotate its nostrils to determine which side the smell is coming from and where the bird is. Smelling - reflexively capturing air, she can analyze what she smelled. That is, the scent field that any object has. There are 220 million receptors in a dog's nose, which analyze the smell, and then this information goes to the brain. And there are only 5 million in the human nose.
A hunter without a dog is just a man with a gun. The dog must not only find the bird, but also put it under the gun. And after the shot, find the trophy and bring it to the owner. In swampy areas, Weimaraners find and raise the bird, while making a stance even in the water. If they received the command to follow the wounded animal, they will automatically search for any lower trail. Some four-legged hunters go very far, because they are very stubborn. Sooner or later they will find the game and bring it back.
Weimaraner puppy purchase and price
Before you buy a dog, you need to think carefully about the purpose for which you want to get it. The abilities of the puppies are determined in the game. These dogs need regular exercise and diet. If you can provide similar conditions for a pet - start it. When contacting the kennel, you must check all the documents of the producers regarding their health and breed parameters.
See how the puppies are kept? Ask if they have age-appropriate vaccinations if deworming has been done? Of course, the price is determined by the parameters of the puppy and the purpose: for hunting, breeding, as a family friend or for exhibitions. From this, the cost will vary from $ 500 to $ 1200.
More details about the Weimaraner breed in this video:
