About Weimaraners
The Weimaraner breed of dog is ideally greyish-silver and has long been bred and renowned for its hunting prowess. The name derives from Charles August - the Grand Duke of Weimar - who loved to hunt.
Weimaraner Appearance
Weimaraners are graceful and athletic hunters with average to longish silver-grey hair. Their sleak, iridiscent coat afford them a regal apperance that instantly sets them apart from any other breed. Their color is quite rare in nature, let alone in the dog species as a whole, and is a result of generations of repetitive breeding for a particular recessive gene. Because of this extraordinary coat, the Weimaraner is often dubbed the "silver ghost" or "gray ghost". Fur-less parts of the dog should be pinkish and flesh-tone, not white or black.
The American Kennel Club mandates that Weimaraners with a distinct black or blue coat are disqualified, although minor white marks on the chest are allowed. The United States is the only country in the world that does not recognize the long-haired Weimaraner variety, which has a feathery coat on the legs and their undocked tail. Attemps to breed longhaired Weimaraners only produce long-haired Weim puppies because the gene is recessive. However, breeding a shorthaired Weimaraner with a longhaired Weimeraner yields some longhaired pups when the short-haired parent possesses the recessive longhaired gene.
The head is long and austere with long, lobular ears. Eye color is anything from light amber to deep blue to grey. AKC dictates that purebred Weim's tails be docked to roughly six inches in length.
Males are approximately 25-27 inches in height at the withers (shoulder); while females are 23-25 inches. The breed is athletic and not heavy for its height - Weimaraner males average 70-85 pounds with females typically weighing between 55-65 pounds. Some perfectly healthy Weims can weigh as little as fifty pounds.
The primary determination for quality of breed is in their hunting ability. Weims must be fully capable of working the field, whether for show stock or hunting. Any fault variant in this category is severely penalized.
Weimaraner Personality & Temperament
Weimaraner dogs are an exceptionally strong, fast breed, yet are quite suitable as pets provided with the proper training. They require at least a few hours of exercise every day, particularly when they're young. New owners of Weimaraner puppies are undoubtedly surprised at the seemingly boundless energy that their new pooch has. For this reason, it is recommended that owners be especially active.
Weimaraners can be high-strung and easily spurred to excitement at a moment's notice. Owners are encouraged to be patient with new Weim pups and understand that their rambunctiousness will subside after the 18 months. As with any dog breed left to their own devices, Weimaraners will find their own diversions if not properly trained and supervised - chewing furniture and other niceties.
Cats are typically okay with Weimaraners, provided the dog has appropriate training and they are introduced to their feline roommates as puppies. Remember that they are a hunting breed and will catch and kill just about any small, unfamiliar animal that enters their "zone". Some Weims will go so far as to chase larger prey, such as sheep or deer.
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Behavior Disorders
Two general behavior disorders of the Weimaraner breed are general recognized. Because they have been bred as intimate family dogs with constant human contact, the most common is the potential for some Weims to suffer from separation anxiety. Such behavior may manifest in panic attacks, severe drooling, general destructive behavior such as biting or chewing on household objects, and the any respective injuries resulting from same. Proper training of Weimaraner puppies can curb this behavior to some extent, however some Weims are never truly "broken" of this disorder. It is simply too strongly ingrained in their genes. This behavior may subside with age, but will almost never completely disappear.
The other common disorder is unwarranted aggression. Again, proper training and socialization with people and other pets can curb this behavior. It's important to note however that as a hunting dog, and one which is prone to protecting itself and it's family, a certain level of aggression should be expected and appreciated in the Weimaraner breed.