Breed Information
From "A
Celebration of Dogs"
by Roger Caras
THE WEIMARANER
The Weimaraner, one of Germany’s top sporting dogs, dates back less than 200
years. It was meticulously developed by noble sporting patrons at the Court of
Weimar. It was a snob sporting dog developed and jealously guarded by one of the
biggest collection of snobs the dog world has ever seen. You were RIGHT or you
couldn’t get your hands on one. Bloodhound stock clearly played a large part
at the beginning, as did a German breed not known in this country, the Red
Schweisshund. The Weimaraner is a first cousin to the German Shorthaired
Pointer.
The Weimaraner is the perfect example of a highly refined breeding program 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.
The solid mouse-to-silver gray
Weimaraner with its short, dense coat is a breed that simply must have early
obedience training or it is capable of being a first class pest. It is
headstrong, willful, adoring, incredibly intelligent, and responsive to praise.
When a Weimaraner doesn’t know what it is supposed to do, it can be counted on
to do all of the wrong things. I have known Weimaraners whose owners had not
bothered to train them or teach them manners to go through a plate-glass picture
window because they had been left home alone too long and were bored, bless
them. I know of one that dragged a charred log from a fireplace and pulled it
from room to room chewing charcoal off as it went. It took a professional
cleaning firm to repair the damage. It could have burned the house down.
That kind of flaky behavior must be seen in contrast to the well-managed dog,
however, or it gives a distorted picture. A well-trained Weimaraner is a regal
accomplishment of canine genetic art, and as intolerably ill-behaved as a
mismanaged specimen can be, that is how extremely good, solid, and reliable a
properly raised example will be. It is one of those dogs, and this is so often
true of the sporting dogs, that is what you want it to be. Few dogs can be more
of a nuisance than an Irish Setter, a Viszla, or a Weimaraner that has had its
vital energy levels, its need to perform, and its exuberant love affair with
life ignored. They need to exercise, they need training, and they need
opportunities to participate in vigorous, ongoing events. You ignore these facts
at considerable risk to your property. I have known very few sporting dogs that
had anything wrong with them except their owners.
TAKE THE "WEIM
QUIZ"!!
Find out if you are ready to
bring a Weimaraner into your home and lifestyle. The "Weim Quiz" is
provided by The Weimaraner Club of America web site. It is a fun and
realistic quiz about living with Weimaraners.
The
Weimaraner Breed Standard
The Official American
Kennel Club Standard for the Breed, accepted by The Weimaraner Club of America.
Puppy
Buyers' Checklist
Do you know what to
look for when purchasing a puppy? Important facts you should know!!
Are
We Breeding Too Many Weimaraners?
Read this thought provoking essay and decide for yourself.
Dog
Owner's Guide Profile: The Weimaraner
A profile of the Weimaraner breed.
Suggested
Reading:
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A
New Owner's Guide To Weimaraners
by Judythe Coffman (TFH Publications 1998) The book contains 160 pages
and has lots of illustrations and photographs. The book offers information
about the breed, care instructions, sport, health, etc. Often
available at PetsMart and through some pet supply catalogues, such as Care A
Lot Pet Supply Warehouse, 1-800-343-7680. $8.00 - $12.95 (depending on
source & shipping)
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The
Weimaraner Manual by
the Weimaraner Club of Washington D.C. Area, Inc. (USA 1978-1994) 178 pages
and intended as a compendium of canine information from numerous sources to
assist new Weimaraner owners in caring for, understanding and enjoying their
Weimaraners. Initially made as a Welcome Manual for new members of the
Weimaraner Club of Washington D.C. but in view of the great demand updated
and reprinted for all Weimaraner owners everywhere. Email: weimies@mail.com,
$8.00
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Weimaraner
Ways by Virginia
Alexander & Jackie Isabell (Sun Starr USA 1993) The definitive book
about the breed, it contains 624 pages. The most in-depth study of the breed
and its history to date, the book is fascinating reading from cover to
cover. Could have been named the Weimaraner Bible with no shading of the
truth. Contains many photo's by William Wegman and the book is full of
photos and art as well. This is available through www.weimaraners.com
or by calling 1-800-WWeimar. $79.95
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How To Raise A Puppy
You Can Live With, Third Edition by Clarice Rutherford and David H.
Neil, Alpine Publications, Inc., 1910 South Garfield, Loveland, CO 80537.
Available at most bookstores.
-
Second Hand Dog - How
to Make Yours a First Rate Pet by Carol Lea Benjamin, An excellent start
on obedience and very easy to read. Especially good for owners
acquiring an older puppy or adult dog. Howell Book House, Simon &
Schuster Macmillan Company, 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019-6785.
Available at most bookstores.
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