Weimaraner, the silver shadow
Weimaraners were bred to hunt large animals and they have tons of stamina and energy. This was specifically developed to allow them to run with a hunting party for days, never leaving the side of the masters. This is a very athletic dog that requires a lot of exercise. This is not the dog of an apartment, nor the owner of a dog for the first time. Despite the Weimaraner’s energy requirements, it is also not a kennel dog. They prefer to live indoors with the family. This breed will redesign your backyard in an effort to catch small critters, your cat, or simply because it is bored. Barking can also be a sign of boredom and they have separation anxiety if they are left without human company for long periods of time. A large backyard with a leak proof fence is highly recommended. Weimaraner will dig under a fence, climb over the fence and find another way to escape due to the energy of the race. They are excellent companions for jogging, biking, or walking. Any running game such as fetch, frisbee or fly ball will help expend the energy of the race.
The gray or silver coat of the Weimaraner leads to the silver shade moniker. This dog will follow you wherever you go and wants to be in almost constant physical contact with you. Since they are 23 to 27 inches tall and weigh 55 to 80 pounds, you should be prepared for this contact. Weimaraners are generally healthy dogs and typically live 11 to 13 years. However, they do shed, but they don’t have much of a “dog smell”; They like to roll on anything that smells! Due to hanging ears, they can develop ear infections. Checking the ears frequently, brushing the Weimaraner, and an occasional bath are all you need to do to care for the dog. The breed is frequently seen on calendars and in various poses because they can almost have human expressions at times. This is a very intelligent breed that is also an independent thinker. This means that they may or may not follow the rules. Understand, they KNOW the rule, just choose not to follow it! This can be a real challenge for a first time dog owner. It also helps if you have a sense of humor, because the Weimaraner always ignores the rules in style.
The main purpose of the Weimaraner is to be with you and touch you or chase small animals, children, bicycles, etc. This is a breed that is not well adapted to cats and other furry pets. They are very affectionate and BETTER to follow orders, but the hunting instinct may be too great. Older children can be a great companion for a Weimaraner, but young children tend to injure themselves due to the dog’s energy level. This is not intentional on the part of the animal; they just have to expend the energy. They also do not make kennels. This dog must have human contact and be with the family, even indoors. Do not be fooled, it is a hunting dog that lives in closed spaces. Being away from family and not getting enough exercise will make the Weimaraner entertained and will probably not like the results.