Weimaraner
The Weimaraner's coat colour led to its nickname of "the Gray Ghost".
Alternative names
Weimaraner Vorstehhund
Country of origin
Germany
Common nicknames
Weim Silver Ghost Grey Ghost
Classification and breed standards
FCI:	Group 7 Section 1 #099	Stds
AKC:	Sporting	Stds
ANKC:	Group 3 (Gun dogs	Stds
CKC:	Group 1 - Sporting	Stds
KC (UK):	Gundogs	Stds
NZKC:	Gundogs	Stds
UKC:	Gun Dogs	Stds

The Weimaraner is a silver-grey breed of dog developed originally in early 19th century for hunting. Early Weimaraners were used by royalty for hunting large game, such as boar, bears, and deer. As the popularity of large game hunting began to decline, Weimaraners were used for hunting smaller animals, like fowl, rabbits, and foxes. Rather than having a specific purpose such as pointing or flushing, the Weimaraner is an all purpose gun dog. The Weimaraner is loyal and loving to his family, an incredible hunter, and a fearless guardian of his family and territory. The name comes from the Grand Duke of Weimar, Karl August, whose court enjoyed hunting. Weimaraner Windwalkers Thunder Road Taken Feb 22,2004 at the SMART/USDAA dog agility competition in Salinas, CA. Photo by Ellen Levy Finch (Elf). ... Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (English, World Canine Organization), is an international Kennel Club based in Thuin, Belgium. ... © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ... The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) is the peak body in Australia responsible for promoting excellence in breeding, showing, trialling, obedience, and other canine-related activities and the ownership of temperamentally and physically sound purebred dogs by responsible individuals across Australia. ... The Canadian Kennel Club (or C.K.C.) is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Canada. ... The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom is a club aiming to improve the relationships between dogs and their owners. ... The New Zealand Kennel Club is an organisation responsible for dog pedigree registration services in New Zealand. ... The United Kennel Club (or UKC) is the second oldest all-breed registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States and the second largest in the world. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... This article is about the hunting of prey by human society. ... For other uses, see Weimar (disambiguation). ... Carl August, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (3 September 1757 - 14 June 1828) was the duke of Saxe-Weimar and of Saxe-Eisenach (personal union) from 1758, duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach from its creation in 1809, and grand-duke from 1815 until his death. ...

Appearance

This dog is distinctly blue/black in colour, a colour which is penalised or disqualified in dog shows

The Weimaraner is elegant, noble, and athletic in appearance. All parts of the dog should be in balance with each other, creating a form that is pleasing to the eye. It must be capable of working in the field, regardless of whether it is from show stock or hunting stock, and faults that will interfere with working ability are heavily penalized. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 643 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1500 × 1398 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 643 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1500 × 1398 pixel, file size: 1. ...

The tails, which may be amber or gray, are kept short. In some cases, tails are docked and dewclaws are removed, the tail usually docked at birth to a third of its natural length. Docking is used as a term for the intentional removal of part of an animals tail or ears. ...

Coat and colour

A long-haired Weimaraner

This breed's short, smooth gray coat and its unusual eyes give it a regal appearance different from any other breed. However, the breed has been deemed very similar to the Vizsla. The eyes may be light amber, gray, or blue-gray. The coat may range from mouse-gray (grayish beige or tan) to silver-gray. Where the fur is thin or non-existent, inside the ears or on the lips, for example, the skin should be a pinkish "flesh" tone rather than white or black. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 741 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (938 × 759 pixels, file size: 455 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A long-haired female Weimaraner named Taura (Tara de la Legende de Faublas). ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 741 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (938 × 759 pixels, file size: 455 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) A long-haired female Weimaraner named Taura (Tara de la Legende de Faublas). ... Country of origin Hungary Classification Breed standards (external links) The Hungarian Vizsla, pronounced Vizh-la (zh as in vision), is a dog breed originating in Hungary. ...

The silvery-gray colour is rare in dogs and is the result of breeding for a recessive gene. It has also lent the breed the nickname 'silver ghost' or 'gray ghost.' The coat is extremely low maintenance; it is short, hard, and smooth to the touch.

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC) standard, a distinctly blue or black coat is an automatic disqualification, though a small white marking in the chest area only is permitted. © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ...

There is a long-haired variety that is recognised by most kennel clubs around the world except in North America. The long-haired Weimaraner has a silky coat, with -contrary to the short coated variety- an undocked feathered tail. Because the gene is recessive, breeding two long-haired Weimaraners only produces long-haired puppies. Breeding of a long-haired Weimaraner to a short-haired Weimaraner will produce some long-haired puppies only if the short-haired parent carries the recessive longhair gene. Otherwise, the offspring will all be short-haired.

Size

According to the AKC standard, the male Weimaraner stands between 25 and 27 inches (63-68 cm) at the withers. The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registries of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ... The withers is the highest point on an animals back, on the ridge between its shoulder blades. ...

Females are between 23 and 25 inches (58-63 cm). Of course, there are many dogs taller or shorter than the breed standard. The breed is not heavy for its height, and males normally weigh roughly 70-85 pounds. Females are generally between 55-70 lbs(25-32kgs). A Weimaraner carries its weight proudly and gives the appearance of a muscular,athletic dog.

Temperament

Weimaraners are highly athletic and trainable, characteristics which allow them to excel in a variety of dog sports, such as agility

Weimaraners are fast and powerful dogs, but are also suitable home animals given appropriate training & exercise. These dogs are not as sociable towards strangers as other hunting dogs such as Labradors and Golden Retrievers. Weimaraners are very protective of their family and can be very territorial. They can be aloof to strangers, and must be thoroughly socialized when young to prevent aggression. They are also highly intelligent, sensitive and problem-solving animals, which earned them an epithet "dog with a human brain". From adolescence, a Weimaraner requires extensive exercise in keeping with an energetic hunting dog breed and prized for their physical endurance and stamina. No walk is too far, and they will appreciate games and play in addition. An active owner is more likely to provide the vigorous exercising, games, or running that this breed absolutely requires. Weimaraners are high-strung and often wear out their owners, requiring appropriate training to learn how to calm them and to help them learn to control their behavior. Owners need patience and consistent, firm (yet kind) training, as this breed is particularly rambunctious during the first year and a half of its life. Like many breeds, untrained and unconfined young dogs often create their own fun when left alone, such as chewing house quarters and furniture. Thus, many that are abandoned have behavioural issues as a result of isolation and inferior exercise. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 536 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1371 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 536 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1371 pixel, file size: 1. ... Dog sports are activities that involve dogs. ... Agility field left side: A competition agility field showing (clockwise from lower left) a tunnel, the dogwalk, the judge standing in front of a winged jump, two additional winged jumps, dog executing the teeter-totter with his handler guiding, and the tire jump. ... The Labrador Retriever (also Labrador or Lab for short), is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. ... Golden Retriever is the basic name given to a breed of dog, originally developed to retrieve shot game during hunting. ...

It should never be forgotten that the Weimaraner is a hunting dog and therefore has a strong, instinctive prey drive. Weimaraners will sometimes tolerate cats, as long as they are introduced to the cats as puppies, but many will chase and frequently kill almost any small animal that enters their garden or backyard. In rural areas, most Weimaraners will not hesitate to chase deer or sheep. However, with good training, these instincts can be curtailed to some degree. A properly trained Weimaraner is a wonderful companion that will never leave its master's side.

Professional training

3 month old Weim puppy

Professional training is beneficial, particularly for less-experienced owners. This includes behaviours towards other family pets. Depending upon training they can be quite aggressive towards other dogs, but they are a loyal, playful and affectionate pet and an alert and friendly member of the family. Although visitors are likely to be licked rather than warned away, the Weimaraner does not miss a trick and is always aware of its surroundings and is ready to protect its family and territory in a heartbeat. Extensive socialization is critical for this breed. Prospective owners should note that the Weimaraner is not recommended for families with young children as it is usually boisterous, sometimes hyperactive. If you train them at an early age with young children then they will get used to them. The same goes with other pets. This is also a breed with tremendous personality, charm and stubbornness. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3072x2304, 2502 KB) Summary 3 month old Weimaraner puppy Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3072x2304, 2502 KB) Summary 3 month old Weimaraner puppy Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...

Behavior Disorders

Two year old Weim in the field hunting.

Those familiar with the breed acknowledge two common behavioral disorders. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixelsFull resolution (3008 × 2000 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixelsFull resolution (3008 × 2000 pixel, file size: 1. ... This article is about the hunting of prey by human society. ...

The first common behavior disorder is the propensity of many Weimaraners to suffer from severe separation anxiety. Manifestations of this behavior disorder include panicked efforts to rejoin the owner when separation occurs, excessive drooling, destructive behaviors, and associated injuries such as broken teeth or cut lips. Behavior modification training and medications may reduce the severity of symptoms associated with this disorder in some Weimaraners. However, the breed is generally refractory to such treatment and behavior modification training efforts. As individuals of the breed age the severity of separation anxiety symptoms decrease somewhat, but do not completely abate.

The second common behavior disorder is unacceptable aggression in some Weimaraners. Early and extensive socialization of young dogs can prevent this. However, as the original purpose of the breed was to assist in hunting small to large forest game (fowl & small mammals to boar, elk & bears) and to provide personal as well as property protection a certain amount of aggression is innate to the breed.

History

Today's breed standards developed in the 1800s, although dogs having very similar features to the Weimaraner have been attested as far back as 1200s in the court of Louis IX of France. It is believed that Continental pointing breeds and mastiffs were its ancestors. The breed was created exclusively for the nobility and alike. The aim was to create a noble-looking, reliable gundog. As ownership was restricted, the breed was highly prized and lived with the family. This was unusual, as during this period, hunting dogs were kept in kennels in packs. This has resulted in a dog that needs to be near humans and that quickly deteriorates when kennelled. The Weimaraner was an all purpose family dog, capable of guarding the home, hunting with the family, and of course, being loving and loyal towards children. Interestingly enough, when the dog was still used for hunting, its instinctual hunting method is to attack the prey's genitals to bring it down. // Invention of the Jacquard loom in 1801. ... Centuries: 12th century - 13th century - 14th century Decades: 1150s 1160s 1170s 1180s 1190s - 1200s - 1210s 1220s 1230s 1240s 1250s Years: 1200 1201 1202 1203 1204 1205 1206 1207 1208 1209 Events and Trends 1200 University of Paris receives charter from Philip II of France 1202-1204 Fourth Crusade - diverted to... Louis IX (25 April 1215 – 25 August 1270), commonly Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 to his death. ...

Originally, Germany was possessive of its skilled all-purpose gundog, but released a pair in the 1950s to America where the breed quickly became popular. Although slower than many other gundogs, such as Pointers, the Weimaraner is thorough and this made it a welcome addition to the sportsman's household. Furthermore, its happy, lively temperament endeared it to families, although it is perhaps too lively for families with young children. Unfortunately, with the rise in popularity, some careless matches were made and some inferior specimens were produced. Since then, both in Britain and America (where the breed remains popular) breeders have taken care to breed for quality and purpose. Pointers pointing stance The Pointer is a group of dog breeds; specifically, they are a type of gundog typically used in hunting birds. ...

Weimaraners in popular culture

William Wegman's Dressup Batty

• The first president and founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, had a Weimaraner called Fox.
• US President Dwight D. Eisenhower owned a Weimaraner named Heidi
• French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing owned a Weimaraner called Jugurtha, who is said to have had such human habits as laughing or drinking tea
• The photographs of William Wegman prominently feature Weimaraners. His dogs (which included Man Ray—named after artist Man Ray—and Fay Ray—a play on Fay Wray) are the subject of his photos, dressed in human clothes. These pictures are popular both in galleries of contemporary art and as pop culture icons. These "dogs with hands" have appeared frequently on Sesame Street, and occasionally on Saturday Night Live.
• A Weimaraner was also the subject of the music video for Blue Monday by the indie rock band New Order.
• A Weimaraner named Beatrice (played by Can. Ch. Arokat's Echobar Take Me Dancing) is featured in the movie Best in Show.
• A Weimaraner was used in the Sylvester Stalone movie "Daylight" (1996).
• Actor Hosea Chanchez (CW's The Game) owns a Weimaraner puppy named Brando.
• Singer Kate Bush poses with two Weimaraner on the cover of her 1985 album Hounds of Love
• A cowardly Weimaraner named Hyena plays a minor role in the Japanese series Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin.
• Brad Pitt owns a Weimaraner named Purdy[1]
• Actor Esai Morales (NYPD Blue) owns a Weimaraner named Frankie
• Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor owns a female Weimaraner named Daisy May

Image File history File links William_Wegmans_Dressup_Batty. ... Image File history File links William_Wegmans_Dressup_Batty. ... “Mustafa Kemal” redirects here. ... Dwight David Eisenhower, born David Dwight Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969), nicknamed Ike, was a five-star General in the United States Army and U.S. politician, who served as the thirty-fourth President of the United States (1953–1961). ... Valéry Marie René Giscard dEstaing (born 2 February 1926) is a French centre-right politician who was President of the French Republic from 1974 until 1981. ... Blue Period with Banjo, Polaroid ER print by William Wegman, 1980 William Wegmans Dressup Batty William Wegman (b. ... For other uses, see Man Ray (disambiguation). ... Fay Ray was one of the famous Weimaraner dogs of William Wegman. ... Vina Fay Wray (September 15, 1907 – August 8, 2004) was a Canadian–American actress. ... Popular culture, or pop culture, is the vernacular (peoples) culture that prevails in a modern society. ... Sesame Street is an American educational childrens television series for preschoolers and is a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard, combining both education and entertainment. ... This article is about the American television series. ... A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music, most commonly a song. ... Audio sample Blue Monday is a dance pop song recorded and released as a single in 1983 by British band New Order. ... Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music often used to refer to bands that are on small independent record labels or that arent on labels at all. ... This article is about the alternative rock/electronic band New Order. ... A champion dog most often refers to a dog who has earned the Champion title at conformation dog shows, but it can also refer to a dog who has earned a Champion title in various dog sports. ... Best in Show (2000) is a mockumentary that follows five entrants in a prestigious dog show. ... Kate Bush (born 30 July 1958) is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. ... Hounds of Love is a 1985 album by Kate Bush. ... Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin (Silver Fang in English speaking countries; Hopeanuoli in Finland where it has become widely popular) is a 21 episode, 1986 anime series based on 1984 manga by the same name that was created by Yoshihiro Takahashi who was inspired by a news-article which told of hunting... William Bradley Brad Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor, film producer, and social activist. ... Esai Morales Esai Morales (born October 1, 1962) is an actor who most recently starred as Lt. ... Nine Inch Nails (abbreviated as NIN) is an American industrial rock band, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. ... Michael Trent Reznor (born May 17, 1965), is an American musician, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. ...

Health

The Weimaraner is a deep-chested dog, which makes them a breed which is high on the list of dogs affected by bloat (gastric torsion). This a very serious condition that causes death when left untreated. It occurs when the stomach twists itself, thereby pinching off the routes of food traveling in or out. Symptoms include a dog showing signs of distress, discomfort, and a swollen stomach. Immediate medical attention is imperitive when bloat occurs and surgery is usually the only option. One way to help prevent bloat is to spread out the Weimaraner's feedings to at least twice daily and to avoid any rigorous exercise right after feedings. Weimaraner owners might never see this problem in their dogs but should be familiar with the ailment and keep emergency vet numbers handy. Hip dysplasia is a major concern among Weimaraners,^[1] as with most large breeds of dog. It is generally recommended to acquire Weims only from breeders who have their dog's hips tested using OFA or PennHIP methods. Other health issues include: This article is about the veterinary condition. ... This article covers Hip dysplasia, a condition affecting the hip joint, which occurs in humans but is more commonly associated with animals, especially dogs (Canine hip dysplasia). ... The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is an organisation that aims to research and prevent orthopedic and Hereditary diseases in animals. ... PennHIP (an acronym for University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program) is a diagnostic technique for evaluating the hips of dogs for laxity, as well as a network of veterinarians that use the PennHIP method of evaluation. ...

• Cryptorchidism^[2]
• Elbow dysplasia^[1]
• Distichiasis^[2]
• Von Willebrands Disease^[2]
• Entropion^[1]
• Hypothyroidism^[2]
• Hypertrophic osteodystrophy^[1]
• Pituitary dwarfism^[1][2]
• Hypomyelinogenesis^[1]
• Renal dysplasia^[1]
• Progressive retinal atrophy

Cryptorchidism is a medical term referring to absence from the scrotum of one or both testes. ... Elbow dysplasia is a condition involving multiple developmental abnormalities of the elbow-joint. ... A distichia is an eyelash that arises from an abnormal spot on the eyelid of dogs. ... Von Willebrands disease (vWD) is the most common hereditary coagulation abnormality described in humans. ... Entropion is a medical condition in which the eyelids fold inward. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Hypertrophic osteodystrophy is a bone disease in rapidly growing large breed dogs. ... Growth hormone deficiency is the medical condition of inadequate production of growth hormone (GH) and its effects on children and adults. ... Renal Dysplasia This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a genetic disease of the retina that occurs bilaterally and is seen in certain breeds of dogs. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} http://www.upei.ca/~cidd/breeds/weimaraner2.htm Canine Inherited Disorders Database
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} http://www.weimclubamerica.org/health/index.html Weimaraner Club of America: List of common problems afflicting Weimaraners

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Weimaraner

• Weimaraner Club of America
• San Francisco Weimaraner Group
• Weimaraner Club of the Washington D.C. Area
• Weimaraner Association of Canada
• Weimaraner Club of New South Wales
• Weimaraner Club of Victoria Inc.
• Weimaraner Club of Great Britain
• Weimaraner Club of Scotland