Hunting dog Weimaraner: description of the breed, nature, reviews, photos

The dog Weimaraner (Weimar's crook or marriage) deservedly deserved his unusual nickname - "The Silver Ghost". Its elegant appearance and beautiful color will not leave you indifferent. Weimaraner (the description of the breed is presented in the article) is of two subspecies - smooth-haired and long-haired.

The first version of the appearance of the breed

It is generally believed that the first mention of dogs with unusual silvery wool appeared in the 13th century. According to ancient documents, at the court of the French King Louis IX Saint there were animals such as Weimaraner. Description of the breed is contained in the manuscript of Count Gaston de Foix, entitled "The Book of Hunting". It is thanks to her that this breed of dogs has become so popular in European countries.

It should be noted that there are a lot of other versions of the Weimaraners, one of which was their ancestors European marriages, crossed with Ulm blue danes. The very name of the breed appeared relatively recently - in the XIX century. He is associated with the German city of Weimar, where these animals were supposedly bred. Over time, the dogs became participants in specialized exhibitions, where they were presented as a hybrid, and since 1896 already as an independent and officially registered breed.

Initially, these animals were used to hunt wild boars, deer and bears. However, a little later they were gradually accustomed to the extraction of poultry. It is interesting that at all times the Weimaraner (photo below) was considered an elite dog that accompanied its high-ranking owner everywhere. Perhaps, it was this fact that left an indelible imprint on the character of their modern representatives.

The second version of the appearance of Weimaraners

In fact, it is not known for sure how and when these dogs appeared, but there is no doubt that such animals existed at the German court of Charles Augustus, the Duke of Weimar in the 19th century. It is said that the nobleman himself dreamed of creating a new universal hunting breed that would be endurance, boldness, lightning-fast reaction and selfless devotion to his master.

Seeing almost cat's gracefulness of the dog, suddenly turning into a rapid throw towards its victim, the German hunters called it the "Silver Ghost". Later in Weimar for a long time these amazing animals were called that way.

Registration of a new breed

It is known that these dogs got their name back in the 1850's. The official birthday of Weimaraner is the 1890th, when the first tribal book appeared. Their selection was immediately taken up by Weimar hunters, who, as usual, prepared dogs for work on the beast.

Long-haired Weimaraner, who was born from smooth-haired parents, until 1935 was considered a tribal culling and was excluded from breeding. This continued until the dog did not like the well-known Austrian writer Ludwig von Mereyu. Shortly thereafter, long-haired individuals were still included in the standard, and their breeding involved several enthusiasts.

Weimaraner: description of the breed

As already mentioned, the wool of these animals can be long or short. The long-haired individuals of the hair are very soft, slightly wavy or straight. On the paws, ears and tail, the wool is always of different length. In smooth-haired dogs, the hair is rather stiff and close to the body. It is interesting that the undercoat may not be both of one and the other subspecies. Color in the representatives of this breed can vary from mousy to silvery, while the hair on the head and ears is often lighter than on other parts of the body, and on the fingers and chest there are white spots.

Puppies of Weimaranera are born with sky-blue eyes, but as they grow older, the color changes to dark or light amber hues. Ears wide and long with roundings from below. The head of these dogs is proportional to the trunk, and between the eyes there is a pronounced groove. Muzzle angular and elongated. On the nose there is a hump, and the lobe itself is gray-black in color.

The neck of the Weimaraner is elegant and long, smoothly turning into a distinct withers. The chest is deep and wide. Back is quite strong and long. The stomach is a little tight. Paws are strong with well-developed ligaments. They should be parallel, since bulldogs are not allowed to be delivered. The tail is long and set low.

As for the parameters, these dogs can be either large or medium, with the height at the withers almost equal to the length of her body. According to generally accepted standards, the growth of males should be in the range of 59-70, the bitches - 57-65 cm, and the weight, respectively, 30-40 and 25-35 kg.

Character

It is difficult to find a more sociable and active dog than a Weimaraner. The description of the breed would be incomplete, if not to say that he is getting along not only with young children, but also with other animals. However, do not forget that some individuals are sometimes too persistent and stubborn. Such animals will require from their master a certain experience of content and special attention to their upbringing.

Considering the fact that weimaraners live together with people for a long time, there is no question of any aggression in this case. Judging by the numerous reviews, despite his friendliness, this dog does not trust strangers and, if necessary, will be able to protect its owner.

Content

Weimaraner is one of those animals that love space and are hard pressed by the tightness of small apartments. For him, the ideal option is a private house, in the courtyard or garden of which he could have plenty of fun, and in bad weather and stay at home for the night. It is known that representatives of the short-haired species of the breed often freeze in the winter, so it is best for them to stay close to their beloved host.

Deciding to get yourself such a dog, you need to know that it just needs regular and increased physical activity in the form of hunting, all sorts of games, etc. Such trainings have a good effect on the health of the pet as well as on his emotional state. In addition, the more often a dog communicates with the owner, the more she becomes kinder and more affectionate.

Long-haired Weimaraner (photo above) needs daily combing, as well as in water procedures, which are usually performed no more than once every two to three months. For the care of short-haired dogs, there are special rubber brushes or gloves that help to remove dirt after the next walk, as well as dead skin particles. In addition, like other breeds, weimaraners need to flush their eyes from time to time, clean their ears and teeth, and sometimes cut their claws.

Health

Representatives of this breed on average live about 11 years. Basically, weimaraners are distinguished by strong health and can never get sick in their entire life. But alas, there are exceptions to the rules.

Dogs can be susceptible to diseases such as mastocytoma, inversion of the intestine or eyelid, fibrosarcoma, demodecosis, distichiasis, melanoma, cryptorchidism, corneal dystrophy of the eye, interdigital dermatitis, hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy.

But do not despair, as the risk of disease can be significantly reduced if you love your pet and take care of it properly, and also make timely vaccinations and visit the veterinary clinic on a regular basis.

Price list

The cost of dogs of this breed can fluctuate between 5 and 75 thousand rubles, depending on the status of the seller. Thoroughbred Weimaraner, whose price is 40 thousand and more, can be purchased in a good nursery. If the future owner plans to make from his favorite champion of exhibitions, then the animal will cost at least 60 thousand rubles.

In the case when you need only a cheerful and friendly companion for the family, you can buy it for half the price. There is also a budget option - to buy puppies of Weimaraner with hands. Sellers usually ask for them from 5 to 15 thousand rubles. These are the prices for animals of this breed throughout Russia, but as for the capital, here they are much higher.