Weimaraner

The Weimaraner will make a great family pet for any owner that can keep up with their high-strung nature. The breeds' initial purpose was to serve as a hunting dog that could take on large animals such as deer, wolves, and even bears. For these kinds of jobs, the dog needed to have an excessively high energy level and a great degree of stamina. The Weimaraners of today still maintain both the high energy and strong prey drive that their ancestors once had. These dogs will be ready to chase and kill just about any animal that remotely resembles prey, and you can be sure that they will bring you back the trophy too.

The history of this breed began in the early 19th century in the courts of Weimar(Germany), hence their name. The nobleman of this court loved to hunt and wanted a fearless dog that had high stamina and had the ability to take down large animals. The Weimaraner, typically weighing between 55-85 pounds, is an unbelievable hunter.

They were such remarkable dogs that Americans took a liking to them during WW2 and brought some of them back home. The Weimaraner took off in America and by 1950 was the 12th most popular breed. Unfortunately, as is often the case, the rapid increase in popularity led to irresponsible breeding and behavioral issues which led to a sharp decline in demand. As the popularity of the breed declined, the only individuals that continued to breed them were those that genuinely cared. The Weimaraner slowly made a big comeback and today they rank as roughly the 30th most popular purebred dog.

The breed is often referred to as “Gray Ghosts” or “Silver Ghosts” because of their sleek gray or silver coats. This beautiful-looking dog loves being with its family and will follow them all the time, which in turn has also earned them the nickname “shadow”. If not trained properly, the Weimaraner can be an unruly dog that is constantly chewing on random objects in the house, barking at people, and chasing after just about anything that moves. These dogs make amazing family companions for those that have dedicated their time to consistently training them. They will always be on guard and ready to protect the house, and at the same time will always be ready to shower you with as much affection as they can offer.

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