The Weimaraner: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet
Click on the cover above to go to this book at Amazon.co.uk
Weimaraners are perhaps the most challenging of the gundog breeds. They are very elegant dogs, with a sleek body, silver-grey coat, and pale eyes. Their looks alone give them immense appeal, and well-trained Weims are also bold and friendly. They do need training, and the house rules should be clearly explained to them from when they are pups. They are very strong dogs, and know their own minds. Weimaraners are among the breeds with a higher than average risk of being euthanased for behavioural problems, perhaps because too many owners bought pups for their striking good looks, and did not realise the commitment needed in training them. Luckily, they are quite easy to train, so long as they are taught acceptable behaviour as soon as they arrive as pups. A very short session of formal training every day is also helpful, while they are puppies, as well as the usual puppy socialization and obedience classes. Anyone planning to train their own dog would do well to invest in a good training manual, and ensure that their Weim meets a lot of other dogs and people, in order to learn good manners.
Weimaramers also involve a commitment in terms of walks - they need regular exercise, or they tend to become difficult to live with, overactive and barky. They do enjoy retrieving, however, once they have been taught. It's safer to ask them to sit before the ball is thrown, so they don't jump up. They can excel in obedience work and field trials. Well-trained Weimaramers are generally good with children and other dogs. Untrained Weims are not! They are likely to knock children over and generally be a pain. They don't need much grooming, and are generally healthy as a breed, though not especially long-lived. Common health problems include a higher than average risk of spay-related incontinence. Other health problems that Weimaraners are vulnerable to include cancer, bloat, hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, von Willebrands, and eye and skin complaints.
This is a good general introduction to Weimaraners which is aimed at a US audience. It is well-illustrated, and well set out, and covers the basics which a novice Weimaraner owner needs to know.
