Grooming
Thanks to a smooth, short coat, a Weimaraner’s grooming needs are simpler than some other breeds. Here are some grooming tips for your Weimaraner:
Brushing: This low-maintenance dog requires weekly brushing to remove loose hairs and keep their coat shiny and sleek. The rubber tines of a curry comb (like this one from ConairPro) glide down the back to remove loose fur leaving your pup silky smooth to the touch. Weimaraners are low-shedding dogs, but you’ll notice more fur around the house in the spring and fall when their coat sheds the most.
Bathing: Bathing your pup once a month is plenty unless curiosity has led them to roll in muck or splash in mud puddles. Then, lather them up! To keep a Weimaraner’s skin and coat healthy, opt for a dog shampoo that aligns with their needs, such as soothing dry skin, calming allergies or flea prevention.
Dental care: Just like humans, Weimaraners also need routine dental care and cleaning. Brush their teeth daily to keep their teeth and gums healthy. Your veterinarian can teach you proper brushing techniques. Be sure you schedule your Weim for an annual professional cleaning to remove plaque and tarter build-up.
Nail trimming: The toughest part of grooming Weimaraners is their toenails. They grow thick, long and fast. You know your pet needs a trim when the nails play a clicky-clack tune on hard floors when walking. Plan to trim their nails about once a month for regular maintenance, or have your vet or a professional groomer do it.
Ear cleaning: This breed is prone to ear infections due to the lack of airflow inside their signature ears. If you notice debris, redness or swelling, or if you smell an odor or see wax build-up, speak to your veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment. If they recommend at-home cleaning, check out our vet-approved guide for cleaning a dog’s ears.
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Training
Weimaraners rate high on the intelligence scale. Show them a new trick or task just a few times, and they learn it. This breed thrives on gathering information and putting it to use, making them excellent partners for competitions and social outings.
Weims are eager to learn and need training to harness their exuberance during the puppy years. They respond best to positive-based training that uses praise, petting and treats within a structured course that builds upon techniques learned each session. You might find the assistance of a certified dog trainer or behaviorist especially helpful in these early stages.
Weimaraner training should be consistent, regular and creative. For example, you can teach your dog that when you pull out their leash at night, it means it’s time for obedience class, and they’ll look forward to the training sesh. They may even remind you about the activity minutes before by waiting by the door or nudging the leash. You (or your trainer) should mix up the format of these training sessions or else your Weimaraner will get bored. Perhaps start some sessions with social time and other times go straight into training. Keep a Weimaraner guessing, and you’ll have a focused dog.
It may be a little difficult for this breed to learn to walk on a loose leash or come when called. Offer rewards that appeal to their taste buds. Weimaraners have an excellent sense of smell and will pull toward dog treats. Use that to your advantage in training sessions.
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Diet
Weimaraners typically do well on a complete and balanced diet of high-quality commercial dog food. When selecting a food, choose a formula that fits your dog’s age and stage in life, such as puppy, adult or senior. If you’re selecting a dog from a breeder, ask what brand and formula they were feeding the puppy. You may choose to continue with the same.
Your veterinarian can provide additional nutrition information and help you create a feeding chart to determine how often and how much to feed your dog based on their specific dietary needs, age, size, activity level and health conditions. Treats are OK for Weimaraners in moderation. However, these quick snacks contain calories and can add up, leading to obesity.
Because Weimaraners are large-breed dogs, puppies benefit from calcium and glucosamine supplements to give their bones and joints the best support possible during their growing years. As a Weimaraner ages, feed them according to their body type (such as weight management food for those overweight) and metabolism (such as food for active dogs if they log lots of miles each week).
A healthy-weight Weimaraner should have visible hips, a slender stomach line and one or two ribs showing from the rear view. Not sure if your dog is maintaining a proper weight or consuming the right nutrition? Consult your veterinarian, as they are the best resource to help you pick proper food for your dog based on their individual needs.
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Exercise
Weimaraners are energetic dogs. They crave movement and will enjoy going with you on a trail run, hunting trip, afternoon swim or participating in an agility trial.
As a rule of thumb, exercise for a puppy should equal about five minutes per month of age, twice a day. So, a Weimaraner puppy who’s 4 months old should get 20 minutes of exercise two times a day. This might be in the form of a walk around the neighborhood in the morning and playtime at the dog park after dinner.
Adult Weimaraners more than 1 year old can easily enjoy one to three hours of activity each day thanks to their high energy level. But don’t be fooled! This physically active dog will coax you to stay out and about all day if you let them. You may need to remind them that sleep is important, too.
Weimaraners are a working breed who excel at hunting. It’s one of their best traits. If that’s your weekend pastime, you’ve met your furry soul mate. To really connect, reward your pet with a tasty protein-rich snack (we recommend American Journey Beef treats) as you teach them how to track and retrieve.
As you’re giving your Weim physical challenges, be sure to challenge their mind, too. Introduce them to agility-style games, training classes and puzzle toys to help keep them happy.
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Environment
Weimaraners are a fabulous family pet for active households in the city or country. These dogs do great with people of all ages but should be supervised around babies and toddlers. This breed’s large size can accidentally knock down tiny tots when playing or running toward you for a treat.
Weims are great as a pet for experienced pup parents. Their high-energy and quick mind means you’ll need to stay one step ahead of them to keep them well-behaved and out of trouble. For the best behavior, get the zoomies and wiggles out with frequent visits to the backyard or local park. Weimaraners tend to love water and lots of land to roam, making them an ideal breed for rural dwellers who have a small pond on their property.
When friends drop by or you host holiday dinners with extended family, a Weimaraner will act as your jubilant door greeter and happily sniff everyone who enters. They may even pick a favorite and try to be a lap dog to get extra close and personal.
These dogs get along well with other dogs. When it comes to feline friends, Weimaraners either ignore or chase these furry companions. If you have a cat in the home, it’s best to make introductions before committing to raising a Weimaraner to be sure the two get along.
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