Are Weimaraners Good Condominium Canines?
Are Weimaraners Good Condominium Canines?
I used to be speaking about our new Weimaraner, Booker, at a celebration the opposite evening and it occurred once more.
A buddy — and proprietor of a Havanese — stated “I actually need to meet your pet, however I can’t imagine you reside in an condominium with him.”
I requested why. He answered with a query “Don’t they want house? They’re so large!”
I sighed and stated “No condominium or home goes to be large enough for a Weim to train in. They deal with their indoor areas as their residence. You need to take them exterior.” Individuals at all times assume massive canines want an enormous house to reside in, however that’s probably not the case.
So, for those who’re considering of selecting a Weimaraner to be your City Canine, learn on and find out about Weims, train, temperament, well being, and extra from actual life city-dwelling Weim house owners.
The Grey Ghost
I met my first Weimaraner about 15 years in the past and there’s been no wanting again since. At any time when we’ve been within the place to get a brand new canine, we’ve at all times thought-about different breeds, normally Vizslas, however we preserve going again to the Weimaraner effectively.
Based on the American Kennel Membership they’re the fortieth hottest breed in the US. They don’t seem to be tremendous widespread in New York Metropolis. The NYC Division of Licensing says there are at the moment 559 Weims registered with town.
Weimaraners are lovely, muscular, clever canines. Males stand about 24 to 26 inches on the shoulders and weigh about 66 to 88 kilos; females are 23 to 25 inches tall and weigh 55 to 77 kilos. They arrive in quite a lot of shades of sunshine grey. There are additionally Blue Weimaraners that are available a a really darkish shade of grey (these canines are usually not allowed to compete in canine reveals.) They reside from about 11 to 14 years outdated typically. One among ours lived to be 16, the second died at 9.
Two of the breed’s nicknames are “The Grey Ghost” and “The Canine with the Human Mind.”
They’re also called “Velcro Canines.” They need to be with you always and persist with you want glue.
Weim Historical past
Weimaraners originated in Germany as big-game hunters, monitoring bear, boar, and deer. As time went on and people large animals decreased in quantity, Weims have been used for smaller recreation, reminiscent of birds. It’s believed they have been first bred by the Grand Duke of Weimar (their authentic identify was the Weimar Pointer) within the nineteenth century, however there’s some artwork that means comparable wanting canines existed way back to the thirteenth century. German nobles managed the provision of Weimaraners very strictly. It wasn’t till the primary a part of the twentieth century that the breed was obtainable in the US. They have been acknowledged by the AKC in 1942. For extra about their historical past go to the Weimaraner Membership of America website.
Some well-known Weim house owners embody President Eisenhower and the film star Grace Kelly.
Photographer William Wegman has constructed a big a part of his profession round photographing Weimaraners. Numerous individuals keep in mind his videos for Sesame Avenue.
Do Weimaraners Make Good Metropolis Canines?
Individuals with small canines or people who don’t personal canines continuously query the choice to have a big, or perhaps a medium-sized, canine in an condominium. What they don’t perceive is that canines, massive or small, don’t get their train inside the house. All canines want some sort of outside train and stimulation, some greater than others, however it’s not depending on dimension. There are many small breeds that want tons of train. (Right here’s you, Jack Russell Terrier!)
Having a home or a yard just isn’t the reply. Particularly with a Weimaraner. You’ll want to have interaction and work together along with your Weim. I need to quote Booker’s breeder Anne Taguchi; she is the founding father of the Simply Weimaraners website and an professional on all issues Weim:
“If you happen to suppose that you would be able to put a Weim in a yard and he’ll run round exercising himself, suppose once more. Your yard can not train your Weimaraner for you… [your bored Weim] goes to dig holes, terrorize and bark at no matter passes him by, bounce the fence, and customarily be a nuisance. Repeat after me: Weims are time intensive, not house intensive.”
Your Weimaraner will view your condominium as his den. It’s your job to make it possible for these clever and energetic canines are totally engaged. Meaning frequent walks, journeys to canine parks to run and play, obedience lessons, and many others., and many others., and many others. Maintain your Weim busy!
My recommendation to any condominium dweller contemplating a Weim: for those who can spend A LOT of time along with your Weimaraner, then they are often completely good condominium canines.
Dog Time and Vet Street have totally different views, giving Weims very low marks for condominium residing.
Do Weimaraners Bark a Lot?
College of California / Davis researchers Benjamin and Lynette Hart devised a system of rating breeds alongside a line of 13 totally different attributes. A rating of 1 signifies that the canine in query was unlikely to exhibit a specific trait, a ten signifies that the canine had a excessive chance of demonstrating that high quality.
When it comes to barking at inappropriate instances, Weimaraners get a seven score. Meaning they’ve a greater than common tendency to bark once you don’t need them to, however that they aren’t actually often known as critical nuisance barkers. The Harts additionally give them an middling rating relating to watchdog barking.
Of our three Weims, each Kendall and Bodhi have been largely oblivious to strangers and noises exterior the condominium and by no means barked. The jury continues to be out on six-month-old Booker, although when somebody knocks on the door, he barks.
Dog Time and Vet Street agree, giving Weimaraners low to common scores for being nuisance barkers.
Are Weimaraners Simply Skilled?
It’s essential in your City Canine to be well-behaved. Metropolis canines are available contact with individuals, different canines, shifting objects, rubbish — you-name-it — on a regular basis. You need your canine to “sit” within the elevator and to “drop” that nasty sidewalk rooster bone.
Weimaraners rating within the prime quarter of brightest canines relating to understanding new instructions. They obey first instructions about 85% of the time in line with Stanley Coren, a professor of psychology on the College of British Columbia who research canine conduct. Meaning it takes fewer than 5 repetitions for them to study new instructions.
Dog Time and Vet Street agree, giving Weimaraners good scores relating to coaching.
The Harts disagree considerably, saying Weims fall within the mid-range of trainability amongst breeds.
The Harts additionally say Weims are a bit troublesome to accommodate prepare, scoring a 3 out of ten.
Our expertise? They’re tremendous sensible and tremendous straightforward to coach. You simply must be constant.
How are Weimaraners with Strangers, Youngsters, and different Animals?
The consensus amongst Weim house owners I do know is that they’re fairly good round youngsters. Canine Time provides them a 4 out of 5 stars. Vet Avenue provides them 5 out of 5 stars.
Canine Time provides them three out of 4 stars for friendliness towards different canines. Vet Avenue provides them 5 out of 5 stars.
In each classes, the Harts are a bit much less forgiving, awarding a rating of seven out of ten for “snapping at youngsters” and “aggression towards different canines.”
Our three Weims have been good round youngsters and fairly impartial towards different canines.
You do need to watch out with Weims round small animals. They’ll have a significantly robust prey drive and may give chase.
Do Weimaraners Require plenty of Train?
Quick reply?
Sure.
If I haven’t been clear, these are very energetic, sensible canines. Weims require plenty of train and stimulation.
Booker will get three to 4 walks a day. On not less than two of them, we stroll two miles for about an hour. He additionally will get to go to parks, horse trails, and the seashore the place he runs off-leash. We plan on educating him to swim. And he’s enrolled in obedience coaching, with a watch to perhaps shifting on to agility coaching.
Taking Care of Your Weimaraner
It’s fairly straightforward to deal with Weimaraners. As with all canine, preserve their enamel and ears clear, and clip their nails periodically. We bathe ours fairly occasionally. Brushing can be a good suggestion. Individuals suppose as a result of they’ve quick hair they don’t shed. Not true.
One factor to pay attention to is that some Weimaraners are prone to auto-immune ailments. Our second Weim, Bodhi, had one. You may examine that right here. Anne Taguchi writes about this on the Simply Weimaraners web site, click on here for extra. I strongly urge you to learn all you’ll be able to about Weims and vaccines. There’s proof that vaccines must be administered rigorously and on a strict schedule.
Lots of people say Weims are liable to separation anxiousness. That is perhaps true, however we’ve by no means had an issue with it.
One other factor to notice: they’re the sloppiest drinkers! They splash and slosh about of their water bowls and customarily make a multitude.
For a whole tackle Weim care, go to the website of the Weimaraner Membership of America.
The Backside Line
Backside line? We now have had three Weimaraners in flats. They’re superb canines. Sure, they could be a handful, however when you’ve got the time and vitality, they will make nice City Canines.
Click on here to go to the web site of the Weimaraner Membership of America for extra about Weims.