Weimaraner
Behavior
by James Mellick
The following is written on the basis of questions I've been asked and observations of Weimaraner behavior over the years. These attributes may not be unique to the Weimaraner alone. If you have seen the hilarious movie "Best of Show", it does not mean that the Weimaraner personality has to match the high strung personalities of the Yuppie couple showing that breed in the movie. I will say that training is everything . If you are permissive in the upbringing of human children, the Weimaraner is smart in recognizing every opportunity to get their way and you may soon have a problem on your hands. They will remember the time they were allowed on the couch or bed, to ride in the front seat of the car or take food scraps at the table. They are a working dog and want to please the owner, so on the flip side, they learn quickly and are trainable as long a the owner establishes who is boss in the relationship. If you are neurotic, you will probably create a neurotic dog. The following is not the "Gospel truth" nor is it a guarantee. These are just some of my observations.
Weimaraners and Children
My daughter soon became pregnant a year after
adopting one of our female Weims from our first litter. (I often warn
young couples that as soon as the nurturing instinct kicks in with a puppy,
their human baby is soon to follow). Their dog Haley was curious when
the baby came home and would stick her nose in the cradle. Then she
became protective of the new family member and would sleep at the foot of
the cradle and would become concerned when the baby cried. I can not
speak for all dogs of the breed but I've only heard good things from the
Hamlet and Holly's pups and children.
In a situation where a puppy is coming into an
established family order, the dog will be recessive and there is less adjustment
to the "pecking order".
The Weimaraner wants to be and will think of
themselves as member of the family. They want to be where it is happening
and I find them very good and tolerant with children within reason. Nobody
likes to have their ears pulled. For quick introductions, I advise
letting visiting children offer the dog a throw toy or a biscuit. They
are very much "the friend of my friend is my friend" and they will
remember.
My greatest concern for young children are the
energetic (but usually agile) movements of the well meaning Weimaraner.
The toddler can easily be knocked over by an affectionate Weim.
These dogs are expressive with their front paws and this is how some
get your attention. My female Holly is bad about the use of her paws
and has the impact of a three-year-old running into my groin area (ouch).
Sharp, newly cut and un-filed toe nails can scrape and cut. They
need to be trained not to jump up on people and I usually do that with a
gentle knee to their chest and a stern "No".
The Weimaraner's greatest danger to children
is knocking them down in the energetic rush to be friendly. The dog
wants to be by your side and have to be told to follow, especially when on
the stairs.
Crate Training
The crate can be the dogs "den" and place of
security. On the first floor living area, our male Weim often retreats
to his crate to sleep. When potty training, the key is to start early
for a pup who will not want to mess in his space.
Don't associate the pen only with punishment
or "time out" though this is a good use of the crate. After the pup
has done his duties outdoors, bring him in and reward him going into the
crate with a biscuit for positive reinforcement. Make sure the crate has
plenty of room for the dog and a chew toy.
Need for Companionship
In my lifetime I've had a German Shepherd, St.
Bernard, Irish Setter, Labrador and several mixed-breed dogs and I find the
Weimaraner to be the most dependent on being near you constantly. If
my Weims think that something is up, they follow me from room to room like
school of gray sharks. I call it "schooling". They don't want to miss
out on the action.
A Lab is content to be separated in a different
room of the house. The Weim needs to be where you are. If I go
upstairs, they go upstairs. If I go to the bedroom to take a nap, in
a few moments they are asking to get on the bed.
I do not recommend penning the Weimaraner out
doors. They will dig under or climb over the fence. They are
a great field dog but they are a family dog first and want to be a part of
the family.
If you can't stand these "gray children" constantly
following you around, don't get one. They want to be near you when
you sleep, work and eat. They become excited when you put on your coat
or see a leash. They go crazy when they hear the words "ride" or "walk".
That is why we have to spell these words when they are listening--no
kidding.
Other Dog Companions
I think they make a great "second dog". Having
another dog of any breed relieves some of the pressure of constantly entertaining
them when they are not snoozing. If they have to be left at home for
longer periods of time, the companionship of another dog will relieve the
separation anxiety. It depends on the dog. I leave my male Weim in
a crate when I'm out of the house but can allow my female to roam free for
hours at a time when we are away.
Two Weims At a Time?
I do not recommend having two Weim puppies at
a time, especially if siblings because they are apt to bond to each other
before they bond to you and will make for difficult training. It is
better to get a second Weim after the first has had a year of maturation
and training because the puppy will learn good and bad habits from the older
dog. We acquired our female as a puppy when our stud male was three
years old. She would curl up on top of him to sleep. Not only
are they a breeding pair (from unrelated blood lines) but they are also best
of friends. They only become obnoxious during the "heat" season.
More to come..........