Weimaraner / Weimaraner Vorstehhund, Weim, Grey Ghost

Breed history:

 This breed was created at the court of the Duke K.A. of Weimar around 1810 through the crossbreeding the German Shorthaired Pointer with short hair with Bloodhound and French Greyhounds. At first it was raised and used at hunt by the German nobility, but later it spread through all Germany and after 1930 in the USA also. At first it was used for hunting big animals, and when their number was reduced they start to hunt birds.

Description:

 It is a big sized dog, brawny, strong, robust. The head has medium length, the snout is equal with the skull and the nose has the skin colour (grey or brown). The eyes are medium sized, egg-shaped, spaced grey or hazel. The ears are placed above, are long and wide and round ended. The tail is cut short and carried upped, almost vertically. The fur may be shorter or longer (there are two varieties) and have silver-grey or brown colour. The short hair is fine, bushy and well adhered to the body. The long hair (rarely met) is silky and slightly wavy, velvety on ears and longer on the neck and chest.

Personality:

 It is an intelligent, dynamic, hardworking, friendly dog, with a high resistance, it is watchful, sometimes stubborn. It is submissive and devoted to its master, protective and friendly with the children, watchful and cautious with the strangers. Socialized since an early age with other dogs and other animals it will have no problems.

Grooming:

 At the short hair variety, a casual brushing with a rubber brush is enough. At long hair variety the brushing and the combing must be made regularly.

Living conditions:

 It is a dog with a high level of activity which likes to make much exercise and to have permanent occupation. It is recommended for the active persons and who can make time for the dog. It has ambitions for canine sports, it likes to swim, to run in open space, to play fetch, to take long walks. It could be kept in a flat if there are conditions, because it is a big sized dog and needs daily exercise for its physical and mental health, but it feels better in a fenced yard where they can move freely. It needs socialization and training.

Training:

 The training must be firm and consistent because of its tendency to do anything it wants, but is eager to make pleasure to its master and will be not very difficult to train.

Usefulness:

 It is first a good hunting dog in any field (land or water) and for any game. It's a good watchdog for house and a pleasant companion.