Weimaraner: Breeder selection and lines
When choosing a Weimaraner, verify the named records and the issuing scheme before relying on a breeder's description. Treat the record as background information, not proof of how this individual dog will respond. Ask for named tests, dates, scheme or laboratory, parent identity, and the written result; compare the record with the intended home routine. Verify the document with the issuing scheme or laboratory before treating it as evidence for a decision.
What to verify before choosing
Weimaraner's recommended parent-club health tests is recorded as ['Hip Evaluation', 'Cardiac Exam', 'Ophthalmologist Evaluation', 'Thyroid Evaluation', 'Spinal Dysraphism (SD) - DNA Test', 'Hypomyelination (HYM) - DNA Test', 'Hyperuricosuria (HUU) - DNA Test']. Here, that matters because it identifies a record to verify, not a diagnosis of the dog in front of you.
Read the record, not the promise
- Ask for named tests, dates, scheme or laboratory, parent identity, and the written result; compare the record with the intended home routine.
- Keep the recommended parent-club health tests in view (['Hip Evaluation', 'Cardiac Exam', 'Ophthalmologist Evaluation', 'Thyroid Evaluation', 'Spinal Dysraphism (SD) - DNA Test', 'Hypomyelination (HYM) - DNA Test', 'Hyperuric) and make the next step reversible, observable, and easy to stop.
- Verify the document with the issuing scheme or laboratory before treating it as evidence for a decision.
Walk away or pause if
Do not proceed on verbal assurances when required records are missing, unverifiable, or inconsistent.
References
Height: 25-27 inches (male), 23-25 inches (female)
AKC page PageMap DataObject > height
Weight: 70-90 pounds (male), 55-75 pounds (female)
AKC page PageMap DataObject > weight
Life expectancy: 10-13 years
AKC page PageMap DataObject > life_expectancy
Grooming: The biggest job in grooming the Weimaraner is keeping the nails short. This is important for the comfort and health of your dog and cannot be overemphasized. When nail length gets out of hand, it's difficult to get it back to a proper length. (If you can hear a tap-tap-tap when they cross a hardwood floor, the nails are too long.) The short coat should be…
AKC page Grooming > official section copy
Exercise: Weimaraners have high exercise requirements. They need consistent exercise for their physical and mental well-being. They love a good run. While walking is OK, stretching their legs and getting
AKC page Exercise > official section copy
Training: As one longtime breeder says, 'The good news is that Weimaraners are smart; the bad news is that Weimaraners are smart.' They learn quickly, and that includes both good and bad behaviors. Get to a training class and be consistent with your training methods. Weimaraners operate on the principle of 'What's in it for me?' Be creative in your training by making…
AKC page Training > official section copy
Official breed description: The Weimaraner, Germany's sleek and swift 'Gray Ghost,' is beloved by hunters and pet owners alike for their friendliness, obedience, and beauty. They enjoy exercise, and plenty of it, along with lots of quality time with their humans.
AKC page About the Breed > official breed description
Recommended parent-club health tests: ['Hip Evaluation', 'Cardiac Exam', 'Ophthalmologist Evaluation', 'Thyroid Evaluation', 'Spinal Dysraphism (SD) - DNA Test', 'Hypomyelination (HYM) - DNA Test', 'Hyperuricosuria (HUU) - DNA Test']
AKC page Health > Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club
Official breed standard: http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Weimaraner.pdf
AKC page The Breed Standard > View Full Breed Standard
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