TOP 16 MYTHS ABOUT WEIMARANERS

Monday, September 19, 2005 8:53 PM
By Judythe Coffman & Jonathan Winn

1.  Myth: Weimaraners are “Greyhounds”.
     Fact They are definitely NOT greyhounds (a type of sighthound used in many places for hunting rabbits), though they are gray, and they descend from hounds, and they can and do hunt rabbits and other small furry critters.

2.  Myth: Weimaraners don’t shed.
     Fact Weimaraners shed twice a year just like most breeds. They do not have a double coat nor an undercoat so they do not shed copious amounts of fur like some other breeds. The gray is sort of a neutral color and doesn’t show up as much as black or white hair but any Weimaraner owner can tell you there is still plenty of fur to vacuum off carpet and furniture.

3.  Myth: Weimaraners are “expensive”.
     Fact Weimaraners are no more expensive than other breeds purchased from a reputable breeder whose main consideration is producing the best quality puppy they possibly can. The initial cost of buying any puppy is minimal compared to what it will cost to maintain the dog’s health and well-being for its lifetime.

4.  Myth: Weimaraners need to eat Eukanuba.
     Fact There are many good kibbles on the market, some expensive, and some not so expensive. Weimaraners do best on a naturally preserved lamb and rice kibble as a base with the addition of yogurt, vegetables, raw meat, vitamin C and vitamin E as well as some sort of micronutrient to keep them in good health and condition. Expensive foods aren’t some magic potion that will keep your dog healthy. They are a product like any other product. Some are better than others.

5.  Myth: Weimaraners need all their shots every year.
     Fact In the last few years, all 27 university veterinary teaching hospitals have released reports stating that it is not necessary for dogs to have all their shots every year. Only rabies is required by law in most states as it can be a human health concern. Weimaraners are one breed out of many that are at risk for adverse vaccine reactions.

6.  Myth: Weimaraners are mellow and well-behaved, just like William Wegman’s. And hey! Don’t think twice about feeding them cupcakes or dressing them up in silly costumes — they love that.
     Fact William Wegman’s dogs are “trained” from the time they are puppies to “cooperate” with his photography of them. They don’t mind being dressed up because most Weimaraners just love being with their owners and will do anything to please them. However, NO Weimaraner can be well-behaved if it is not trained to be so from puppyhood. And when hunting birds or critters, most Weimaraners, unless they have had intensive field training, will not listen to anything. Refined sugars are generally not good for any dog but the occasional ice cream cone never hurt anybody! Weimaraners are hunting dogs and as such are very active and don’t mellow out until well into their prime at about 5 to 6 years old. Some remain very active until well into their older years.

7.  Myth: Weimaraners like it when little kids pull on their ears and make barky noises.
     Fact Most dogs will not tolerate abuse from anyone including kids. Kids must be taught how to interact with any dog. Please teach your children the difference between live and stuffed.

8.  Myth: “I used to have Weimaraners. They’re great dogs.”
     Fact Used to? So where are they now? Weimaraner rescue is full of dogs abandoned by their owners because no thought was put into whether the breed was right for them. They’re only great dogs if they have great and loving, responsible, owners.

9.  Myth: Weimaraners are the big new fashion accessory.
     Fact If you think any animal is a fashion accessory you shouldn’t own one. You probably shouldn’t have children either.

10.  Myth: Weimaraners ooze with nobility.
     Fact Maybe so, but that doesn’t keep them from eating cat poop or other “icky” things or destroying your home theater system because they aren’t getting the attention they crave.

11.  Myth: My Weimaraner will be just fine tied to a tree in the back yard all day while I work late and my kids go to soccer practice.
     Fact Your Weimaraner is very people-oriented and will self-destruct without large amounts of attention. They NEED to be part of the family. There are no exceptions – this trait is bred into them.

12.  Myth: “I’ll get a dog to teach my kids responsibility”.
     Fact YOU and only YOU are responsible for the dog. If you are irresponsible enough to toy with a dog’s life and well-being in order to teach your children some vague notion of responsibility, perhaps you are not adult enough to own a dog.

13.  Myth: “How old is your Weim? He’s so skinny!”
     Fact Many unscrupulous or careless owners overfeed and under-exercise their Weims, and chalk up their dogs? weight problem to advanced age. This couldn?t be further from the truth! Weimaraners should have a hint of ribs showing, no ?dimple? in front of the tail, and no ?roll? over the shoulders. Weimaraners are hunting dogs and shouldn?t be overweight because it?s hard on their joints and predisposes them to early onset arthritis as well as other joint and health problems.

14.  Myth: “West Coast Weims” are bigger than “East Coast Weims”
     Fact At one time, that was more or less true. It was difficult, if not impossible to do any breeding between dogs on one coast and dogs on the other coast because air travel was dangerously and expensively prohibitive, long road trips are hard on animals, and the artificial insemination technology was not what it is today. There is one breed standard. One. Anyone breeding dogs bigger or smaller than the breed standard is probably an irresponsible breeder and you’d be well advised not to buy a Weim from them.

15.  Myth: “That’s the kind of dog I want to get!”
     Fact Weims, like most breeds, are not for everyone. Ask yourself if you are truly prepared for regular daily discipline, attention, and exercise. A Weimaraner is not a dog that can be taken lightly. He requires a special owner who can be a firm Alpha leader, and always do so with a gentle hand. It’s like having a toddler in your house, except they are faster, smarter, and can smell meat in a locked freezer three blocks away – and you can’t ever send them to school for a “break” for you. Be prepared for furniture casualties, chewed personal effects (if nothing else, a Weim will make you a neater person learning to put things away out of their reach), and smeary nose prints all over the inside of your car and house windows.

16.  Myth: “Weims come in five colors: Silver, Gray, Blue, Brown and Violet.”
     Fact Again, there is one standard. One. The standard states that the coat is shades of gray from silver to mouse gray. Silver is a very light shimmery color while mouse gray is a fairly dark brownish gray. There is a darker color variation called “blue” which is a disqualification under the breed standard. Some undiscriminating breeders have also tried to breed “brown” Weims. This makes no sense as you could have a “brown” German Shorthaired Pointer without going to all the fuss of trying to produce “brown” Weims. “Brown” Weims are usually a cross between a Weim and some other breed. Violet Weims? What color glasses are you wearing?

So give it a lot of thought. Maybe you’re a Corgi (or cat) person after all! If you're still sure you want a Weim, take this quiz first.