My Weimaraner

When most people picture a Weimaraner, they picture a large, regal-looking dog with a short, gray coat. This gray is often a muted brown, giving the dog’s color an overall sepia tone, like an old photograph. However, there is another coat color for Weimaraners. This color is also gray, but is richer, darker, and has beautiful undertones of blue. Whereas the standard Weimaraner’s gray coat color is derivative of a brown coat, the Blue Weimaraner’s coat color is a muted black with no brown hues. Blue Weimaraners range from a slate gray to a dark gunmetal color. These dogs are quite beautiful, though somewhat rare.

Many Weimaraner clubs accept this gorgeous coat variation without hesitation. Unfortunately, most large canine registries refuse to recognize the Blue Weimaraner and see its coat color, however attractive, as a flaw. Until the 1970s, this was not always the case. In ‘72, the American Kennel Club altered its regulations for the breed to ban Blue Weimaraners from competing in the ring, however, the American Kennel Club will allow registration of a Blue Weimaraner under certain circumstances. For instance, if both the dog’s sire and dam are AKC registered, he or she can be registered with the AKC as well. The thing is, registration with the AKC doesn’t imply full acceptance. Blue Weimaraners are only allowed to compete in non-breed specific competitions, such as agility trials, obedience trials, and other various competitions that are based on performance instead of appearance.

It is assumed that the Blue Weimaraner is an intentional variation of the genetic breed, as this darker coat coloration has only appeared very, very rarely when not specifically bred for. In fact, there are only two documented cases of Blue Weimaraners being born to a gray sire and gray dam in the twentieth century, the first of which was in Austria in the latter half of the ’40s. A man called Captain Holt was traveling through Germany and was entranced by this different-colored dog. He purchased his new Weimaraner, imported him to the United States, and used him to sire many generations of beautiful Blue Weimaraners. This single dog is considered the primary reason for the expansion of the Weimaraner’s blue coat variation in the United States. Many of the dogs sired by Captain Holt’s Blue Weimaraner were champions of their breed.

Originally, when Captain Holt discovered the Blue Weimaraner, it was assumed that the blue coat gene was recessive. In previous years, studies of the genetics and breeding patterns of the Weimaraner have proved just the opposite. The genes that dictate coat color of a dog are called “alleles”. The Weimaraner breed posses only two of these: blue and gray. Not all blue alleles are passed down from sire or dam to puppy, so it is possible that Weimaraners of blue parents can be born gray. However, if the puppy does inherit the blue allele, its coat color will most definitely be blue.

The Blue Weimaraner is a beautiful and impressive variation of the standard Weimaraner. Many Blue Weimaraner enthusiasts consider it very unfortunate and short-sighted that this fascinating coloration is not recognized by the American Kennel Club and other large dog registries. Fans and breeders of the Blue Weimaraner are fighting to not only ensure the health and longevity of the breed, but to have the AKC recognize the Blue Weimaraner as a valid breed in competition.

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If you are searching for a dog whom will be a true companion by your side at all times, look no further than the Weimaraner. This breed of dog thrives on being a member in a family, and is extremely loyal and loving.

The exact origin of the Weimaraner is not known, but dogs very similar have roots as far back as the 1200s. It is believed to have been a cross between Continental pointing breeds and a Mastiff. The breed as it is known today was developed in the 1800s by Grand Duke Karl August of Weimar. The breed named after the hometown of the Duke, is an all around pointing and hunting dog. Germany was very possessive of their prized hunting dog, and it was not until the middle of the 20th century before any were brought into the United States.

The Weimaraner was originally bred for hunting and tracking big game, though in time they were also used for small game or upland birds. The pointing of the Weimaraner has been described as slow, but what they lack in speed they make up for in thoroughness. The breed also has been used as guard dogs, rescue dogs, and service animals for the disabled.

You would be hard pressed to find a finer athletic looking dog breed as the Weimaraner. They are moderately large with males being 24 - 27 inches tall and 55 - 70 pounds. While females area 22 - 25 inches tall and 50 - 65 pounds. The head is long with amber or gray eyes and moderately long ears. Some feel the Weimaraner has a very regal appearance!

The coat of this breed is very short and smooth, though there is also a less common long haired breed. The coat coloring is gray to silver gray which has gotten the dog the nickname “silver ghost” or “gray ghost”. This coat is very low maintenance on this breed so this goes over well with owners who are not into constantly combing their dogs.

The Weimaraner is extremely loving and loyal to a fault! The breed is highly prone to separation anxiety and must be handled carefully to avoid the destructive behavior that results from this. The breed is also very intelligent and easily trainable which is good since if left untrained they tend to have several negative characteristics. The Weimaraner does well in a family as long as the children are not too small. Since they are so full of energy they could easily hurt a small child without meaning to.

It is essential a Weimaraner is exercised daily for a fairly long duration of time. As this breed has tons of energy and amazing stamina very long walks or jogs are the best way to ensure they get enough exercise. It is very important to ensure your Weimaraner is well trained or on a leash at all times as the breed has a very high instinctive prey drive. The dog will not hesitate to charge large of small animals if not kept under control.

The Weimaraner is very prone to several health issues such as gastric torsion, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and more. Ensure you buy your dog from a breeder who refuses to breed with animals who display signs of carrying any of these disorders. This will help breed out these detrimental health problems.

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Mikey DeWeim and his friends have some things they’d like you to think about before you adopt that new puppy. This information could save your pet’s life.

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Mikey DeWeim and his canine companions have some very important messages for you. Warning! This information could save your pet’s life.

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Mikey DeWeim & his canine companions have created a public service announcement about the Rabies Challenge Study.

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This is a story about the very charming, floppy eared little “Prince Itchybelly.”

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Please see http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=goosedog1 for updated videos/info.

Original Description (December 2006):
This is a video of a very sick dog, Goose, trying to stand up on his own. He suffers from a very serious illness. After countless visits to vets and cycles of medicines, it cannot be remedied. Normally, we will always help him get up, but we recorded this to show our Vet his condition at our house (because his immense pain and lethargy tends to be masked when we get to the Vet and he sees all the other dogs). I believe this is the first episode of terrible illness suffered by Goose. Although this is dated 4 months ago, it serves as an example of his pain, lethargy, and immobility when extremely ill. He suffers like this for 1-2 weeks each time he goes through an episode of illness. Then, he will regain normal health and be completely normal for about 3 weeks…then relapse. He has relapsed 5 times, and we are desperate for a cure.

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Please see http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=goosedog1 for updated videos/info.

Original Description (Dec 2006):
Shows how Goose sits and lays when he is extremely ill (back always arched). Also shows a close-up of discharge from his privates (gross, sorry)…which worried me, but the Vet said it was not concerning. This is an example of his pain, lethargy, and immobility when extremely ill. He has sat and laid exactly like this during each of 5 separate episodes lasting 1-2 weeks. Between episodes, he regains health and is completely normal for about 3 weeks…then relapses again.

We are desperate for a cure. Please contact us through YouTube or www.myspace.com/doggoose if you could possibly help us find a remedy for his condition. (posted December 2006)

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