Great Weimaraners

What is a Great Weimeraner?

The Great Weimar is an intentional crossbreed between the Great Dane and the Weimaraner, occasionally with a small amount of Labrador Retriever thrown in. This hybrid was designed as a family companion and is generally a healthier canine than the Great Dane and a calmer one than the Weimaraner. Although they are usually very tolerant and playful with children and with other animals until they fully mature, the Great Weimar may be better suited to a family with older children rather than toddlers who may get knocked down during enthusiastic play. Due to their size, higher energy levels, and fairly vocal natures, these dogs are entirely unsuited to living in an apartment.

Great Weimeraner Breed History

The Great Weimar is a designer dog, a deliberate cross between two different types of hunting dogs with a German background. The Weimaraner is a versatile and highly intelligent pointer, and the Great Dane, a giant canine originally developed to hunt the vicious wild Boar of Europe. The Great Dane dog, as we know the breed, is a molosser type canine that has been selectively bred for tenacity, strength, and intelligence for at least 400 years. They are widely believed to be the descendants of crosses between English Mastiffs and Irish Wolfhounds and were developed specifically for the purpose of hunting wild European boar, an extremely savage and dangerous prey. They became particularly popular in Germany in the early 1500s and by 1876 the Great Dane had been declared the National Dog of Germany where it is known as the Deutsche Dogge. This breed became popular in the United States in the late 1800’s and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1887. The Weimaraner is a somewhat newer breed than the Great Dane, developed in the 1800s by the noblemen of Weimar, a German city that dates back to 899 BC. The breeding program that produced this unusually colored breed was developed with an eye towards exceptional tracking skill along with speed, courage, and durability. Originally developed for hunting deer and bear, they were converted to fur and feathers dogs in the late 1800s when the popularity of big game hunting began to wane and they became prized as a waterfowl retriever due to their soft mouths. The Weimaraner Club that began in Germany was particularly strict about what could and could not be considered a Weimaraner and did not allow for anyone outside of the Club to own a Weimaraner breed dog. It wasn’t until the avid American sportsman and breeder of dogs, Howard Knight, was accepted into the Weimaraner Club that the breed was allowed to the United States for the first time. Although the first dogs that Mr. Knight imported were sterilized animals, he was eventually able to acquire breeding stock, and just before the start of World War II and by 1941 he established the American Weimaraner Club and served as the President until his death in 1965.

Great Weimeraner Breed Maintenance

Grooming for this crossbreed is relatively simple due to their short, simple coat. Due to the Weimaraner heritage, their coat is generally both water and dirt resistant, and both dogs tend to have very little doggy odor so bathing is only required on an occasional basis. The Great Weimar tends to shed heavily throughout the year and requires frequent brushing in order to remove dead hair and add shine and lustrousness to the coat. The long, hanging ears of this hybrid may also be prone to infections, both internal and external, and should be checked and cleaned on a regular basis. Great Weimars also often suffer from von Willebrand's disease, hip dysplasia, and other potentially serious health conditions.

Great Weimeraner Temperament and Activity Requirements

This crossbreed typically produces a friendly and reliable canine who relishes their time with their family. Although separation anxiety can crop up in the Great Weimar due to their desire for human companionship, it is fairly rare, and this dog is generally a dependable and loyal member of the family. They are, however, given to boredom and they don’t particularly like being confined, so plenty of room and mental stimulation are a must to avoid destructive behaviors. These large to giant-sized dogs are generally loving and gentle towards children and other animals, but proper socialization is important to fully reinforce these tendencies and to prevent shy or timid behaviors from taking root. That being said, any interactions between children and dogs should be fully supervised. These are large and powerful animals that can be a bit rambunctious, particularly during adolescence, and close supervision may help to prevent bumps and bruises. They are an extremely easy dog to train, but training methods should be as pleasant and positive as possible as harsh training methods will encourage resentment and distrust.

The Weimaraner is an extremely active dog breed that requires a great deal of exercise and mental stimulation to prevent hyperactivity and destructive behaviors. Fortunately for the owners of Great Weimer dog, Great Dane dogs don’t require nearly as much activity and in many cases this can ease the exercise requirements of this particular crossbreed somewhat and only an hour to an hour an a half of vigorous activity is required as opposed to at least two hours a day. Both Great Danes and Weimaraners tend to be particularly playful when they are young, but it is important to remember that overly strenuous activity and activities that involve jumping or leaping can cause stress and damage to the joints of very large and giant breed dogs, so walks should be kept relatively short and frequent and overenthusiastic roughhousing should be avoided. The Great Weimer requires a great deal of room, mental stimulation, and attention and usually does not thrive in an apartment setting.