Weimaraners are beautiful and very popular. Even Grace Kelly, Eisenhower, Brad Pitt, and Roy Rogers had one.
They are often referred to as the silver ghost, and many people choose this dog breed for its sheer beauty.
However, if you are wondering are Weimaraners good guard dogs, then there is something you need to know.
Weimaraners do not make good guard dogs because of their friendly nature. They are bold, energetic, and loyal, leading many people to think they make good guard dogs. But they are better at being watchdogs than a guard dog.
In this article, I will tell you why, despite these characteristics, Weimaraners are not good guard dogs and everything else you need to know if you want to have one of these beautiful dogs.
Reasons Weimaraners Are Not Good Guard dogs
More Of a Hunting Dog Than A Guard Dog
The Weimaraner is known for its great sense of smell and its magnificent aesthetic ability.
And this is because the breeding of the Weimaraner, over time, focused on its function as a hunting dog. For many years they were trained to hunt birds and mammals.
Extremely Energetic
They have a high work capacity and are extremely energetic.
All that energy can make them a little (or not so little) stubborn.
If you treat your Weimaraner like the family’s guard dog, he’ll feel like he can do whatever he wants, which will be a problem.
Not Solitary Dogs
They are considered domestic dogs since they develop much better indoors. They do not usually feel comfortable in kennels or outside the home, much less if they are tied.
Rambunctious Nature
Weimaraners are very intelligent, they will always understand what you are telling them, but their rambunctious nature will mean they won’t always obey you.
Disobedient
Weimaraners are extremely loyal and can be very protective of their owners and their territory, so much so that they are often not very friendly with visitors.
Encouraging this instinct could make them aggressive and disobedient dogs.
Breed Characteristics:
| Characteristics | |
| Weight Ranges: | Males: 70 – 90 Pounds Females: 55 – 75 Pounds |
| Life Expectancy | 10-13 years |
| Height at Withers: | Males: 60 – 70 cm Females: 55 – 65 cm |
| Coat Characteristics: | Weimaraners have short, thick, straight hair |
| Costs: | The average puppy from a qualified breeder is about $800. |
| Club Recognitions | Royal Canine Society of Spain (RSCE): Sample dogs United Kennel Club (UKC): Gun Dog |
Weimaraner History
Named after the German city of Weimar. The Weimaraner was the first breed in the early nineteenth century.
This breed was bred by the aristocratic class of this region, who raised Weimar Pointers for hunting large game. Such as deer, wild boars, and even bears.
Sometime later, in the 20th century and after the Second World War, the Weimaraner was exported to the United States.
Once they came to the US, they became known as the silver ghosts or gray ghosts since, during the war, the American soldiers saw them move gracefully through the German fields.
By the 1950s, the Weimaraner gained a greater reputation due to the excellent results that it obtained in obedience tests.
The Weimaraner’s beauty and intelligence piqued the interest of canine fanciers, making it a very popular dog.
Weimaraner Health
Weimaraners are generally very healthy and athletic dogs. However, they have a certain predisposition to suffer from hereditary diseases.
- Gastric Torsion
It is one of the most common ailments of this breed. It occurs when the dog ingests too much food or liquid and then exercises.
- Hip And Elbow Dysplasia
Dysplasia is a developmental anomaly of the hip and elbow joints that results in instability. It usually occurs between 5-6 months of age.
- Skin Tumors
Not all of them are usually malignant.
- Spinal Dysraphism
It is a disorder in the development of the spine, mainly while the fetus is forming.
- Entropion And Distichiasis
It is known as double eyelashes on one eyelid. The main problem is irritation, excessive tearing, and, therefore, infections.
Weimaraners Temperament
This breed is known to be extremely affectionate, loyal, and devoted to the family. And They are very gentle to children.
The Weimaraners make wonderful family dogs.
Unlike some of the other social dog guns breeds like pointers and retrievers, Weimaraners are quite reserved towards strangers.
The combination of these factors makes the noble silver dogs quite well-suited as watchdogs and even property guardians.
However, their intense prey drive makes them no to be the best choice for a household that has small pets.
Are Weimaraners Hard To Train?
The Weimaraner is certainly not the easiest breed to train.
This breed is born to work and picks up on commands quickly.
They excel in obedience, tracking, and trail running. Just to name a few.
However, this breed must receive education from puppies. They are very energetic dogs, which means that they tend to easily develop destructive behaviors.
They are also very intelligent. The challenge in training them is to be assertive and know how to guide them to discharge their energy positively.
Can Weimaraners Be Aggressive?
The character of this breed is extremely protective, which, combined with the high energy they have, can lead Weimaraners who do not have good training to develop aggressive behavior.
Although this aggressiveness usually only occurs with strangers.
Can Weimaraners Be Left Alone?
Weimaraners are very attached and loyal dogs to their family.
This, if not handled properly, can cause separation anxiety problems. That is why you must teach your Weimaraner from an early age to be alone.
Even so, it is not recommended to leave your Weimaraner home alone for a long time.
If they are left alone for long periods, they can bark incessantly and develop destructive behavior.
Get A Weimaraner Only If…
The beauty of the Weimaraner can be irresistible, but get a Weimaraner only if you have enough knowledge and patience to train it or the possibility of taking it for training.
Don’t Get A Weimaraner If…
Don’t get a Weimaraner if you don’t have enough time to train them and keep them company. Of course, a big place to run would help.
But they tend to adapt well to any space if they have the discharge of energy and sufficient daily exercise.
Final Thoughts- Are Weimaraners Good Guard Dogs?
Weimaraners do not make good guard dogs because of their friendly nature. In fact, Weimaraners are most popular for their hunting skills. Their specialty is to assist in the hunt for peasants, quail and other birds.
Weimaraners are superb scent hounds, but they also serve their hunting owners well.
They are built for speed and endurance. They’re well-muscled yet agile they are designed to work untiringly.
Looking For Watch Dog Guides?
If you’re looking for more guard dog resources, consider checking out our other post on guard dogs.
- Can Bloodhounds Be A Good Guard Dog
- Are Hungarian Vizslas Good Guard Dogs?
- Guard Dogs For Apartment Life The Top 5 Picks
- Are Police Dogs Spayed and Neutered?
- 5 Best guard dogs for first-time owners
References: Weimaraner, Weimaraner history, Weimaraner: Dog Breed Characteristics
(Author)
Justin is a protection dog enthusiast. He has years of experience teaching and training dogs. He enjoys sharing what he’s learned. Read More
