This article was co-authored by Deanne Pawlisch, CVT, MA. Deanne Pawlisch is a Certified Veterinary Technician, who does corporate training for veterinary practices and has taught at the NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant Program at the Harper College in Illinois and in 2011 was elected to the board of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation. Deanne has been a Board Member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation in San Antonio, Texas since 2011. She holds a BS in Anthropology from Loyola University and an MA in Anthropology from Northern Illinois University.
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Weimaraners are intelligent, cheerful, and affectionate dogs.[1] They love being around people, so don’t be surprised if your Weimaraner wants to follow you around everywhere.[2] With these traits, it would seem like making a Weimaraner happy would be easy, right? Not exactly. To keep your Weimaraner happy, you will need to provide consistent leadership, schedule lots of time for play and exercise, and make your Weimaraner feel like it’s part of your family.
Steps
Training Your Weimaraner
Start the training early. Proper training is essential to having a happy Weimaraner. Training should start when the Weimaraner is a puppy. Without early training, that puppy will grow into an adult that will be a real challenge to control.- Puppy kindergarten is a great way to start training a Weimaraner puppy.[3] In puppy kindergarten, your Weimaraner will start learning basic obedience skills and learning the proper way to interact with other dogs.
Be firm, gentle, and consistent. Weimaraners need clear, solid leadership so they know their boundaries.[4] Your Weimaraner will be happy when it knows exactly what to do and what not to do. Leadership should not be harsh, though. Harsh leadership will make a Weimaraner wary and fearful, making the training very difficult.[5]- A Weimaraner needs lifelong training so it always knows the right thing to do.
- When you give your Weimaraner commands, say them only once in a clear, authoritative voice. Do not yell.
- If you see your Weimaraner misbehave, do not punish or yell at it. Instead, firmly say ‘No!’ and do not reward the behavior.
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Reward good behavior. Your Weimaraner aims to please you. If you reward your Weimaraner with a tasty treat and verbal praise when it follows your commands and behaves well, it will continue doing the right thing.[6] Your Weimaraner will be so happy to please you and get rewarded in return!
Consider crate training your Weimaraner. Weimaraners are very energetic dogs. They can also feel very anxious when separated from their owners. Therefore, crate training may seem like a bad idea, but it’s recommended for Weimaraners.- When done properly, crate training will give your Weimaraner a safe space to sleep, rest, and play when you’re not home.
- Crate training will also help prevent your Weimaraner from being destructive while you’re away.
- Start the crate training when your Weimaraner is a puppy.
Socialize your Weimaraner. Weimaraners can be wary of strangers.[7] Socializing your Weimaraner throughout its life will help it feel comfortable with new experiences, other dogs, and other people.[8] It will also help your Weimaraner feel confident, stable, and happy. Examples of socialization are:- Scheduling play dates with friendly dogs
- Introducing your Weimaraner to friendly friends and family
- Varying the route of your walks so that you meet new people and dogs
- Taking your Weimaraner to a dog park
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Playing and Exercising
Give your Weimaraner lots of play and exercise. Weimaraners need a lot of daily play and exercise to stay happy. Because Weimaraners love people so much, your Weimaraner will want to play and exercise with you. Block off at least an hour each day to play and exercise with your Weimaraner.- Play and exercise will keep your Weimaraner mentally stimulated, which is important for happiness.[9]
Choose high-intensity games. When you play with your Weimaraner, get ready to be active! Fetch is a great game to play with a Weimaraner.[10] Consider playing Frisbee, too. If you decide to play Frisbee, use a dog-safe disc, rather than a Frisbee for humans. Your dog will have an easier time handling the disc in its mouth.- Let your Weimaraner chase you around your yard or dog park.
- Any game that will encourage your Weimaraner to run and jump will be a good choice.
Exercise with your Weimaraner. In addition to playing, exercise will be a great outlet for your Weimaraner’s energy. If you live near water, let your Weimaraner go swimming when the water is warm. When the weather is nice, go for a long hike in the woods. Long, brisk walks are also a good idea.[11]- If there’s a beach close by, let your Weimaraner run on the beach.
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Maintaining a Close Bond
Let your Weimaraner follow you around. Your Weimaraner is like a shadow—it follows you around wherever you go. Rather than shooing your Weimaraner away from you, let it stay right there with you. Your Weimaraner will feel happiest when it’s close to you.- Weimaraners are very prone to separation anxiety.[12] If your Weimaraner has separation anxiety issues, take it to your vet or a veterinary behaviorist. They can develop a plan for your Weimaraner to become comfortable with being alone.
Allow your Weimaraner to sleep close to you. A Weimaraner’s shadow tendencies don’t stop when it’s bedtime. Your Weimaraner will feel happy and safe when it’s close to you at night. Even if you won’t allow your Weimaraner to sleep in the bed with you, move its bed close to your own.
Involve your Weimaraner in family activities. Your Weimaraner will feel happy when it feels like it’s a close part of your family. In addition to letting it follow you around and sleep close to you, consider taking it with you when you take a vacation. Also, let your Weimaraner ride with you in the car when you run errands.Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Tips
- When you take your Weimaraner out on walks, use a short leash. If given too much space, your Weimaraner will want to pull way out in front of you during the walk.[13]Thanks
Warnings
- Separation anxiety is a serious behavioral problem in dogs. If your Weimaraner has separation anxiety, it will need to be treated for it or else it will not be happy.Thanks
- If you want to keep a Weimaraner, be prepared for a major time commitment. Weimaraners need lots of exercise and plenty of mental stimulation and will want to be with you at all times. If you are not prepared to dedicate a lot of time and energy to taking care of and entertaining your dog, a Weimaraner may not be a good choice for you.Thanks
References
- ↑ http://www.heartlandweimrescue.org/aboutweims.php
- ↑ http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/weimaraner#/slide/1
- ↑ http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/weimaraner#/slide/1
- ↑ http://www.heartlandweimrescue.org/aboutweims.php
- ↑ http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/weimaraner#/slide/1
- ↑ http://www.heartlandweimrescue.org/aboutweims.php
- ↑ http://www.heartlandweimrescue.org/aboutweims.php
- ↑ http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/weimaraner#/slide/1
- ↑ http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/weimaraner#/slide/1
About this article
To have a happy Weimaraner, teach it basic commands, such as "sit" and "stay, so it knows its boundaries. Since Weimaraners aim to please their humans, reward your dog’s good behavior with tasty treats and verbal praise. Your dog will also require a lot of exercise, so block off an hour each day to walk, run, and play with it. Weimaraners are also happiest when they're with their people, so allow your dog to follow you around and sleep with or near you. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, including how to include your Weimaraner in family activities, keep reading!
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