How to Raise Weimaraner Puppies

Weimaraners often are referred to as "grey ghosts."

Raising Weimaraner puppies can be quite a challenge, as with raising any baby animal. Weimaraner puppies are more energetic and hyperactive than most breeds, and their energy levels remain high throughout most of their adult lives. The effort put into raising and training your Weimaraner puppies, however, is well worth the outcome of a well-behaved, highly intelligent dog. This breed is great as a hunting companion because it has an exceptional sense of smell and is rated as one of the more intelligent dog breeds. Their intelligence results in quicker training time than some breeds, but their hyperactivity presents other challenges to training.

Instructions

1. 

   Weimaraner puppies have high energy levels.

   Purchase your new puppies from a reputable Weimaraner breeder. Purebred Weimaraner puppies typically cost $300 to $600 each if they are accompanied with their proof of lineage and breeding papers. Because Weimaraners with papers are purebred dogs and more prone to health issues than mixed breeds, it is important to take them to a veterinarian within the first week of buying them. The veterinarian will administer the proper vaccinations and perform an exam to screen for health issues.

2. 

   Weimaraners are bred to be hunting dogs.

   Purchase high-nutrition puppy food for your new pets. The Weimaraner breed, in particular, is prone to joint and nutritional health issues, so feeding them a high quality puppy food is important for healthy growth and development. Ask the veterinarian for recommendations and look for puppy food brands low in additives and unnatural flavors but high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. Feed your puppies according to the chart on the food package, which instructs you on amounts to use based on the puppies' sizes.

3. 

   Weimaraner breeds are typically great with children.

   Exercise your Weimaraner puppies every day. Because they a high-energy breed, Weimaraners require a great deal of exercise such as long daily walks or runs and plenty of space in which to run and play. Weimaraners are bred as hunting dogs and therefore, have more stamina than many other breeds. Weimaraners are able to run up to five miles with you once you build up to that distance, but they should not be exercised more than 60 minutes in one workout. They can be exercised two to three times per day if they receive adequate rest and nourishment between exercise sessions.

4. Expose your Weimaraner puppies to other dogs and to children. Take them to dog parks and allow children who you know to play with the puppies. By exposing them early to children and other dogs, your pet is more likely to get along with other dogs and children when they are older. Take your Weimaraners to the dog park or on play dates with other well-behaved canines at least once per week so they remain friendly with other dogs. Because Weimaraners typically grow to weigh 50 to 70 pounds, it is important they learn early not to jump on children and how to be gentle. This breed is known for its great companionship and excellence with children but it is important to instill certain behaviors in them when they are still puppies. Allow people you trust to play with your Weimaraner puppies and interact with them so that they can interact well with people other than their owners.

Tips & Warnings

• Exercising your Weimaraner often also will help with its behavior. If the dog learns to obey you on walks and runs, it will obey better in other situations.

References

• Weimaraner Puppies: "Breed Characteristics and Common Dog Health Problems"
• Peach Grove Animal Hospital: "Raising Puppies"
• Working Dogs Article Archives: "Everything You Wanted to Know About Puppies But Just Forgot to Ask"
• Dog Breed Info Center: "Weimaraner"
• HSSV: "Play and Exercise in Dogs"