Breed Of The Week: Weimaraner
The full origin of the Weimaraner dog breed is not fully known, though they are thought to be descendants of the Bloodhound. Recognized by the AKC as part of the Sporting Group today, the Weimaraner is a well versed hunting and retrieving family oriented dog.
If you have ever interacted with a Weimaraner, you know that they have a beautiful temperament, they are focused on the task at hand and also incredibly loyal. As a possible cousin to the Pointer, Weims are very agile and full of stamina. They make great advanced obedience dogs, as they are prepared for being jobbed with a task from their master.
Behaviorally speaking, the most common problem that I see happen with Weims is when they are not properly jobbed or homed. If they are paired with a person who refuses to let them sport, or give them an appropriate job and ample physical exercise, I see Weimaraners develop issues such as anxiety and activity obsession.
This being said, they need at least two solid long walks or bike rides per day, and frequent social events such as visits to the local dog park. They are incredibly active dogs, and while they make great family pets, they really do well to have a specific job and preform that job daily with the family.
As with any dog from the Sporting Group, I would recommend chatting with a puppy profiler to determine whether or not this breed would be a good fit for your activity level, your families lifestyle, and the dog's overall breed needs.