training weimeranas

I would like to tell you about my pet Weimerana we owned a few years ago. Sadly she died of natural causes last year after a long and happy life. We had read a lot about these dogs and 20 years ago they were still a pretty rare breed in certain countries. I managed to locate a litter that was available and after choosing the boisterous little bitch out of a litter of 2 dogs and 2 bitches we brought our little bundle of fun home and named her California Mississippi Princess or Cally for short. These dogs are beautiful to look at. Short, velvety fur which has a silvery sheen over a bluish or grey main colour. They have soft floppy ears, big damp noses and soft mouths. They have huge feet which of course is a pre cursor as to how big they will grow! The breed is the ideal hunting and pointing dog and they really are happiest off the leash in the woods sniffing about in the undergrowth.

We were also informed they make excellent pets and happily live indoors. Well, if anyone else has owned one of these dogs you will agree that they don't actually come with a brain until about 2 years old! They have boundless energy and although not normally nervous they are very excitable. This is all very well if you live out in the country with lots of safe open spaces for him to explore but not so good when you look him in the eye with his front paws on your shoulders as he jumps up to greet you when you return from work. We found that with Cally she would jump up at people coming in the house and literally knocking them off their feet. When we took her to the park she would chase a ball or Frisbee for a certain amount of time then get bored and find a much more interesting smell to follow and no amount of shouting or chasing would detract her from the scent. Of course she was only doing what comes naturally but it doesn't make for a good owner/dog relationship!

Like most dogs Weimeranas are desperate to please and they will do anyting for their owners but they really need good training from an early age to stop their exuberant antics becoming tiresome. I wish I had used the clicker training method with her from a puppy but as it happens I started using it from her being about 18 months. What a transformation! I found that the clicker training method worked a treat with Cally. I stopped her jumping up at people, running off in the park and she would come, sit and stay with ease.

She was a lovely animal, so affectionate and happy. But she was too big to be silly so she had to be well trained. We enjoyed 15 years of our delightful Weimerana and I would recommend them as a pet but they need to be well trained.