How to exercise your Weimaraner? Weimaraners are high-powered and versatile gun dogs specifically developed to take down large game.
Although they were bred to hunt, Weimaraners are also a great fit as canine companions. Owning a Weimaraner would mean keeping up with his immense need for exercise.
How Much Exercise Does a Weimaraner Need?
The Weimaraner is also known as the Silver Ghost or Grey Ghost for his unique silver-grey coat. He is a hunting dog that excels in tracking, pointing, and retrieving both on land and on water.
The Weimaraner breed has exceptional stamina and tireless energy, as gun dogs usually travel long distances through rough terrain.
Ideally, a Weimaraner’s exercise requirement is 1–2 hours a day of varying activities. Inadequate exercise spells trouble for these high-energy dogs.
Weimaraners do not enjoy being holed up indoors without physical or mental stimulation. Their pent-up energy will make them extremely hyperactive and high-strung.
Weimaraners would take it upon themselves to find entertainment if their owners failed to provide it to them. This can lead to destructive and bad behaviours such as relentless chewing, barking, and mouthing. Note that these behaviours are also symptoms of separation anxiety.
How Long Should I Walk My Weimaraner Puppy?
Walking Weimaraner puppies for long periods is highly discouraged. Large dog breeds, including the Weimaraner are prone to bone and joint problems.
Moreover, young Weimaraners still have developing and fragile joints, placing them at high risk of injuries. Thus, it is advised to limit their exercise. High-impact exercises such as jumping should be avoided as well.
Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut rule on how long you should walk your Weimaraner puppy. The most common formula dog owners use is 5 minutes of exercise per month of age.
So if you have a 4-month-old Weimaraner puppy, you can walk him for approximately 20 minutes.
If you plan to increase the duration of your Weimaraner puppy’s exercise, consult the vet first to make sure that it won’t cause any negative impact on his musculoskeletal development. It is also a good idea to ask for advice from your pup’s breeder.
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Do Weimaraners Ever Calm Down?
Some believe that as Weimaraners grow older, they slowly mellow out. It will take 3–5 years for these overly energetic dogs to become less hyperactive.
However, this does not apply to all Weimaraners. Some Weimaraners may become more relaxed when they reach maturity, but others will retain their boundless enthusiasm for fun and adventure.
This Weimaraner dog breed is created for hunting, so it is in his nature to be extremely active and require plenty of exercises.
Do not wait for your Weim dog to grow older for him to calm down. Instead, tire him out with a variety of daily exercises. This is the best way to calm down high-energy Weimaraners.
How to Tire Out a Weimaraner
A good exercise regimen for the Weimaraner is to take him out for 45 minutes to an hour of long walks in the morning. Then have approximately 45 minutes to an hour of playtime with him in the afternoon.You can divide your Weim’s playtime into 2 sessions. One is for exhaustive exercise activities, and the other is for mentally stimulating games or training.
Once playtime is over, let your Weimaraner have his downtime. This will keep him from feeling overstimulated after all that exercise. Let him relax in his crate or cuddle with you on the sofa.
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What Are Good Exercise Activities for Weimaraners?
How do you keep a Weimaraner entertained? Learning how to exercise your Weimaraner also involves planning the activities you have for him. Make your Weimaraner’s exercise routine fun and exciting by mixing things up.
Here are a handful of exercise activities your Weimaraner will enjoy:
Playing Fetch
Fetch is not only a good option for exercise for your Weim, but it will also help reduce his prey drive towards smaller animals. This can be a good alternative if he is not in the mood for long walks.
During a game of fetch, you can use tennis balls or even just a toy that your Weimaraner loves. Do not use random sticks that you can find in your back garden. It might break in your dog’s mouth and cause stomach blockage.
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Take Him on Hiking Trips
Exploring a natural environment will provide your Weimaraner with a lot of stimulation that he craves. Before going on a hiking trip, check if your chosen trails are dog-friendly.
In addition, familiarise yourself with potentially harmful plants that your dog may encounter whilst hiking. Make sure that your pooch knows the “leave it” command.
Give Him Weights
Consider getting your Weimaraner a doggy backpack where you can add weights. Let him wear this whenever you go out for daily walks. This will help in burning out his energy faster.
Generally, weights for dogs should be 10% of their total body weight. A Weimaraner that weighs 31 kilos can carry 2–3 kilos of weights.
Chasing Bubbles
This is an easy and fun game to play with your Weimaraner. Just be sure to buy bubbles that are specifically made for dogs to avoid any risk of poisoning.
If your Weim doesn’t understand how to play this game or is simply scared of bubbles, assure him that they are safe by popping some of it yourself.
Always clean your Weimaraner’s face afterwards to keep bubble residue from irritating his eyes.
Combine Swimming with Other Fun Games
Is your Weimaraner a big fan of wading in the water? Why not bring him to the beach or doggy swimming pool for a paddle?
This activity is suitable for Weimaraner puppies too, since the water’s buoyancy will not apply extra pressure on their joints. You can also merge swimming with games of fetch, chase, or tug of war.
Bring enough water for your Weimaraner during your excursion outdoors. It’s because it is not advisable to let him drink salt water or pool water.
Your Weim should have plenty of short breaks in between the exercise too. Most importantly, watch out for signs of heat exhaustion such as drooling, vomiting, and loss of body coordination.
If your Weim displays these symptoms, stop his activities and keep him out of the sun. Wet him with cool but not cold water to lower his body temperature. Encourage him to drink water too.
Dogs naturally like routines. Providing your Weimaraner with plenty of daily exercises and activities will help him to be mentally sharp and physically strong.
