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Weimshepherd (Weimaraner & German Shepherd Mix) Info, Pics, Facts

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Weimshepherd (Weimaraner & German Shepherd Mix)

Height: 9-12 inches
Weight: 70-90 pounds
Lifespan: 13 to 15 years
Colors: Black, dark grey, silver grey, tan
Suitable for: Active families and singles
Temperament: Playful, energetic, loyal, friendly

The Weimshepherd is a cross between the popular and loyal German Shepherd and the even-tempered Weimaraner. These dogs are expert hunters, and if you are looking for a hunting companion, look no further than this athletic pooch. Weimshepherds tend to resemble their Weimaraner parent breed more than the German Shepherd, with their short and smooth coat and long legs. They are large and powerful dogs, with high energy and a playful demeanor. In order to gain a better understanding of this energetic and athletic pooch, it helps to take a brief look at their parent breeds.

The German Shepherd is a herding breed that is highly intelligent, active, and easy to train. These dogs are known for their courage and loyalty and consequently make fantastic guard dogs. These dogs have a long history as police dogs, military dogs, and guide dogs. They have a reputation as fearsome and aggressive animals due to the work they are often employed to do, but in reality, they are loving and loyal dogs that make great family pets.

Also known as the “grey ghost” due to their distinctive smoky coats, Weimaraners are large and powerful dogs that were first bred in the early 19th century for hunting. They are strong and athletic, built for outdoor activities like hunting and hiking. They were initially used by royalty to hunt large game like bears, boars, and deer. They are highly loyal and dedicated dogs that make great family protectors.

If your interest is sufficiently piqued, keep on reading below to find out more about this powerful hybrid.

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Weimshepherd Puppies

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

The Weimshepherd is a fairly new breed of dog, and we recommend that you find a reputable breeder with a history of breeding healthy dogs before buying.

They are energetic and powerful animals, and this fact should be taken into careful consideration before bringing a puppy home. They will require a great deal of regular exercise with firm and consistent training and a large backyard to run around in. With the parent breeds of this dog both being highly intelligent, you can be sure of the same in a Weimshepherd. This superior intellect can lead to mischievous behavior too!

One curious fact about Weimaraner puppies is that they are often born with faint tiger stripes, and Weimshepherd puppies may inherit this strange trait too. This unique phenomenon doesn’t last long, though, and these strips will usually completely disappear after a few days.

Above all else, they are friendly, obedient, and loyal animals that will become a willing and loving protector in your home.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Weimshepherd

1. Weimshepherds have a keen sense of smell.

Weimaraners are closely related to bloodhounds and English Pointers, so they have the same keen sense of smell of their close relatives. Being bred as hunting and sniffing dogs has developed this powerful nose, and these dogs are well known for their amazing ability to track down scents.

While German Shepherds may not be the first dog that comes to mind when it comes to a great sense of smell, they have above-average scenting ability. They are well known as police and military dogs, and their keen nose is one of the many reasons that they are so well suited to this job. Their excellent nose also makes them highly revered dogs for bomb detection and narcotics work.

With both parent breeds having reputations for powerful scenting abilities, the Weimaraner is no slouch in this department either!

2. WW1 brought German Shepherds to the west.

At the onset of World War I, the German military began using German Shepherds as messengers, sentries, and carriers. American and British soldiers were so impressed by the dog’s intelligence, loyalty, and work ethic, they took a few to their home countries, where they soon became widely popular.

Interestingly, up until the late 1970s, German Shepherds were known primarily as Alsatians. They got this name change due to the rising anti-German sentiment in the west preceding WW2, and breeders feared the name “German Shepherd” would hinder the breed’s popularity. Thankfully, the name didn’t stick, and they are rarely still referred to as Alsatians.

3. They are smart!

German Shepherds are ranked as the third most intelligent breed of dog in the world. This is based on the renowned canine psychologist Stanley Coren’s seminal book, The Intelligence of Dogs, often referenced to as the standard measure for canine intellect. They are part of the top tier of intellectual ability, which requires the dogs to learn a new command in five or fewer repetitions and obey known commands at least 95% of the time.

Weimaraner’s are no slouch when it comes to intelligence either. They made it into the second tier, coming in at number 21. To make this tier, dogs had to learn commands in five to 15 repetitions and obey known commands at least 85% of the time.

Parent Breeds of the Weimshepherd
Image By: Jumpstory

Temperament & Intelligence of the Weimshepherd 🧠

The Weimshepherd is an active and lively dog that has seemingly inexhaustible amounts of energy. The even and easy-going temperament of the German Shepherd serves to calm the high-energy nature of the Weimaraner, but this is still a dog that has massive amounts of excess energy to burn off.

This makes them an ideal choice for active owners who enjoy outdoor activities with their dogs. They will make great jogging and hiking companions and will have no trouble at all keeping up. Consequently, they will become upset at not getting their daily exercise routine and can act up if left alone at home too long.

This energetic nature can make them difficult to control, and they will need a firm hand and confident owner to keep their large, boisterous natures in check. This makes them well-suited to experienced owners, as first-time dog owners many have some trouble controlling them. That said, they are not difficult to train, and their high level of intellect makes them able to swiftly learn commands.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Weimshepherds make great family pets, provided that they are socialized early and trained well. Without this, they can be highly boisterous and may hurt small children with their over-enthusiasm. They are gentle giants, though, and are not known to be aggressive. They are a loving and loyal breed that is highly protective of their owners and as such, make great guard dogs.

These dogs can get attached to their owners and do not like being left alone for long periods. They need a great deal of time and dedication and can cause havoc when left to their own devices.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Weimshepherds will get along great with other dogs and pets, provided that they are socialized at a young age. They are large, powerful dogs, and their only fault is usually an overabundance of enthusiasm. That said, they may have a strong prey drive due to their hunting history, so smaller family dogs and pets may be liable to be viewed as a meal. Of course, if they have grown up with other pets and are trained properly, this is rarely a problem.

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Things to Know When Owning a Weimshepherd

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Weimshepherds are large animals with large appetites. Around 3 cups of high-quality dry kibble should suffice, but we recommend supplementing in additional protein too. This is best obtained in the form of lean meats or good quality canned foods. While it is highly convenient to fill your pooch’s food bowl up with dry kibble or meat and be done for the day, this is not ideal for Weimshepherds. They will thrive on two or three smaller meals a day, due to their large size and fast metabolism.

German Shepherds in particular are susceptible to some joint and hip issues, so a diet rich in omegas and fish oils is highly recommended for added mobility. If you decide to switch your dog’s diet to a new one, it’s a good idea to do this gradually. Make the change in 25% increments to avoid a shock to your pooch’s system.

As with any dog, your Weimshepherd will need constant access to fresh, clean water.

Exercise 🐕

Such a large and active animal will require a great deal of regular exercise to stay healthy and happy. We recommend a minimum of 2 hours a day of physical and mental exercise, preferably broken up into two sessions. Try and focus one session on mentally simulating exercise such as frisbee or other games and one session dedicated to high-cardio exercise like running, with added weight belts if needed. These belts can help them burn off excess energy without requiring you to run for miles on end with your dog!

You’ll also want to include off-leash play in the yard, an activity that will serve to grow your bond with your pooch and stimulate them mentally and physically. These dogs love people, and these interactions are essential to their happiness.

Weimshepherds have a well-known tendency for misbehavior if they don’t get the required stimulation. This can include barking and chewing of anything they can find and even lead to aggression.

Training 🦮

Weimshepherds are highly intelligent dogs and are thus easy to train. As they are such people-pleasers, reward-based training is the ideal method of training for these gentle giants. One of the most important aspects of successful training is early socialization. Getting these powerful dogs accustomed to other dogs and animals as early as possible will raise their chances of being a friendly and outgoing dog significantly.

You’ll need to make sure your Weimshepherd knows that you are in charge; otherwise, they will swiftly claim this position themselves. Contrary to popular belief, this does not mean dominance or becoming the “alpha,” it simply entails being a kind and assertive leader. Feeding time is an ideal time that many owners don’t take advantage of. Getting your dog to obey basic commands like “sit” or “stay” at mealtimes makes them far more inclined to listen to you later on.

In its simplest form, training your Weimshepherd successfully will require strong leadership, consistency, and rewarding good behavior while ignoring bad behavior.

Grooming ✂️

Weimshepherds don’t require a large amount of grooming. They have short and smooth coats that require weekly brushing at most. They are moderate shedders, so regular brushing will save your furniture from becoming covered in hair!

The occasional nail clipping may be needed, and a good tooth brushing once or twice a week is all that’s required for this low-maintenance pooch.

Health and Conditions ❤️

While these dogs generally enjoy the hybrid vigor that comes with crossbreeds, they may inherit some of the common issues that their purebred parent breeds suffer from.

Hip and elbow dysplasia is common among German Shepherds, affecting their hip and elbow joints. This condition can cause a severe reduction in your dog’s mobility and may require surgery if it gets too bad. A good diet and regular exercise will go a long way in preventing this common issue.

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas and nearby organs, which can lead to serious issues if left unattended. If it’s caught early, it is easily remedied with diet and rest, but serious cases will lead to hospitalization.

Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is another issue common to German Shepherds. Affecting mostly older dogs, it is the gradual degeneration of the spinal cord. Sadly, this is a genetic issue with no known cure.

Older German Shepherds are more susceptible to cancer than other dog breeds, and Weimshepherds may develop this trait too.

Some milder conditions include bloat, progressive retinal atrophy, and atopic dermatitis, a treatable but uncomfortable skin disorder.

Minor Conditions
  • Bloat
  • Ear infections
  • Progressive retinal atrophy
  • Atopic dermatitis
Serious Conditions
  • Cancer
  • Hip and elbow dysplasia
  • Patella luxation
  • Progressive retinal atrophy
  • Degenerative myelopathy

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Male vs. Female

If the Weimshepherd seems like the perfect dog for you, the last question to answer is whether a male or female is the right fit.

There is no real convincing reason to have one over the other, as a dog’s temperament and character are determined by its upbringing and environment more than its gender.

Generally, female Weimshepherds are friendlier and gentler than males because they are less territorial. They will also have love and affection for the whole family, whereas males may be inclined to bonding more with one person. Male Weimshepherds tend to be more territorial and make excellent guard dogs but can be quite possessive of their owners.

A spayed female and neutered male Weimshepherd will negate most, if not all, of these differences, and lead to an all-round healthier and happier dog too. Good training and gentle raising of your dog will also make a massive difference in character.

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Final Thoughts

Weimshepherds are a high-energy dog that is suitable for active owners who have a great deal of patience and ideally some dog-raising experience. They are big in stature and character and will need a strong leader who has the time and patience to train them consistently and effectively. These dogs require a great deal of exercise and bond strongly with their owners, so they are not suited to people who are away frequently.

When they are trained properly, they make great family dogs that are loyal and protective. They are a healthy breed with low-maintenance grooming and are friendly and playful pooches.

If you are an active owner who loves to be outdoors with your pooch, look no further than this athletic and charismatic breed.


Featured Image Credit: Pikrepo

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