The Weimaraner and Great Dane bred together may be one of the least unusual dog breeds out there. They are somewhat the same size and shape and have similar behaviors and histories of being hunting dogs. This makes their offspring a lot more stable than you might expect with mixed breeds and designer dogs.
When you breed a Great Weimar from a Weimaraner and Great Dane, you get a loving dog that is very smart and that has high energy. They are large, and sometimes unaware of their size, but can make excellent family pets if you know how to treat them.
If you want to learn more about the Great Weimar and its parent breeds, continue reading below!
Weimaraner, Great Weimar, and Great Dane Comparison Table
|
Weimaraner |
Great Weimar |
Great Dane |
|
|
Height |
23-27 inches |
25-29 inches |
28-32 inches |
|
Weight |
55-90 pounds |
75 to 105 pounds |
110-175 pounds |
|
Life Expectancy |
10-13 years |
7-12 years |
7-10 years |
|
Colors |
Blue Gray Silver Gray |
Silver Gray Fawn Black White Blue Brindle |
Black Blue Brindle Chocolate Fawn Harlequin Merle Silver White Mantle Merlequin |
|
Coat Type |
Smooth with short length |
Smooth with short length |
Smooth with short length |
|
Affection Levels |
Very loving |
Very loving |
Very loving |
|
Shedding Level |
Average shedding |
Average shedding |
Average shedding |
|
Temperament |
Very playful Very protective |
Pretty playful Very protective |
Pretty playful Very protective |
|
Health Issues |
Mouth and gum injury Sprains Bloat Thyroid disease Von Willebrand’s Disease Spinal Dysraphism |
Hip dysplasia Bloat Heart disease Skin disorders Von Willebrand’s Disease Immunodeficiency |
Bloat Hip dysplasia Cardiac problems Eye problems Hypothyroidism Autoimmune thyroiditis |
|
Trainability |
Very easy to train |
Fairly easy to train |
Average trainability |
|
Exercise |
Very high exercise needs |
Pretty high exercise needs |
Pretty high exercise needs |
|
Friendliness to People |
Alright with strangers |
Alright with strangers |
Alright with strangers |
|
Friendliness to Dogs |
Alright with other dogs |
Alright with other dogs |
Alright with other dogs |
|
Drooling Levels |
Little drooling |
Average drooling |
More drooling |
|
Mental Stimulation |
High mental stimulation required |
High mental stimulation required |
High mental stimulation required |
|
Barking Level |
Average barking |
Average barking |
Average barking |
Weimaraner, The Great Weimar, and Great Dane Comparison Table
About The Weimaraner
Weimaraners are very active dogs. They need plenty of exercises and mental stimulation or they will quickly grow anxious and destructive. These dogs were originally bred to be gun dogs and hunt.
However, unlike other dogs, these were made to have endurance and hunt all day without tiring. Despite being hunting dogs, they are also very loyal and loving, and they prefer to live with their family members indoors instead of being separated.
Weimaraners are easily recognizable thanks to their fur color. They are usually a silver or silvery blue color, although they may have faint tiger stripes when they are born. Their eyes are also unique, starting as a light blue, and changing to a slightly darker blue, blue-gray, or amber. They are often called gray ghosts due to their coloring, and also their ability to be stealthy while hunting.
In fact, these dogs are so stealthy that they will quickly roll in anything smelly to hide their smell, even when they are not hunting. They are very smart as well, which is another part of what makes them great hunting dogs.
Similar to other hunting dogs that are very loving to their parents like Vizslas, Weimaraners can become very dependent on their owners. This means that they can easily get separation anxiety whenever they are left alone unless they are trained properly.
About Great Danes
Great Danes are not dogs for beginners. They are easily the tallest dog breed in the world, reaching up to 32 inches just at the shoulder, and often weighing 175 pounds. They are not ideal for apartments, as they run out of space quite quickly.
Though we say they aren’t ideal for beginners, it is only due to their size, and not their personalities. Great Danes are incredibly sweet and patient, to the point that they are good dogs to have around kids. They seem to be highly aware of their size and work hard to be gentle.
Great Danes need a lot of exercise as they get older. However, when they are younger, you don’t want to exercise them too hard. Their bones don’t fully solidify and form until they are around two years old, so only light exercise should be done before then.
Once they are fully grown, they excel at a variety of sports, including agility, tracking, weight pulls, and more.
Due to their size, they can be very expensive to take care of and have a relatively short lifespan compared to other dogs. They need a lot of food and have a few health issues that can quickly drain a bank without proper insurance.
Like the Weimaraner, Great Danes were originally used for hunting dogs as well. They were bred to hunt big game like boar, though they are rarely used for that purpose anymore.
About Great Weimar
The Great Weimar is a deliberate breeding between the Great Dane and the Weimaraner. They are not yet their own breed and are often still considered designer dogs.
Thanks to the high intelligence of both parent breeds, these dogs are very intelligent as well. They are quick to pick up on anything you train them, especially when you follow it with lots of love and treats. Training is essential for these dogs. Since they can easily get bigger and stronger than their owner, teaching them how to go on walks and be obedient can prevent issues.
While these dogs don’t often get as big as their Great Dane parent, they are still very large dogs and need a lot of space, so they don’t work well in apartments or very closed-off homes.
Do Great Weimars Get Overweight Easily?
For the most part, Great Weimars tend to stay a healthy size. However, making sure they get plenty of exercise and time outdoors does help to ensure that they stay a healthy weight.
How Much Grooming do Great Weimars Need?
Great Weimars do shed, though it isn’t much more than average. They also can drool quite a bit, especially if they take after their Great Dane parent.
Great Weimars don’t have to be trimmed up often, though brushing once or twice a week isn’t a bad idea. Most owners actually recommend you use something called a hound mit on their fur to improve circulation and keep their coats healthy.
Is There a Difference Between Males and Females?
Sometimes, dog breeds have different personalities between males and females. However, with Great Weimars, we don’t have that. There isn’t a noticeable difference between the personalities of these dogs based on their gender.
However, there is very distinct sexual dimorphism, like with many dog breeds. The male Great Weimars are often bigger than the females by a couple of inches.
Conclusion
Great Weimars are fairly stable dogs due to their parents having similar personalities and behaviors. This makes it easier to understand what you are getting into. They might not be the easiest dog to take care of due to their size, but their personality makes them ideal, active companions.
It is essential to train Great Weimars right away and make sure they know how to listen to certain commands. You also need to be honest about the amount of space you have so that you aren’t trying to cram them into a tiny space.
