To All New Owners of a
Weimaraner:
By now we are sure that you realize that you have an
extremely energetic, loving, family oriented pet that surely will become a
standing member of your household for many years to come. Weimaraners while challenging to train can do
so at a very early age and we recommend getting started as soon as possible
with a professional obedience class that not only benefits the dog but the
owner as well. Once started you will
meet people who will probably introduce you to the many activities you can get
involved with your dog to increase the total experience of dog ownership. We have summarized these types of activities
below for your consideration and as a club we stand ready to assist you in as
many as you might feel assistance is needed.
Dog Shows/Confirmation
The American Kennel Club is the agency that registers
the vast majority of pure bred dogs in the U.S.
Each breed has established a standard that depicts what the perfect dog
in that breed should be like. Refer to
the Weimaraner standard in this web site. True breeders are constantly striving
to meet that standard or come as close to it as possible. At AKC sanctioned dog shows, dogs are judged
to that standard and winners are determined.
Dogs are separated by sexes and judged by gender at first and then the
best entered that day is chosen from among the winners. Points ranging from one to five depending on
the total entry (the more entered the greater the number of points) are
assigned to the winners. Dogs and bitches
must accumulate fifteen points, a minimum of six must come by winning at shows
that assign three to five points (called majors) on two occasions to achieve
their Championship and have the right to place a CH. before their name. The dog judged best in breed that day can
then go on and compete against all the other breeds in their group and then attempt
to be judged the best dog at that show that day. If interested consider show handling classes
to learn how to properly present your dog for judging.
Field Trials
Being in the Sporting Dog Group, Weimaraners are
hunting dogs especially good at hunting, pointing and retrieving game birds. Like dog shows field trials judge a dogs
abilities in the field doing all the aforementioned abilities. They run with another dog in what is termed a
brace and are evaluated by judges who follow on horseback. Winning dogs are assigned points that lead to
the title of being a Field Champion or FC. included to the dog’s registered
name. If interested such trials are run
during the early spring and fall seasons most weekends at the Assunpink Game Preserve
in the Hightstown N.J. area, exit 11 off the I-195 freeway.
Hunt Tests
These are designed to test a dog’s hunting skills for
finding, pointing and retrieving birds.
Their abilities are judged against a standard. They are judged at different ability levels
and as they master a level they are elevated to the next level. Generally three titles are achieved beginning
with Junior Hunter (JH), followed by Senior Hunter (SH) and culminating with
Master Hunter (MH).
Again these title names may be added to the dog’s
registered name.
Weimaraner Club of
America Rating Tests
These offer still another way to determine a dogs
ability in the field and at retrieving and are sanctioned through the
Weimaraner Club of America. Many times
they are incorporated with Field Trials run by a local Weimaraner Club but do
not have to be. Field ratings are judged
independent of land and or water retrieving ratings. Having a dog perform well in both areas is a
feather in any dog handler’s cap. Once
again different levels of achievement exist for both sides to these ratings,
Novice Shooting Dog (NSD), Shooting Dog (SD), Shooting Dog Excellent (SDX),
Novice Retrieving Dog (NRD), Retrieving Dog (RD) and Retrieving Dog Excellent (RDX). As dogs master one and earn its title they
advance to the next level.
Obedience
Obedience trials are most often held in conjunction
with dog shows either all breed varieties or breed specialties. Dogs are required to perform exercises most
of which are learned at obedience classes conducted by breed clubs, dog
training facilities and at many adult community schools. A judge will deduct points when these
exercises are not performed with 100 % accuracy. In every exercise a dog must earn 50 % of the
points and get a minimum of 170 points out of a possible 200 to qualify for a
leg towards his/her obedience title that requires a total of three legs. Entries are separated into A and B categories
depending on handler experience.
Obedience Classes include Novice with Companion Dog (CD) as the sought
after title. Open with the title
Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) and Utility granting a Utility Dog (UD) title.
Rally
Similar to obedience but less demanding is this new AKC
event whereby dog and handler complete a course of designated stations with
signed skills that must be preformed. A
variance of stations indicates several classes with increasing difficulty and
to enter and ten to twenty stations must be completed. A passing score of
seventy out of a possible one hundred is required to earn a leg towards a Rally
Title. Like Obedience three legs earned lead to titles as Rally Novice (RN),
Rally Advanced (RA), Rally Excellent (RE).
Rally trials again are generally run at Dog Shows.
Agility
In this event dogs are required to complete an
obstacle course in a prescribed time. A
handler’s skill in training their dog is tested as the dog must complete the
course with as few errors as possible.
Jumps, hurdles, ramps, tunnels, a see-saw and a line of poles to weave
through comprise the obstacles on the course.
Scores are based on faults similar to horse show events. Once again as
in obedience titles are earned via legs.
Titles include Novice Agility (NA) and Open Agility (OA).
Non Competitive:
Therapy Dogs
A therapy dog and his handler provide company, comfort to
those who may so need it as patients in hospitals, assisted living complexes,
nursing homes and any other type of institution that might benefit from their
visits. Benefits include emotional well
being, healing, and an overall improvement of quality of life. Dogs and their handlers can be accredited by
organizations such as Therapy Dogs International.
Reading to Dogs
Just as it is beneficial for children to read to parents the
same effect can be gotten when they read to their dog. Many dogs are more attentive, interested and
usually express no opinion one way or the other when compared to many parents
and or siblings. This activity can be
expanded to schools and local libraries and accreditation can be obtained by
the same organizations that provide it for therapy dogs such as Therapy Dogs
International.
Pets
If none of the activities mentioned both competitive and non
competitive are of any interest and you just want a faithful companion around
the house to love and share family time with that is a most acceptable activity
and a Weimaraner will provide that and much more if properly trained. Enjoying your dog after all is the most important
aspect of dog ownership. Feel free to
contact us for any dog related question and good luck!