Activities For Great Weimars

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Activities For Great Weimars

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Introduction

All Weimaraners are great, but not all Weimaraners are Great Weimars! Are you confused? Many are when they meet this interesting dog, because a Great Weimar looks an awful lot like a giant version of the hunting woofer that we all know and love. Or wait -- does is just look like a smallish Great Dane? To be honest, we don't really know.

What we do know is that a Great Weimar is made by breeding a Great Dane with a Weimaraner (and maybe even a Lab somewhere down the line, but don't even get us started there). This hybrid calms down the bouncy Weimaraner personality while providing a longer average lifespan than most Great Danes reach.

We've gathered some of the very best activities to partake in if you find yourself the lucky owner of one of these designer dogs.

Hiking

Popular

0 Votes

Sunny Day

Free

Easy

1 - 2 hrs

Items needed

Leash

Water

Waste bags

Trail snacks

Activity description

Ahh -- what could be more relaxing than heading out into the woods to get up close and personal with nature? Your Great Weimar totally agrees. In fact, both the Great Dane and the Weimaraner are avid explorers, with roots that go back to their days as wild dogs trekking through the forest in search of large prey.

Flash forward to today, and your hybrid pooch is totally built for "ruffing" it in the woods. As you head out on your adventure, watch how your fur-kid changes from goofy pupper to regal tracker as soon as an interesting scent catches their attention! Hiking will no doubt become one of your favorite pastimes when a Great Weimar is in your life.

Step

Find a trail

The first task when you'd like to go out for a hike is to bust open a map. Nature is beautiful -- there is no doubt about it! But when planning your wilderness excursion, you'll want to be sure that you know exactly where you're going and what kind of terrain you'll be heading into. When picking a trail, also keep in mind that younger Great Weimars should take things slower so as to not overexert their malleable joints. It's also important to make sure a friend or family member knows where you'll be hiking.

Step

Pack your bag

Whenever you're spending hours in the woods, mountains, or desert, it's a good idea to bring a pack of supplies with you. Useful items to bring along include water for both you and your doggo, light snacks, a flashlight, blanket, and compass just in case your phone doesn't make the journey. Lug a map with you as well, because many wilderness areas have spotty or no cell service.

Step

Go slow but steady

Especially if it's your first time out on a trail, taking the time to get it right is important. If you have any doubts about which way to go, head back and consult a map or contact someone who is familiar with the area. Another point to be aware of is how your four-legged pal is doing throughout your journey. If they show signs of exhaustion or begin to limp, call it quits and turn around immediately.

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Biking

Popular

0 Votes

Sunny Day

Cheap

Normal

40 - 60 min

Items needed

Bike

Leash Attatchment for Bikes

Leash

Harness

Activity description

If your Great Weimar favors their Weimaraner background, chances are that they're crazy about running. You may find it hard to keep up with them while they're stretching out their legs, but thankfully, there's an easy solution to this issue.

Biking alongside your speedy canine is a great way to keep up with their outrageous pace. To make it even more convenient, there's a whole pile of special leash attachments on the market that are specifically made for bikes. These, paired with a well-fitting harness, can make cycling at your pooch's preferred speed as easy as a walk in the park -- with a bit of practice, that is!

Step

Introduce the bike

To help your pupper get used to the idea of biking, they need to be comfortable around an actual bike. For starters, lead your Great Weimar around a bike standing up on its kickstand. Do not force your woofer close, but encourage and reward them for every positive interaction. Once they no longer seem fazed by the bicycle, feel free to move to stage 2.

Step

Walk your bike

The next phase includes hooking your pooch up to your bicycle and then walking the bike into motion. This way, you have more control over both bicycle and canine while maintaining a very slow speed. Once again, do not force your furry pal to go along, but rather, bring out those treats again and reward Fido for any wanted behavior exhibited towards the bike. Signal when you're about to stop with a loud voice command.

Step

Go for a ride

After you've gone on a few trial walks with your pupper tethered to your bike, it's time to get peddling. As with every step in this process, you're going to want to start slow again. If your four-legged friend responds well, feel free to pick up the speed. Throughout your rides, you'll want to constantly check on how your pooch is handling things. Go at their pace and stop if they show any signs of tiring out.

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Training Sessions

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Free

Normal

10 - 30 min

Items needed

Treats

Toys

Activity description

While it may not sound like your kind of fun, your Great Weimar is all about learning. In fact, they feel a sense of fulfillment after properly completing their daily dose of training.

These sessions do not have to be long affairs, though, the more time you spend training, the mellower your canine companion will be. Teaching your pooch can become part of your morning routine, or it can be your go-to when the weather is too bad to play outside.

Another perk to this activity is that, during each training session, your fur-kid will become slightly more obedient and the two of you will bond.

Step

Start with the basics

Especially for younger or more rambunctious pups, starting with simple commands is key. The idea is to get your pooch excited for these sessions while also letting them know what is expected from them. If your pup seems unfocused, you may have to just start with getting them to sit consistently. It can be fun to pair traditional commands with hand signals -- a trick that your doggo is sure to enjoy!

Step

Build from there

Once your fuzzy pal is sitting, lying down, or doing other trademark pup tasks, you can begin to kick things up a notch. Weims generally go bonkers for mental challenges and Great Danes can learn just about anything if given the time to do so. With a bit of work, your pooch will be balancing treats on their nose and barking on command in no time!

Step

Remember to reward

To keep things light and fun for your woofer, don't be too stingy with the rewards. If a trick combination has gotten too long and your dog is struggling to get through, slow things down and give them some treats for completing just the basic moves again. This will help them get back in the learning mindset and it will help your training go further.

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More Fun Ideas...

Swimming

For any dog that borders on giant, swimming is an excellent activity to introduce early on in the pup's life. Even though Dane mixes may not be known as water dogs, aquatic exercises can be wonderful for their joints as it puts far less stress than on-land exertion does. This comes into play even more so as your pooch ages.

Puzzle Toys

When you're looking for more ways to keep your clever Great Weimar busy during indoor time, why not try out a puzzle toy? These toys allow your furry friend to work out their mind and attempt to problem-solve their way through. Many games are interactive and some can even be built by you, letting you in on the fun, too!

Conclusion

So there you have it! When you have a Great Weimar in your life, you're set to have all kinds of fun. This breed is an excellent companion to anyone who can keep them busy. By finding out which games and outings your pupper likes best, you can make burning off energy fun for both of you!

And don't stop here, either. There are all kinds of great activities out there that your pooch is sure to love that we didn't get a chance to touch on. When in doubt, research the Great Weimar's parent breeds and learn about other things they love doing. It's likely that your furry pal will like many -- if not all -- of the things that the dogs before them were into.