Are Weimaraners Smarter Than Other Dogs? Breed Intelligence Explored
By Shana Loven
Updated on
Weimaraners are well-known for their hunting prowess, but are they also smarter than other dogs? While Weimaraners don’t appear on the AKC’s list of smartest breeds, they are generally considered to be smart dogs. Their intelligence sometimes gets them into trouble because they are easily bored when they don’t receive enough exercise and stimulation.
Read on to learn more about the history of Weimaraners, as well as how their intelligence factors into their personality and their exercise needs.
Weimaraner History
The Weimaraner was developed by Germany’s Grand Duke Karl August, a keen sportsman, in the early 1800s as a big-game hunter. It’s believed that the duke crossbred the Bloodhounds with different types of French and German hunting dogs until the Weimaraner, or Weimar Pointer, was born.
The Weimaraner was a well-kept secret among the duke and his noble friends for many years as they used the dogs to hunt mountain lions, bears, and wolves. As these animal populations decreased, the Weimaraner was used for other types of hunting, particularly game birds.
The Weimaraner eventually came to the United States in the late 1920s. In the 1950s, celebrities such as Grace Kelly and President Dwight D. Eisenhower helped popularize the breed as a hunting dog and family pet and they’ve remained popular since that time.
Personality & Intelligence
Weimaraners are very loveable dogs and want to spend all their time with their owners. Their love of their owners makes them good watchdogs due to their protective nature and their reserved nature when meeting strangers. Weimaraners are also incredibly playful, sometimes getting into mischief, and adapt easily to new situations.
Weimaraners are known for being smart and they will use their intelligence to get into trouble when they’re bored. They enjoy the mental stimulation of training exercises, puzzle games, and more as such exercises stimulate their brains and bodies. Weimaraners may destructively chew and dig if they’re bored, as they want to spend all their time with their owners.
Exercise & Intelligence
Weimaraners were bred as big-game hunting dogs, so exercise is important for their overall health and well-being. Walking is a good way to exercise Weimaraners, but make sure the walks are long and often to help tire out your pup. Weimaraners are high-energy dogs and need exercise every day for long periods, preferably with the opportunity to run to work out excess energy.
If you’re a hunter, your Weimaraner will be happy to join you on a hunt. If you’re not a hunter, you can check to see if agility training is available locally as it will stimulate your pet’s brain, help them work out their energy, and they’ll enjoy the competition. Many trainers have said that a tired Weimaraner is a good Weimaraner, and this will hold true for your pet as well.
Conclusion
The Weimaraner is a people-centric dog that is known for being a loveable family pet. While this beautiful hunting dog didn’t make the AKC’s list of smartest breeds, it’s known for being a smart dog whose intelligence often gets it into trouble when it’s bored. Daily exercise, training, and agility courses are all activities that will tire your Weimaraner out so that a tired Weimaraner is a good Weimaraner.
Featured Image Credit: Santos Roman, Shutterstock
