Training a Weimaraner: what works and what to expect

Weimaraners learn fast, sometimes faster than their owners expect, and that includes the wrong lessons. They respond best to short, varied sessions, food and toy rewards, and tasks with a clear purpose such as retrieving or search games. Endless repetition bores them, and a bored Weim goes looking for loopholes.

Two areas need deliberate work. The first is alone time: teach it gradually from the first week, starting with a few minutes behind a baby gate while you are still home, and building slowly over weeks. The second is impulse control, from waiting at doors to ignoring birds on the lawn. Crate training, a fence of at least 1.8 m (6 ft) and plenty of practice near distractions all help.