The Mission Phase III:
Grooming the Weimaraner
Grooming the Weimaraner
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Grooming a Weimaraner you may ask? What grooming does a Weimaraner need? At first glance, the shorthaired Weimaraners may not appear to need any grooming. The fact is, though that there are four major areas that do require attention; the ears, teeth, nails and coat. If these areas are neglected, your dog can have major health problems.
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The Weimaraner has floppy ears, which can create ventilation problems within the ear. If the ears are not regularly cleaned they can become infested with ear mites or become infected. Therefore it is imperative to clean the ears on a regular basis. This can be done with absorbent cotton, tissue, a soft washcloth or baby wipes. Do not use Q-Tips. Carefully wipe clean the inside of the ear. Be sure to get down deep enough to clean the bottom cup of the outer ear. To remove hard crusty wax, you can buy a wax softening solution from the drug store. Prompt veterinarian attention is necessary if you observe discharge from the ears, or the dog holding his head to one side or excessively shaking his head.
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Dental problems are also a concern with this breed, as well as any other breed for that matter. Therefore the Weimaraner's teeth should be cleaned regularly. You can buy a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste at your local pet store. Do not use people toothpaste. Tarter accumulations on the teeth or under the gums can be removed with a dentist's scaler or scraper (though the edge of a dime may also be used).
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The third area of grooming may be one of the most vital. This is the doggie pedicure. Permanently flat and splayed feet will result if the Weimaraner's nails are allowed to grow too long. The nails may also split or tear off entirely.
In order to effectively trim your dog's nails, some knowledge of the structure of the nail is helpful. The nail is composed of the outer horny layer, the quick (a soft highly sensitive, pinkish flesh), and the vein. If you hold the nail in front of a light you may be able to see the quick under the horny layer. When you trim your dog's nails, you want to trim to the soft part of the quick. This causes the exposed area to harden, and the vein to retreat. We have found that a sander or nail file works better than clippers, because of the gradual removal of the horny layer. This makes it easier to determine when to stop so you don't nip the vein. Don't beat up on yourself too much though if you do happen to nip a vein…it happens to the best of us occasionally! Just make sure you have styptic powder such as Kwik Stop near by. A rule of thumb we use as to when to trim the nails, is when we can hear the nails clicking on a hard floor. This ends up being at least once a week. If you find that the nails have gotten way to long you may need to trim the nails up to every other day in order to get the vein to recede. |
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A fourth area of grooming that needs attention is the Weimaraner's coat. At the first sign of fleas, the Weimaraner, house, bedding and yard should be de-fleaed. Excessive scratching and can lead to skin irritations and rashes. The Weimaraner can also occasionally receive a bath, but be careful not to bathe him too often as this can dry out his coat.
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Good Luck with this part of your mission, and remember…a well-groomed Weimaraner is a happier Weimaraner!
| Phase I: Preparing for the Puppy |
| Phase II: Training a Weimaraner |
| Phase IV: Troubleshooting |
| Phase V: Coming Soon...Frequently Asked Questions |