Goldmaraner

The Goldmaraner, also known as the Goldmaraner Pointer, is a graceful-looking crossbreed that results from mixing a Golden Retriever and a Weimaraner. The more independent streak of the Weimaraner is usually eased off due to the contribution of the Golden Retriever. The result is a beautiful dog who is active and playful, devoted to his family, alert and gentle.

They demand lots of exercise and attention, being best suited for families who will interact with them on a regular basis. They love children and they are people dogs. They may have a prey drive brought about by their hunting ancestry, so socialisation and training are required. They are intelligent dogs and make good watchdogs.

About & History

As many designer dogs, the Goldmaraner probably originated in the late 1980s and throughout the 90s, when an interest in these types of mixes was on the rise. The idea was to create a healthier, hybrid dog that could bring the best of both his parent breeds, without much of the problems they brought along, which would be waned in the mix. The origin of the Goldmaraner is unknown, but by looking at the history of the Golden Retriever and the Weimaraner, we can have a good grasp of this crossbreed.

The Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever can be traced back to mid-19th century, when it was taken to Scotland from the cold lands of Canada to be further refined as a breed. The Golden Retriever was a hunting dog, used both in water and land, that retrieved their prey without killing it, and for this, he was much appreciated.

His ancestry probably goes further back to Russian dog breeds, but once in the United Kingdom, he was further crossed with dogs of the Spaniel family. A very intelligent dog, he is widely popular for companionship, also excelling in different jobs, including search and rescue, drug detection, and as a service, aid, and therapy dog.

The Weimaraner

The Weimaraner is also a couple of centuries old, dating back to the 19th century in Germany. He was a hunting dog, much like the Golden Retriever, selectively bred to track and point at prey, by mixing hound dogs with German Shorthaired Pointers, and other gundog breeds.

Owners of an elegant and graceful appearance, Weimaraners were further selected to become sporting dogs, being especially good at agility for their speed, confidence, and drive.

Appearance

The Goldmaraner is a beautiful crossbreed of medium to large size (7 to 11cm or 18 to 27 inches tall). These dogs typically weigh from 25 to 34 kg (55-75 lbs), with females being a bit lighter and shorter than males. Both males and females have a muscular body, with a broad and deep chest, long and broad head and muzzle, with long floppy ears.

Their coat is short-medium in length, straight and of normal density. It can come in different colors: gray, silver, fawn or blue, as well as some mixes in between. Pushing towards the Golden Retriever parent, Goldmaraners may have longer hairs on the tail, paws and abdomen, and their coat tends to be waterproof. Eyes can come in different shades as well, including brown, amber, hazel, and blueish.

Character & Temperament

By crossing the more independent and aloof Weimaraner with the cheerful and happy-go-lucky Golden Retriever, the Goldmaraner resulted in a balanced crossbreed who is gentle and playful, a good watchdog, protective and loyal towards his family, but above all a people lover. This is a great pet who gets along well with children and must be included as part of the family. They can be somewhat cautious and alert with strangers, which is why they come as effective watchdogs, barking to alert their owners. They may not be immediately at ease around strangers but given time they will befriend anyone.

Beware of other pets, especially cats, birds, and small mammals, as they have a strong prey drive and may chase and scare them. Nonetheless, with appropriate training and socialisation, this problem can be prevented. Because Goldmaraners are strong and extremely active, children should not be left unattended with them (they may accidentally knock them down). Goldmaraners should not be left alone at home for long periods of time, because they can become easily bored and be destructive around the house, barking and chewing on furniture. They need both physical and mental stimulation, so thinking ahead before choosing him as pet is warranted.

Trainability

Both his parent breeds are quick learners and smart, so training should not prove a complicated task, although he can be headstrong at times (a character trait that he may owe to the Weimaraner parent). Goldmaraners need training, mainly due to their prey drive, so it is essential that these dogs become acquainted with other animals as to behave around them.

Health

The lifespan of the Goldmaraner is 10 to 12 years. The major health issues associated with this crossbreed were inherited from both parent breeds and are:

Hip Dysplasia

Like both his parents, the Goldmaraner can have hip dysplasia, which is a joint condition of varying degrees of seriousness. Signs may vary from a little discomfort when walking to lameness (especially in soft grounds, such as sand beach) until the dog completely refuses to walk, due to pain and severe inflammation.

It occurs due to a misalignment of the ball-and-socket hip joint, with genetic and environmental causes being involved. There is no cure, but the condition can be managed so that dogs have a good quality of life and limited pain.

Bloat

Given the Goldmaraner’s deep chest, there is a possibility for bloating and gastric torsion. This condition follows air ingestion in the course of a meal or after strenuous exercise (usually after eating), leading to stomach bloating and its twisting on its own axis.

The most common observable clinical signs are a swollen belly, nausea (although the dog cannot vomit), drooling, and visible pain (which can be deduced by the dog’s restlessness and distress). Dogs should be taken to the vet right away for surgery, which is usually effective in treating this condition if done right away.

Von Willebrand's Disease

von Willebrand factor is a blood protein involved in hemostasis (a process that prevents bleeding by allowing blood clotting). When dogs lack this protein, they have trouble in the coagulation of blood, an inherited condition called von Willebrand disease that may occur in some dog breeds.

Clinical signs include bleeding (from the nose, mouth, gastrointestinal, urinary or reproductive tracts) and difficulties to stop bleeding (during or after surgeries, for example). There is no cure for this disease, although it can be managed. When bleeding occurs, a blood transfusion is often needed.

Exercise and Activity Levels

Goldmaraners are very active dogs and will therefore be the healthiest and happiest when integrated in a lively and sporty lifestyle. Active families who enjoy hiking, long walks, jogging or any type of movement are the best suited for this crossbreed.

Also, the Goldmaraner will want to be included the family’s activities, whatever and wherever (indoors or outdoors) they are. Nevertheless, they are adaptable dogs and as long as they have their daily walk and interactive playtime, they will do well. Prospective owners should plan on spending at least an hour a day for exercise and games.

Grooming

The Goldmaraner tends to be a heavy shedder (usually less than the Golden Retriever, but still he sheds a lot). Brushing weekly (or maybe more) is required, as well as checking and keeping his floppy ears clean and dry, as they may accumulate debris and become a good spot for bacterial growth, leading to infections.

This is particularly important as Goldmaraners love to swim and water may get trapped inside their ears. Prevention is achieved by regular grooming, which also includes nail clipping and teeth brushing.