Turnspit Dog vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison

Smooth Haired Weimaraner is originated from Germany but Turnspit Dog is originated from United Kingdom. Smooth Haired Weimaraner may grow 40 cm / 16 inches higher than Turnspit Dog. Smooth Haired Weimaraner may weigh 26 kg / 58 pounds more than Turnspit Dog. Both Smooth Haired Weimaraner and Turnspit Dog has almost same life span. Smooth Haired Weimaraner may have more litter size than Turnspit Dog. Both Smooth Haired Weimaraner and Turnspit Dog requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Working dog
undefined
Germany
United Kingdom
Height Male:
57 - 70 cm
22 - 28 inches
20 - 30 cm
7 - 12 inches
Height Female:
57 - 70 cm
22 - 28 inches
20 - 30 cm
7 - 12 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 40 kg
55 - 89 pounds
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 40 kg
55 - 89 pounds
9 - 14 kg
19 - 31 pounds
Life Span:
11 - 14 Years
10 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
1 - 4
Size:
Large
Small
Other Names:
Weim, Grey Ghost
Vernepator cur, kitchen dog
Colors Available:
Silvery Grey
White, gray or black., reddish-brown
Coat:
Short, sleek and smooth
Shortish
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

smooth haired weimaranerThe Smooth Haired Weimaraner is a beautiful silvery-grey dog that was once bred for hunting way back in the 19th century.

He has always been described as an all-purpose gun dog bred from crossing different German and French hunting dogs with the Bloodhound.

History of this dog dates back to 1897. This is when a club was formed in Germany for the breed.

It is amazing that this small dog’s popularity comes from him being used in the kitchens to roast meat. The British enjoyed eating their meat which they roasted on a fire.

These dogs were essentially regarded as a tool – a means to an end, and when kitchens were modernized, they were no longer needed, and they became extinct.

Referred to as the kitchen dog or cooking dog, the first mention of these little dogs was made in 1576. By 1850 the dogs had become scarce and by 1900 it seemed as though there were none left.

Description

smooth haired weimaraner puppy - descriptionThe lean, well muscled Smooth Haired Weimaraner is athletic to look at, brimming with energy and vitality. The coat is smooth and short and is a magnificent steel grey to silver coat which even tends to be a blue-grey color.

The short coat makes the dog low maintenance. He is also a low shedding dog. He is a medium to large sized dog standing at between 57 and 70cm in height and weighing in the region of 25 to 40kg.

The tail has always been docked, giving him that distinctive, dignified appearance. The tail then measures about 6 inches in length.

These dogs are also excellent water dogs with their webbed paws. The ears of the dog are medium length and floppy and the eyes are light amber or a blue-grey color.

Temperament:

You just have to look at the Smooth Haired Weimaraner and you can see how he just loves being with his human owner all the time, so much so that he is known for separation anxiety. Sometimes he can become so distraught separated from his owner that he can even injure himself trying to reach his owner. Being separated for too long can cause him anxiety issues.

Certainly this dog is going to need the right kind of training and socialization to calm him. They’re also full of energy too and are going to require a good amount of exercise.

The Turnspit was a small long-bodied dog, standing at between 20 to 30cm in height and probably weighed anything between 9 and 14kg in height.

The legs were somewhat crooked or bandy and Edward Jesse, who wrote ‘Anecdote of Dogs’ in 1846 described them as ugly dogs with a miserable look to them. That was probably due to him having to fit into the hamster-like wheel contraption that turned the meat being roasted in the kitchens.

They were low-bodied dogs, similar to a Dachshund or a Corgi with short, stocky legs, short floppy ears, and a short coat. The long tail curled over its back. It is believed that the coats were white, reddish-brown, gray or black.

Temperament:

The dog was certainly feisty, energetic and hard-working with not much being written about his temperament. He was a working dog, but given the chance, he would no doubt have been loving and loyal, longing for the chance just to be part of a human family and to be loved.

Characteristics

smooth haired weimaraner dog - characteristicsYour distinctive silvery-grey Weimaraner with his velvety ears and striking eyes is such a loving dog, desiring to be with his human family as much as possible.

They are also good with children. Their loving nature and eagerness to please will ensure that you have a fully integrated 4 legged family member in your home who wants to be involved with everything you're busy with.

The Turnspit dog had a tough life, but would no doubt have made a wonderful little pet had he just been allowed to be a companion dog.

When he was no longer needed, he was discarded.

Make sure that when you buy a dog, you don't just put him in your backyard and forget about him. Give him the love and care he deserves.

Health Problems

smooth haired weimaraner puppies - health problemsThere are some common dog illnesses that most dog owners fear, and hip dysplasia is one. Fortunately the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals tells us that Weimaraners aren’t prone to this dysplasia the way some dogs are.

One cause for concern however is bloat, and as a deep chested dog breed, the Short Haired Weimaraner can be prone to this life threatening illness.

Known also as gastric torsion, the stomach swells up and the dog becomes lethargic and restless. Immediate veterinary intervention is required. One way to diminish your dog’s chances of getting bloat is to rather feed him two smaller meals a day as opposed to one large meal.

Also, skin allergies are fairly common with these dogs. If redness appears on the skin or the skin is dry and itchy with a rash and he is losing his hair, you may well need to get your pet to the vet. It is why we always recommend giving your pet some raw meat added to the diet and this can help to prevent skin allergies.

The health and lifespan of a dog is influenced by quite a few things such as food, care, love, exercise and the type of breed it is. Generally smaller dogs live longer than big dogs, and mixed breed dogs live longer than pure breeds.

The Turnspit dog, if he had received the proper care, could have lived to between 10 and 15 years of age.

Some of the health issues facing small dogs like these would include -

Hypoglycemia:

Stress can bring on a sudden drop in blood sugar. The Turnspit had reason to be stressed, working hard in horrible conditions. Dogs become weak and lethargic and can scarcely maintain an even gait. A sudden drop in blood sugar can cause a small dog to go into a fatal coma.

Pancreatitis:

This ailment seems to occur more often with smaller dogs. The pancreas becomes inflamed and your dog has vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and dehydration. Pancreatitis can come about because of trauma, metabolic disorders or infection.

Caring The Pet

Training:

smooth haired weimaraner dogs - caringEvery dog, especially the Smooth Haired Weimaraner with his anxiety issues, should be trained and socialized, and these dogs are easy to train because they’re intelligent and they want to please.

Grooming:

The short silvery coat simply requires a good brush-down twice a week to remove the few loose hairs there are. Even if you don’t need to brush him, just do it because of the type of dog the Weimaraner is.

He loves the closeness of owner and dog. It’s a good time to check him over for ticks and fleas, to feel for unusual lumps, to look inside his ears for signs of infection, to check his eyes too, that they’re bright and clear.

Diet:

If you feed your Smooth Haired Weimaraner commercially manufactured dog food, it needs to be one of the best ones with fairly high protein content. If feeding kibble, you can enhance the food by adding in some tasty home-made food. The Weimaraner’s stomach is easily upset so you want to add in easily digestible home-made food free of exotic spices and richness.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots is super tasty and nutritious. Your Weimaraner will love such simple, good food and you can add a little to his dry kibble twice a week.

Also important is to add in some raw meat as this ensures a healthy skin. Make sure he has a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

A dog is man's best friend, but the Turnspit was essentially just a working dog and most likely didn’t receive the proper care he deserved.

Small dogs like these would have had basic needs. Their owners would have had to pay attention to the dog's health, because he needed to work.

We look at ways in which a small dog like the Turnspit should have been cared for -

Diet:

One wonders if the Turnspit was allowed to eat any of the roast meat he worked so hard on to get ready. Every dog should have a regular meal.

Most adult dogs should be fed 2 meals of kibble a day. If the Turnspit wasn’t extinct he would have required a high quality ‘small dog breed’ commercial dog food. Home-made food would also be a requirement – some boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Dogs want and appreciate simple, wholesome foods that won’t upset their digestive systems.

Along with good food, dogs need cool, fresh water constantly available to stay healthy.

Provide your dog with a warm dry, quiet, comfortable place to sleep.

Make sure he gets to the veterinarian if he is sick, but also for his vaccines to prevent him from getting some of the worst dog diseases there are.

Spay or neuter your dog if you don’t intend to breed your dog,

Groom your small dog regularly. The Turnspit had a shortish coat and would have required a brush twice a week. Other grooming procedures for a small dog like the Turnspit would have been keeping his nails trimmed and checking the inside of his ears and his mouth for ear infections and dental disease.

Exercise for a small dog is important – walks and ball games.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Turnspit Dog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Turnspit Dog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Turnspit Dog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Turnspit Dog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Turnspit Dog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Turnspit Dog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Turnspit Dog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Turnspit Dog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Turnspit Dog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Turnspit Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Turnspit Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Turnspit Dog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Turnspit Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Turnspit Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Turnspit Dog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Turnspit Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Turnspit Dog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Turnspit Dog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Turnspit Dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Turnspit Dog vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Turnspit Dog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Turnspit Dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Turnspit Dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Turnspit Dog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Turnspit Dog vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison