Longhaired Weimaraner vs Borador - Breed Comparison

You may be used to the sleek, silver shorthaired Weimaraner, but did you know you get a beautiful long haired version too? Known also as the Long Coated Weimaraner or the ‘Gray Ghost’, with its mesmerising amber eyes, the less common long haired variety shares a similar history as the more familiar short haired version.

The dog originates in Germany and was developed to be a hunting dog. It is believed that the silver dog dates back to the early 1800’s, and in 1897 the first breed club in Germany was formed to protect the future of this dog.

The longhair coat is recognized in all countries except the American Kennel Club.

Hybrid breeds have become popular in the last decade or so. The Borador, hailing from Northern America, is one of these popular crossbreeds between two very popular dog breeds - the Border Collie and the Labrador Retriever. Between the two dog breeds, you get extraordinary intelligence, energy and a wonderful temperament.

You first started hearing about this dog breed in the early 21st century. However each of the two breeds brought together to produce the Borador have got reasonable lengthy histories.

The Longhair Weimaraner with its eye-catching grey coat is a large dog that stands between 58 and 70cm and weighs between 25 to 40kg.

These dogs, unlike the short haired version, have the tail traditionally long and the tail is feathered. The eyes are a blue-green, amber or grey color. The grey coat is soft and silky and even though it is quite long, a brush twice a week will keep it in tip-top condition.

Temperament:

The Longhaired Weimaraner’s temperament is the same as the short haired variety. He is also a superb field dog with excellent hunting skills.

They’re very active dogs, looking for plenty of mental and physical stimulation. For first-time dog owners, this might prove to be too demanding, so the long haired Weimaraner might not be the best first-choice dog to get.

They can be aggressive when meeting new people and he will certainly require training and socialization if you want him to be calm and obedient.

His Looks

The Borador is a medium to large sized working dog which is well well-proportioned and muscular. His size can’t be carved in stone, but generally he will be in size from 40 – 57cm and weight in the region of 18 and 26 kg. His coat can vary significantly, leaning more towards one particular breed than the other. So the coat can be short and smooth or long and wavy or straight.

The Borador essentially has medium-sized ears which are floppy and the tail is medium-length. Sometimes the Borador will have the black and white coat of the Border Collie or he could have a brownish/beige colour from a golden Labrador.

He’s an Amicable Breed

When your energetic Borador is trained and socialized, he becomes a great family member and he gets on well with children and other pets.You’ll find that he often has the sweet, amicable temperament of the Labrador while having the sharp, alert intellect of the Border Collie.

Most Boradors are also good watchdogs and will bark at strangers, but because they are so amicable, from barking, they can quickly become a stranger’s friend.

Your Long Haired Weimaraner is a friendly, alert dog that makes for an excellent companion and watchdog. The fact that he is also restless, confident, independent and strong-willed means that training and socialization will be necessary to make him pleasant and obedient.

You can’t always count on him to be amicable as he also has a bit of an aggressive side.

The way your Long Haired Weimaraner turns out will depend on heredity, the personality of the owner as well as training and socialization.

These dogs want to be with their human family and will follow the owner around and contentedly lie at their feet. Once he's trained, the Weimaraner is guaranteed to make you a fine family companion.

The Borador is an intelligent dog that can be trained. He is a sociable dog and is friendly to all members of his human family, willing to extend a paw of friendship to strangers as well.

The Borador is also a friend of children and other pets. This combination of breeds is very energetic and you can’t just leave him for days on end in the backyard. He will need exercise and walks as well as ball games. When you become involved in his games, you tighten the bond between you and this is what this social, outgoing dog loves.

The Borador is going to make a wonderful pet because he is a mix of two very popular dog breeds. Give him all he deserves as a member of your family and you’ll have the perfect friend and companion for life.

Hip Dysplasia is a medical threat to all dog breeds and fortunately the Weimaraner is a dog breed that has a low rate of dysplasia. When buying a Long Haired Weimaraner, try and get one from breeders who have had their breeding dogs hip-tested.

You’ll notice that the Weimaraner is a deep-chested dog and he is prone to bloating, which can turn out to be life threatening for your dog if not treated immediately.

The stomach twists and is swollen with no bowel movements. The dog is restless and in distress and needs immediate attention. To help, instead of giving one large meal which is gobbled up quickly, give him 2 smaller meals.

Skin allergies are also quite common in these dogs and you don’t want your silver dogs coat going off as it is his crowning glory.

If he is scratching, his skin is dry, red and itchy, get him to the vet as it can even be parasites at work, causing an allergic reaction.

You won’t find serious health problems with your Boradors, as he is a robust breed. Nonetheless, there are some ailments that as a dog owner, you need to be aware of for your Borador.

Skin ailments – you don’t want to see your dog scratching or licking continuously so you want to be aware of things like parasites and allergies. Skin diseases can be debilitating for a dog and can even require lifelong treatments. Yes, corticosteroids can help with itchy rashes, but the best move is to try and avoid skin ailments by ensuring a nutritious diet rich in minerals and vitamins and which includes some raw meat.

Always be checking your pet for skin problems such as ringworm, caused by a fungus and found on your dog and which appear as scaly patches and hair loss.

Hip Dysplasia – an inherited problem with the hip joints. No-one can predict when hip dysplasia settles in, but it can be as early as 4 months of age.Your dog shows signs of stiffness and may not be his energetic self. Some dog owners want to see certificates first that the parents of puppies have been hip-cleared before they buy a puppy.

Grooming:

When you bring a Long Haired Weimaraner home, you will need to invest in brush and comb for his long hair. They’re active dogs and love nothing more than running in a field, rolling in mud and being very active.

His coat will need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep it looking silvery and shimmering. Check the ears, eyes and teeth whenever you brush him and get used to cleaning his teeth regularly too.

If in doubt about how to keep your pet well groomed in terms of looks and health, speak to a dog expert, your vet or professional groomer.

Diet:

Your ‘Gray Ghost’ dog has been a very successful hunting dog, and they are high-energy gun dogs. As a large dog he will have particular nutritional needs to fuel his energetic lifestyle.The dog’s high activity levels need to be taken into account when looking at his diet.

Buy the best commercially manufactured food. Add to his kibble some cooked chicken, brown rice or pasta and cooked or raw vegetables from time to time as well as bits of raw meat. Your dog will thank you for keeping his meals simple but nutritious.

Grooming

The Borador may have inherited the moderate shedder characteristics of the Border Collie or the more intense shedding of the Labrador Retriever. He will require a good brush at least twice a week to ensure you remove loose hairs so as to keep his coat shiny and healthy. Check your dogs ears too for yeast infections.

Feeding

Puppies and young Boradors are full of energy and they will require a diet that has an excellent protein content. If you’re unsure about how to feed your Borador, speak to your vet as some dogs need more calories depending on their level of activity.

Certainly if your dog has allergies, you may have to look for a special diet but otherwise a top brand commercial dog food can be a good choice if you include some home prepared food such as rice, vegetables and meat. It is important to give your dog some raw meat every now and then as well. Always have a bowl of cool, fresh water available for your pet 24/7.