Wäller
Temperament:
The Wäller is a relatively young dog breed that originated in Germany. The dog is a friendly and sporty family companion, which is rather easy to lead. So far, the Wäller has not yet been recognized by the major associations. The breeding of the Wäller is controlled by the 1st German Wäller Association.
Characteristics
The Wäller is a medium-sized dog. He comes from a cross between the Briard and the Australian Shepard. The males have a height of about 55-65 cm, while the females are slightly smaller at 50 cm - 60 cm. The agile dogs usually weigh between 26 kg and 30 kg.
The dogs of the young dog breed still differ greatly in appearance. Most of the Wäller have a long and smooth coat. However, currently there are also many Wäller, which have a medium-length or shaggy coat. Some Wäller have a slight moustache. Due to the different ancestors, two types of Wäller have developed, which are distinguished by their moustache. As with coat length, coat colors vary greatly. There are Wäller in almost every color and with different markings. In Wäller breeding, the dog's character is in the foreground. That is why the appearance is second in breeding.
The Wäller is a dog with a balanced, harmonious physique. He is agile, robust and loves to move. Due to his herding dog ancestors, the Wäller is usually very people-oriented and has a high will-to-please. Your Wäller will enjoy working with you if treated lovingly and fairly. He is not easily upset and is therefore ideal as a companion dog.
Waelers are intelligent dogs that enjoy doing tasks. Most Waelers are easily motivated and enjoy physical and mental work. They need regular activity to keep them busy and happy. With plenty of exercise and thinking tasks, your Wäller will become a balanced and affectionate companion. This dog breed is very well suited for active families who enjoy being outdoors.
The young dog breed can be used well for different tasks. He is suitable for tasks where he can score with his alert nature. These include, for example, activities as a rescue dog, but also for therapy. In addition, the Wäller is a good sports companion, both for hiking, cycling and horseback riding. He is an alert dog with a slight guarding instinct. Towards strangers he is suspicious and rather reserved at first.
Another area in which Wäller do well is dog sports. The breed is perfect for sports like agility or fly-ball, where the dog scores points for agility and alertness. For dog sports, the Wäller is a good partner. Unlike many working breeds, the people-oriented Wäller is balanced and calm. Of course, a Wäller should also learn the basic commands.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
There is little to consider in the diet of the robust Wäller. In general, the healthy Wäller does not make very many demands on his diet. Nevertheless, you should of course buy a good food for your Wäller, which provides him with all the necessary nutrients.
If you practice a dog sport, you should provide him with more energy accordingly. Which type of food you give him is basically your decision. However, there are big differences, especially with ready-made foods, and you should find out about them in advance.
A normal weight dog can be fed once or twice a day. How often a dog is fed depends on the individual. Many dogs do well with eating their main ration once a day, but this varies with body size and health.
Between meals, you can give your Wäller treats during training to give him extra motivation. The treats should always be deducted from the main ration, so that your Wäller does not get too much food during the day. A healthy way to reward your dog is to give him homemade dog cookies or chopped vegetables. Most dogs will gladly take such snacks.
Beyond the dog food, many dogs are happy to have additional treats to chew. The familiar bones are only suitable for feeding to a limited extent, as many dogs find them difficult to digest if they are not used to it. Dried beef skin and comparable chews are available in various sizes at specialty stores. Most dogs will gladly accept them. Chewing is an activity that corresponds to the natural behavior of dogs.
Waelzer care
The Wäller needs response and physical exercise to be happy. A Wäller is a great companion dog if he is challenged according to his abilities. Since he loves to move, a daily walk is mandatory.
Overall, the Wäller is an easy-care dog, but this depends on its coat condition. Specimens with longer coats should be combed regularly to prevent matting. Which parts of the body need special care cannot be answered in general. The more densely individual body parts, such as the tail, are covered with hair, the more frequently it should be combed through. This removes loose hairs and prevents them from becoming tangled. Regular combing out also minimizes shedding during coat changes.
The length of the claws and the teeth of every dog should also be checked regularly. If your dog has very long claws, you should shorten them carefully. This way you can prevent the claw from breaking off. This is very painful and often bleeds a lot.
Suitable accessories
For the attitude of your Waelzer you do not need much in everyday life. Important is a well-fitting collar or harness for the daily walk. In the first time you can practice the leash leadership with a harness. For the adult dog a collar is sufficient. A 2 meter long leash, which you can adjust, is suitable for the daily walk. In addition, you can purchase a drag leash. This way you can practice the basic commands. Flexible leashes are not yet suitable for untrained dogs, because there is constant pull on the leash. Only when your dog hears reliably, you should consider the purchase of such a leash.
Many Wäller are playful and are happy about species-appropriate occupation. They gladly accept different toys, so you can try out a lot here. The docile dogs also like intelligence games. Such games are available in specialized stores in various designs. Curious dogs love to find out how they work together with their master.
Many Wäller are eager to move and bright. If you have a garden, you can build some agility stations. Small hurdles and a slalom parkour can be easily improvised. So you don't need a lot of accessories to build an exciting playground for your dog.
Origin & History
The Wäller is a new breed, which has its origin in the Westerwald. The name of the dog also refers to this geographical origin. The first Wäller were created by crossing the French Briard and the American Australia Shepard. The first dogs of this breed were born in 1994. Since then, the German Wäller Association has been established. It controls the breeding. All breeders belong to the association.
The aim of the breed is an easy to handle and robust companion dog. In the Wäller breeding Briards and Australian Shepards are crossed again and again. In this way, the gene pool is constantly expanded. Also it is prevented that related animals are mated with each other.
The German Wäller Club has set its own standards for breeding approval. This includes, for example, a character test. In addition, hereditary diseases, such as HD, are excluded by a medical examination. All Wäller breeders are hobby breeders who raise only a few litters.
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