Weimaraner: Dog Breed Characteristics & Care

The Weimaraner is a beautiful and athletic dog breed from Germany with a steel gray coat. They're known for their oversized floppy ears and soulful eyes, usually in a shade of blue, that resemble the features of a bloodhound. Originally bred to be a sportsman's companion for hunting deer, bears, and wolves, the Weimaraner—sometimes known as Weim or the "gray ghost"—is a versatile dog breed that is happy on the hunt but loves to be a big part of your home and family life.

Learn more about the Weimaraner’s history, care needs, and characteristics.

Characteristics of the Weimaraner

Weimaraners are large dogs, and males are slightly bigger than females. They are very affectionate and often referred to as “Velcro dogs” because they prefer being around their family. Therefore, these aren’t good kennel dogs.

These dogs are known to have a wily wit. They’re incredibly intelligent and know how to use their brainpower to get what they want. Weimaraners have been known to open doors, unlatch gates, turn faucets on, and more. Owners must be prepared to stay one step ahead of this smart dog breed and provide opportunities for both physical and mental exertion. It’s often been said that a tired dog is a good dog, and this is particularly true for the Weimaraner!

History of the Weimaraner

While many sporting dogs trace their heritage back several hundred years, the Weimaraner is a more recent addition. The breed originated in Germany sometime in the 1800s. Nobility in Weir, Germany set out to create the "ultimate" sporting dog and relied on both French and German sporting dogs, such as the German shorthaired pointer, to create the silvery Weimaraner. Bloodhounds also may have been used to breed Weimaraners for additional capabilities to track and hunt large game, including bears and wolves.

Over time, the Weimaraner became widely known as a general gun dog, adept at pointing and retrieving game birds. In 1897, the breed was officially recognized and the German Weimaraner Club was formed. The Weimaraner was highly prized by the Germans and highly sought after by Bavarian sportsmen. The first breeding Weimaraners were imported into the United States in 1938 and the breed gained AKC recognition in 1943. Even President Dwight D. Eisenhower had a Weimaraner named Heidi.

Weimaraners rank within the top 50 most popular breeds of the AKC. Many people may recognize the breed from the work of modern photographer William Wegman. In the 1970s, Wegman captured his pet Weimaraners dressed and behaving like humans. The photography played a large role in bringing awareness to the breed.

Weimaraner Care

Well-built and solid, these dogs epitomize grace, strength, and speed. A deep chest and long legs make it clear that the Weimaraner is born to run. If you can provide enough exercise, these dogs are otherwise relatively easy to live with, known for being loyal, trainable, and relatively healthy.

It can be challenging to meet the needs of a dog with such a varied personality. Also, to utilize a Weimaraner's natural strengths, ample exercise is required. And these dogs need a warm, nurturing environment where their sweet personality can flourish.

Exercise

This is a high-energy breed. Most owners will find that a solid hour or more of daily exercise is necessary for their Weimaraner. Exercise will allow them to release their physical energy and will also help prevent boredom and the destructive behaviors, like chewing and digging, that can occur as a result.  

Of course, they make a lovely walking partner, but you really should plan to give your Weimaraner time and space to run, so this dog also makes an ideal running partner. You can even incorporate some sprinting sessions in your fenced backyard or at the dog park—a fenced yard will prevent these energetic dogs from escaping, chasing other animals, and roaming.  

In addition to running and walking, this dog breed excels in canine agility, fly ball, dock diving, and other dynamic canine sports. This makes them a great choice for active families.

Grooming

Grooming a Weimaraner is about as easy as it gets. The sleek, low-maintenance short coat will benefit from an occasional brushing with a rubbery dog brush to remove loose hair.

Once in a while, or when your pooch is a little stinky, you might also consider a dog bath. However, the Weimaraner’s coat is relatively maintenance-free. Just be sure to clean the ears, which can be prone to wax build-up, and keep the nails trimmed and teeth brushed.

Training

It’s important to properly train your Weimaraner, as this is a hunting dog with a desire to catch small animals, such as cats, small dogs, and wildlife like squirrels. Use positive reinforcement training tactics and be consistent. This breed’s intelligence means that your dog can also become stubborn and resistant without clear pack leadership.

Some Weimaraners are avid chewers and will get mouthy with just about any object. Teach your dog from an early age what is acceptable to chew on and what is not. Make sure that you provide safe options for chewing behavior to save your shoes and also minimize the chance of your dog swallowing a foreign object. 

Common Health Problems

Weimaraners are relatively hearty and healthy. These dogs don’t have an overly long list of health concerns, but it's still wise to look for a quality breeder that emphasizes health and temperament. The National Club for the breed recommends that you look for a breeder who can provide health testing for the thyroid, eyes, and hips for parents of the litter.

Other occasional health problems for this dog breed include:

• Hypothyroidism: This manageable condition means the dog can't produce enough thyroid hormones to remain healthy without lifetime medication. Symptoms include weight gain, lethargy, dull hair coat, thin coat, and recurrent ear and skin infections.
• Hip Dysplasia: This problem affects the stability and function of the dog's hip joint. Symptoms include unusual gait, limping, muscle loss in the back legs, and pain.
• Elbow Dysplasia: With this condition, the dog has skeletal growth abnormalities in one or both elbows. Symptoms include pain, swollen elbows, holding the elbows at an odd angle, and lameness.  
• Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus: Also known as bloat, when this occurs, the dog's stomach expands with gas, fluid, or food and then rotates in the abdomen. Symptoms include a bloated abdomen, restlessness, hypersalivation, and lethargy. Collapse and death can also occur.
• Von Willebrand Disease: The condition means the dog's blood cannot correctly clot. Symptoms include prolonged bleeding, excessive bruising, and excessive bleeding during teething in puppies.
• Weimaraner immunodeficiency syndrome: This is an inherited disease that results in chronic, recurrent inflammation. It can affect various parts of the body, such as the gut, skin, lungs, joints, and eyes. 
• Eye problems: Conditions like cataracts (the lens of the eye becomes cloudy), entropion (the eyelid rolls inward), and conjunctivitis (inflammation of the tissue that lines the eyelid, also known as pink eye) can affect Weimaraners.
• Cardiac issues: Like other dog breeds, Weimaraners might be born with a heart condition or develop one later in life. It’s important to have your dog examined by a veterinarian regularly to look for signs of heart disease.
• Distichiasis: This is a condition that can impact one or both eyes. Eyelashes grow from the wrong place, causing irritation to the eyes and affecting vision.

Diet and Nutrition

An active breed like the Weimaraner should be fed a quality high-protein diet, and depending on your dog’s size, activity level, and age, they might need to eat up to 4 cups of food per day, split into at least two meals.

Remember, this breed is subject to bloat. Some owners find that feeding several smaller meals a day is beneficial for reducing this risk of gastric torsion. You might also choose to feed from elevated food bowls or slow-feeder dishes.

Keep in mind, too, that the Weimaraner has a way of convincing you to do their bidding. These dogs love a treat, but keep a close eye on their diet to ensure they don’t become obese. It’s best to only give treats in moderation, and never share food from your plate to prevent begging behavior or table surfing. 

Where to Adopt or Buy a Weimaraner

If you choose to work with a breeder, expect to pay an average of $700 for a the popular Weimaraner puppy.

The Weimaraner is a popular dog breed with a devoted community of breeders, owners, and enthusiasts. However, this unique canine isn’t right for the lifestyle of all owners. As a result, some Weimaraners wind up in rescues. If you’re looking for a Weimaraner, start your search by checking local or regional rescue groups for dogs in need of a second chance. The national breed club or regional breed clubs may also have links to rescue groups.

In addition, these clubs can also be a good place to start your search for a breeder.

• Weimaraner Club of America Rescue
• Weimaraner Rescue Directory
• Weimaraner Club of America Breeder Listing
• American Kennel Club Breeder Listing

Weimaraner Overview

There are a lot of reasons why so many people love Weimaraners. They make loyal companions, are active and athletic, and are easy when it comes to grooming. However, they have a strong prey drive, require lots of exercise, and need a lot of your attention to avoid problem behaviors.

Pros of Weimaraners

• Adept at hunting and canine sports
• Excellent family dog
• Low-maintenance coat
  

Cons of Weimaraners

• Prone to mischief
• May suffer from separation anxiety
• Can be destructive chewers
  

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More Dog Breeds and Further Research

Has the Weimaraner won your heart? This striking dog breed is hard to ignore. Just be sure that you do your research before committing your home and heart to a Weir. If you love the Weimaraner, check out these other unique and high-energy dog breeds:

• Pointer
• Blue Lacy
• Dalmation

There’s a whole world of potential dog breeds out there—with a little research, you can find the right one to bring home!