Weimaraner
A sleek silver-grey German hunting dog, intensely devoted, very energetic and not at its best when left alone.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 59–70 cm · Females 57–65 cm
- Weight
- Males 30–40 kg · Females 25–35 kg
- Life expectancy
- 11–14 years
- Exercise
- 90–150 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Smooth, Silky, short, long
- Colours
- Silver, Grey
- Bred for
- Pointing, Retrieving, Hunting by scent
- Country of origin
- Germany
- FCI
- Group 7, no. 99 · Pointing dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 5/5 – Very high |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 4/5 – High |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 2/5 – Low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with being alone | 1/5 – Very low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 2/5 – Low |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- are very active and home a lot
- want a close, loyal companion
- enjoy hunting or dog sports
Think twice if you …
- work long hours away
- have cats or small pets
- are a first-time owner wanting an easy dog
Care
Temperament
Devoted, bold and intelligent, often protective of home and family. High energy and strong prey drive. Can be pushy without clear guidance.
Exercise
Needs at least an hour and a half of hard exercise every day. Running, field work, tracking, canicross and scent sports suit it well.
Grooming
The short coat needs a quick weekly brush; the long-haired variety needs more frequent brushing of its feathering.
Training
Clever and capable but can be headstrong. Firm, fair, reward-based training and early alone-time practice are important.
Health
Bloat (gastric torsion), hip dysplasia and some immune and eye conditions are known in the breed. Ask the breeder for hip, elbow and eye results of the parents.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Weimaraner was developed in the 19th century at the court of Weimar in Germany as a versatile hunting dog, originally used on larger game and later as a pointer and retriever. For decades its breeding was tightly controlled by its German club. It exists in a short-haired and a rarer long-haired variety.
It is striking, athletic and strongly bonded to its people, and it often follows them from room to room. It needs a lot of exercise and mental work, and it can develop separation problems or become destructive if bored or alone too long.
Did you know?
Weimaraner puppies are born with light blue eyes that usually change to amber or grey-blue as they grow.