Dog Breed Guide

Weimaraner

Profile

Size

Large

Country of origin

Germany

Origin

19th century

Bred for

Hunting

Height

male 59 - 70cm (23 - 28in), female 57 - 65cm (22 - 26in)

Weight

male 30 - 40kg (66 - 88lb), female 25 - 35kg (55 - 77lb)

Life span

10 - 13 years

A sleek, large hunting dog with a short, beautiful silver-gray coat and clear eyes of gray, blue-gray or amber. Puppies are born with stripes on their bodies that fade within a few days, and their eyes are blue when they are young.

The Weimaraner is deeply devoted to its family and follows its owner everywhere. This habit has earned it the nickname "the Gray Ghost," for the silvery shadow that silently follows you around. It is smart, brave and a superb athlete.

It has energy to burn and needs a good run every day. It does not like being left alone and may get into mischief out of loneliness. Bloat is a concern.

Good to know

The breed was created in the 19th century at the court of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar in Germany, where nobles used it to hunt big game such as bear, deer and wild boar. It is named after Weimar.

The nobles wanted to keep these excellent hunting dogs to themselves. Until the late 1920s, the German breed club is said to have sterilized any dog it gave to a non-member so that it could not be bred. Only in 1929 was an American fancier admitted to the club and allowed to bring two dogs back to the United States.

The American photographer William Wegman is famous worldwide for his humorous photos and videos of his Weimaraners dressed in clothes and posed like people. His work has even appeared on the children's TV show Sesame Street.