History: The Weimaraner (WY-mah-rah-ner) is known to be of a very old breed type with early evidence dating back to the 13th century art and literature. The breed was standardized to its modern form at the court of the Grand Duke of Weimar in Germany from where it got its name. The 1800’s saw the Weimaraner developed into one of the prized continental hunting breeds that excelled in various types of game and hunting traits including tracking, searching, pointing, retrieving and indicating the location of downed large game. The Weimaraner is known as the Grey Ghost because of the distinctive color of its short, sleek coat. Bred for speed, good scenting ability, courage and intelligence, they remain excellent game hunters and active participants in many other dog sports.
Height: Males: 25-27″; Females: 23-25″ (+ or – one inch in height allowed, but not preferred).
Weight: Males: approximately 70-95 lbs; Females: approximately 50-75 lbs
Varieties:
- Short hair- Short, smooth and sleek coat (single coated). Short hairs are generally docked, with tail to be approximately 6 inches at maturity (done at 3-5 days of age).
- Long hair – Top coat is flat and smooth or slightly wavy. Length on flanks 1 – 2 in. (3 – 5 cm), slightly longer under neck and on forechest, belly, ears and tail. Moderate feathering on legs, chest and underside. Long hairs are undocked.
Colour: In shades of mouse-grey to silver-grey, usually blending to a lighter shade on the head and ears.
Skin and Coat Care:
Short Hair: Extremely low-maintenance for grooming and coat care. They do still shed (year round) but usually the heavier shedding (blowing coat) occurs twice a year (Spring and Fall).
Long Hair: Occasional bathing as required. Weekly brushing is recommended, but very minimal on time required. They may or may not have an undercoat. Shedding is similar to a short-hair.
Food: Good quality kibble with average to low protein and fat (especially important not to provide high protein to puppies). They do well on raw or home-cooked diets as well.
Housebreaking: Be very consistent, and remember that a crate is your friend.
Crate Training: Essential for this breed. They can be prone to separation anxiety and it is imperative that you teach them to be alone from the start. It is also important to know that the crate is a safe place to keep them when you are not able to supervise (being a hunting/retrieving breed, they like to put things in their mouths).
Basic Obedience: Early training essential for socialization…must be gentle methods. This breed can excel in obedience, rally, agility, hunting, retrieving, dock diving, lure coursing, tracking and other dog sports. This is a very versatile breed that can be great at pretty much any activity their owner wants to train them for.
Exercise: Daily walks, or running and playing. Fenced areas (or areas that are easily controlled) are preferable, as they are a hunting breed and can get side-tracked by their nose. They are also happy cuddling on the couch. A tired Weim is a good Weim!
Temperament: The breed has a friendly, fearless, alert and obedient temperament. They are generally extremely attached to their humans. They do alert bark, but do not tend to bark unnecessarily. They can be sensitive. They are incredibly smart, and you will have to ensure you stay ahead of them in training, so they don’t become the ruler of the home. Setting clear rules and boundaries that you can live with is essential for a happy life with a Weimaraner.