Weimaraner: Your Complete Guide

If you’re looking for a high-energy breed that’s incredibly loving and loyal, then you should get to know the Weimaraner. This breed is part of the sporting group and is well-known for its gorgeous silvery hue, pretty pale eyes, and cute floppy ears.

Weimaraners are great dogs, but they aren’t the best choice for everyone. Today, we’ll be sharing everything you could ever want to know about this breed so that you can decide if it’s the right fit for your family. We will cover this breed’s history, temperament, grooming needs, intelligence, health risks, and much much more.

Quick Look at the Weimaraner

The chart below provides a quick overview of the Weimaraner so you can get a sense of whether or not this breed is for you.

What Is the History of Weimaraners?

The Weimaraner was developed in Germany in the early 1800s by a German noble, the Grand Duke Karl August. Duke Karl resided in Weimar, which is how the breed got its name. As was common for nobles in this time period, the duke was a sportsman and thus he wanted to create a hunting breed.

The Weimaraner is believed to have been created by crossing bloodhounds with various French and German hunting dogs. Initially, the Weimaraner was used to hunt large game like bears, wolves, and mountain lions.

However, once the population of those animals decreased, the Weimaraner became a bird dog used to point and retrieve fowl. This breed wasn’t introduced to the United States until the 1920s. However, it found popularity in the 1950s and was owned by famous figures such as President Eisenhower and actress Grace Kelly.

Today’s Weimaraners are still a favorite choice for hunters who want a versatile dog that can point and retrieve game.

What Do Weimaraners Look Like?

Weimaraners come in three standard colors: blue, gray, and silver gray. Their bodies are one solid color with no markings. These silvery colors paired with their sleek coats and pale eyes give Weimaraners a very recognizable look.

Their eyes may be a striking shade of blue at birth but usually become pale amber, gray, or a blue-gray color once they have matured. Their noses tend to be a dark gray shade but can also be pink, and their lips and eye rims are a pink tone, too.

The Weimaraner has big V-shaped ears that are set high on the head. Usually, this breed’s tail is docked to approximately six inches.

What Size Is a Weimaraner?

Weimaraners are considered to be a large breed. Females weigh between 55 and 75 pounds and are 23 to 25 inches tall. Males tend to be bigger, weighing between 70 and 90 pounds and standing between 25 and 27 inches tall.

What Is a Weimaraner’s Coat Type and Length?

Weimaraners’ coats are made up of short, smooth fur that lies flat against the body. This breed is not double-coated and their coats are easy to maintain.

What Is a Weimaraner’s Temperament?

Weimaraners are incredibly loyal and affectionate with their families. They’re great with kids, but may not always get along with other animals due to their strong prey drive. Sometimes, Weimaraners are too smart for their own good.

Are Weimaraners Good With Kids?

Most Weimaraners love children and are very tolerant of them. Since this breed has a lot of energy, they’ll love having kids to play with. These dogs are on the larger side as well, so they can handle having a child use them for balance.

The only caveat is that some Weimaraners forget just how big they are and can knock children down on accident, which usually happens if the dog gets too excited. Parents should always be supervising their children’s interactions with dogs – even the family pet.

It’s important to teach children to interact with dogs in a manner that is gentle, loving, and respectful of the dog’s boundaries (because even dogs don’t always like being bothered!).

Are Weimaraners Good With Other Animals?

Because Weimaraners are born hunters, they may not do well with other animals, especially small pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, birds, or other prey animals. With enough socialization and training, it is possible for Weimaraners to get along with cats.

If you want to have a small animal along with a Weimaraner, be sure to always supervise their interactions and be sure to have a space for the small animal that the dog can’t get to. As for other dogs, Weimaraners tend to get along with them just fine but may be indifferent or standoffish as this breed is more interested in people than dogs.

Are Weimaraners Aggressive?

Weimaraners are not inherently aggressive. However, any dog can become aggressive if they are mistreated or never received proper socialization. Health issues are another factor that may cause aggression.

Most of the time, aggression can be trained out of the dog. Most aggression has a cause and training can help to find both the problem and the solution.

Do Weimaraners Bark?

Weimaraners tend to be moderate barkers, but they do have a loud, booming bark. They are likely to bark when a car pulls into the driveway, they see someone in the road, or when the doorbell rings – they mostly bark to alert.

Some Weimaraners struggle with separation anxiety, and these dogs may bark a lot more. Because they have such a loud bark, we wouldn’t recommend Weimaraners to anyone living in apartments with noise restrictions.

Are Weimaraners Affectionate?

Weimaraners are an incredibly affectionate breed. They are often described as “clingy” or “velcro dogs” because they love their humans so much and always want to be around them. In fact, this breed may struggle with separation anxiety because of how clingy they are.

Despite their large size, Weimaraners believe they are lap dogs and they tend to be cuddly. They are truly very loving and loyal. This affection is mostly reserved for their families.

They are friendly with strangers, but not always in the way that golden retrievers are. That is to say, they’ll get along with strangers just fine, but they are usually more interested in their family members.

Are Weimaraners Intelligent?

Weimaraners are pretty smart dogs, which is both good and bad. On the bright side, they’re quick and capable learners. On the not-so-bright side, they’re able to figure out things that you might not want them to figure out.

For example, we’ve heard of Weimaraners who were able to get out of locked cages! Perhaps it’s because of their hunting instincts, but they can be rather curious and that can sometimes get them into trouble as they may proceed to chew up whatever it is they’ve found. Of course, training (and sometimes age) can help reduce unwanted behaviors.

Are Weimaraners Energetic?

Weimaraners are an intensely high-energy breed. They need at least two hours of exercise per day, and simply letting them out in the backyard will not cut it. They need more variety than the same old boring backyard. Ideally, they should have the opportunity to run.

Some good ways to exercise Weimaraners include games of fetch and frisbee. Walks allow them to explore and sniff places beyond their own yards.

Biking with your Weimaraner can be a great choice as it gives them the opportunity to run miles. Just make sure to get the appropriate equipment so that you can bike safely, and speak with your veterinarian to ensure your dog is in good condition for this type of exercise.

Use a nice harness for the Weimaraner that will not chafe and never hold the leash in your hand. Instead, use a bike attachment like the WalkyDog or Bike Tow Leash if you want the dog to run alongside your bike. You can also look into bikejoring, where your dog will run in front of the bike.

Aside from physical exercise, Weimaraners need mental stimulation. Everyone says “A tired dog is a good dog,” but in our experience, even after hours of exercise (excepting a long day in the hunting field), some dogs are still mischievous or downright naughty. This is because they need mental stimulation.

You can provide this mental exercise through training sessions, puzzle toys and Kongs, and various games such as hide and seek or hiding treats around the house for your dog to seek out.

Are Weimaraners Easy to Train?

Weimaraners are quick learners who are capable of learning complex skills, but they can be challenging at times. It’s very important that training is rewarding for this breed, or they won’t be motivated to learn. They’re a bit independent in this way – they want to do what they want to do, and you have to keep training engaging or they won’t be interested.

If you’ve ever wanted to participate in dog sports, the Weimaraner is a capable partner. They have a ton of energy and are more agile than you’d expect. Many Weimaraners enjoy agility, but they can also excel at obedience, field trials, tracking, rally, and dock diving.

Weimaraners may struggle with separation anxiety, so you should make an effort to teach them, from puppyhood, that being left alone is a positive experience.

Practice going outside for short periods of time where your pup can’t see you, and leave them with a safe, yummy chew that they’re not likely to choke on, like a Kong. It’s good to be proactive about separation anxiety with this breed since they are very clingy and somewhat prone to this issue.

Are Weimaraners Good Watchdogs?

Though not all Weimaraners are protective, many of them are. They’re a very loyal breed that is clingy with their families, and many will bark if they perceive someone or something to be a threat. Though they’re not known to be aggressive and are not likely to attack, their size is often imposing enough to make people think twice.

This breed is also likely to bark at cars or people who enter your yard, as well as at anyone waiting at your door. You can feel a little safer knowing that your Weimaraner will warn you if they hear or see anyone on your property.

Are Weimaraners Good Service Dogs?

Any breed of dog could become a service dog as it is the individual’s temperament that matters the most. Weimaraners do have some good qualities for service work – they’re intelligent, strong, and they like having a job to do.

However, they can be somewhat difficult to train and they have a strong prey drive. Not every Weimaraner will be right for service work, but some will certainly have the focus and drive that it takes to become any kind of service dog – this includes psychiatric service dogs.

Though not all Weimaraners are meant for service work, these dogs would be incredible emotional support animals for anyone who wants a pet that is loyal and cuddly. Weimaraners love being around their owners and can even be clingy. This breed won’t let you be lonely and will always be there for you.

When it comes to therapy work, Weimaraners could be a good choice. They tend to be friendly toward other people and are good with kids. Again, it’s just a matter of working through the training so that they can greet people calmly.

How to Care for a Weimaraner?

The Weimaraner’s coat is short and easy to care for; instead, it’s their nails that will be the most work. Their nails will need to be trimmed at least every two weeks. Otherwise, be sure to brush their teeth daily and check their ears for infection.

Do You Need to Groom a Weimaraner?

Weimaraners have a short coat that is very easy to care for. It is not going to get tangled or matted, so you really only need to brush this breed about once per month. However, we would still recommend brushing weekly just to remove any dead fur and reduce the hair around your house.

The difficulty in caring for a Weimaraner has to do with their nails. Many owners complain that this breed has very hard nails that are difficult to cut and grow quickly. Not only that, but if the nails aren’t cut often enough, the quick inside grows too long and it’s very difficult to get the nails back down to a reasonable and comfortable length.

You should not be able to hear a Weimaraner’s nails clicking on a hard floor; if you can, they are too long. You’ll want to clip this breed’s nails at least biweekly.

Many Weimaraner owners prefer to use nail grinders because the nails are so hard and difficult to trim. Though you do not need a professional groomer to take care of your dog’s nails, some owners are squeamish about cutting nails and prefer to pay someone else to do it.

Aside from the upkeep with the nails, you’ll want to brush your Weimaraner’s teeth daily and check their ears for infection. It’s a good idea to clean their ears at least once a month, as well as after baths. If your Weimaraner tends to have build-up, then clean the ears more frequently.

Do Weimaraners Shed?

Weimaraners are moderate shedders that shed all year round. You will find some fur around your home, but it won’t be as excessive as other breeds such as Labradors. The Weimaraner is not hypoallergenic, but no breed is. Hypoallergenic dogs are nothing more than a myth.

So far, there is no correlation between a dog’s breed and how many allergens they release into the home. In fact, one study even found that Labrador retrievers emitted fewer allergens than poodles despite the fact that poodles are commonly touted as one of the best “hypoallergenic” breeds.

If you want to adopt a Weimaraner but you have allergies, talk to your doctor about managing your symptoms. There are also various methods you can employ to reduce the amount of allergens floating around your home. Use damp clothes and statically charged products like Swiffers to clean, and bathe your dog frequently.

What Health Problems Do Weimaraners Have?

Health risks for the Weimaraner include hip and elbow dysplasia, hyperuricosuria (HUU), hypomyelination (HYM), spinal dysraphism (SD), von Willebrand’s disease, hypertrophic osteodystrophy, entropion, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and gastric dilatation volvulus (bloat).

Though all of these health risks are concerning, bloat is a life-threatening emergency that can kill your dog in just hours. Bloat occurs when the stomach fills with gas and twists shut. Signs of bloat include unsuccessful attempts to vomit or belch, dry heaving, restlessness, weakness, pale gums, heavy breathing, swollen abdomen, excessive drooling, shortness of breath, and collapse.

A dog that collapses from bloat is in critical condition and must be rushed to the nearest emergency clinic. Some steps you can take to reduce the risk of bloat include avoiding raised feeders, using a slow feed bowl, feeding more than one meal per day, and adding canned food to your dog’s diet.

Dogs with a family history of bloat are at higher risk. It’s important to adopt from a reputable breeder who has health tested their breeding stock. This ensures parent dogs won’t pass on hereditary diseases to their puppies. Reputable breeders will be willing to share the results of health tests with you.

How Long Do Weimaraners Live?

Weimaraners live for about 10 to 14 years.

What Should a Weimaraner Eat?

Weimaraners should eat the highest quality dog food you have access to. The best dog foods meet AAFCO guidelines, are formulated by veterinary nutritionists, and undergo feeding trials. Make sure to choose a food that suits your dog’s life stage (puppy, adult, or senior).

To determine how much to feed a Weimaraner, you can follow the guidelines provided by your preferred dog food. Otherwise, you have the option to calculate your dog’s caloric needs yourself. There are also online calculators to help with this.

Is a Weimaraner the Right Dog for Me?

Weimaraners are gorgeous dogs, but they aren’t for everyone. This breed is incredibly high-energy and needs at least two hours of exercise per day.

Pair that with their high intelligence, and they can be an absolute handful. Weimaraners can be a bit stubborn when it comes to training and are somewhat prone to separation anxiety, so we wouldn’t recommend them to first-time owners.

This is a breed that absolutely should not be left at home for eight hours a day while their owners are away at work. Instead, we would recommend this breed to someone who works from home or who has the income to send their pup to a doggy daycare or hire a sitter.

This breed gets along well with children and could be a good choice for active families. Similarly, someone who loves hiking, biking, and exercise in general and wants a dog to join them could be a good fit for this breed.

Finally, if you’re looking for a pointing dog with endless energy that can spend long hours in the field hunting upland game, the Weimaraner is an amazing choice. They do great work in the field but will come home and cuddle up next to you and nap for the rest of the evening.