Weimaraner – Breed Guide

The Weimaraner comes from Germany and belongs to the group of pointing dogs. With its stately size, silvery gray coat, and amber eyes, it is a particularly eye-catching dog. The Weimaraner is a working dog and is bred primarily for hunting. The Weimaraner is becoming more and more popular as a companion dog, but it needs a demanding task, lots of activity, and consistent training, otherwise, problems are inevitable.

The dog breed was also made famous by the American photographer William Wegman. It works with Weimaraners, which he photographs in suits and costumes or surrealistic poses.

Origin and history

The Weimaraner is a descendant of the Thuringian hunting dog bred around 1800. From about 1890, the dog breed was bred purely and recorded in the studbook. The Weimaraner most closely embodies the typical German pointer. It is also bred in a less common long-haired version.

Appearance

The Weimaraner is a conspicuous dog that is up to 70 cm tall and is still mainly used for hunting, more rarely as a pure companion dog. The silvery-grey coat and the light to dark amber-colored eyes, which are completely light blue when they are puppies, are unusual and characteristic. The ears are broad and quite long, reaching about the corner of the mouth. The Weimaraner is bred in variants:

Shorthair: medium-short, strong, very thick, and straight hair, with little or no undercoat.
Longhair: Soft, straight, or slightly wavy, long hair with or without an undercoat.

Nature

The Weimaraner is a spirited, affectionate, sometimes a bit impetuous hunting dog. When hunting, it is used for all work after the shot: from tracking to retrieving. It loves water and is a reliable “owner”.

Due to its unusual, aristocratic appearance, the Weimaraner is becoming increasingly popular as a Belgeit dog. However, he needs a very consistent education and a demanding, sporting activity. Otherwise, it is underutilized and problem behavior is inevitable.

The passionate hunting dog should ideally be kept in the hands of a hunter, where it has the opportunity to live out its desires to the fullest. Without this possibility, he is not an easy dog, certainly not for beginners or couch potatoes. Its hunting instinct, its urge to move, and its natural protective instinct are strong: inexperienced dog owners can quickly be overwhelmed by the silver-grey tracker.