Is a Weimaraner the Right Breed for You?
Weimaraners are known for their athletic build, sleek silver-gray coat, and striking blue or light amber eyes. They are intelligent, energetic, and loyal dogs with a strong prey drive. They require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.
Check out our About the Weimaraner Video.
The Weimaraner breed originated in Weimar, Germany
in the early 19th century. Their namesake, Duke of Weimar, was an avid sportsman who sought to create the perfect hunting dog. His vision was to cross-breed Bloodhounds with German and French hunting dogs, and to make the result a versatile dog for big game hunters.
Weimaraners are born
with beautiful dark tiger stripes, but these don’t last long. They disappear in a matter of days. They are also born with blue eyes that change to amber-grey-blue/grey.
Weimaraners are clever dogs
some people even call them “the dog with a human brain”. If you want to keep up with your hound, start training them from day one. The breed’s intelligence is high and they will outsmart you without enough mental exertion!
Weimaraners are often called
the gray ghost for two reasons. One is the color of their coat, but also because the have a very silent, stealthy hunting style.
The Long Haired Weimaraner is
a pure bred dog. They are the result of a recessive gene passed on by parents. While they are not accepted by the AKC-longhairs are accepted by many kennel clubs outside of North America. In fact-the ORIGINAL German Weimaraner Club has both a longhair and shorthair on their logo.
Weimaraners dominate many tracking contests
because they are an active dog with a keen sense of smell. The first dog to win the sport of barn hunt was a Weimaraner named Lexi.
In a Landmark Genomic Analyses of Modern
dog breeds, the Weimaraner was found to have DNA with a common ancestor of the following breeds:
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Wirehaired Pointer
Large Munsterlander
In Dog Breed Running Competitions held by the American Kennel Club
called the FastCat, the average running speed of a Weimaraner was just under 25 mph. The fastest recorded speed was 36.3 mph by a female Weimaraner named Blue Belle Scott BCAT.
The Book “The Intelligence of Dogs”
written by professor Stanley Coren is considered a landmark study on canine intelligence. The Weimaraner ranks 21st out of 130 different dog breeds in working/obedience intelligence. This means a Weimaraner will learn new commands between 5-15 repetitions. In contrast, the brightest dogs need less than 5 repetitions. The least intelligent breeds need 80-100 to learn the same commands.
Weimaraner Puppy Growing Up!
Have pictures of your dog as a puppy and an adult? We give-away free random videos of dogs growing up every month. You can enter pictures here!
The C-BARQ study of dog breed temperament
is a huge study looking at the “personality” of 350 dog breeds and over 60,000 dogs. In this research, the Weimaraner ranks 13th out of 124 dog breeds in separation anxiety. They do not like to be left alone and may exhibit anxious behaviors (loss of appetite-barking-destroying things) when left by themselves.
Weimaraner Humor!
In this same research
the Weimaraner ranks 38th out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers. This means Weimaraners are prone to respond by barking, growling, showing teeth etc. when a stranger approaches theirs or their owners territory. In extreme cases, they may snap or lunge at a stranger. In contrast, Weimaraners have a very LOW score in aggression towards their owners and other FAMILIAR dogs/animals.
While Generally a Robust and Healthy
breed, Weimaraners (like every other dog breed) are prone to certain genetic health conditions.
Some of these are:
Hip Dysplasia-as with many large breeds
Spinal Dysraphism
Wobbler Syndrome
Gastric Torsion (Bloat)
So what is a Weimaraner like?
The Weimaraner Club of America describes them as the a perpetual 2-year old-full of energy, loyal and active. They adore their humans.
Follow you around the house-yes.
Poke their heads in the shower (get in if they can)-yes.
Sleep so close to you-they almost smother you-yes.
any many, many more…
They may be one of the most loyal dogs on the planet and are truly a breed that will love you more than they love themselves!
Our Ongoing Weimaraner Temperament Survey Results
Is a Weimaraner the perfect dog your you? Do they make good watchdogs? Are they avid chewers? Check out what Weimaraner owners say in our ongoing survey.
1. 95% of Weimaraner owners say their dogs have a HIGH or ABOVE Average Energy Level-Need for Exercise.
2. 87% of Weimaraner owners rate their dogs at the Highest Level in their Need for Attention-Social Interaction.
3. 89% of Weimaraner owners rate their dogs as having/deeding a LOW or BELOW average Amount Of Shedding-Grooming.
4. 84% of Weimaraner owners rate their dogs having the highest level of Intelligence and Trainability
5. 83% of Weimaraner owners would NOT recommend a Weimaraner to first time dog owners.
Click Below to See the All of the Results and/or Take the Survey!
Check Your Weimaraner Facts and Take a Fun Weimaraner Quiz!
Facts about Weimaraners Infographic
Facts About Weimaraners-Final Thoughts
Weimaraner’s short coats make them low-maintenance in terms of grooming, and their long legs give them an elegant, athletic appearance. While they do require vigorous exercise to keep them happy and healthy, their love for outdoor activities makes it enjoyable to spend time with them. They are highly trainable dogs, so training sessions can be a fun and rewarding experience for both the owner and the dog. Weimaraner’s adapt well to family life and spending time with them is important as they do not do well when left alone for long periods. Whether you have a large backyard or live in a smaller space, as long as you provide them with enough exercise and mental stimulation, Weimaraner’s can generally adapt well to any living situation.
