About Weimaraners

Also known as "Grey Ghosts," Weimaraners are strikingly beautiful dogs with equally lovely temperaments. Although originally bred as a hunting dog, Weimaraners are intelligent enough to learn just about any task put to them. This breed needs to be active and get regular exercise or they can be unruly. Weimaraners became infamous through the photography of William Wegman, who used his own Weimaraners. They live about twelve years. This is not a good breed for people getting their very first dog.

  1. History

    • We know where the Weimaraner originated (Weimar, Germany) but we don't know when. Grey hunting dogs were described in the 1600's, but most dog historians say that breed developed in the 1800's from the hunting dog breeds available at the time. "Grey Ghosts" arrived in North America in 1929. They did not really catch the public's imagination until the success of photographer William Wegman in the 1980's.

    Function

    • Weimaraners were bred to be the best dogs to hunt large and clever game animals like elk, fox and boar. They are still used for hunting, but primarily make great pets. They also work as police dogs, therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs and artists' models.

    Size

    • Weimaraners stand about 25 to 27 inches tall at the highest point of their shoulders. They weigh an average of 75 to 85 pounds. Many in the breed are smaller or larger than average.

    Identification

    • Weimaraners are sleek, long-legged, floppy-eared hound-like dogs with strength and elegance. They have stroking ice-blue or amber-colored eyes. They come in a silvery grey coat and a slightly bluer coat. They come in two coat lengths: short and long.

    Misconceptions

    • Weimaraners naturally have long, thin tails which are docked at about a third to half of their length in the United States. Tail docking is banned in many countries in the world.