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Short History of the Breed

The Weimaraner hails from central Germany in the modern state of Thuringia. Its name derives from the major Thuringian city of Weimar, which in the 19th century was the capital of the duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, where the ancestors of the modern Weimaraner were kept at the court and by nobles from the early 1800's.

Thes dogs at the court of Weimar were largely descendended from game tracking dogs and pointing dogs. Around 1890, however, the first standard was written. Studbooks have been kept since, keeping the Weimaraner virtually free from crossbreeding. This would make the Weimaraner the oldest German pointing dog.

Physical Description & Size

The Weimaraner is a high on the leg medium to large muscular and sinewy dog of clear sporting type. The head should be moderately long, balanced and aristocratic; dogs should have wider heads than bitches. Ears should be long and lobular. The chest should be powerful, but not broad, and the underline should rise slightly. The tail should be placed slightly lower than on similar breeds, and if in a country that still allows docking, docked to circa 6 inches.

Its proportions, length of body to height at the withers, should be approximately 12:11. Dogs should measure between 59 to 70 centimeters (FCI) or 25 to 27 inches (AKC), and bitches 57 to 65 centimeters (FCI) or 23 to 25 inches (AKC). Dogs weigh about 30 to 40 kilograms (FCI) and bitches about 25 to 35 kilograms (FCI).

The only allowed colour is grey, although blue dogs do occur. Blue dogs cannot compete in conformation shows; in some countries they cannot be registered. Small white markings on the chest and toes are permitted. Dogs with a "brand" (reddish markings) are permitted but cannot become a conformation champions. Eyes should be amber in adults, but blue in puppies.

Weimaraners occur in both shorthair and longhair versions. Shorthairs should have a thin sleek coat with no or very sparse undercoat. Longhairs should have a long silky topcoat and no undercoat. The fur should be sightly wavy and longer at the ears and tail, with good feathering.

Temperament

While this beed is great in the field, it is not an outdoor dog. It attaches to the family (as opposed to an individual like a cocker spaniel or anyone who walks up to a labrador retriever) and will need to be near throughout the day. Mid level intelligence means the dog is very open to training but not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Dog Care (exercise, grooming, diet)

Typically, a Weimaraner is quite high energy and will require multiple sessions of extended playtime daily. A few short walks each day will not be sufficient.

Grooming is minimal due to the short, glossy coat. Weekly brushings and as-needed bathing is all the Weimaraner should require.

As the Weimaraner is known to become very attached to its pack, it is a poor choice for an outdoor dog or one who will be left for many hours each day. Weimaraners are prone to Separation Anxiety and may require crating or even medications if left alone. They can be very destructive if the anxiety is significant.

Because of their tendency to bloat, Weimies need closer attention than other breeds during mealtimes. They should be fed multiple meals throughout the day rather than one large meal, and these should occur no earlier than 1 hour before or after exercising.

Health Issues, Life Expectancy

Life expectancy is 10-12 years, though several owners have reported Weims living as long as 15 years. Gastric Dilitation, or "Bloat", is also common in Weimaraners and other deep-chested breeds. Preventative measures include not exercising for at least 1 hour before or 1 hour after meals and moistening kibble. A congenital disease seen in Weimaraners and other large breeds is Hip Dysplasia, in which one of both hip sockets becomes too shallow to correctly hold the head of the femur into place. Severity can range, as can treatments. See http://www.weimclubamerica.org/health/index.html for a more complete list of common health ailments in Weims.

AKC Group

Sporting

FCI Group

7 (Pointing Dogs), section 1 (Continental Pointing Dogs)

Additional Resources

• Weimaraner Online Community - DogBreed.org
• Weimaraner Rescue of North Texas
• http://www.weimclubamerica.org/
• http://www.akc.org/breeds/weimaraner/index.cfm