Dog Breeds - Weimaraner

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The Weimaraner has a very rare coat that is silverish-gray in color.  They also have unique eyes which can be light amber, gray, or blue gray making their look even more distinct.  Their coat color has even earned them a nickname - “The Gray Ghost”. Weimaraners were bred with the intention of creating a dog with a very noble look.  Originally they were used as gundogs in Germany. In 1950 a couple of Weimaraners were shipped to the US and popularity of the breed took off.  They are extremely brave, loyal, and suspicious of strangers making them an exceptional guard dog. 

Weimaraners are prone to bloating, and therefore should be fed smaller meals several times a day rather then one large feeding.  They should also not be taken out for vigorous exercise right after they eat. They are a very athletic and powerful breed that requires a great deal of daily physical exercise to stay healthy and happy.  The short, smooth coat is quite easy to care for.  Weimaraners are average shedders that should be brushed regularly with a thick bristle brush and bathed occasionally. 

While Weimaraners are highly intelligent and easy to train, they do bore easily, so creativity must be used when training this breed. They must also be trained gently with punishment kept brief – the focus of the training should be on praise.  This breed can become very untrusting quite easily, so this is an important thing to remember during training. Weimaraners loves human companionship. They should live indoors with the family, and should not be left alone a lot as they will become restless and even destructive.  Weimaraners are known to have separation anxiety problems and must receive tons of love and attention.   Some Weimaraners also have aggression problems, but this can usually be avoided by proper training and socialization from a young age.  Although they enjoy the company of children Weimeraners are not recommended for small children as their large size and high energy can be a danger to a small child.

Weimaraner Breed Information

Breed Group

Sporting Group

Coat

Smooth and short

Color(s)

Various shades of silver/gray

Size

22-27 inches

Weight

50-70 lbs

Exercise:

Require a lot of exercise

Temperament

Intelligent, affectionate, energetic, sensitive, loyal, brave, cheerful

Trainability

Easy to train but must be trained gently as they are sensitive

Average Lifespan

10-12 years

Common Health Problems

Bloat, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, Von Willebrand’s disease, renal dyplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, distichiasis, cryptochildism, spinal dysraphism

Most 24PetWatch Clients Insure Weimaraner with:

QuickCare Gold for Dogs





As a veterinarian, we have the tools and resources to be able to provide top-notch health care for your pets. Pet insurance provides all pet owners the opportunity to ensure their pet receives this care when needed. I have Dharma, my yellow Lab, on pet insurance.

Dr. Walt Ingwersen, Veterinarian, ON