Weimaraner

The Weimaraner is a big, bold dog. They are smart and their busy minds thrive on activity. They are strong and determined, needing time, space, and attention. If you want the challenges of keeping ahead of the fearless "gray ghost", and your daily activities can include your dog, you may be suited to the Weimaraner. He loves kids and is used to being a member of a family.

Weimaraner breed facts

The Weimaraner dates back to the early 19th century in Germany.

The Weimaraner has seen more actual competition of various types in the United States than it did in all its decades in Germany.

Information you should know before owning a Weimaraner

Weimaraners need lots of exercise; they do not make great city apartment dwellers unless their exercise needs can be adhered to.

Weimaraners are very dominant dogs and should be put through obedience training. You must be able to control your Weimaraner or he will control you.

Weimaraners do make a great family dog; they love children and are good guardians and watch dogs

As history is reckoned, the Weimaraner is a young dog, dating back only to the early 19th century. The Bloodhound is believed to be among its ancestors, if not in direct line of descent, then certainly in a collateral way. The Weimaraner that we know today is the product of selective German breeding, and it came from the same general stock which has produced a number of Germany’s hunting breeds, including the GSP. In fact, in its early days, the Weimaraner was known simply as the Weimer Pointer, its name deriving from the court by whom the breed was sponsored.

Throughout its early career, the distinctively gray Weim was propogated by nobles in the court of Weimar who sought to meld into one breed all the qualities they had found worthwhile in their forays against the then abundant game of Germany. In short, they sought speed, good scenting ability, courage, and intelligence. Formerly, the Weimaraner was a big-game dog used on wolves, wildcats, deer, etc. By the time these became rarities in Germany, the breed was supported by a club originally started by a few fanciers. It was extremely hard to obtain a Weimaraner at this point, since one had to be become a member of the club prior to purchase of the dog in a strict attempt to keep breeding and lines pure. However, when the American Howard Knight became a member and imported two specimens to the US, he helped found the club in this country and served as its first president in 1929. Meanwhile, the Weim grew to become a bird-dog rather than a big-game dog due to shifting priorities and rarity of big game, leading to its use as a personal hunting dog. The AKC granted recognition to the breed in 1943, and curiously enough, the Weim has seen more actual competition of various kinds in America than it ever saw in Germany.

Is this a vulnerable breed? Yes, No	No
What size is this dog? Small, Medium, Large	Large
How much excercise is required? 30 mins a day, 1 hour a day, Over 2 hours a day	Over 2 hours a day
How long is this dog's coat? Short, Medium, Long	Short
How much grooming is required? Once a week, More than once a week, Every day	Once a week
Does this dog shed? Does shed, Does not shed	Does shed
What area is this dog best suited to? Town, Country, Either	Either
What size house is required for this breed? Flat/Apartment, Small House, Large House	Small House
What size of garden is required? Small Garden, Large Garden, No Garden	Large garden

	General Appearance Medium-sized, grey with light eyes. Presents a picture of power, stamina and balance.
	Characteristics Hunting ability of paramount concern.
	Temperament Fearless, friendly, protective, obedient and alert.
	Eyes Medium-sized, round. Shades of amber or blue-grey. Placed far enough apart to indicate good disposition, not too protruding or deeply set. Expression keen, kind and intelligent.
	Mouth Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Lips and gums of pinkish, flesh colour. Complete dentition highly desirable.
	Neck Clean-cut and moderately long.
	Forequarters Forelegs straight and strong. Measurement from elbow to ground equal to distance from elbow to top of withers.
	Body Length of body from highest point of withers to root of tail should equal the measurement from the highest point of withers to ground. Topline level, with slightly sloping croup. Chest well developed, deep. Shoulders well laid. Ribs well sprung, ribcage extending well back. Abdomen firmly held, moderately tucked-up flank. Brisket should drop to elbow.
	Hindquarters Moderately angulated, with well turned stifle. Hocks well let down, turned neither in nor out. Musculation well developed.
	Feet Firm, compact. Toes well arched, pads close, thick. Nails short, grey or amber in colour. Dew claws customarily removed.
	Tail Customarily docked. Docked: Customarily docked so that remaining tail covers scrotum in dogs and vulva in bitches. Thickness of tail in proportion to body. Should be carried in a manner expressing confidence and sound temperament. In long-haired, tip of tail may be removed. Undocked: Moderately set, thickness in proportion to body. Reaching down to hocks and tapering towards the tip. Carried below level of back when relaxed; may be raised when animated. Not curled over back. Good hair cover.
	Gait / Movement Medium-sized, grey with light eyes. Presents a picture of power, stamina and balance.
	Coat Short, smooth and sleek. In long-haired variety, coat from 2.5-5 cms (1-2 ins) long on body, somewhat longer on neck, chest and belly. Tail and back of limbs, feathered.
	Colour Preferably silver grey, shades of mouse or roe grey permissible; blending to lighter shade on head and ears. Dark eel stripe frequently occurs along back. Whole coat gives an appearance of metallic sheen. Small white mark permissible on chest. White spots resulting from injuries not penalised.
	Size Height at withers: dogs: 61-69 cms (24-27 ins); bitches: 56-64 cms (22-25 ins).