Weimaraner
Also known as: Weim, Grey Ghost, Weimaraner Vorstehhund
The grey ghost — an athletic gundog that cannot bear to be left alone.
- Intense
- Affectionate
- Energetic
- Intelligent
- Clingy
The Weimaraner was developed in 19th-century Germany as an all-purpose hunting dog for nobility, expected to track, point and retrieve. Modern Weimaraners are athletic, striking and profoundly attached to their people — the breed nickname velcro dog is entirely earned. They need serious exercise and serious company, and separation anxiety is the reason a great many end up in rescue.
At a glance
- Origin
- Germany
- Breed group
- Gundog
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 55–88 lb (25–40 kg)
- Height
- 22.8–27.6 in (58–70 cm)
- Lifespan
- 10–13 years
- Coat
- Short, smooth, sleek
- Colours
- Silver Grey, Mouse Grey, Blue Grey
- Average cost
- $100–$115 / month
Breed ratings
Rated 1–5 on the same scale as every other entry, so scores are comparable between breeds. Amber stars mark things that cost you effort rather than things that benefit you.
Temperament
Weimaraners are extraordinarily attached to their people and genuinely struggle with solitude. They are affectionate, physical and often pushy about contact — leaning, following and inserting themselves into everything the household does.
Care & upkeep
Exercise
Two hours daily including genuine running, not lead walking. Under-exercised Weimaraners become destructive quickly. Keep impact light until 18 months.
Grooming
A weekly rubber mitt is all the coat needs. The thin coat exposes the skin — check for cuts, ticks and lumps after work in rough cover.
Training
Quick and biddable, with a long adolescence that lasts two years or more. The real training project is independence and settled alone-time rather than obedience, which comes easily.
Feeding & diet
- Typical diet
- High-protein working-dog diet
- Daily amount
- 700–1,100 g of dry food
- Meals per day
- 2 meals a day
A lean athletic breed with real bloat risk. Feed twice daily with rest either side of exercise, and expect a working dog in season to need considerably more than the same dog in summer.
Foods to avoid
- Chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Onion and garlic
- Xylitol
- Large meals around exercise
Who this breed suits
A good match for
- Very active owners
- Runners and hikers
- Homes with someone present most of the day
- Rural properties
Probably not for
- Owners out all day
- Apartments
- First-time owners
- Sedentary households
Common health problems
This section describes conditions the breed is known to be predisposed to, so you know what to ask about. It is not veterinary advice and is not a diagnosis — always speak to a vet about your own animal.
- Bloat (GDV)A deep-chested breed at high risk. Rest around meals, learn the signs, and discuss preventive gastropexy with your vet.
- Hip dysplasiaScreened by responsible breeders.
- von Willebrand diseaseA DNA-testable bleeding disorder that matters before any surgery.
- HypothyroidismSeen in the breed; easily managed once diagnosed.
- EntropionInward-rolling eyelids causing irritation, sometimes needing surgical correction.
Separation anxiety is close to endemic in this breed and is the single most common reason Weimaraners are rehomed. Build alone-time deliberately from the first week home.
Interesting facts
- Bred for the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar as an all-purpose noble hunting dog.
- Puppies are born with faint stripes that fade within days.
- The eyes are amber or blue-grey rather than brown, which contributes to the ghostly look.
Diet & Feeding
Weimaraners need 700–1,100 g of a quality high-protein food daily across two meals, with rest for an hour either side — this is a deep-chested breed with substantial bloat risk, and many owners discuss preventive gastropexy at neutering. Lean condition is easy to assess on a short-coated athlete: ribs visible in outline when moving. Working dogs in season need considerably more food than the same dog in summer.
Exercise Needs
Two hours daily is a floor, not a target, and it must include real running rather than lead walking. Weimaraners excel at canicross, gundog work, agility and long hikes, and an under-exercised one becomes destructive in ways that are expensive. Keep hard impact light until growth plates close around 18 months. The coat is thin — they feel the cold badly, and a coat in winter is practical rather than indulgent.
Grooming
The easiest part of owning this breed: a weekly rubber mitt removes the loose hair, and there is no undercoat to manage. Bathe every 6–8 weeks. Because the coat is so thin, the skin is more exposed than in most breeds — check for lumps, ticks and cuts while grooming, particularly after work in rough cover. Ears are pendulous and need weekly checks, and nails need trimming every three weeks.
Health & Vet Care
The main concerns are bloat (GDV) — the most urgent — plus hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, von Willebrand disease and entropion. Weimaraners are also reported to have vaccine sensitivity in some lines, so discuss protocols with your vet. Buy from breeders who hip score and DNA test. Learn the signs of bloat properly: unproductive retching, a hard distended abdomen and restlessness are a same-hour emergency.
Training Tips
Weimaraners are intelligent, biddable and intense — they learn quickly and need that brain occupied. The defining challenge is separation anxiety, which is close to endemic in the breed. Build alone-time deliberately from the first week, in seconds and then minutes, rather than discovering the problem at six months. Crate training helps many. They mature slowly and remain adolescent for two years or more; consistency over that period is what produces a manageable adult.
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