Weimaraner

Weimaraner — an elegant, high-performance pointing dog with strong drive, a fine nose, and a close bond with people. If you balance energy, prey instinct, and downtime, you’ll have a reliable partner for field work, dog sports, and active families.

Table of contents

• Origin & history
• Appearance & traits
• Temperament & behavior
• Family life & home
• Training & cues
• Health & common topics
• Grooming & coat care
• Nutrition & weight
• Exercise & enrichment
• City living & prey drive
• Puppies & the first months
• Acquisition, costs & responsibility
• Who is the Weimaraner right for?
• FAQ
• Breed profile

Origin & history

The Weimaraner was developed in Germany as an all-around hunting companion for field, forest, and water. He was bred to locate game, hold a steady point, retrieve cleanly after the shot, and work confidently in water. That purpose still shapes the breed today: stamina, steady nerves, and a strong partnership with the handler are core strengths.

Appearance & traits

This medium-to-large athlete is cleanly muscled and elegant. Signature features include silver to mouse-gray coats, amber eyes in adulthood, and long drop ears. There are short-haired and long-haired varieties. Movement is elastic and powerful, with an alert expression.

Temperament & behavior

Weimaraners are people-oriented, eager to learn, and love to work. Outdoors you’ll see hunting drive and speed; in the home, a well-exercised Weim settles and enjoys affection. Clear rules and predictable routines help him feel secure. Many are initially reserved with strangers without being rude.

Family life & home

The breed thrives in families when activity is planned: a short orientation walk with a few cues in the morning, true downtime midday, then training and exercise in the evening. With considerate kids, he is friendly; roughhousing without structure is less his style. A defined rest spot makes switching off easier.

Training & cues

Reward-based, consistent training delivers the best results. Build a solid foundation with a reliable recall, rock-solid basic cues, and calm loose-leash walking. Use targeted impulse control to channel arousal into steady work. Hunting motives translate well into legal jobs such as searching, retrieving, and calmly indicating finds.

• Keep it short, clear, and frequent: several 3–5 minute sessions beat long drills.
• Pay well, hold criteria consistently, and end exercises cleanly.
• Back up recall in open spaces with a long line at first.

Health & common topics

The Weimaraner is athletic, yet a few points deserve attention:

• Hip/elbow dysplasia: grow on joint-friendly surfaces and keep a lean physique.
• Bloat/GDV risk: serve several small meals and provide rest after eating.
• Ears: dry well after swimming or rainy walks and check regularly.
• Teeth & mouth care: routine brushing lowers tartar risk — see Brushing a dog’s teeth.

Grooming & coat care

Short coat is low-maintenance: brush weekly, more during shedding. Long-haired dogs also need a comb and de-matting on pants, ears, and tail. Keep nails, ears, and teeth on a schedule. Cold-season tips here: winter coat-care.

Nutrition & weight

Sports dogs need quality protein and energy matched to workload. Weigh daily portions, count treats, and transition food slowly. Omega-3s can support muscle recovery, skin, and coat. A lean outline protects joints and keeps performance high.

Exercise & enrichment

Weimaraners need daily work for brain and body — not just miles, but meaningful tasks.

• Everyday plan: two to three active blocks (about 90–120 minutes total) plus real rest windows.
• Sport & work: field retrieves, tracking/mantrailing, canicross, obedience, structured search and retrieve games.
• In game-rich areas, manage with a clean recall and smart leash skills.

City living & prey drive

Urban life works when you dose stimuli wisely. Choose quieter routes, practice calm leash greetings, use distance zones, and avoid rush hours. For step-by-step routines, see Living with a dog in the city.

Puppies & the first months

Introduce rest, handling, and new environments early — in small doses. Start orientation to the handler, leash skills, and recall from day one. Helpful reads: Puppy training: the first weeks and First walks with your puppy. Socialize broadly with breaks so arousal doesn’t spill over.

Acquisition, costs & responsibility

Plan time for daily training, exercise, and recovery. Budget for quality food, gear, insurance, vet care, and possibly a trainer. Choose a responsible source and check health documentation. A helpful starter is the puppy-buying checklist.

Who is the Weimaraner right for?

• Active people who enjoy training and provide clear structure
• Hunters or sport handlers with suitable jobs for the dog
• Families with considerate children and reliable routines
• Committed first-timers who have guidance and time

Less suitable if only short potty walks are possible or if prey-drive management isn’t on the table.

FAQ

Is the Weimaraner a good first dog?
With coaching and a realistic schedule, yes. For casual “Sunday strolls only,” this work-driven breed is not a match.

Do Weimaraners shed a lot?
Seasonally, yes. Regular brushing keeps hair in the home down.

How much exercise does he need?
About 90–120 minutes daily, including nose work and training. Quality beats distance.

Breed profile

Origin	Germany
Height	Males about 23.2–27.6 in, females about 22.4–25.6 in
Weight	About 55–88 lb (size and build vary)
Lifespan	About 10–13 years
Coat	Short or long; dense and weather-resistant
Colors	Silver, deer to mouse gray
Temperament	People-oriented, driven, sensitive, strong hunting instinct
Exercise	High — daily work with purposeful tasks
Grooming	Low to moderate — brush, maintain ears and teeth
Good for first-time owners?	Depends — workable with guidance and time
Notes	Pronounced prey drive, excels in nose work and sport
Price	~€1,200–2,000 (varies by source and quality)