The Weimaraner: an owner's guide

The Weimaraner is a German hunting dog that lives for its people: grey, athletic and clever, it needs company, training and real work to be happy.

Written by

James

Updated

11 October 2026

A Weimaraner is a versatile German gundog bred to hunt all day beside one person, and that history explains almost everything about living with one today. Expect a big, fast, clever dog that wants to be wherever you are, needs exercise you share and training you keep up, and repays it with a very close bond. This guide covers where the breed came from, what it looks like, how it behaves and how to find one well. The rest of the breed hub goes deeper on each topic.

Where does the Weimaraner come from?

The short version every breed book repeats is that the Weimaraner appeared at the court of Grand Duke Karl August in Weimar, Germany, in the early nineteenth century, and that the court kept it for a small circle of hunters. The Royal Kennel Club tells it this way, adding that the nobility set up a club with strict control of breeding and ownership (Source: Royal Kennel Club breed information).

Treat that story as tradition rather than settled history. A Weimaraner Club of America (WCA) Gazette column, "Finding Our Roots", points out that books about hunting dogs published during Karl August's lifetime do not mention the Weimaraner at all, and that the theories about its ancestors are "murky" (Source: WCA, Finding Our Roots). The breeds most often named include the Bloodhound-type "leithund", the red Schweisshund, the St Hubert hound and the grey "Chien Gris" of medieval France, but no written record settles it.

The FCI standard, which is the official standard in Germany and the basis of the Australian one, is careful in the same way. It says only this is certain: the breed was already kept at the Weimar court in the first third of the nineteenth century, was bred mainly by professional hunters and gamekeepers in Thuringia, and was bred to a plan and entered in a stud book from about 1890 (Source: FCI Standard 99). The FCI calls it likely to be the oldest German pointing breed that has been pure-bred since 1900.

The breed reached the English-speaking world late. The Royal Kennel Club says it became better known outside Germany around the Second World War and was first seen in the UK in the 1950s (Source: Royal Kennel Club breed information). Dogs Queensland records the first Australian imports in 1955 (Source: Dogs Queensland).

What does a Weimaraner look like?

The breed standards describe a medium-to-large, athletic dog built for speed and stamina. The FCI standard gives a height of 59 to 70 cm for males and 57 to 65 cm for females (Source: FCI Standard 99). The AKC standard gives 25 to 27 inches for dogs and 23 to 25 inches for bitches (Source: AKC standard).

Coat and colour

The short coat is sleek, dense and easy to care for. Every major standard asks for grey. The FCI and Dogs Australia describe "silver, roe or mouse grey", with only small white marks on the chest and toes (Source: FCI Standard 99). The Royal Kennel Club standard accepts grey only, with silver grey preferred, and lists blue as a non-breed-standard colour (Source: Royal Kennel Club breed standard).

Eyes, ears and tail

Adult eyes are amber, from dark to pale, in the FCI standard; the AKC also allows grey or blue-grey, and the Royal Kennel Club allows amber or blue-grey (Sources: FCI, AKC, RKC standards). Puppies are born with blue eyes, which change as they mature, and with faint stripes that fade early, according to the AKC (Source: AKC). The ears are long, soft and set high.

Tails differ by country. The AKC standard still calls for a docked tail (Source: AKC standard). The FCI standard describes a natural tail and allows docking only where the law permits it, for dogs used for hunting (Source: FCI Standard 99). The Royal Kennel Club standard describes both docked and undocked tails (Source: Royal Kennel Club breed standard).

Short-haired and long-haired

There is a long-haired Weimaraner with a soft coat and feathered tail and ears. The FCI standard says the long-haired variety has occurred, "if only singly", since about 1900 (Source: FCI Standard 99). Dogs Australia publishes it as a separate breed, the Weimaraner (Longhair) (Source: Dogs Australia). In the US the long coat is a show disqualification, though the WCA notes it is accepted in every other country (Source: WCA, How To Choose A Weimaraner Breeder).

Why "blue" is not a standard colour

Some breeders advertise "blue" Weimaraners as rare. The WCA is blunt about it: "The blue weimaraner is not recognized in any country worldwide. The blue weimaraner is not a rare breed. They are deliberately produced" (Source: WCA, How To Choose A Weimaraner Breeder). Blue is a disqualification under the AKC standard and the FCI standard, and the Royal Kennel Club lists it as a non-breed-standard colour (Sources: AKC, FCI, RKC). A blue dog can still be a lovely pet. What matters for a buyer is that a colour premium is a warning sign about the breeder, which the responsible breeder guide covers.

What is a Weimaraner's temperament like?

The standards agree on the core: the AKC asks for a dog that is "friendly, fearless, alert and obedient", and the FCI describes a "versatile, easily trained, steady and passionate hunting dog" that is a good watchdog "without aggressiveness" (Sources: AKC, FCI standards). Owners describe something warmer and messier. The WCA's "Living With A Weimaraner" calls the breed "the perpetual two year old" and "people-centric", and adds the honest line, "They're not a breed for everyone" (Source: WCA, Living With A Weimaraner).

Three traits shape daily life. Weims want to be with you, often in the same room and sometimes the same chair. They have the energy and drive of a hunting dog. And they learn fast, which works for good habits and less welcome ones alike. The AKC adds that they do have an "off" switch, because they were bred to hunt all day and then relax indoors with their people (Source: AKC). The full picture is in Weimaraner temperament.

What is daily life with a Weimaraner like?

Most of the work is time. The Royal Kennel Club lists the breed's exercise need as "more than 2 hours per day" (Source: Royal Kennel Club breed information). The WCA says "Weimaraners need exercise" cannot be overstressed, and that they prefer exercise they can do with you (Source: WCA, Living With A Weimaraner). A garden is useful, but it is not exercise on its own.

Grooming is the easy part: the WCA says nails and teeth make up most of the work, and the short coat washes and dries quickly (Source: WCA, Living With A Weimaraner). Weims also love to roll in anything that smells, so baths follow the walks.

Training never really stops. A Weim who has not been taught what you want will make up its own plans, which is why the WCA describes an untrained one, with feeling, as "hell on paws" (Source: WCA, Living With A Weimaraner). Use reward-based methods: the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) says evidence supports reward-based training for all dogs and that aversive methods should not be used (Source: AVSAB). Being left alone is the hardest skill for many Weims, and it is worth teaching from the first week. The puppy roadmap lays out the early steps.

What should I know about Weimaraner health?

The Weimaraner has some breed-related health conditions, and responsible breeders screen their breeding dogs for several of them before mating. The tests differ by country: the WCA's CHIC profile in the US, hip and elbow scoring plus DNA tests in Australia, and the Royal Kennel Club's Best Practice schemes in the UK. Our guide to Weimaraner health tests explains what each one shows a puppy buyer. For anything about your own dog's health, talk to your vet, and see the health hub for trusted sources.

How do I find a Weimaraner responsibly?

Start with a breed club, not a classified ad. Clubs can tell you which breeders are active, and a good breeder will show you health results for both parents, give you a written contract and take the dog back at any age. The WCA's code of ethics commits its members to that take-back promise (Source: WCA, How To Choose A Weimaraner Breeder). Read how to choose a responsible breeder before you make any calls.

Adult Weims also need homes, often because their first owners underestimated the time they take. If you can offer a settled home to an adult dog, read adopting a Weimaraner and browse clubs and rescues by country.

Is a Weimaraner right for me?

A Weimaraner suits people who want a dog in the middle of their life: someone home much of the day, active outdoors, keen to train and happy to be followed to the bathroom. It suits less well if the dog would be alone for long stretches, if exercise would mostly mean the garden, or if you want a dog that keeps to itself.

Life is better with a Weim, when you are ready for one. If you are not sure yet, our honest guide to whether a Weimaraner is right for you and the breed-fit quiz will help you decide before you commit.

Common questions

Something wrong or out of date? Request a correction.