Finding a Weimaraner in Australia
In Australia, start with Dogs Australia's state bodies and the Weimaraner clubs, check CHEDS and DNA results, and know your state's breeder ID number.
In Australia, start with your state's Dogs Australia member body and the Weimaraner breed clubs, ask every breeder for hip and elbow scores and DNA results for both parents, and check the breeder's government identification number before you pay. Several states now require a number in every advertisement for a dog. This page covers the Australian specifics; the general approach is in how to choose a responsible breeder, part of the Find a Weim hub.
Key takeaways
- Breed clubs in NSW and Victoria keep breeder lists, and state member bodies can point you to clubs elsewhere.
- Ask for CHEDS (or equivalent) hip and elbow results and HUU, HYM and SD DNA results for both parents.
- No breeder ID number where your state requires one, and no clear reason why, means walk away.
Where should I start looking in Australia?
Pedigree dogs in Australia are registered through Dogs Australia and its state and territory member bodies, such as Dogs NSW, Dogs Victoria and Dogs Queensland. The member bodies can tell you about breed clubs, shows and events in your state. The Weimaraner Club of NSW and the Weimaraner Club of Victoria both publish breeder pages, and our clubs and rescues by country page links to them. Clubs in other states exist, but we could not find working websites of their own to link to; your state member body can put you in touch.
A club list shows membership. It is a place to start, not a check of health results, so you still ask each breeder for evidence.
- Registry
Dogs Australia
The national body for pedigree dogs: breed standards, the national registers and the CHEDS hip and elbow scheme.
Visit website: Dogs AustraliaLink checked - Registry · New South Wales
Dogs NSW
The state member body of Dogs Australia for New South Wales, with a breeder search and member codes of ethics.
Visit website: Dogs NSWLink checked - Registry · Queensland
Dogs Queensland
The state member body of Dogs Australia for Queensland, with breed information and a breeder search.
Visit website: Dogs QueenslandLink checked - Registry · South Australia
Dogs SA
The state member body of Dogs Australia for South Australia.
Visit website: Dogs SALink checked - Registry · Victoria
Dogs Victoria
The state member body of Dogs Australia for Victoria, with guidance for breeders on the Pet Exchange Register.
Visit website: Dogs VictoriaLink checked - Registry · Western Australia
Dogs West
The state member body of Dogs Australia for Western Australia.
Visit website: Dogs WestLink checked - Breed club · New South Wales
Weimaraner Club of NSW
Breed club with a breeders list, breed health information and a rescue officer who knows of Weims needing homes.
Visit website: Weimaraner Club of NSWLink checked - Breed club · Victoria
Weimaraner Club of Victoria
Breed club running shows, field, tracking and obedience events, with a breeders page; it no longer runs a rescue service.
Visit website: Weimaraner Club of VictoriaLink checked
Which health results should an Australian breeder show me?
The Weimaraner Club of NSW says buyers should expect "health clearances" for hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, and that breeders "DNA test their breeding stock to ensure no puppies are produced that are affected by HUU, HYM and SD" (Source: WCNSW, Weimaraner health). Those are hyperuricosuria, hypomyelination and spinal dysraphism.
Hips and elbows are usually scored through CHEDS, the Canine Hip and Elbow Dysplasia Scheme, which Dogs Australia describes as "a jointly run screening program to reduce hip and elbow disease in registered pure bred dogs" (Source: Dogs Australia, CHEDS). Dogs must be at least twelve months old to be scored, radiographs are read by veterinary radiology specialists, and results are recorded in the ORCHID database, which also holds breed averages (Source: Dogs Australia, CHEDS).
Ask for the parents' registered names and the actual results, not "health tested". Our health tests explained guide explains how to read each result.
What are the main and limited registers?
Puppies from a Dogs Australia registered litter go on one of two registers, the main and the limited register. Dogs Victoria describes them as "the Main Register (blue pedigree papers)" and "the Limited Register (orange pedigree papers)" (Source: Dogs Victoria, Pedigrees and registration). Only main register puppies are eligible for conformation shows and for future breeding, and the breeder chooses the register for each puppy at registration, so one litter can have both (Source: Dogs Victoria, Pedigrees and registration).
Limited registration is common for companion puppies and is not a warning sign. Ask which register your puppy will be on, and why.
Long-haired Weims are recognised in Australia: Dogs Australia publishes a separate breed standard for the Weimaraner (Longhair) (Source: Dogs Australia, Weimaraner (Longhair) breed standard). Ask a breeder of long-haired puppies which breed name the litter is registered under.
Which breeder numbers does my state require?
Several states and territories require breeders to put a government number in advertisements. These numbers let you check who you are dealing with. The rules change often, so we quote each official page briefly and link it. Check your local rules with the authority listed before you buy.
| State or territory | What to look for | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | A breeder identification number (BIN) and the microchip number in any advertisement for sale; designated rehoming organisations have a rehoming organisation number instead | NSW Office of Local Government |
| Victoria | A Pet Exchange Register source number and the animal's microchip number in any advertisement, whether the dog is sold or given away | Dogs Victoria (summarising the Victorian rules) |
| Queensland | The dog's supply number in any advertisement, and a written notice of the supplier's name and supply number when the dog changes hands | Queensland Act s 43ZC and s 43ZF |
| South Australia | The seller's Dogs and Cats Online (DACO) breeder registration number in any advertisement for dogs they have bred | Dog and Cat Management Board |
| ACT | The breeder's breeding licence number in sale advertisements, and given to buyers | ABLIS |
| Western Australia | Reforms are being phased in; check the current position with your local government | WA Government |
| Tasmania and the NT | Not covered yet; check your local rules with your council |
Some detail for the states with checks you can make yourself:
- New South Wales. The NSW Government says advertisements for sale "must include a microchip number and breeder identification number (BIN)", lets you check that a BIN is "active" on the NSW Pet Registry's buyer search, and advises against buying from a breeder who "cannot provide identification numbers" (Source: NSW OLG).
- Victoria. It is an offence to leave the microchip and source numbers out of an advertisement, and both the advertiser and the site publishing the advert can be fined (Source: Dogs Victoria, Pet Exchange Register).
- Queensland. A person who advertises a dog for supply "must include the relevant supply number for the dog in the advertisement" (Source: Queensland Act s 43ZC). Breeders get a supply number from the Queensland Dog Breeder Register or an approved body (Source: Business Queensland).
- South Australia. Anyone who sells a dog they have bred, "whether intentional or not", must register as a breeder (Source: Dog and Cat Management Board, Registration for breeders). Parliament passed further breeder reforms on 18 June 2025 (Source: Dog and Cat Management Board).
- Western Australia. The state's Stop Puppy Farming page says pet shop approvals began on 26 May 2025, while breeder approval and the planned central register are not yet in place (Source: WA Government, Stop puppy farming).
If a seller in a state that requires a number has none, ask why. A vague answer is a reason to walk away.
What does the RSPCA advise?
RSPCA Australia's Smart Puppy and Dog Buyer's Guide suggests checking rescue groups first, and seeing your vet for a pre-purchase consultation about the breed you are considering (Source: RSPCA, Smart Puppy and Dog Buyer's Guide). If you buy, it describes responsible breeders as ones who are open to questions, give a complete history of the puppy, offer to take back a dog with an inherited disorder at any time after sale, and "meet all their legal requirements" (Source: RSPCA, Smart Puppy and Dog Buyer's Guide). RSPCA Australia also says to visit the place where the puppy was born and to "insist on meeting the mother" (Source: RSPCA, How do I find a responsible breeder).
Where can I adopt a Weimaraner in Australia?
The Weimaraner Club of NSW has a rescue officer who "will be aware of any rescue Weimaraners available in NSW or other States in Australia" (Source: WCNSW, Rescue). The Weimaraner Club of Victoria says it "is no longer able to run a rescue service"; it asks owners who need to rehome a dog to contact the dog's breeder first, and points to an Australian Weimaraner rescue group on Facebook (Source: WCV, Rescue). General welfare organisations such as the RSPCA also rehome Weimaraners from time to time. Rescue in Western Australia and Tasmania is not covered yet. For what to expect, see adopting a Weimaraner; a fuller guide to Weimaraner rescue in Australia is planned.
What should I ask before I commit?
Take the questions in choosing a responsible breeder, or our printable questions to ask a Weimaraner breeder, to every conversation. Australian additions:
- What is your breeder number for this state? Check it where your state lets you.
- What is the puppy's microchip number? In NSW and Victoria it should be in the advert.
- May I see the CHEDS hip and elbow results and the DNA report for both parents?
- Will the puppy be on the main or limited register?
- May I meet the mother where the puppies were born, and read the contract first?
WeimLife does not list breeders yet. When we do, every profile will show the identifier the breeder's state requires: see how WeimLife will list breeders. Before you pay anything, read what a Weimaraner puppy costs and puppy scams and red flags. Comparing countries? See the United States and the United Kingdom.
Common questions
Do I need to see a breeder number in every advert?
In NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT, yes: the rules above require one. In other states and territories, check your local rules.
Is a puppy on the limited register a lesser puppy?
No. Limited registration means the puppy cannot be shown in conformation or used for registered breeding. It is common for companion puppies.
Where do I find a Weimaraner rescue in Australia?
Contact the Weimaraner Club of NSW's rescue officer, who knows of rescue Weims in several states, and check your local RSPCA and welfare groups.
Sources
- Dogs Australia: CHEDS (Canine Hip and Elbow Dysplasia Scheme)
- Dogs Australia: Weimaraner (Longhair) breed standard
- Dogs Victoria: Pedigrees and registration
- Dogs Victoria: Pet Exchange Register
- Weimaraner Club of NSW: Weimaraner health
- Weimaraner Club of NSW: Rescue
- Weimaraner Club of Victoria: Rescue
- NSW Office of Local Government: Find a responsible breeder (updated 5 November 2025)
- Queensland: Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, s 43ZC and s 43ZF
- Business Queensland: Dog breeding animal welfare standards and registration (updated 31 July 2025)
- Dog and Cat Management Board (SA): Registration for breeders
- Dog and Cat Management Board (SA): Home page (Breeder Reforms Amendment Act 2025)
- ABLIS: ACT breeding licence
- WA Government: Stop puppy farming (updated 17 September 2026)
- RSPCA Australia: Smart Puppy and Dog Buyer's Guide (2024)
- RSPCA Australia: How do I find a responsible dog or cat breeder?
Something wrong or out of date? Request a correction.