Finding a Weimaraner in the United Kingdom

In the UK, start with the breed club's puppy list and rescue and the Royal Kennel Club's health-test results; Great Britain bans third-party puppy sales.

Written by

James

Updated

23 October 2026

In the UK, start with the breed club, the Weimaraner Club of Great Britain (WCGB), which keeps a list of breeder members and runs the breed's rescue and rehoming service. Check every breeder's hip, elbow and eye results yourself on the Royal Kennel Club's Health Test Results Finder, and know the law: in England, Wales and Scotland you buy a puppy from the person who bred it, or adopt. This page covers the UK specifics; the general approach is in how to choose a responsible breeder, part of the Find a Weim hub.

Where should I start: the Royal Kennel Club or the breed club?

Use both, for different things. The Royal Kennel Club (RKC) is the registry. Its Find a Puppy service lists litters from breeders who advertise there, and lets you filter for "puppies from health-tested parents" (Source: RKC, Find a Puppy). Since January 2025 each litter shows a symbol for the parents' health tests, and litters that meet the breed's Good Practice and Best Practice tests are listed first (Source: RKC, January 2025). But the RKC is plain about the limits: it "makes no warranty as to the quality or fitness of any puppies offered for sale" and "cannot facilitate the vetting of breeders" for buyers (Source: RKC, Find a Puppy).

What happened to Assured Breeders?

Older advice tells you to look for a Kennel Club Assured Breeder. That scheme closed on 31 December 2024 (Source: RKC, July 2024). In August 2026 the RKC opened breeder applications for a new Find a Breeder directory; applicants are checked against criteria including the Good Practice health standard, where it applies, and breeding only breed-standard colours (Source: RKC, August 2026). We could not find a date for when buyers can use it. A breeder who still describes themselves as "Assured" may simply be using the old name; ask what they mean, and check the evidence either way.

What do the breed clubs offer?

The WCGB supplies "a list of club members who are breeders and details of any current litters", on request from its secretary or puppy contact (Source: WCGB, Puppies). Breeders who list litters with the club agree to its code of conduct: they must have been members for the last two consecutive years, both parents must be fully registered with the Kennel Club, and they agree not to sell to dealers or pet shops (Source: WCGB, Puppies). The club's code sets a minimum age of seven weeks for puppies to leave (Source: WCGB, Puppies); the Weimaraner Club of America's Code of Ethics sets 8 weeks (Source: WCA Code of Ethics).

The club's puppy page does not list health-test conditions, so the list is a starting point, not a check. Other Weimaraner breed clubs in the UK hold shows; the RKC's Find a Club service lists breed clubs and can put you in touch (Source: RKC, Weimaraner breed information).

Long-haired Weimaraners are recognised in the UK. The RKC says the breed has "two coat types", smooth and long-haired, and that the long-haired variety is "much less numerous" (Source: RKC, Weimaraner breed information). If you want a long-hair, expect a longer search; our guide to the long-haired Weimaraner explains the coat and where it is recognised.

• Registry

  Royal Kennel Club: Weimaraner breed page

  The UK registry's page for the breed, with its health screening recommendations and a link to the Health Test Results Finder.

  Visit website: Royal Kennel Club: Weimaraner breed pageLink checked 11 October 2026
• Breed club

  Weimaraner Club of Great Britain

  The UK breed club, running shows, field trials and training, with breeder lists available from its secretary.

  Visit website: Weimaraner Club of Great BritainLink checked 11 October 2026
• Rescue

  Weimaraner Club of Great Britain Rescue and Rehoming Service

  The club's rescue service, which rehomes Weimaraners whose owners can no longer keep them.

  Visit website: Weimaraner Club of Great Britain Rescue and Rehoming ServiceLink checked 11 October 2026

Which health results should a UK breeder show me?

The RKC's Best Practice tests for the Weimaraner are hip scoring under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme, elbow grading under the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme, and an eye examination under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme; it says responsible breeders "should ensure they complete all tests in Best Practice" (Source: RKC, Weimaraner breed information). Results for registered dogs can be looked up on the RKC's Health Test Results Finder (Source: RKC, Health Test Results Finder).

• Hips. Each hip is scored from 0 to 53, so the total runs from 0 to 106, and lower is better; the scheme recommends breeding only from dogs with scores "below or close to the published breed medians" (Source: BVA, Hip Dysplasia Scheme).
• Elbows. Each elbow is graded from 0 to 3, and the dog's grade is the higher of the two; the scheme recommends breeding only from dogs graded 0 (Source: BVA, Elbow Dysplasia Scheme).
• Eyes. Examinations are done by a panel of veterinary ophthalmologists, and the scheme advises that anyone planning to breed should have both parents examined (Source: BVA, Eye Scheme).

Ask for the parents' registered names and check the results yourself. Our health tests explained guide covers DNA tests and how to read each result.

What does the law say about buying a puppy in the UK?

The rules differ between the four nations. We quote the official pages briefly and link them; check your local rules with your council before you buy.

• England. Under Lucy's Law, in force from 6 April 2020, puppies and kittens under 6 months old can no longer be sold by commercial third parties, so you buy directly from a breeder or adopt from a rescue centre; licensed breeders must show puppies "interacting with their mothers in their place of birth" (Source: GOV.UK, Lucy's Law). A breeder needs a council licence to run a business that breeds and advertises dogs for sale, or to breed 3 or more litters in any 12-month period and sell any of the puppies, and must show the licence number in any advertising (Source: GOV.UK, Dog breeding licence).
• Wales. Regulations in force from 10 September 2021 stop licensed pet sellers from selling puppies they did not breed at the premises, where a puppy is a dog under 6 months old (Source: Wales Regulations 2021). Dog breeding is licensed separately under the 2014 Breeding of Dogs Regulations; ask your local council how they apply (Source: Wales Regulations 2014).
• Scotland. Regulations in force from 1 September 2021 bar licence holders from selling puppies they did not breed, where a puppy is a dog under 6 months old, and make breeding three or more litters in any 12-month period a licensable activity (Source: Scotland Regulations 2021).
• Northern Ireland. District councils license dog breeding establishments (Source: DAERA). We found no third-party sales ban like those above, so check your local rules with your council.

A licensed breeder can tell you their licence number and the council that issued it. If a seller will not, or offers to meet you somewhere other than where the puppy was born, walk away.

Where can I adopt a Weimaraner in the UK?

The WCGB's Rescue and Rehoming Service describes itself as "the only Weimaraner-breed club to offer this service" in the UK (Source: WCGB, Rescue and Rehoming). A club member visits with their own dog to meet the family before an adoption, and an adopted dog "remains the property of the WCGB for the remainder of its lifetime", so it goes back to the club if the home cannot keep it (Source: WCGB, Rescue and Rehoming). General rehoming charities also take in Weimaraners from time to time; adopting a Weimaraner explains how to work with them, and clubs and rescues by country lists every organisation we have checked. A fuller guide to Weimaraner rescue in the UK 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, with you. UK-specific additions:

Before you pay anything, read what a Weimaraner puppy costs and puppy scams and red flags. Looking further afield? See our pages for the United States and Australia.

Common questions

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