The Weimaraner is a silver-grey breed of dog developed originally both for tracking large game, such as bears, and as a pointing breed. The name comes from the Grand Duke of Weimar, Charles August, whose court enjoyed hunting.
History: The Weimaraner is an all-around hunter that was bred by aristocratic sportsmen in the Weimar region of Germany. It was most likely created by crossing a Bloodhound type dog with German Shorthaired Pointers to get hunters with a better nose and a larger size. This enabled them to hunt larger game such as wild boar. In 1929, an American named Howard Knight got a pair of dogs ostensibly for breeding purposes, but the Germans had secretly neutered them. These were later replaced with fertile dogs and the breed, amidst a great public relations campaign, flourished in the states. The short haired variety was admitted to the American Kennel Club in 1943 but the long haired variety is still unrecognized here.
Appearance: A medium-sized gray dog, with fine aristocratic features. He should present a picture of grace, speed, stamina, alertness and balance. The head is long and aristocratic and the muzzle is strong. The eyes are in shades of light amber, gray or blue-gray, set well enough apart to indicate good disposition and intelligence. The ears are moderately long and pendant The Weimaraner has a fine, short, sleek gray coat. The color ranges from a mouse gray to a silver gray. The distinctive color led to this breed being nicknamed the Silver Ghost or Gray Ghost. The Weimaraner’s coat color is a rarity among dog breeds.
Size: Height: dogs - 24-27 inches (61-69cm); bitches - 22-25 inches (56-63cm)
Weight: dogs - 55-70 pounds (25-32kg); bitches - 50-65 pounds (23-29kg)
Temperament: Happy, loving cheerful, affectionate and very rambunctious. Intelligent, but can be highly opinionated and willful, therefore this breed should have firm, experienced training from the start. The Weimaraner prefers to live inside as a member of the family. They require companionship and attention and do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. This breed gets along well with other dogs but not cats. It is alert and wary of strangers, making it an excellent watchdog. Very hardy, with a good sense of smell, and a passionate worker, the Weimaraner can be used for all kinds of hunting.
Health: As Weimaraners are prone to bloat, it is better to feed them two or three small meals a day rather than one large meal. Hip dysplasia is a major concern among Weims, as with most large breeds of dog. Other health issues include: skin tumors, bleeding disorders, hypertropic osteodystrophy, Von Willebrands Disease, elbow dysplasia, pituitary dwarfism, cryptorchidism, distichiasis, entropion, progressive retinal atrophy, hypomyelinogenesis, hypothyroidism.
Life expectancy: About 10-13 years.
Grooming: The Weimaraner’s smooth, short coat is easy to care for. Brushing should be done with a firm bristle brush. They should only be bathed when absolutely necessary. They do well with occasional dry shampooing. They should have their feet and mouth inspected for damage after exercise or work sessions.
Puppy price: $800.00 - $1.200.00