Weimaraner Dog Breed… Everything You Need to Know at a Glance!

Even if you haven’t heard of a Weimaraner, you have probably seen one. This blueish-grey dog is a classic short-haired dog whose loyalty will outdo most dogs. That can be a pro or a con depending on what you’re looking for out of a dog-owner relationship. What else should you know about a Weimaraner before you get one? We’re here to help.

Weimaraner Breed Fast Facts

Country of Origin: Germany

Original Purpose: Large game hunting

Height: 20 to 30 inches from the shoulder

Weight: 50 to 90 pounds

Dog Breed Classification:  Sporting group

Lifespan: 10 to 15 years

Origin of the Weimaraner Dog Breed

Back in the day of the German royals of the 19^th century some men got together and decided that a dog should be bread to demonstrate all the good things a dog should be: loyal, smart, and a good hunter.

So…

In attempts to fulfill this somewhat symbolic creature, they began experimenting with dog breeding. They probably bred a bunch of different dogs which included:

• English Pointer,
• German Shorthaired Pointer,
• Bloodhound,

And maybe even the Blue Great Dane.

Now…

It’s not quite clear how much breeding and how much time it took, but eventually they decided that they’d created their royal mascot and viola! The Weimaraner, sometimes called the German Weimaraner, was born.

Then…

In 1943, the American Kennel Club first recognized the Weimaraner as an official breed. There are also a number of Weimaraner clubs like the Weimaraner Club of Great Britain and of America.

Physical Characteristics of a Weimaraner

If you think of a classic hunting dog, the image in your head is probably a dog that looks like the Weimaraner. These deep-chested dogs look like they should be on a permanent duck hunting mission—or a bigger mission like that of deer or bear hunting. He’s got a strong yet somewhat sleek body, floppy ears, a long muzzle, and a short-haired coat.

He’s usually…

All grey, hence the nickname the Gray Ghost (sometimes the Silver ghost). The ghost part of this is because he follows his owner just about anywhere.

And while…

You may find a female Weimaraner as light as 55 pounds (Yes, we know that’s not that small…but for this dog, it is!), a male weimaraner can get quite large – as much as 90 pounds. If you are a petite person, it could wind up being a task to restrain this dog on a walk should he get excited by another animal, human or situation.

Personality of a Weimaraner

If you are an outdoorsy person looking for a companion to swim, boat or hike with you, then the Weim (as they’re called for short) will be a great choice. He’s a sturdy dog who loves a good day of exercise in the sun.

Now…

As a big game hunter, this dog can be trained to do a number of jobs should you so desire to train him to do so. They need a lot of mental stimulation so calling it a “job” wouldn’t actually be correct; they love a good challenge.

But it’s important to remember that…

This dog isn’t all work and no play; most will love a good game of fetch or any other kind of games with his beloved owner. We say beloved because there’s no one on earth a Weimaraner loves more than his human.

Which is…

Nice, but it can definitely be high maintenance, especially when you realize it’s hard to ignore this dog or leave him to entertain himself. He will likely be all up in your business and not likely to go off in another room when you want some personal space.

This is why…

It is a good idea to get a Weimar in training from the time he or she is a puppy. Like with most dogs, this is when their personality and behavior is the best molded. If you wait to train, then you may have a more strong-willed dog than you like!

Health of a Weimaraner

Though this is a pretty robust dog, just like any other breed, your best chance at optimal health is to find your Weimaraner puppies from reputable breeders. Then you can be sure that the dog was bred to eliminate genetic disorders. If you get a Weimaraner rescue, the chance of health problems is going to be a bit higher. Here are some of the most common health problems you might encounter with a Weimaraner:

• Von Willebrand’s Disease: this is a blood clotting disorder caused by a missing von Willebrand factor (VWF). Your dog will probably have to be on medication for this. You might not know the dog has this disease until he gets cut or injured.
• Kidney Stones: due to high levels of uric acid, Weimaraners are predisposed to this as well as bladder problems. He or she may need surgery to fix it.
• Autoimmune Disorders: There are many kinds of autoimmune disorders that can happen in any dog, but for Weimaraners, it’s often hypertrophic osteodystrophy, a condition of the bones.

There are a number of other diseases, disorders, or medical problems that your Weimaraner can encounter over the duration of his or her lifetime. This is just a short list of the main ones to look out for at the time of puppy shopping.

And while…

Many of these conditions may not be life threatening, they can certainly become quite expensive to deal with particularly if they become recurring issues.

This is why…

We here at IndulgeYourPet also recommend that any new pet owner take a moment and see what it might cost for you to purchase a pet insurance policy for your new animal.

Now will a pet insurance policy be right for everyone?

No, probably not.  But until you fully understand what these policies “will” and “won’t” cover and how much these pet insurance policies cost, how will you know if one might be right for you?

For more information on who we feel currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies out there, we would encourage you to check out our Best Pet Insurance Policies article.