The Weimaraner is probably the gundog most often bought in Germany for aesthetic reasons. Silver-grey coat, amber eyes, a silhouette that looks drawn: he looks like a designer object and is in truth a fully working dog who spends hours in the field searching for game, retrieving and tracking. If you buy him as an elegant companion, you have an unemployed professional in your living room, and that rarely ends well.
Weimaraner at a glance
- Origin: Germany, Weimar, bred as a versatile pointer for the nobility
- Size: males 59 to 70 cm, females 57 to 65 cm, 25 to 40 kg
- Coat: usually short and smooth, less often long-haired; silver-grey, roe-grey or mouse-grey
- Life expectancy: 10 to 13 years
- Temperament: eager to work, tireless, sensitive, strongly bonded to people, very alert
Temperament: a working dog who does not want to let go of you
The Weimaraner is clever, quick to learn and always wants something to do. He works closely with his person, seeks eye contact and stays within reach when he runs. Pointers were bred for exactly this: not independent like a bloodhound, but in step with the handler.
This bond has a downside. The Weimaraner is one of the breeds in which separation stress is particularly common. He follows you around the flat, lies down in front of the bathroom door and reacts strongly when he has to stay alone. Without early, patient training, this quickly turns into barking, howling or destruction.
With strangers he is reserved and watchful. He reliably lets you know when someone is there and looks imposing because of his size, without being aggressive. He is sensitive through and through: harsh training does not make him more obedient, only more nervous.
The five hard points
1. Prey drive is the central issue
A Weimaraner is bred for game, not for strolls. He picks up scent before you do, is faster than you and has more stamina than you. Off-lead time in the woods only works with a recall that holds up under distraction, and that does not happen on the side. Expect years of consistent work, or plan realistically with a long line and secured areas.
2. Two walks are a leisure activity, not exercise
He needs physical and mental work every day: dummy training, tracking, mantrailing, cycling alongside once he is fully grown, ideally real hunting work. A Weimaraner who only runs becomes fitter and therefore more demanding, not calmer. Under-stimulation shows up in him as restlessness in the house, destruction and constant demands.
3. He copes badly with being alone
Of all the points, this is the one where most homes fail. A Weimaraner is not a dog for a household where nobody is home for eight hours on weekdays. Staying alone needs to be trained from day one, in the smallest steps. Anyone who puts this off will later spend months working against an established problem.
4. The hunting licence question comes up sooner than you think
Many breeders from working lines only sell puppies to holders of a hunting licence, because they know what becomes of an unoccupied Weimaraner. If you do not have a hunting licence, you either need a breeder who also sells to non-hunters who work their dogs in sport, or a very honest plan for how you will otherwise keep the dog busy. This hurdle is not harassment, it is animal welfare.
5. Health and costs
Hip dysplasia does occur, and X-rayed parent animals are standard. Because of the deep chest, there is a clearly increased risk of gastric torsion, an acute emergency that has to be operated on within a few hours and costs 2,000 to 4,000 euros depending on the clinic. Hypothyroidism and, in some lines, autoimmune diseases also occur. A puppy from a health-tested breeder costs 1,500 to 2,200 euros. The short coat without much undercoat gives poor protection: in winter he needs a coat.
Care: what he really needs
- A real job. Hunting work, dummy training, tracking or mantrailing, every day and with a challenge.
- Early alone-time training. From the first day, in steps of minutes, with no shortcuts.
- Consistent anti-hunting training. Long line, recall training, secured off-lead areas.
- Friendly, clear leadership. He is sensitive and does not forgive pressure easily.
- Learning to relax in the house. Actively practise that doing nothing is an option.
Who is the Weimaraner right for?
For hunters, for people in serious dog sports and for very active owners with dog experience who can and want to invest several hours every day. For households where everyone is rarely out at the same time. And for people who want a dog who works closely with them instead of just walking next to them.
Not for first-time dog owners. Not for working people without a care solution. And explicitly not for people who have fallen in love with the looks, because there are many of them, and their dogs end up in shelters and breed rescues more often than average. If you are looking for a similarly elegant but more everyday-friendly dog, take a look at the Labrador. We wrote Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir? (Which dog REALLY suits you?) for exactly this kind of decision.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a hunting licence for a Weimaraner? Not legally. Many reputable breeders ask for one anyway, or at least a convincing plan for keeping the dog busy. That is a good sign for the breeder, not an obstacle.
What is the difference between short-haired and long-haired? The long-haired Weimaraner is much rarer, has longer fur with feathering and is considered slightly calmer. In terms of workload, the two hardly differ.
Are the blue eyes normal? Puppies often have strikingly blue eyes that change to amber or blue-grey during the first months. This is typical for the breed and not a sign of a problem.
Photographing silver-grey properly
Hardly any breed is as photogenic. The silver-grey coat and the light eyes create a contrast that works equally well as a minimalist line drawing and as an oil painting. Photograph him against a darker, calm background in soft daylight so the grey does not wash out and the eye colour is preserved. Direct midday sun makes the coat look flat. Our photo tips go into more detail.
Silver-grey needs space. On canvas, the Weimaraner gets the calm background that the photo rarely offers, and the contrast with the light eyes stays intact. You can find the materials in the dog portraits.
Further reading
- The dog who thinks instead of obeying: similar prey drive, much more independence
- Labrador Retriever: why a quarter of them are always hungry: the more everyday-friendly alternative
- Teaching your dog to be left alone: the point at which most Weimaraner homes tip over
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