About The Weimaraner

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.

The Weimaraner should be elegant, noble, and athletic in appearance. All parts of the dog should be in balance with each other, creating a form that is pleasing to the eye. It must be capable of working in the field, regardless of whether it is from show stock or hunting stock, and faults that will interfere with working ability are heavily penalized.

The nails, which may be amber or gray, are kept short. In some cases, tails are docked and dewclaws are removed, the tail usually docked at birth to a third of its natural length. However, docking and declawing is now banned in many countries, and is uncommon outside of the United States.

This breed's short, smooth gray coat and its unusual eyes give it a regal appearance different from any other breed. The eyes may be light amber, gray, or blue-gray. The coat may range from mouse-gray (grayish beige or tan) to silver-gray. The nose should be a grayish tan. Where the fur is thin or non-existent, inside the ears or on the lips, for example, the skin should be a pinkish "flesh" tone rather than white or black.

The silvery-gray color is rare in dogs and is the result of breeding for a recessive gene. It has also lent the breed the nickname 'silver ghost' or 'gray ghost.' The coat is extremely low maintenance; it is short, hard, and smooth to the touch.

According to the AKC standard, a distinctly blue or black coat is an automatic disqualification, though a small white marking in the chest area only is permitted. There is a long-haired variety that is not as commonly known, and also is disqualified from AKC competition.

Typically, the male Weimaraner stands between 25 and 27 inches (63-68 cm) at the withers. Females are generally between 23 and 25 inches (58-63 cm). The breed is not heavy for its height, and weighs upwards of 70 pounds (32 kg).