Weimaraner

50-75 lbs
23-25"
Germany
Weimaraner Vorestehhund, Silver Ghost, Grey Ghost, Weim

The Weimaraner, or the Grey Ghost, is a sleek and classy dog that is very athletic and a pleaser at heart. Bred in Germany, these dogs were specifically designed for intelligence, speed, courage, and an excellent smelling nose. They are the perfect breed for those hunters or athletic souls who are looking for a companion who can keep up without a problem. On top of the fact that the Weim loves to get their exercise on, these dogs are also extremely easy to keep clean and maintained, make excellent family dogs, and have an all-around golden personality. It is important to keep in mind that because these silver individuals become extremely attached to their humans, and while this may be a good thing for the most part, separation anxiety is a real issue in the long run. This breed would love nothing more than to be with their human hunting all day long, every single day.  As a high-energy hunting dog, it is vital to take your Weimaraner out for exercise every day; otherwise, they may become a bit of a terror to your possessions and any other animals in the house. If you can provide plenty of exercise, a loving home, and early socialization for your dog, then you will end up with a beautiful breed who is eager to please and will follow you to the ends of the earth. 

purpose Purpose
Large Game Trailing
history Date of Origin
1800s
ancestry Ancestry
Gun Dog, Hunting Dog

Weimaraner Health

Sketch of Weimaraner
Average Size
Male Weimaraner size stats
Height: 25-27 inches Weight: 70-90 lbs
Female Weimaraner size stats
Height: 23-25 inches Weight: 50-75 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Hypothyroidism
Minor Concerns
  • Entropion
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Cherry Eye
  • Sebaceous Adenitis
  • Urolithiasis
  • Bloat
  • Hemophilia A
  • Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia
  • Hypodysmyelinogenesis
Occasional Tests
  • Eye
  • Hip
  • Blood
  • Liver Ultrasound
  • Blood And Urine Protein Screens
  • Skeletal
  • Skin Scraping
  • X-Rays
  • Eye Examination
  • Physical Examination

Weimaraner Breed History

Even if you’ve never actually heard of their name before, you most likely have spotted the silvery hide of this breed at one time or another. The Weimaraner was created in Germany around the early 19th century by the Weimar court.  All inspiration for the Weim came from an ideal hunting dog that possessed great speed, agility, courage, intelligence, and a really good nose to sniff out game. From large land game to water creatures, this svelte and sleek pup is excellent at helping to hunt them all. Thanks to their webbed feet there is no problem with swimming at all, and in fact, they love playing in the water! Their sleek bodies make it very easy for them to reach their top speed quickly and digging up moles or mice is extremely easy with their pointy nose reaching deep into the earth. This is a very energetic and active breed that is ready to please. In fact, because of their extreme loyalty and desire to stick close to their master’s side, the Weimaraner has earned themselves the name “Grey Ghost” due to their grey fur and constantly sticking close like a shadow. To this very day, this breed is used for hunting, companion dogs, and showing. If you are looking for a dog that is athletic, loyal, friendly, and a great companion for hunting, then the Weimaraner may be the perfect dog breed for you.

Weimaraner Breed Appearance

As a moderately large dog with a very athletic build, the Weim is an attractive dog. They have somewhat wide-set eyes that come in a variety of shades, such as light amber, grey, and blue-grey. Large, folded ears outline the dog’s slim head and the short coat hugs the body; while the coat tends to be a lighter grey color, darker blending of greys can appear on the body like light shadowing. Occasionally a white mark may be present on the chest. Complementing the Weim’s webbed feet nicely are toenails that can be either grey or amber. The breed usually has their tail docked at around 2 days old and the dewclaws are removed. Surprisingly, there is also a longhaired variety of the Weimaraner, but it is very rare. There is no doubt that while the Weimaraner may not be the most striking of dogs, their beautiful silver coat and intelligent eyes are sure to steal anyone’s heart in an instant.

Appearance of Weimaraner
Eye Color Possibilities
hazel Weimaraner eyes
Hazel
amber Weimaraner eyes
Amber
Nose Color Possibilities
blue Weimaraner nose
Blue
black Weimaraner nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
gray Weimaraner coat
Gray
silver Weimaraner coat
Silver
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Weimaraner straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Weimaraner Breed Maintenance

 The Weimaraner is one of those breeds that requires very little maintenance to remain clean and orderly. Even though they do have a short coat, moderate shedding throughout the year will still occur. Using a rubber curry brush, give your dog’s coat a thorough brushing around once a week. This routine will help to remove any loose hair or dirt that may be lying on their body. Only give the Weim a bath when necessary and be sure to thoroughly clean and dry the ears out; because this breed has folded ears, the environment is perfect for extra moisture to remain and cause infection. Frequent cleanings will help to prevent this. Other than that, keep all nails trimmed and the feet healthy. As a hunting dog, they need their feet to be in the best shape possible! If you want to keep their breath smelling fresh, you can always ask your vet for a dog-friendly toothpaste and brush their teeth as needed. This will also help to remove any tartar buildup that could cause dental disease. 

Brushes for Weimaraner
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Weimaraner requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Weimaraner Temperament

 It will come as no surprise that, as a hunting dog, the Weimaraner can be high-strung and very energetic. Because of this, it is important that they have a large yard in which to burn off all of their energy; this breed will not do very well in an apartment setting. Besides being highly energetic, however, the Weim is very loyal, intelligent, and eager to please. You would be hard pressed to find a better running or hunting partner! They are quick learners and are highly motivated by praise or other rewards such as food. Never use force or hit your companion in order to discipline as they will become timid and afraid of whoever or whatever is used and will be extremely difficult to train. When walking your dog, be sure that they walk next to you and not in front of you. This will let them know who is alpha and in charge. If you are able to socialize your dog early on and train them well, you will end up with a loyal, intelligent dog who would happily do anything for you.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
14 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
90 minutes
activity minutes

Weimaraner Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00
food bag monthly cost

Weimaraner Height & Weight

6 Months
Sketch of Weimaraner at six months
Male Weimaraner size stats at six months
Height: 19.0 inches Weight: 42.5 lbs
Female Weimaraner size stats at six months
Height: 18.0 inches Weight: 37.5 lbs
12 Months
Sketch of Weimaraner at 12 months
Male Weimaraner size stats at 12 months
Height: 22.5 inches Weight: 70.0 lbs
Female Weimaraner size stats at 12 months
Height: 20.5 inches Weight: 52.5 lbs
18 Months
Sketch of Weimaraner at 18 months
Male Weimaraner size stats at 18 months
Height: 26.0 inches Weight: 80.0 lbs
Female Weimaraner size stats at 18 months
Height: 24.0 inches Weight: 62.5 lbs

Top Weimaraner Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable Weimaraner breeders of 2024.
Top Weimaraner breeder Starwood Kennel
Starwood Kennel
Hardwick, Massachusetts
Top Weimaraner breeder Midwest Dream Breeders
Midwest Dream Breeders
Mechanicsville, Iowa
Top Weimaraner breeder PM Weimaraners
PM Weimaraners
Carter, Montana
Top Weimaraner breeder Lazy Heart Kennel
Lazy Heart Kennel
Glendive, Montana
Top Weimaraner breeder Weimaraners
Weimaraners
Watonga, Oklahoma
Top Weimaraner breeder Edgefield Kennels
Edgefield Kennels
Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania
Top Weimaraner breeder Cozy Acres Farm
Cozy Acres Farm
Waddell, Arizona
Top Weimaraner breeder Sidel Weimaraners
Sidel Weimaraners
Leo, Indiana
Top Weimaraner breeder Miller's Kennel
Miller's Kennel
Buncombe, Illinois
Top Weimaraner breeder Big River Kennel
Big River Kennel
Killen, Alabama

Weimaraner Owner Experiences

3 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
The Weimaraner is a beautiful, sweet, large dog. They need to be exercised regularly but are smart and can be trained to be good walkers. However they can be slightly skiddish and jumpy but are not mean. They have sweet personalities and enjoy being pet. Weimaraners do tend to have a lot of nervous energy and you have to be careful when feeding them food or water because the bread is prone to eating too fast which can cause their stomach to flip. To keep them happy they need a lot of walks and attention.
6 years, 11 months ago
10 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
What energy! He was very hyper and moved and walked very fast. I think he could have benefitted from a 60min vs 30min walk.
6 years, 11 months ago
4 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Weimaraners are very sweet dogs, origianlly breed for Royalty. They are super family oriented and caring of any childern in their families. Weinmaraners attach easily when cared for, they are friendly and typically play well with other dogs They are short, smooth haired and easy to groom. Beautiful amber colored eyes. They are a larger breed, orignailly bred for hunting, so they love to sniff around and to be off the beaten path when walking.They are athletic, have webbed feet and typically thier tails are docked.
6 years, 11 months ago
8 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
The Weimaraner that I walked was absolutely regal- beautiful golden eyes. Listened extremely well to command- especially when I made adjustments in my walking pace- this dog wanted to keep up with me. Short haired coat, very tall, and maintained constant eye contact. These dogs are good for people who want a dog that can be calm, and yet fit enough to hike for quite a bit.
6 years, 11 months ago
7 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Puppy playtime
Running
Sniffing
The Weimaraner I walked was a sweet and gentle ball of energy. She was quite excited to walk but maintained a calm and attentive demeanor. She remained by my side the entire walk and responded well to commands. This dog had a 4 month old puppy roommate who was a constant source of playfulness that the Weimaraner was happy to put up with. This dog's ability to play with a very young puppy says a lot about the temperament and patience of this breed. Weimaraners are very smart and well mannered dogs who are easily trained. They are bigger dogs with a need for exercise daily, but make for a wonderful family dog. As long as they get proper exercise each day, they will be a happy and cuddly breed to share life with. I thoroughly enjoyed walking this Weimaraner and would recommend this breed to anyone!
6 years, 11 months ago
11 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Hiking
Running
Playing fetch
Super stellar Breed. Love Love Love this dog and all it’s beauty. I would love to someday own this puppy as well. Super active athletic and big love bugs. They are a bit cooky as it’s just in their breed. Not the smartest of the breeds lol, but they make up for it with all their fun personality traits and pure characters they are as dogs. They will keep you busy, and will constantly need attention. They love the water and just getting out and breathing now in the earth around them. This is probably my second favorite breed I would love to one day own. Zero aggression in my experience with this breed. Just a happy go lucky doggy.
6 years, 11 months ago
1 Year
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
The Weimaraner I walked was a puppy and still being socialized and leash trained. He was shy and hesitant throughout the thirty minute walk. He was easily scared by loud noises from cars, trucks and places of business. I was stubborn and did not want to walk too far away from his home. There was a nearby dog park that he wanted to stay by, but I couldn’t take him in due to Wag’s rules concerning sociable meetings with other dogs. He seemed intent on staying by the park and trying to play with the other dogs than walking. He loved greeting other people. When he didn’t want to walk anymore he would stop and hold his ground so we couldn’t go any further. He did have lots of energy and loved to chase a ball I brought with us. It seemed he would have benefited from being able to run around and chase things rather than be walking on a leash.
6 years, 11 months ago
6 Months
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Playing in leaves
Running
Sniffing
This type of dog is energetic, playful, and very curious. It is marked by it’s beautiful gray coat, light colored eyes, and strong athletic build when fully grown. It may tug on your leash a bit in an effort to explore the world more, so you will certainly build some strong arm muscles walking it. It will take a great interest in other dogs, even from afar, so if you have them on a leash and spot another dog in the distance, it may be helpful to cross the street for manageability purposes. The Weimaraner I walked was full of life and liked to stop and smell every little thing - leaves, acorns, whatever might be on the ground. This breed grows very quickly, so expect to see a big change in size from week to week while they are young! It is an athletic breed so even if you aren’t a runner, you might consider throwing a little jog into your walk from time to time just to keep things interesting for the dog.
6 years, 11 months ago
9 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Chase
Fetch
Walk
Run
They are full of energy. No matter how much you would run/walk them, an hour later, they are full of energy again. Very active, silly, lovable. Can continue bad habits if not addressed early, like chewing and jumping. Love to pull on walks, a harness or friendly leader work well.
6 years, 11 months ago
4 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Benson was an incredible dog! He has lots of energy and moved fast. He definitely needed to go on runs and didn't like just walking. He worked well using a lead that allowed me to steer his nose away and a harness that had the lead clipped to the front. If the lead was clipped to the back it would give him too much power. Once on soft ground (like the beach) he'd want to run and get some energy out. He could have walked for more than an hour if allowed to do so. He had triggers like birds and squirrels, and wanted to stop to sniff everything. He was very good at sitting when instructed and laying down, but he was also very strong, so when crossing the street he had to be held tight.
6 years, 11 months ago
2 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
sniff
Walk
The Weimeraner I walk is quite the goofball. He loves to be the center of attention and will jump right in front of his sister to get the love first. At first, he is very excitable and will jump up but once he settles, he is relatively calm. He will sniff anything and everything on our walks, especially if the other dog is sniffing it. He is quite easily distractible and hardly walks in a straight line. He loves to please so he constantly looks back for approval. Quite headstrong, so the owner chose to train him for walks with a pinch collar, and it seemed to work very quickly. He never pulls too much, even when he becomes distracted by another dog, person, or small animal.
6 years, 11 months ago
9 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
interactions with people
Catch treats
digging
Searching
casual walking
I have had several experiences with the same Weimaraner. I had heard very little of the breed prior to my encounters but have been fascinated since. They are incredibly wise and well-behaved. The one I met seemed to be middle aged and this might have had an effect on her demeanor, but overall she struck me as highly intelligent, reserved but friendly and independent but not aloof. Many dogs bark and yelp, but this Weimaraner was the first dog I met in general who exhibited above average rudimentary vocal articulations. If she wanted to explore a few more square feet, if she was done with one part of the park and we were visibly near an exit or staircase, if she expected treats or desired attention, she would use her voice to let me know. Quite often dogs look as if they have so much to say and this Weimaraner was the first to show me that it is possible that they can share to some extent. The Weimaraner breed is also stereotyped as hyperactive, however this one in particular was incredibly well composed and conducted herself accordingly. She also lived with two young children, and she kept her composure consistent: at home with the kids, freely roaming the park, out in the cold or surrounded by warm smells of food. I was really impressed with her behavior and I loved being introduced to another highly intelligent and reliable breed.
6 years, 11 months ago
1 Year
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
These great dogs are very very full of energy. They are meant to run and if kept in a crate or apartment be ready to run, run and run fast when he is let out. They must have walks often and for a long time, so if you find yourself walking one these dogs that has not been walked, or given the proper amount of time to let the energy out you will have your hands full. After an initial time for running they can be a great walk. They are lovable and are trainable. They are extremely smart and friendly and will really want to say hello to anyone you pass. Their distinctive grey color, short, sleek coat, make it very easy to recognize and a beautiful companion. Just remember they are bred for speed, good scenting ability, courage and intelligence, they are an excellent game hunter and active participant in other dog sports, so a dog park is a great option.
6 years, 11 months ago
Dixie
11 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
cuddels
raccing with each other
belly sraching
she is the best girl we got her when my mom was pregnant with me, she is kinda my security blanket.
4 years, 3 months ago
Gravy
6 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
My favorite dogs that I’ve owned so far. I have owned 3 in my life so far. As of right now, I have two, they are both sisters. Their names are Biscuit and Gravy. We sent them off to be trained by a professional when they were very young, so they are very well trained. We used both praise and discipline to maintain good behavior. They are not afraid of much, but they sometimes get anxious during storms. They are so sweet and friendly. All of our friends love them, and wish their dogs were as good as our Weims. While they do have a lot of energy, they can be calmed down pretty easily if need be. Gravy loves to snuggle, give kisses, and play games. Biscuit is a little grumpy with her sister, but nice to everyone else. Strangely, neither of them like to swim. We don’t have to groom them much at all (a bath and a brush every once in a while is good enough). They are beautiful dogs, and get compliments all of the time. Ours do not have separation anxiety, and have never been destructive. Gravy is extremely healthy and fit. Biscuit is doing just fine, she is still very happy and gets exercise, but she has a cherry eye, and we suspect hip problems. This is a little more personal, but Gravy is so precious and gentle. Rather than tearing up stuffed animals, she is very careful with them, and snuggles them. (Which I think really shows a lot about her personality and temperament). To conclude, I would absolutely recommend this breed as long as you have space to run them. You will create a beautiful bond, and treated right, they will love you for life.
3 years, 11 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd