Weimaraner Dog Breed

These dogs make fabulous family pets if you meet their needs.

But they can be challenging throughout puppyhood and adolescence. You should expect a lot of boisterousness, jumping up, running into people, and nipping at clothing. This is often a bit much for younger children to cope with. In fact, some adults may even struggle if they’re first-time dog owners.

The best fit for this breed is an active family with older children who love being out in the countryside for hours on end. They’ll also need to be old enough to get involved in play and training sessions, and not be put off by a big, grey lively force of nature! 

As long as you give them everything they need, Weimaraners are an incredibly affectionate breed. They’re known for forming very strong bonds with their humans. So, sharing your sofa, or maybe even your bed, is something to prepare for if you choose to share your life with this breed.

There is a slight downside to their affectionate nature. They really don’t like to be away from their special people. This means they’re not suited to homes where they’ll need to be left home alone for extended or regular periods of time.

Yes! Like all gun dogs with working roots, they love to play, but more importantly they absolutely need to play.

It’s essential the Weimaraner has an outlet for their natural innate desire to use their nose and bring items to their human.

Scent games also go down well with this breed. This involves searching the house, garden, or rural setting for their favourite toy. It’s a great game for the whole family to get involved in!

Playing games of fetch is vital too. But, please don’t be tempted to use a ball chucker for long periods. This isn’t ideal for their joints and could increase their already high stamina levels!

A playful breed like the Weimaraner needs someone who has the time and energy to keep up with them. 

Weimaraner's make amazing guard dogs. Their loyal nature makes them a great protector of your home. Whilst unlikely to follow through with aggression, they’ll certainly make their presence known when someone knocks on your door. Or when they sense a potential intruder. Their loud deep bark is usually enough to keep people away!

On the other hand, they’re quiet workers. So, if their needs are met, they’re usually not a vocal breed. But this can change – a bored or frustrated Weimaraner will use their voice to let you know how they’re feeling, and this can become problematic.

Like any breed with a lot of energy and a working background, the Weimaraner can develop behavioural issues if they don’t get the exercise and mental stimulation they need.

A lack of socialisation and training can also be a major contributor of unwanted behaviour. If you don’t meet their needs, Weimaraners can become nuisance barkers. Not only that, but they may also become destructive and/or dig up your garden.

Missing out on exercise can result in them escaping from your house or garden. You’ll need to be careful with loose-lead walking – they’re very strong and enthusiastic about everything! These dogs’ high chase/prey drive can lead to them running off on walks and becoming a danger to wildlife.

Weimaraners are lively youngsters who often like to jump up, nip at clothing and mouth hands. Their strong attachment to their family can lead to separation related issues such as barking, howling and destructiveness.  

Weimaraners are happiest living in a suburban or rural home with a good-sized, secure garden. They’re not a small breed (as we’ve mentioned!) and like to stretch out on the floor, sofa or even your bed!

These energetic dogs need outdoor-loving humans who can cope with their exercise and training needs, as well as their love for playtime and companionship.

If you have a job or social life which involves spending a lot of time away from home, you might want to consider another breed.

This breed can live with other dogs if they’re socialised well. They get on with cats too, but it’s better if they’re introduced when your dog is still a puppy. When it comes to small pets though, they’re not a good match because of their high chase/prey drive.  

A Weimaraner needs at least two one-hour off-lead walks a day.

They have incredible stamina and would run across fields for hours when doing what they were bred to do.

It will come as no surprise that they make ideal hiking or running partners. They also love to paddle and swim – a game of fetch involving water is a winner with these dogs!

Whilst exercise is important, it’s not the only thing they need. Their brains need as much, if not more, exercise than their bodies. This means interactive play such as retrieve games and independent play including scent games, as well as puzzle games that involve food or treats. Learning new skills and/or tricks are also key to keeping your grey shadow happy.

The Weimaraner is fairly straightforward to train. They’re both food and toy motivated, so positive reinforcement is easy to provide.

Kind, fair, and effective training is essential for this breed. They can have a sensitive side, and punishment-based approaches will likely damage the relationship between dog and handler.

The Weimaraners’ independent streak stems from what they were originally bred to do – these dogs need to follow their instincts. This is ideal in a working dog but it can be challenging in a home environment.

Like all puppies, this breed needs socialisation so they can cope with the sights and sounds of day-to-day life. Habituation is also important as it helps them learn what to ignore and not be afraid of.

Weimaraners can be challenging throughout puppyhood and adolescence due to their high energy and busy brain. But hang in there, and your hard work will pay off once they reach maturity.  

Weimaraners are moderate shedders. Regular grooming will ensure that their silvery grey hair won’t cause you too much of a problem.

You’ll need a slicker brush and a rubber glove to keep their coats soft and shiny. A bristle brush will get rid of any dried mud after enjoying themselves in the countryside.

Regular grooming sessions give you the opportunity to check your dog’s body over for lumps, cuts or unwanted parasites. 

The best way to help your Weimaraner live a long, happy life, is through a healthy lifestyle. This includes regular veterinary check-ups, protection from infectious diseases and parasites, and a good quality nutritious diet.

Like all breeds, Weimaraners can be affected by certain heath conditions, including: 

• Hip dysplasia (malformed hip joints) 
• Elbow dysplasia (malformed elbow joints) 
• Entropion (eyelashes rubbing against eye)

Being a deep-chested breed, Weimaraners are also prone to bloat, otherwise known as gastric torsion. This is a life-threatening condition that involves the stomach twisting and putting pressure on the abdomen, it is fatal if not urgently treated. Please research this condition if you’re considering this or any other deep chested breed – it could save your dog’s life.