Weimaraner
Country/Date of Origin: Germany/early 19th Century
The Weimaraner is an all-around hunter that was bred by aristocratic sportsmen in the Weimar region of Germany. It was jealously guarded and no dogs were sold outside the close knit circle of nobility in the Weimar court. It was most likely created by crossing a Bloodhound type dog with German Shorthaired Pointers to get hunters with a better nose and a larger size. This enabled them to hunt larger game such as wild boar. In 1929, an American named Howard Knight got a pair of dogs ostensibly for breeding purposes, but the Germans had secretly neutered them. These were later replaced with fertile dogs and the breed, amidst a great public relations campaign, flourished in the states. The short haired variety was admitted to the American Kennel Club in 1943 but the long haired variety is still unrecognized here.
Other Names Body Type Personality Coat Health Concerns
Back to TopGray Ghost, Weimar Pointer
AKC Group: Sporting
Breed Club: Weimaraner Club of America
Rescue Club: Rebecca Weimer, (618)236-1466, Illinois
Back to TopBody Type:
- A heavy, muscular hunting pointer
- Height: 22-27 inches (at shoulder)
- Weight: 70-86 pounds
- Long, hanging ears are rounded at tips and not altered
- Tail is docked to about 6" inches long
Personality:
- A one-family dog that is not friendly to strangers
- Intelligent and assertive. A combination that makes for difficulty in training
- Considered too rambunctious for young children
- Bubbles with energy and cannot stand to be confined. Can be very destructive if not given enough exercise
Coat:
- The short, sleek gray coat is the hallmark of the breed
- The gray color is slightly lighter on the head and ears
- The nose is also gray and the eyes are a light amber or blue-gray giving the dog the nickname of "gray ghost"
- Minimal grooming
Health Concerns:
- Hip dysplasia
- Bloat and gastric torsion
- Skin tumors
- Bleeding disorders
- Can become obese, a condition uncommon in high energy hunting dogs
Tasty Tidbits:
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