Weimaraner

The Weimaraner is athletic in appearance. Traditionally, the tail is docked. In countries where docking is still carried out, the docked tail should measure approximately 6 inches in the adult dog, according to the American Kennel Club breed standard. Tail docking is illegal in several countries, where the breed is shown with an entire tail. The British Kennel Club breed standard describes a tail reaching to the hocks and carried below the level of the back when relaxed, and the German breed club standard calls for a full tail that is strong and well coated and can be carried above the line of the back when the dog is working. Weimaraners possess webbed paws, making them great water dogs.

The eyes of the Weimaraner may be light amber, grey, or blue-grey, and the ears are long and velvety.

Long-haired Weimaraner

This breed's short coat and unusual eyes give it a distinctive regal appearance. The coat is extremely low-maintenance, short, hard, and smooth to the touch, and may range from charcoal-blue to mouse-grey to silver-grey or even blue-grey. Where the fur is thin or non-existent, inside the ears or on the lips for example, the skin should be pinkish rather than white or black. The Weimaraner does not have an undercoat, so extreme cold should be avoided. Although the coat is short, this breed does shed.

In November 2009 and on January 1, 2010, the United Kennel Club (UKC) removed the disqualification from Blue and Longhair Weimaraners. A black coat remains an automatic disqualification, though a small white marking in the chest area only is permitted. Dogs with blue coats are disqualified from conformation/show competition,[8] but are recognized as purebred Weimaraners by the AKC. There is another incidental variety, described as having the "mark of the hound", where the dog is the usual grey colour but with faint tan markings (similar to Doberman Pinschers). Weimaraners can have any of several unique physical characteristics such as small lobes on the inside of the ear, known as "Harrasburg Horns", and very light-grey patches between the ears, known as "Grafmar's Caps".[9]

A long-haired variety is recognized by most kennel clubs around the world except the American Kennel Club. The long-haired Weimaraner has a silky coat with an undocked, feathered tail. The gene is recessive, so breeding will produce some long-haired puppies only if both parents carry the trait.

According to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard, the male Weimaraner stands 59 to 70 cm (23 to 28 in) at the withers. Females are 57 to 65 cm (22 to 26 in). Males normally weigh about 30–40 kg (66–88 lb). Females are generally 25–35 kg (55–77 lb).[1] A Weimaraner should give the appearance of a muscular, athletic dog.

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  Short-haired male
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  Female Weimaraner, short-haired
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  Female Weimaraner, long-haired
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  Weimaraner with uncropped tail
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  Weimaraner
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  Short-haired male Weimaraner
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  Blue male weimaraner with short hair and docked tail
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  A 10-year-old male Weimaraner
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  Weimaraner playing
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  Grand Duke Karl August of Weimar

Weimaraner portrait

Weimaraner ascending spread jump

The Weimaraner is an energetic hunting dog, prized for its physical endurance and stamina, with a strong, instinctive prey-drive. It may tolerate cats but usually does not, tending to follow the urge to hunt—no matter how long it has known a particular cat—and is likely to chase and kill any small animal that enters the garden. A Weimaraner requires frequent exercise and will appreciate games and play. An active owner is more likely to provide the vigorous exercise and games required. A Weimaraner requires appropriate training to learn how to be calm and control its behavior.

The Weimaraner has an excessive amount of energy that requires a good outlet. It is a well-rounded hunting dog that excels at hunting, tracking, pointing, and retrieving both on land and in the water. The Weimaraner is a very people-oriented breed, having a very strong desire to work and live with its owner, making it a good choice for the novice hunter. It requires a gentle touch when training to hunt and it often learns best from a seasoned hunting dog.[10]

Weimaraners are not an independent breed and love to be with their owners, never leaving them alone, a trait that can create very severe separation anxiety in the breed.[10] The causes of separation anxiety are not always known, but there are contributing factors, including genetics, litter rearing, poor socialization, boredom, and stress. Weimaraners with severe separation anxiety can destroy property or injure themselves in trying to escape. Good training can curb some of the separation anxiety. A Weimaraner with separation anxiety is likely to bark, whine, howl, and even dig until its owner returns home.[11] Further manifestations of this problem can include panicking and excessive drooling, along with destructive behaviors and injury.