Weimaraner (Short-haired)

Also known as: Grey Ghost, Weimarama, Weimeraner, Wiemaraner, Weimarener

The short-haired Weimaraner is the more common variety, tracing back to the Grand Duchy of Weimar, where 19th-century aristocrats used it to hunt large game. The sleek, metallic grey coat gave the breed its nickname, the grey ghost, earned from its unusual color and quiet, gliding movement. Males can weigh up to 40 kilograms, with a muscular build originally suited to big game rather than just birds. The grey or amber eyes stand out sharply against the coat. The breed needs serious daily exercise, without it the dog tends to grow anxious and vocal. It bonds closely with its family, often following its owner from room to room. Life expectancy runs 10 to 13 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Weimaraner (Short-haired): how old in human years?

57–70 cmHeight
25–40 kgWeight
10–13 yrsLife expectancy

German Shorthaired Pointer

FCI group: Pointing Dogs
FCI section: Section 1.1: Continental Pointing Dogs, Type Braque
FCI: 99
Country of origin: Germany

Energy level

5/5
Trainability

4/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

2/5

At a glance

Height

Males 59–70 cm

Females 57–65 cm

Weight

Males 30–40 kg

Females 25–35 kg

Life expectancy

10–13 yrs

Coat

short, sleek, metallic grey (short)

Temperament & Family Life

Weimaraner (Short-haired)'s average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 3/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 2/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 4/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Weimaraner (Short-haired)'s energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 5/5
Exercise need 5/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 5/5
Hunting instinct 5/5

Guarding & Alertness

Weimaraner (Short-haired)'s guarding and alertness traits are moderate.

Guarding instinct 3/5
Watchfulness 4/5
Barking level 3/5

Grooming & Care

Weimaraner (Short-haired)'s grooming needs are low.

Shedding 3/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 2/5

Living with the Weimaraner (Short-haired)

He will follow you to the kitchen, to the bathroom and back again, and when you sit down he will lean his full weight against your legs, as if checking you are not going anywhere. This silver German pointing dog was bred to work hand in hand with the hunter, and that close bond is its essence: it wants to be near you all the time, and left alone for long it frets and finds its own entertainment.

There is a small power station's worth of energy in this dog. It needs not a walk but a proper workout every single day: long off-lead runs, running beside a bike, scent work, retrieving. It is clever and quick to learn but has opinions of its own, so training calls for consistency and patience. The prey and hunting drive is very strong, and a cat, a hare or a bird can override all your commands in a flash, so start recall training early and introduce smaller pets with great care. A flat is too small for it; it is happiest with a garden and open fields nearby.

In the family it is devoted and affectionate, but big and boisterous enough to knock small children over by accident, so supervise their play. It is reserved with strangers, announces arrivals and keeps watch over its people, and it gets on with other dogs when it has been well socialised from puppyhood. A well-exercised Weimaraner is a calm, almost dignified sofa resident; an under-exercised one is another story entirely.

Grooming and coat

The short, sleek coat with its metallic sheen is easy to keep: once a week, go over it with a rubber brush or grooming mitt, and the dead hair ends up in the brush rather than on your trousers. After a run through the fields, run your hands over the whole dog. A coat this fine offers little protection against thorns, branches and ticks, so look for scratches, bites or red patches straight away. It gives little warmth on a cold winter day either, so a dog coat can help when there is standing around to do.

Drop ears cover the ear canal, so lift them once a week and after every swim, look inside and dry them. A healthy ear is clean, pale and odour-free inside; head shaking or scratching is a reason to see your vet. Check the eyes daily, wiping the corners with a soft damp cloth and watching for squinting or watering.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

Silver-grey, tall and deep in the chest, this dog is built for speed and stamina, and that same deep chest is a reminder of one genuine emergency worth knowing about in advance. Beyond the stomach, keep an eye on the eyelids, the hips and the thyroid. Weimaraners live ten to thirteen years; noticing changes is your job, judging them is your vet's.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Entropion

Entropion means the edge of an eyelid rolls inward, so the lashes rub against the surface of the eye with every blink. You may notice squinting, a watery or red eye, or your dog pawing at its face. This can show up while the dog is still young, so if your puppy keeps one eye half-closed, take it to your vet.
Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a fault in the hip joint: as the puppy grows, the ball of the thigh bone and the socket in the pelvis do not fit together snugly, so the joint is loose and wears over time. You might see stiffness on getting up after rest, a bunny-hop with both hind legs pushing off together, or reluctance on the stairs. For a large, fast, tireless dog, sound hips mean freedom, so ask the breeder about hip X-rays of the parents and talk any change in gait over with your vet.
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)

Bloat is when the stomach fills with gas and can twist on itself, cutting off its own blood supply. The dog becomes restless, looks round at its flank, tries to vomit but brings nothing up, drools heavily, and the belly swells. A Weimaraner's deep, narrow chest puts it among the dogs known to be at risk, so save the number of the nearest out-of-hours clinic in advance: if you see these signs, your dog needs a vet immediately.
Hypothyroidism

In hypothyroidism the thyroid gland makes too little hormone and the whole body slows down. You may notice that a dog who used to keep pace with your bike suddenly turns sluggish, puts on weight without eating more, seeks out warm spots, or that the silver coat loses its sheen or thins. In a dog this energetic, sudden laziness is not a change of character but a reason to talk to your vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (40 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 400 g of dry food a day, from €22,02 a month For a neutered, normally active 32,5 kg dog. Calculate for your dog