If you've considered getting a Weimaraner, you probably have a lot of questions. With every breed to you need to make sure that their temperament fits your lifestyle.
Is a Weimaraner great dog for a family with children? Are they great with other pets? Let's find out! If you have a question that's not listed here, please contact me at dana@weimaranerplanet.com!
General Information
How Do You Pronounce 'Weimaraner'?
Weimaraner is pronounced like this:
[ vahy-muh-rah-ner, wahy-, wahy-muh-rey- ]
If you'd like an audio example, listen below.
What are the types of Weimaraners?
There are short-haired and long-haired variants of Weimaraner. I've written a post where I explain more about the various types of Weimaraners.
Do Weimaraners keep their blue eyes?
Weimaraner puppies have sky-blue eyes when they are born but unfortunately, most Weims don't keep their blue eyes.
Most Weimaraners have pale to dark amber eyes, some Weims get more greyish looking eyes. Check out my post about Weimaraner's eyes here!
What color can Weimaraners be?
The breed standard calls for shades of silver, roe or mouse gray. White markings are allowed on the chest and toes. Some Weims have what is called "an eel stripe", which is a darker colored stripe of hair along their back. Learn more about the types of Weimaraners here.
There are also blue Weimaraners but they are not recognized as standard and blue color is considered a disqualifying fault. You can read more about Blue Weimaraners here.
Do Weimaraners have long tails?
Yes, Weimaraners are born with long tails. The breed standard calls for a docked tail where permitted by law.
It really depends on the individual Weimaraner and individual pet. Weimaraners are a hunting breed and a lot of them have a strong hunting instinct. This may not bode well for smaller animals around the house.
That being said, Weimaraners can and do live with cats quite happily. I've written an article about Weims and cats here.
Can Weimaraners live in an apartment?
Yes! Weimaraners are absolutely fine in an apartment. All they need is enough exercise and to be with their owner. In some ways, an apartment can be better for a Weim since they're in much closer proximity to their owner than in a house with large garden.
Yes, you can definitely test your dog's DNA to find out whether they're a Weimaraner or a mix of few breeds.
The best dog DNA kit is definitely by EmbarkVet, you can choose whether you want a simple breed identification or whether you want identification and their genetic condition and traits.
Weimaraner Behavior
Are Weimaraners aggressive?
Weimaraners are generally not aggressive. They are balanced, friendly and loyal, yet they are vigilant. If there's danger, they don't hesitate to defend their owner. Once the danger has passed, they go back to being friendly (unlike aggressive dogs).
Of course any dog may become aggressive without proper guidance and training. Make sure your dog has a lot of mental training on top of physical. If you're struggling with coming up with ideas, check out this great training course.
Do Weimaraners bark a lot?
Weimaraners bark only when necessary. However, if the dog suffers from separation anxiety, they may bark a lot.
Do Weimaraners like to cuddle?
I've found that a lot of Weim owners claim that male dogs are more cuddly, whereas female dogs are less cuddly and more standoffish.
But then there are owners with female Weims who are practically stuck to their side. So I'd say that it really depends on the individual dog.
You can also try food supplements, for example Harmony by the brand Front of the Pack.
What is a velcro dog?
Weimaraners are knows as "velcro dogs" for their need to be with their owners 24/7. They will follow you even to the bathroom. I wrote an article about clingy Weimaraners here.
Unfortunately this characteristic can be problematic and Weimaraners often suffer from separation anxiety. More on separation anxiety in my article.
Why does my Weimaraner follow me everywhere?
Weimaraners are very close to their owners and are very loyal. They are also called "velcro dogs" because they don't want to be separated from their people. They will follow you everywhere, including the bathroom.
Some (but not all) Weimaraners are prone to a behavior called "nooking". It's kneading and sucking on toys, blankets and other soft things as means of comfort.
Nooking isn't chewing, so the items don't get destroyed and there's no danger of them swallowing something they shouldn't.
If you're looking to purchase a Weimaraner puppy from a reputable breeder, it can go as low as $400 and as high as $3,000. Everything depends on the breeder's location, the size of the litter and the history of the parents (whether they're champions or not), the length and color of their coat.
Sometimes people may offer puppies above or below these price ranges but that may not be a good thing as that can indicate either an inexperienced breeder or a puppy mill.
Why are miniature Weimaraners so expensive?
Miniature Weimaraners DO NOT exist. If some person tries to sell you a "miniature Weimaraner" puppy, steer clear! It's likely that they come from a puppy mill or they are breeding the runt of the litters with no regard to the dog's health. Only purchase puppies from reputable breeders!
If you've seen a miniature Weimaraner, it most likely was a fawn colored Dachshund.
What exercise is appropriate for a Weimaraner puppy?
A good rule of thumb is to do 5 minutes of exercise for every month your puppy has. However, do not run with your puppy or let them jump. You can let them freerun if you have somewhere to do that.
Otherwise you can tire your puppy out simply by training obedience at first! :)
Weimaraner Health
What health problems do Weimaraners have?
Weimaraners are prone to bloat (gas-filled stomach flips, causing shock - EMERGENCY!), hip dysplasia, autoimmune disorders.
Next are injuries related to hunting - scrapes, cuts, broken bones, tail injuries if it's undocked.
My Weim has a health issue and my vet isn't available! What do I do?
In non-emergency, you can try contacting a different vet to see if they will help you. You can also join a Facebook group Pet Vet Corner, where only veterinarians are allowed to reply to people's concerns.
There is also a paid service that gets you 24/7 access to a certified vet either by phone, text or video chat for only $10/month (or $60/year) that you can cancel anytime. Check out Pawp here!
If it's an emergency (like bloat), make sure you have contact to a 24/7 vet emergency clinic!
If your Weim has eaten or been exposed to something, you can save a trip to the vet by calling the Animal Poison Control Centre in your country:
Animal Poison Control Centre - +1 (855) 764-7661 (USA) - $75 per incident
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center - +1 (888) 426-4435 (USA, Canada) - Fee may apply
Australian Animal Poisons Helpline - 1300 869 738 (Australia), 0800 869 738 (New Zealand) - free in operational hours for AUS and NZ pet owners, $65 outside of hours
They will calculate if the poison ingested/exposed needs urgent veterinary care based on your dog's age, weight and amount eaten/exposed.
Weimaraner Care
Do Weimaraners shed?
Yes, Weimaraners do shed! It's not as visible if you have a short-haired Weimaraner but they do shed nonetheless. The amount of shedding depends on the individual.
All dogs are different and not every food will suit every Weim. If you're feeding commercial dry/wet food, always make sure it's scientifically backed and follows WSAVA guidelines. Grain-free foods are not recommended.
You can feed your dog raw diet if you follow a few precautions handling raw meat.
I wrote the following articles on suitable food for Weimaraners:
I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my full affiliate disclosure here.
If you’ve considered getting a Weimaraner, you probably have a lot of questions. With every breed to you need to make sure that their temperament fits your lifestyle.
Is a Weimaraner great dog for a family with children? Are they great with other pets? Let’s find out! If you have a question that’s not listed here, please contact me at dana@weimaranerplanet.com!
There are short-haired and long-haired variants of Weimaraner. I’ve written a post where I explain more about the various types of Weimaraners.
Do Weimaraners keep their blue eyes?
Weimaraner puppies have sky-blue eyes when they are born but unfortunately, most Weims don’t keep their blue eyes.
Most Weimaraners have pale to dark amber eyes, some Weims get more greyish looking eyes. Check out my post about Weimaraner’s eyes here!
What color can Weimaraners be?
The breed standard calls for shades of silver, roe or mouse gray. White markings are allowed on the chest and toes. Some Weims have what is called “an eel stripe”, which is a darker colored stripe of hair along their back. Learn more about the types of Weimaraners here.
There are also blue Weimaraners but they are not recognized as standard and blue color is considered a disqualifying fault. You can read more about Blue Weimaraners here.
Do Weimaraners have long tails?
Yes, Weimaraners are born with long tails. The breed standard calls for a docked tail where permitted by law.
It really depends on the individual Weimaraner and individual pet. Weimaraners are a hunting breed and a lot of them have a strong hunting instinct. This may not bode well for smaller animals around the house.
That being said, Weimaraners can and do live with cats quite happily. I’ve written an article about Weims and cats here.
Can Weimaraners live in an apartment?
Yes! Weimaraners are absolutely fine in an apartment. All they need is enough exercise and to be with their owner. In some ways, an apartment can be better for a Weim since they’re in much closer proximity to their owner than in a house with large garden.
Yes, you can definitely test your dog’s DNA to find out whether they’re a Weimaraner or a mix of few breeds.
The best dog DNA kit is definitely by EmbarkVet, you can choose whether you want a simple breed identification or whether you want identification and their genetic condition and traits.
Weimaraner Behavior
Are Weimaraners aggressive?
Weimaraners are generally not aggressive. They are balanced, friendly and loyal, yet they are vigilant. If there’s danger, they don’t hesitate to defend their owner. Once the danger has passed, they go back to being friendly (unlike aggressive dogs).
Of course any dog may become aggressive without proper guidance and training. Make sure your dog has a lot of mental training on top of physical. If you’re struggling with coming up with ideas, check out this great training course.
Do Weimaraners bark a lot?
Weimaraners bark only when necessary. However, if the dog suffers from separation anxiety, they may bark a lot.
Do Weimaraners like to cuddle?
I’ve found that a lot of Weim owners claim that male dogs are more cuddly, whereas female dogs are less cuddly and more standoffish.
But then there are owners with female Weims who are practically stuck to their side. So I’d say that it really depends on the individual dog.
You can also try food supplements, for example Harmony by the brand Front of the Pack.
What is a velcro dog?
Weimaraners are knows as “velcro dogs” for their need to be with their owners 24/7. They will follow you even to the bathroom. I wrote an article about clingy Weimaraners here.
Unfortunately this characteristic can be problematic and Weimaraners often suffer from separation anxiety. More on separation anxiety in my article.
Why does my Weimaraner follow me everywhere?
Weimaraners are very close to their owners and are very loyal. They are also called “velcro dogs” because they don’t want to be separated from their people. They will follow you everywhere, including the bathroom.
Some (but not all) Weimaraners are prone to a behavior called “nooking”. It’s kneading and sucking on toys, blankets and other soft things as means of comfort.
Nooking isn’t chewing, so the items don’t get destroyed and there’s no danger of them swallowing something they shouldn’t.
If you’re looking to purchase a Weimaraner puppy from a reputable breeder, it can go as low as $400 and as high as $3,000. Everything depends on the breeder’s location, the size of the litter and the history of the parents (whether they’re champions or not), the length and color of their coat.
Sometimes people may offer puppies above or below these price ranges but that may not be a good thing as that can indicate either an inexperienced breeder or a puppy mill.
Why are miniature Weimaraners so expensive?
Miniature Weimaraners DO NOT exist. If some person tries to sell you a “miniature Weimaraner” puppy, steer clear! It’s likely that they come from a puppy mill or they are breeding the runt of the litters with no regard to the dog’s health. Only purchase puppies from reputable breeders!
If you’ve seen a miniature Weimaraner, it most likely was a fawn colored Dachshund.
What exercise is appropriate for a Weimaraner puppy?
A good rule of thumb is to do 5 minutes of exercise for every month your puppy has. However, do not run with your puppy or let them jump. You can let them freerun if you have somewhere to do that.
Otherwise you can tire your puppy out simply by training obedience at first! 🙂
Weimaraner Health
What health problems do Weimaraners have?
Weimaraners are prone to bloat (gas-filled stomach flips, causing shock – EMERGENCY!), hip dysplasia, autoimmune disorders.
Next are injuries related to hunting – scrapes, cuts, broken bones, tail injuries if it’s undocked.
My Weim has a health issue and my vet isn’t available! What do I do?
In non-emergency, you can try contacting a different vet to see if they will help you. You can also join a Facebook group Pet Vet Corner, where only veterinarians are allowed to reply to people’s concerns.
There is also a paid service that gets you 24/7 access to a certified vet either by phone, text or video chat for only $10/month (or $60/year) that you can cancel anytime. Check out Pawp here!
If it’s an emergency (like bloat), make sure you have contact to a 24/7 vet emergency clinic!
If your Weim has eaten or been exposed to something, you can save a trip to the vet by calling the Animal Poison Control Centre in your country:
Animal Poison Control Centre – +1 (855) 764-7661 (USA) – $75 per incident
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center – +1 (888) 426-4435 (USA, Canada) – Fee may apply
Australian Animal Poisons Helpline – 1300 869 738 (Australia), 0800 869 738 (New Zealand) – free in operational hours for AUS and NZ pet owners, $65 outside of hours
They will calculate if the poison ingested/exposed needs urgent veterinary care based on your dog’s age, weight and amount eaten/exposed.
Weimaraner Care
Do Weimaraners shed?
Yes, Weimaraners do shed! It’s not as visible if you have a short-haired Weimaraner but they do shed nonetheless. The amount of shedding depends on the individual.
All dogs are different and not every food will suit every Weim. If you’re feeding commercial dry/wet food, always make sure it’s scientifically backed and follows WSAVA guidelines. Grain-free foods are not recommended.
You can feed your dog raw diet if you follow a few precautions handling raw meat.
I wrote the following articles on suitable food for Weimaraners:
