Personality
Weimaraners are often described as velcro dogs - they want to be wherever you are, ideally in physical contact, and they express strong opinions about being left behind. They're highly intelligent, intensely bonded to their families, and sensitive to the emotional atmosphere of the household.
This closeness is part of the appeal for owners who want a deeply engaged companion. It's also the source of the breed's most common difficulty: separation anxiety. A Weimaraner who hasn't been trained from puppyhood to be comfortable alone, and who's always been taken everywhere, often cannot be left at all as an adult. The transition from constant company to occasional alone time, if done gradually and systematically from the start, produces a dog who can cope. Rushing this, or assuming it will happen naturally, usually doesn't.
They're challenging for first-time owners. Not because they're difficult in temperament, but because their intelligence, stamina, and emotional intensity require confident, experienced handling.
Exercise
Two or more hours daily, with genuine variety and intensity. Weimaraners were bred for sustained fieldwork - hunting for hours across varied terrain - and a pavement walk doesn't meet that need. They need to run, ideally off-lead in safe areas, and they benefit significantly from activities that channel their drive: gundog work, tracking, canicross, agility.
Mental stimulation is as important as physical exercise. Training sessions, scent work, and problem-solving activities contribute to a settled dog. A Weimaraner who's had both physical and mental exercise is significantly more relaxed than one who's only walked.
Under-exercised Weimaraners become destructive, anxious, and difficult to live with. This is a predictable outcome of insufficient provision, not a temperament fault.
Weight and Feeding
Adult weight is 25–40 kg, with males at the upper end. The lean, muscular build means visible ribs (though not sharp, protruding ones) are normal. Feed a quality complete diet appropriate to their activity level - working or highly active individuals need more than sedentary dogs.
Health
Weimaraners are generally a healthy breed, but there are several conditions worth knowing about.
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus) is a significant risk. Weimaraners are deep-chested dogs and one of the breeds at elevated GDV risk. Learn the signs - distended abdomen, unproductive retching, drooling, restlessness - and treat as an emergency. Feeding two or three smaller meals rather than one large one, avoiding exercise around feeding times, and discussing prophylactic gastropexy with your vet are all reasonable considerations. Track Bloat (GDV) →
Hip dysplasia: BVA hip scoring recommended for breeding dogs. The breed's energetic lifestyle means joint health matters throughout their life. Track Hip Dysplasia →
Entropion (inward-rolling eyelids causing the eyelashes to abrade the cornea) occurs in some Weimaraners. Signs include eye discharge, squinting, and apparent discomfort. Surgical correction is available.
Von Willebrand's disease - a clotting disorder - is seen in the breed, though less commonly than in some others. Awareness is relevant for any surgical procedure.
Spinal dysraphism - a developmental neurological defect affecting some Weimaraner lines - causes abnormal hindlimb gait and neurological signs from puppyhood. It's present from birth. Reputable breeders select against affected lines.
Separation anxiety is not a medical condition but is one of the most significant welfare concerns in the breed. A Weimaraner who can't be left alone isn't a happy dog. This should be treated as seriously as any health issue and addressed early with appropriate training and, when needed, veterinary support including medication.
Grooming
The short, silver-grey coat is one of the breed's defining features and requires minimal maintenance. A weekly brush with a rubber mitt removes dead hair. They shed moderately.
Ears should be checked and cleaned monthly. Nails need regular trimming in dogs who don't walk on hard surfaces.
Common Conditions to Watch
- Bloat signs: know them by heart; act immediately
- Hip stiffness or gait changes: dysplasia screening
- Eye discharge or squinting: entropion assessment
- Separation behaviour: monitor closely in the first year; address early
- Weight: monthly check; lean muscle is correct; obesity is a risk
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Weimaraners good family dogs? For the right family, yes - they're affectionate, patient with children who respect them, and deeply loyal. The right family provides genuine daily exercise, consistent training, and company. The wrong family is one who underestimates the exercise and attention requirements.
Do Weimaraners ever calm down? They mature somewhat between two and three years and become a bit less manic as adolescents. The underlying drive, intelligence, and need for engagement doesn't go away - it becomes more focused and manageable. A well-trained five-year-old Weimaraner is a very different dog from an under-exercised two-year-old, even if the genetics are the same.
Can Weimaraners be left alone? With appropriate training from puppyhood, yes - for moderate periods (up to 4–5 hours). Without it, many can't manage at all. A Weimaraner puppy who's taken everywhere and never left alone doesn't learn to cope with solitude, and this is very hard to address once established. Start short absences from day one, build gradually, and don't assume they'll be fine.
Do Weimaraners point? Many do, instinctively - the breed retains strong gun dog instincts including pointing, tracking, and retrieving. These instincts can be channelled into formal gundog work or informal field games and provide excellent mental engagement.