Canis lupus familiaris
Weimaraner
Featured photoweimaraner.jpgThe Weimaraner is a German aristocratic big-game pointing-dog known as the Grey Ghost for its silver coat. The Weimaraner was developed in the early 19th century at the court of Grand Duke Karl August of Weimar (Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach), Germany, as a noble's hunting dog for big-game pursuit.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Sporting
- Origin country
- Germany
- Origin period
- Early 19th century
- Coat type
- Short
- Coat colors
- Silver Grey, Mouse Grey, Roe Grey
- Average lifespan
- 10-13 years
- Recognition
- AKC 1943 · FCI 1954 · UKC 1949 · Group 7 — Pointing Dogs (Section 1.1: Continental Pointing Dogs, Braque type)
Origin
The breed was developed in the early 19th century at the court of Grand Duke Karl August of Weimar, in the German state of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. Foundation breeding likely involved Bloodhound, German Shorthaired Pointer, and an unspecified grey hunting-dog line; the breed was originally used to pursue large game such as boar, deer, and bear. The Weimaraner Club of Germany was founded in 1897 and maintained tight control over the breed, refusing membership to anyone who would breed outside the club's approved bloodlines until 1929.
Recognition
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1943, the United Kennel Club followed in 1949, and the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 99) in 1954. The FCI assigns the breed to Group 7 — Pointing Dogs (Section 1.1: Continental Pointing Dogs, Braque type).
Standard
The AKC and FCI standards describe a medium-large, athletic dog of aristocratic bearing, with a graceful gait and a deep, well-developed chest. The short, smooth coat is the breed's defining feature: solid silver grey, mouse grey, or roe grey, with no markings except a small white spot on the chest permitted. Eyes are amber, blue-grey, or grey. A long-haired variety is recognized by the FCI but not by the AKC. Males stand 59-69 cm at the withers, females 56-64 cm.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-05-04
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-04
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-05-04
Frequently asked questions
What is the Weimaraner's AKC group?
The American Kennel Club places the Weimaraner in the Sporting Group. The Sporting Group gathers pointers, setters, retrievers, and spaniels — breeds developed to assist hunters in locating, flushing, or retrieving game birds. The breed's foundation working role was as a German aristocratic big-game pointing-dog known as the Grey Ghost for its silver coat.
When was the Weimaraner officially recognized?
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1943; the United Kennel Club followed in 1949; the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 99) in 1954.
What is the average lifespan of a Weimaraner?
Kennel-club longevity surveys place the Weimaraner's average lifespan in the 10-13 years range. The figure here represents the spread reported by the major parent-club studies and the Kennel Club (UK) purebred-dog health surveys.
