Weimaraner

Weimaraner

Male Weimaraner with docked tail
Other names	Weimaraner Vorstehhund
Common nicknames	Weim Grey Ghost
Origin	Germany
Traits Weight Male 32–37 kg (71–82 lb) Female 25–32 kg (55–71 lb) Height Male 63–68 cm (25–27 in) Female 58–63 cm (23–25 in) Life span 11–14 years
Classification / standards FCI Group 7, Section 1.1 Continental Pointing Dogs: Pointer type #99 standard AKC Sporting standard ANKC Group 3 (Gun dogs) standard CKC Group 1 - Sporting/gundog standard KC (UK) Gundogs standard NZKC Gundogs standard UKC Gun .nsf/Breeds/WeimaranerRevisedJanuary12010
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

The Weimaraner (/ˈvaɪmərɑːnər/ VY-mə-rah-nər) is a largedog that was originally bred for hunting in the early 19th century. Early Weimaraners were used by royalty for hunting large game such as boar, bear, and deer. As the popularity of large game hunting began to decline, Weimaraners were used for hunting smaller animals like fowl, rabbits, and foxes.

The Weimaraner is an all-purpose gun dog. The name comes from the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Karl August, whose court, based in the city of Weimar (now in the state of Thuringia in modern-day Germany), enjoyed hunting.

Today's breed standards are alleged to have developed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. However, Chien-gris dogs, having very similar features to the Weimaraner, have been traced as far back as 13th century in the court of Louis IX of France, during which most aristocrats owned one and used them for hunting. One theory is that the ancestor is the St. Hubert Hound (also known as the Bloodhound and Sleuth Hound). Though these dogs are black, they can produce a grey dog when bred. Like the Vizsla at the time, the breed was created exclusively for the nobility. The aim was to create a noble-looking, reliable gun dog. With its restricted ownership and natural instinct, the breed was highly prized and lived with the family. This was unusual since during this period hunting dogs were kept in kennels in packs. This has resulted in a dog that needs to be near humans and that quickly deteriorates when kenneled. The Weimaraner was an all-purpose family dog, capable of guarding the home, hunting with the family, and of course, being loving and loyal towards children.