Sporting breed Large size 25-40 kg

Weimaraner

A striking, high-drive gundog that needs serious daily exercise and near-constant company - separation anxiety is the breed's signature problem.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Large
Size
25-40 kg, 57-70 cm at the shoulder
Very high
Exercise needs
Very high; needs vigorous daily exercise
Low
Alone-time tolerance
Bonds intensely; dislikes long alone time
Easy
Training
Smart and trainable with consistency
Low
Coat care
Short coat, easy upkeep
Good
Fit with kids
Affectionate but boisterous with kids
Moderate
Other pets
Strong prey drive around small animals
Moderate
Health burden
Dental Disease, Hip Dysplasia

The Weimaraner typically weighs 25-40 kg, stands 57-70 cm, and lives 10-13 years.

Consider this breed if…

you run, bike, or hunt and want a big athletic dog beside you daily,
the dog can be with you most of the day - it was bred to shadow one person,
you enjoy training a clever, sometimes pushy adolescent through to adulthood,
you want an easy coat on a demanding dog.

Do not consider this breed if…

the dog would regularly be alone during workdays - this breed is famous for separation anxiety,
an hour's walk is your honest maximum,
cats, rabbits, or poultry share the household,
you want a mellow dog now, not after two to three years of intense adolescence.

A typical day with a Weimaraner

  1. 6:00 · Morning
    60+ min run, bike, or hard off-leash exercise
  2. 9:00 · Midmorning
    Rests wherever you are - a Weim keeps a body part touching you
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Walk with scent games or a retrieve session
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    Training, 15-20 minutes - obedience or field skills
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Second long outing; an under-exercised Weim will not settle tonight
  6. 21:00 · Night
    Sleeps close, ideally in your bedroom - distance stresses it

Temperament and training

Drive to work Very high
Attachment to people Extreme
Prey drive High
Trainability High
Independence Low
Guarding tendency Moderate
Common owner mistakes
Choosing the breed for its looks and discovering the drive later · Never teaching it to be alone, then facing full-blown separation anxiety · Letting a bored adolescent rehearse counter-surfing, digging, and door-bolting

Family and environment

Kids Good
Affectionate, but 35 kg of bounce flattens toddlers; better with school-age kids.
Dogs Good
Generally sociable with proper introductions.
Cats Conditional
Possible when raised together; strong prey drive toward outdoor cats and small pets.
Apartment Conditional
Only with an athlete's schedule; otherwise it dismantles the place.
House with a yard Suitable
Secure fencing matters - a bored Weim jumps and digs.
City Manages
Works if the exercise budget is met outside the city daily.
Countryside Ideal
Room to run and hunt-style work to do.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Moderate

Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.

View the full health profile
Top health concerns
Dental Disease Plaque buildup; routine cleanings help
Hip Dysplasia Screen breeding stock; watch for limping
Elbow Dysplasia Front-limb joint problem in larger dogs
Allergies & Skin Issues Itching and recurrent skin flare-ups

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

Very similar all-round hunting athlete
German Short Haired Pointer
A versatile, athletic gundog that shines with a very active owner, but it needs serious daily exercise and company or it grows restless and destructive.
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Slightly softer, equally velcro pointer
Hungarian Short Haired Pointer
A high-energy, deeply affectionate Vizsla that must be with its people - superb for an active owner, prone to anxiety if left alone or under-exercised.
View profile →
Big short-coated athlete with more independence
Rhodesian Ridgeback
A powerful, independent hound that is loyal and low-shedding but strong-willed - it needs firm early training, real exercise and an experienced owner.
View profile →

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Weimaraner cost?
Expect roughly $1,200-$2,500 from a health-testing breeder in the US, with proven field lines above that. Ongoing costs match a large athletic breed: substantial food bills, joint screening, and vet care over 10-13 years. Deep-chested breeds like this also carry bloat risk, so an emergency fund or insurance is worth having from day one.
Do Weimaraners really have bad separation anxiety?
It is the breed's best-documented behavior problem. Weimaraners were bred to work all day beside one hunter, and that intensity of attachment does not switch off in a family home. Deliberate alone-time training from puppyhood helps a lot, but a household that is empty for full workdays is a poor match, and no amount of exercise fully fixes that.
How much exercise does a Weimaraner need?
Plan on 2 hours of genuine daily activity for an adult - running, biking, field work, or swimming - plus training for its head. A leashed neighborhood walk does not scratch the surface. Under-exercised Weims are the ones chewing drywall and jumping fences; well-worked ones are calm, affectionate house dogs.
Is a Weimaraner good with kids?
With older kids, yes - it is affectionate, playful, and protective of its family. The honest caveat is physical: an adolescent Weim is a big, fast, exuberant dog that knocks small children over without meaning to. Families with toddlers should either wait a few years or commit to serious impulse-control training.