Dogs similar to the Weimaraner have existed in Germany since the 17th Century but it was not until the early 1800's that the breed as we know it today was developed. At the court of the Grand Duke Karl August of Weimar, the breed was bred specifically as an all-purpose hunting dog for the nobility and, once perfected, was closely guarded until 1896. In that year, the Weimaraner was officially recognised in Germany due to the efforts of a small group of sportsmen. The following year, the same group formed the Weimaraner Club of Germany and only members of the club were allowed to breed the prestigious dog. Bred as a hard-working hunter, the Weimaraner enjoys plenty of outdoor activity.

Appearance
The Weimaraner is elegant, noble, and athletic in appearance. All parts of the dog should be in balance with each other, creating a form that is pleasing to the eye. The Weimaraner must be capable of working in the field, regardless of whether it is from show stock or hunting stock, and faults that will interfere with working ability are heavily penalized.
The tails, which may be amber or gray, are kept short. In some cases, tails are docked and dewclaws are removed, the tail usually docked at birth to a third of its natural length.

There is a long-haired variety of the Weimaraner that is recognized by most kennel clubs around the world except in North America. The Weimaraner has a silky coat, with an undocked feathered tail and legs. Because the gene is recessive, breeding two long-haired Weimaraners only produces long-haired puppies. Breeding of a long-haired Weimaraner to a short-haired Weimaraner will produce some long-haired puppies only if the short-haired parent carries the recessive longhair gene. Otherwise, the offspring will all be short-haired.

Character
The Weimaraner is an alert and friendly dog breed. Energetic and intelligent, the Weimaraner needs an active and confident owner to train, socialise and exercise it. The Weimaraner makes an excellent watchdog.

It should never be forgotten that the Weimaraner is a hunting dog and therefore has a strong, instinctive prey drive. Weimaraners will tolerate cats, as long as they are introduced to the cats as puppies, and many will chase and frequently kill almost any small animal that enters their garden or backyard. In rural areas, most Weimaraners will not hesitate to chase deer or sheep. However, with good training, these instincts can be curtailed to some degree. A properly trained Weimaraner is a wonderful companion that will never leave its master's side.
 

Temperament
Weimaraners are fast and powerful dogs, but are also suitable home animals given appropriate training. These dogs are not as sociable towards strangers like other hunting dogs such as the Labrador and Golden Retrievers. Weimaraners are very protective of their family and are very territorial. They are aloof to strangers, and must be thoroughly socialized when young to prevent aggression. From adolescence, a Weimaraner requires extensive exercise in keeping with an energetic hunting dog. No walk is too far, and they will appreciate games and play in addition. An active owner is more likely to provide the vigourous exercising, games, or running that this breed needs. Weimaraners are high-strung and easily excitable, requiring appropriate training to learn how to calm them and to help them learn to control their behavior. Owners need patience, as this breed is particularly rambunctious during the first year and a half of its life. Like many breeds, untrained and unconfined young Weimaraners often create their own diversions when left alone, such as chewing house quarters and furniture.

Exercise/Training
The Weimaraner loves to run, and it needs daily mental and physical exercise to keep it from becoming frustrated. No walk can be to long. The Weimaraner also can be a good companion for jogging, hiking ore running along side a bike. Playing and obedience are very good types of mental exercise. 20 minutes obedience and playing with your Weimaraner will be more useful for the dogs exercise then a walk on the leash can provide.

Color
The Weimaraner’s short, smooth gray coat and its unusual eyes give it a regal appearance different from any other breed. The eyes may be light amber, gray, or blue-gray. The coat may range from mouse-gray (grayish beige or tan) to silver-gray. The nose should be a dark gray. Where the fur is thin or non-existent, inside the ears or on the lips, for example, the skin should be a pinkish "flesh" tone rather than white or black.

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC) standard, a distinctly blue or black coat is an automatic disqualification, though a small white marking in the chest area only is permitted.

Grooming
The coat of the Weimaraner needs only a very little grooming and coat maintenance. A good nutrition and regular brushing keeps the proper coat shine and the skin healthy. Bathing doesn’t harm the coat of the Weimaraner as long as you use a good quality shampoo that doesn't dry the skin and coat and is formulated for a canine coat. The ears of the Weimaraner should be kept clean and regularly inspected as well.

Any breed described as "good with children", the dog must be accustomed to children. Any dog that is not well socialized with children will not behave predictably around them. As with all dogs, they should never be left alone with young children.