Dog Portraits - Weimaraner Dog Portrait

The Weimaraner is a silver-grey dog that was orignally bred for hunting in the early 19th century. Early Weimaraners were used by royalty for hunting large game, such as boar, bears, deer, and foxes. As the popularity of large game hunting began to decline, Weimaraners were used for hunting smaller animals, like fowl, rabbits, and foxes. Rather than having a specific purpose such as pointing or flushing, the Weimaraner is an all purpose gun dog. The Weimaraner is loyal and loving to his family, an incredible hunter, and a fearless guardian of his family and territory. The name comes from the Grand Duke of Weimar Karl August, whose court enjoyed hunting.

This breed's short and very smooth grey coat and its unusual eyes give it a regal appearance different from any other breed. However, the breed has been deemed very similar to the Vizsla. However, the Vizsla is a much older breed. The eyes of the Weimaraner may be light amber, gray, or blue-gray. The coat may range from mouse-grey to silver-grey, it has been elegantly described as "moonlight on chocolate". Where the fur is thin or non-existent, inside the ears or on the lips, for example, the skin should be a pinkish tone rather than white or black.

The silvery-gray colour is rare in dogs and is the result of breeding for a recessive gene. It has also lent the breed the nickname 'silver ghost' or 'gray ghost.' The coat is extremely low maintenance; it is short, hard, and smooth to the touch.