Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Overview
The Weimaraner is an old German pointing breed created at the court of the Grand Duke of Weimar in the early 19th century. These dogs were originally used for hunting large game such as deer, boar, and predators, which required strength, courage, and endurance. Later, with the development of firearms, the breed was adapted for versatile hunting work: searching, pointing, retrieving, and tracking wounded game. Selective breeding was strict, allowing the consolidation of the characteristic silver-gray coat, high trainability, cooperative nature, and stable working temperament. In the 20th century, the Weimaraner spread widely across Europe and the United States, where it became valued not only as a hunting dog but also as a sporting, search-and-rescue, and family companion. Today the breed retains its versatility, working style, and aristocratic appearance.
General Appearance
The Weimaraner is a medium-large, harmonious, dry-built dog with defined musculature and noble outlines. The body format is slightly elongated, strong but not heavy. The chest is deep, ribs long, back straight and firm. Musculature is well-developed and athletic. The head is elongated and refined with a characteristic soft expression. Ears are long, broad, pendant, and accentuate the breed’s elegant profile. The coat is short, smooth, close-lying, highlighting clean body lines. Movement is wide, free, and powerful, demonstrating energy and endurance. The overall appearance must convey aristocracy, strength, and purposefulness. Coarseness, looseness, excessive lightness, or insufficient breed type are unacceptable.
Important Proportions
The Weimaraner must have balanced proportions ensuring functional field performance. Height at the withers is slightly less than body length, creating a slightly elongated outline. The chest reaches or slightly surpasses the level of the elbows, providing essential respiratory capacity. Head length is approximately half the body length from withers to tail base. Muzzle and skull are similar in length, creating a harmonious profile. The tail is set high, carried horizontally or slightly above during movement. Limbs are long, dry, and freely angulated, allowing wide movement amplitude. Coat color, texture, and density also contribute to overall proportion. Short-leggedness, narrow chest, and weak bone are serious faults.
Behavior and Temperament
The Weimaraner is a balanced, courageous, intelligent dog oriented toward its handler. It is highly trainable, has strong work motivation, and shows a natural desire to cooperate. In the field, the Weimaraner is initiative-driven, attentive to scent, confident on point, and demonstrates a quick, energetic search pattern. At home, it is affectionate, loyal, and requires close contact with its family. Timidity, excessive excitability, or unprovoked aggression are unacceptable. The temperament must combine softness, confidence, and stress resistance, making the breed suitable for hunting, sport, and service work. A correct Weimaraner is active yet controlled, friendly yet alert, disciplined and emotionally stable.
Head
The head is elongated, dry, noble, with clean, flowing lines and distinct breed expression. The skull is moderately wide, slightly arched, with a subtle but visible median groove. The stop is gradual and not abrupt. The muzzle is strong, well-filled, nearly equal in length to the skull, creating a harmonious profile. Cheeks are dry and moderately defined. Bite is scissor-type; jaws are strong, teeth large and even. The overall head should convey intelligence, softness, and precision of a working dog. Skin fits tightly without wrinkles. Faults include a coarse or barrel-shaped head, excessive heaviness, weak muzzle, steep stop, or narrow skull, all of which compromise breed type.
Foreface
The foreface is proportional, elongated, and strong, with a straight or slightly convex nasal bridge. The nose is large with well-opened nostrils; color is dark and harmonizes with the silver coat. Lips are moderate, not loose, fitting tightly and forming a clean profile. The jaws are powerful, ensuring a confident grip essential for versatile hunting work. The chin is moderate but well defined. The foreface must reflect the elegance of the breed and its working style — precision, focus, and confidence. Faults include weak lower jaw, overly pendulous lips, excessively short or too long muzzle, disharmony of lines, or asymmetry.
Eyes
The eyes are medium-sized, oval, widely set, creating a soft, intelligent, attentive expression. Eye color ranges from light amber to dark hazel; puppies often have blue eyes that darken with age. Eyelids are dry and tight, without looseness or sagging. The expression must be calm, confident, neither aggressive nor overly sharp. The eyes reflect the breed’s character — balanced, emotional, human-oriented. Faults include very light eyes, round or protruding eyes, or loose eyelids. Expression is a key breed trait, revealing intelligence, connection with the handler, and working concentration.
Ears
The ears are long, broad, thin, and soft to the touch, set high—approximately at eye level—and hang along the cheeks with rounded tips. Length reaches the corner of the lips or slightly below, enhancing the head’s elegance. At rest, the ears lie flat without outward turning; when alert, they lift at the base, giving a keen expression. Coat on the ears is short and smooth. Faults include ears that are too short, narrow, thick, set too high or too low, or disrupting head outline harmony. The ears are an important silhouette feature, emphasizing the breed’s noble profile and working intent.
Neck
The neck is long, dry, muscular, and elegantly arched, allowing the head to be carried high and confidently. The smooth transition from neck to shoulders highlights correct shoulder angle and overall balance. Skin fits tightly, with no excess or folds. The neck must be long enough for free head movement during search and point, but not excessively stretched, which would disrupt balance. Short, thick necks or weak musculature are faults. A correct neck supports the breed’s characteristic outline — smooth, noble, athletic — and reflects the Weimaraner’s working style.
Body
The body is strong, slightly elongated, with well-developed musculature and stable proportions enabling prolonged work without fatigue. The chest is deep, reaching or slightly below the elbows; ribs are long and moderately curved, providing significant lung capacity. The back is straight and firm; the loin is short and muscular. The croup is slightly sloped, broad, enabling strong rear propulsion. The underline is smooth with a moderately tucked abdomen. The body must remain athletic and elegant but not overly light or lacking substance. Faults include narrow chest, weak back, excessive length, looseness, or barrel-shaped ribs. Correct body structure is the foundation of endurance and working style.
Tail
The tail is long, thick at the base, gradually tapering. At rest it forms a gentle curve downward; in movement it rises to back level or slightly above but not curled over the back or deviating excessively. The tail follows the dog’s movements, contributing to balance and expression. Traditionally docked in some countries, but a natural tail is a full and valid breed characteristic. Coat on the tail is short and smooth. Faults include overly high tail set, kinks, stiffness, or tail carriage disrupting silhouette. A correct tail completes the outline and fits the breed’s expansive field movement.
Exterior Description
Forequarters
The forequarters are straight, dry, and strong with pronounced but not coarse bone. Shoulders are long, sloping, and well-laid-back, forming correct angulation with the upper arm and enabling wide reach. Upper arms are muscular but not heavy. Elbows point straight back without turning in or out. Forearms are long, vertical, and dry. Pasterns are strong, slightly sloped, absorbing impact. Feet are oval, tight, with arched toes and strong pads. Faults include toeing in or out, weak pasterns, insufficient bone, flat feet, or narrow wrists. Forequarters must ensure confidence, endurance, and free movement across varied terrain.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are strong, broad, and muscular, providing powerful drive. Thighs are long and firm. Lower thighs are also long and dry with well-defined stifle angulation. Hocks are strong, low-set, working on a single axis without inward or outward deviation. Metatarsi are short, vertical, and solid. Feet are compact, oval, with thick pads. Faults include overly straight angulation, weak ligaments, cow-hocks, bow legs, narrow stance, or insufficient musculature, all of which impair movement and performance. Correct hindquarters provide power, speed, and agility required for versatile hunting.
Gait and Movement
The gait is free, wide, expressive, demonstrating strength, endurance, and excellent coordination. Movements should be light yet powerful, with strong rear drive and wide front reach. At the trot, the dog moves smoothly and steadily, maintaining a stable topline and correct rhythm. Movement amplitude is large, enabling efficient field search. At faster speeds, movements become more expansive but remain controlled. Faults include short stride, stiffness, crossing limbs, weak propulsion, body sway, or poor straightness. Correct movement is a primary indicator of working ability, reflecting the breed’s hunting style: energetic, free, enduring, and technically precise.
Coat
The coat is short, smooth, dense, and close-lying, highlighting the dog’s dry, athletic build. Texture is elastic, fine, but not silky. Undercoat is moderate and seasonal, providing protection in cold weather. In the long-haired variety, the coat is softer, fuller, of medium length, with feathering on ears, tail, and hindquarters, yet still functional. Faults include excessively coarse, sparse, soft, or wavy coat in the short-haired type. The coat should not obscure body lines and must provide protection in field work. The Weimaraner’s coat is part of its hallmark appearance, emphasizing silver tones and elegance.
Permitted Colors
The Weimaraner’s primary color is silver-gray in various shades: from light silver to dark gray. Bluish-gray and mouse-gray tones are permitted. All colors must be solid and even, without patches or sharp contrasts. A slightly lighter area on the chest is acceptable. Nose, lips, and eye rims should be dark. White markings are undesirable, especially large patches. Disallowed colors include brown, black, piebald, and any two-tone combinations. Uneven coat coloration disrupting the “metallic” effect is also unacceptable. Color is a key distinguishing feature of the breed, shaping its unique appearance.
Size
The Weimaraner is a medium-large dog with well-developed musculature and functional proportions. Height at the withers: males 59–70 cm; females 57–65 cm. Weight typically ranges from 30–40 kg depending on sex, build, and condition. Height must harmonize with body proportions; excessive tallness or shortness disrupts the silhouette and affects movement. The chest must be deep, reaching elbow level to ensure respiratory capacity. Limbs must be proportionate to height, neither too short nor elongated. Correct size supports endurance, balance, and effective performance in searching, pointing, and tracking.
Faults
Faults include any features disrupting functionality, harmony, or breed type: weak bone, narrow chest, insufficient depth, soft or sagging back, excessive lightness or looseness. Head faults include narrow skull, short or overly long muzzle, light or round eyes, protruding ears, weak jaw. Movement faults include short stride, stiffness, crossing limbs, weak rear drive, body sway. Coat faults include coarse, wavy, or overly soft texture in the short-haired type and excessive white markings. Behavioral faults include timidity, hysteria, unprovoked aggression, or lack of working motivation. Any defect reducing hunting efficiency is significant.
Disqualification
Disqualifying traits include serious structural or behavioral defects fundamentally violating breed type: unprovoked aggression, extreme fearfulness, unstable psyche. Anatomical disqualifications include incorrect bite, missing multiple teeth beyond allowance, blue eyes in adults, pronounced limb deformities, lameness, spinal abnormalities. Large white patches, piebald coloration, black or brown patches, or any nonstandard color are disqualifying. Coarse heads, excessive skin folds, incorrect coat type are also disallowed. Movement defects that eliminate functional capability are grounds for disqualification. Any major deviation reducing hunting ability and breed integrity is disqualifying.
Important Notes
When evaluating a Weimaraner, its historical purpose must be considered — a versatile pointing dog capable of performing searching, pointing, tracking, and retrieving. All structural elements must be assessed through their functional relevance. The dog must be dry, muscular, and harmoniously proportioned, ensuring endurance and free movement. Coat quality and structure are crucial: it must lie close, not obscure body lines, and protect during field work. Movement is especially important — it must be free, wide, and stable. Young dogs may mature unevenly, and temporary lightness or insufficient musculature are acceptable if development is correct. Temperament must be confident, handler-oriented, stable, and show hunting passion without excess excitation. Timidity and aggression contradict breed type.
Conclusion
The Weimaraner is one of the most recognizable pointing breeds, combining aristocratic appearance with versatile working qualities. Its elegant silhouette, silver-gray color, intelligence, endurance, and high trainability make it a valuable partner in hunting, sport, and service work. The breed maintains its unique ability for active searching, steady pointing, and precise retrieving while showing deep attachment to its owner and stable temperament. The dog must have harmonious proportions, free movement, strong bone, and expressive breed type. The standard emphasizes preservation of versatility and functionality — the essential traits of a working pointing dog. A well-bred Weimaraner remains elegant, reliable, and purposeful, fully aligned with its historical function and modern expectations.
