Blue Weimaraner: Facts, Origin & History (With Pictures)
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The blue Weimaraner is an icy gray offshoot of the German Hound, beloved for their intelligence and intense family loyalty. They also tend to have different-colored eyes in striking amber and silver shades that set them apart from the classic gray Weimaraners.
If you’ve ever seen one of these rare hounds, you might be wondering more about them. Let’s learn some more about the noble, steadfast blue Weimaraner down below.
| Height: | 23 – 27 inches |
| Weight: | 55 – 90 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 10 – 13 years |
| Colors: | Blue, blue-gray |
| Suitable for: | Active households, people with a big yard for running & playing |
| Temperament: | Devoted & loving, intelligent, eager to please, affectionate but aloof with strangers, stubborn |
The blue coloring in the blue Weimaraner comes from a recessive gene leading to diluted black coloring in a dog’s coat. A couple of other dog breeds that exhibit this same color include the Blue Heeler, Italian Greyhounds, Great Danes, and more.
Blue Weimaraner Breed Characteristics
The Earliest Records of Blue Weimaraner in History
Weimaraners were developed as hunting hounds by Grand Duke Karl August of Germany in the 19th century, bred from Bloodhounds and other central European hunting hounds. The dogs and their bloodlines were akin to family secrets among German nobility but some were stolen and smuggled to the US after WWI.
All known blue Weimaraners today come from a single dog: Cäsar von Gaiberg1, AKA Tell. He’s the progenitor, hailing from central Germany like other purebred Weimaraners. He was a very controversial pooch, with many dog breeders claiming he had to be crossbred because of his coloring, which would revoke his pedigree.
The blue coloring was debated from many viewpoints, with some saying the blue Weimaraners were crossbred, others saying the color was just an atypical coloring called mouse-gray, and so on.
How Blue Weimaraner Gained Popularity
The original blue Weimaraner, Tell, was bought by an American soldier in Germany, who brought him back home to the US. There, Tell was said to have produced several offspring that went on to produce all the blue Weimaraners we have today.
Sadly, the blue dogs were disowned by the Weimaraner Club of America at this time, and they were disavowed as a breed of their own. They’re great dogs for active families, but they aren’t what you call show dogs.
Formal Recognition of Blue Weimaraner
The blue Weimaraners were never formally recognized by the American Kennel Club, but Weimaraners were recognized by the AKC in 1943—yes, smack dab during the middle of WWII. It’s likely that German nobles fleeing political instability in central Europe brought some Weimaraners to the US and they were shortly thereafter recognized.
Top 8 Unique Facts About Blue Weimaraner
1. Weimaraners were nicknamed
Weimaraners were nicknamed the Gray Ghost by the AKC because of their silver to mouse-gray colorings.
2. No evidence to prove the Weimaraners origin
To this day, there’s no evidence to prove the origin of the Blue Weimaraner colorings. The progenitor, Tell, came from war-torn Germany and had little documentation.
3. Weimaraners make great family dogs
Blue Weimaraners make great family dogs even if not trained for hunting, with a sharp intelligence and sense of smell that will get them into trouble.
4. Weimaraners aren’t Known to suffer from special health issues
Despite their questionable lineage, Blue Weimaraners aren’t known to suffer from any special health issues because of their color.
5. Weimaraners were bred for hunting
Weimaraners were bred for hunting large game like boar, and they have a fearless temperament to match.
6. Attempts have been made to disqualify Weimaraners as purebred
Several attempts have been made to disqualify blue Weimaraners as purebred, AKC-recognized members of the Weimaraner breed, and the most recent was in 1965.
7. Weimaraners coloring is considered a defect
Sadly, the blue coloring is considered a defect according to AKC breed standards; the technical wording is “a color darker than mouse gray.”
8. Typically Weimaraners are not more expensive
Blue Weimaraners are rarer but typically not more expensive than a regular Weimaraner—beware breeders that advertise them as rare and charge more.
Do Blue Weimaraners Make Good Pets?
Yes, blue Weimaraners make excellent family dogs and hunting dogs. They become very loyal to their family, serving as watchful guard dogs while needing tons of physical and mental stimulation. They really need their exercise to stop them from chewing up furniture, shoes, and nearly anything around the house. They are not couch potato dogs, but they’re awesome if you can keep up with their high energy levels!
Conclusion
Blue Weimaraners have a murky bloodline but a cool, unique look that sets them a little apart from the other gray Weimaraners. They still do an admirable job as a family companion and hunting hound today.
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Featured Image Credit: WildStrawberry, Shutterstock
