How Long Do Weimaraners Live? Average Lifespan, Data & Care
By Cheryl Regan
Updated on
Click to Skip Ahead
Lovingly nicknamed the Gray Ghost, Weimaraners are elegant, swift, and athletic creatures standing between 25–27 inches tall at the shoulders and weighing between 70–90 pounds. These German hunting dogs are famous for their amiable nature, loyalty, and obedience to their humans, including toward younger members of the family.
Weimaraners are happiest when they get plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. The lifespan of a healthy Weimaraner is around 10–13 years. Several factors contribute to a Weim’s life expectancy, including genetics, environmental conditions, and care.
What’s the Average Lifespan of a Weimaraner?
On average, healthy Weimaraners live between 10–13 years, but some do live to around 15 years, and unfortunately, some have shorter lifespans. There are various factors that affect how long a Weimaraner can live, for example, a Weim that’s cared for and treated the right way will likely live longer than one that doesn’t receive these things. Other factors, such as genetics, are not as easily addressed.
Why Do Some Weimaraners Live Longer Than Others?
1. Nutrition
Just as a healthy and nutritious diet will affect a person’s overall health and longevity, it will affect the overall health and well-being of a Weimaraner. The right vitamins, minerals, and fats will contribute to the look, feel, and health of your dog’s skin and coat, the strength of its bones and joints, and its immunity to viruses and bacteria.
When looking for dog food, make sure to pick an age-appropriate food for your Weimaraner. An “all life stages” food is not usually formulated to meet the needs of senior dogs, and it’s generally better to go with a food that’s labeled for large-breed dogs, as these should contain essential nutrients including omega-3 and glucosamine.
As energetic dogs, Weimaraners burn a lot of calories, so it’s important to pick high-quality dog food that’s moderately high in protein. The right amount of calories for each Weim will depend on each dog’s activity level, age, and even climate. If you’re not sure how much to feed your Weim, speak to your vet for advice.
It’s unlikely that a Weim will become overweight, but it’s important to keep an eye on their physical appearance to make sure they’re getting enough food: their ribs should not be visible.
2. Living Conditions
Despite their short coat and their apparent lack of fat, Weimaraners are pretty hardy dogs that can tolerate both hot and cold weather. As long as your Weim is free to run around, they won’t mind the snow and cold.
That said, it’s important to dry them off afterward. Prolonged exposure to extreme weather can lead to your dog getting sick, so after their play session in the cold, make sure you provide them with plenty of food and water so they can regain their energy. During hot spells, make sure your Weim has easy access to water and shade.
At home, your Weimaraner should have a safe, dry, and warm space to call their own. Weims are hypersocial creatures—they love being near their family members, who they consider members of their pack. Consider keeping them nearby so they don’t get lonely.
Weimaraners are prone to getting separation anxiety. They’re an intelligent breed that requires lots of mental and physical stimulation, and love and affection from their owners. A Weim that gets regular exercise, attention, training, and play will experience less anxiety, and is therefore likely to live a longer and healthier life than if they were lonely and bored.
3. Exercise
Weimaraners need at least two hours of exercise per day. These dogs were bred for hunting, not lounging around. In addition, Weims are highly intelligent. With this in mind, if a Weim isn’t getting the exercise and mental stimulation they need, they will quickly become bored and agitated, and they’re likely to turn to destructive behavior.
While the destructive behavior itself may not affect a Weimaraner’s lifespan, the pent-up stress and anxiety that comes with not getting enough exercise or mental stimulation probably will. Aside from boredom and agitation, a Weimaraner can quickly become depressed if it isn’t getting the opportunity to do the things it loves to do—run around and be social!
4. Size
Larger dogs tend to have shorter lifespans than small dogs. Weimaraners are large in size, which makes their average lifespan a few years shorter than those of smaller breeds. Larger breeds such as Weims are more prone to bone and joint problems such as hip dysplasia.
Research shows that larger breeds of dogs age faster than smaller breeds. But comparatively, a Weimaraner has a longer lifespan than other dogs of a similar size. For example, German Shepherds have a life expectancy of between 7–10 years. This could be because a well-cared-for Weimaraner is generally leaner, and therefore carries less weight, which in turn puts less pressure on their physiological process.
5. Sex
The sex of your Weimaraner won’t affect their life expectancy, but female Weims do tend to mature sooner. A study revealed that male dogs may have a slightly longer life expectancy than females, but more significantly, neutered and spayed dogs tend to live longer than unfixed dogs.
Getting your Weim neutered or spayed can make them less susceptible to degenerative diseases. For female dogs, spaying can help reduce the risk of mammary cancer.
6. Breeding History
A Weimaraner can genetically inherit the predisposition for several diseases and conditions from its parents. This is why it’s important to buy puppies from a reputable and ethical breeder who has screened both parents for health issues before beginning the breeding process.
The American Kennel Club recommends a variety of tests, including hip and thyroid evaluation.
7. Healthcare
Just like humans, dogs are prone to diseases and infections caused by viruses and bacteria. A vital factor in keeping your Weimaraner healthy is making sure they receive all the vaccinations and boosters they need.
Regular check-ups and routine tests with a veterinarian will help to catch any potential conditions, allowing for treatment to begin quickly.
Oral and dental hygiene is especially important in keeping any dog healthy. Looking after your Weim’s teeth and making sure they are clean and healthy will reduce the risk of infections, abscesses, and unnecessary pain. Additionally, there is a link between periodontal disease and conditions of the heart, liver, and kidneys.
The 4 Life Stages of a Weimaraner’s Life
Puppy
For Weimaraners, puppyhood lasts from when they are born to around 6 months. You should start gently socializing your Weimaraner puppy from when they are around 7 weeks old, with their peak socialization period being between 10 and 16 weeks.
Junior
At around 7 months old, your Weimaraner will become sexually mature. Female dogs will enter their heat cycle twice a year—with each cycle lasting between 2–3 weeks. Male Weims remain sexually active year-round.
Although they are sexually mature, Weims will not have reached full maturity until around 12 months.
Adult
The adult stage of your Weimaraners life lasts from when they are one year old. By this age, your Weim will probably have lost some of its playfulness, but it will retain all of its energy.
Senior
As Weimaraner enter the older stages of their life, you may begin to notice a few more gray hairs than they once had. Granted, this can be tricky for the already silver-haired Weims, but along with a decline in activity levels, it’s a telltale sign.
How to Tell Your Weimaraner’s Age
The first thing to check is your Weim’s height. If they’ve reached their full size, they’re probably an adult, though various factors can mean that some Weims just happen to be a little smaller than average.
Your Weim should have all of their teeth by the time they are 6 months old, but the color and condition of their teeth may be an indicator of how old they are—usually, more staining means an older dog.
Conclusion
On average, a healthy Weimaraner will live for between 10–13 years. Neutered or spayed dogs live longer, healthier lives than their unfixed counterparts. Taking care of your Weimaraner’s oral health and physical and mental well-being, as well as regular check-ups, will help your pet live life to the fullest!
See Also:
- Long Haired Weimaraner: Info, Pictures, Personality, & Facts
- Male vs Female Weimaraner: Main Differences (With Pictures)
Featured Image Credit: nik174, Shutterstock
