
sporting dog breed developed in the early 19th century by German nobles of the court of Weimar. First used to hunt big game, the dog was later trained as a bird dog and retriever. The Weimaraner is a graceful dog with hanging ears, blue, gray, or amber eyes, and a distinctive short, sleek, mouse-gray or silver-gray coat. It stands 23 to 27 inches (58 to 68.5 cm) and weighs 70 to 85 pounds (32 to 39 kg). It is characterized by an alert, well-balanced stance and is valued as an aggressive hunter, good companion, and watchdog. The breed became well-known beginning in the 1970s through the whimsical photographs and videos of William Wegman.