Do Weimaraners Shed Lots?

Weimaraners are large hunting dogs that were bred to hunt bears and mountain lion, as well as point and retrieve gamebirds, in Germany in the 1800s. Today, these obedient, fearless hunters are known for being friendly, intelligent companions.

Do they shed lots? Weimaraners shed a moderate-to-high amount of hair most of the time and, like most dogs, more during spring and autumn. Regular brushing can help you manage the shedding though, and this is not difficult or time consuming given that they have a short, smooth single coat.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the amount of shedding to expect and some of the most effective ways of keeping it under control.

Weimaraner Shedding – What to Expect

Weimaraners are a moderate to heavy shedding dog.

At first glance, you may not think they shed much given how short their coat is, but that’s a common misconception. Dogs with short coats can shed just as much as any other dog.

How much a dog sheds is determined by the breed, more so than the length of their coat. It also depends on the individual dog, the time of year and other factors, such as their overall health and the condition of their coat.

Related: Dog Shedding FAQ (Why Do Dogs Shed?)

Either way, Weimaraners molt. And they tend to do so more during times of the year like spring and fall as the seasons change. This is known as seasonal shedding. The good news is that, while you may notice an uptick in shedding for a few weeks or so, it’s generally not as noticeable as dogs with thicker, longer double coats. Like the German Shepherd or Malamute for example.

Overall, they shed about the same amount of fur as breeds like the Greyhound and Bloodhound, the latter of which they are said to be related to.

Thankfully, getting the shedding under control isn’t difficult. Like most dogs, it comes down to proper grooming and that is something that is very easy to do with a Weimaraner.

Grooming Your Weimaraner

Weimaraners are a very low maintenance dog, and so grooming them is not difficult or time consuming. Brushing weekly is generally enough to maintain his coat.

With that being said, there is a longhaired version of the Weimaraner which takes a little more effort to groom, because longer hair is more prone to mats and tangles than short hair. And so brushing a longhaired dog can be more time consuming.

Worth mentioning is that the longhaired variety isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club. According to the AKC breed standard, a “distinctly long coat is a disqualification.” But that’s not the case in some countries, like England and Germany for example, which do recognize a longer hair version of the Weimaraner.

In any case, the shorthaired Weimaraner has a single coat that consists of short, smooth hair that comes in blue, gray, or silver gray. The color of his coat is one of his standout features too, to the point he is sometimes referred to as the Gray Ghost.

Another reason he’s easy to groom is because he has a single coat. Which means that instead of having two coats (outer coat and undercoat) he only has one.

The drawback to this, however, is that he’s more sensitive to weather extremes than other double coated pointing dogs like the German Shorthaired Pointer for example. But it does make his coat easier to maintain.

What sort of brush should you use? When determining what sort of brush to use on a given dog, it’s important to consider what sort of coat he has. And since Weimaraners have a short coat, a bristle brush or rubber brush are ideal.

A bristle brush is a common dog brush that consists of tightly packed bristles, and a rubber brush (AKA curry comb or rubber hand mitt) is made of rubber.

Both of these are simple, cost effective brushes that work well for short coated dogs. Because, unlike longer haired breeds with a double coat, you don’t need to contend with matting or knots, and you don’t need a brush that reaches down to the undercoat.

You may find a deshedding tool is more effective during shedding season though. This is not the sort of brush I like to use too often, as they can cause irritation to the dog’s skin, but they can make your life a bit easier and are typically fine as long as you don’t over use them.

Aside from brushing, the occasional bath can help maintain his coat, and proper nail trimming is important as long nails can cause him pain as he walks and runs around.

Are They Hypoallergenic?

No, Weimaraners are not a hypoallergenic dog breed.

But in reality, there’s no such thing as a fully hypoallergenic dog. There are just dogs that are (generally) considered more suitable for people with pet allergies than others. Like Poodles and Italian Greyhounds for example.

This is because the problem isn’t the dog’s hair, it’s their dander (dead skin) and things like their saliva and sweat that cause issues for allergy sufferers. Which every dog produces. So, even if you have a hairless breed, or one that hardly sheds at all, that doesn’t make it fully hypoallergenic.

With that being said, dogs that shed less fur tend to spread less allergens around than low shedders, since dander attaches itself to dog fur. Which may be why low shedding breeds are often listed as hypoallergenic by sites like AKC.

Either way, Weimaraners are not the most suitable dog for those who suffer from allergies.

Reducing Excessive Shedding

You can’t stop a dog from shedding completely, but there are some ways you can minimize excessive shedding and manage the problem so as to avoid spending needless hours behind a vacuum cleaner.

And there are three main ways to do this:

• Brushing: Routine brushing is a simple and effective way to remove the dead hair from your Weimaraners coat, before it drops onto your floor and furniture. Brushing also massages his skin and distributes his coat oils, which is good for his coat.
• Bathing: Weimaraners don’t need bathing very often, but bathing him with a good quality dog shampoo every now and then can help remove the old, dead fur and loosen it up prior to brushing. Avoid over bathing though, as this can dry out his coat, which can actually increase shedding.
• Diet: Speak with your vet about selecting a high quality dog food for your Weimaraner, as this can help improve the condition of his skin and hair. The healthier your dog is, and the better condition his coat is in, the less likely he is to shed excessively.

Sometimes excessive shedding can be caused by other things though, such as fleas or allergies for example. So if you have any concerns it may be worth contacting your local veterinarian.

Related: When Your Dog’s Shedding Could be Cause for Concern

Either way, dogs shed. And Weimaraners are no different. They may have a short, single coat, which makes them fairly easy to groom, but you will notice some fur floating around the home if you let him inside.

And, while there are some other great ways to manage shedding, proper grooming and diet are among the simplest and most effective ways to manage this. The key is to make grooming a priority, and try to factor it into your daily routine.

A little bit of effort each week can make a big overall difference to how much time you spend cleaning the hair up once it has fallen out, so it can be well worth it.