Weimaraner Coat Colors

Let’s talk about coat colors! Most of us associate the Weimaraner as the gray ghost. But what does gray really mean?

If you noticed that the same photo was used to describe both a silver gray Weimaraner, and a gray Weimaraner, it was intentional. 🙂 The only clear distinction is that the blue color (regardless of shade) is entirely different than silver gray or gray.

To further complicate matters, the Weimaraner breed standard makes reference to a color called mouse gray; which isn’t even a selection that anyone can check off when registering their Weimaraner with the AKC.

Confused yet?!?!?! To simplify matters, we’re going to make a determination that what the Weimaraner breed standard considers mouse gray, is what AKC checks off as gray.

…

Back to the three colors that are defined by AKC. When a Weimaraner is registered with the AKC, the breeder or owner may check off one of three boxes:

• Blue
• Gray
• Silver Gray

In other words, the Weimaraner is blue, gray, or silver gray.

This is misleading because Weimaraners appear like they’re one of two colors: “taupe,” or “dark gray.” That’s it. Different shades of taupe, and different shades of gray.

Taupe = Gray Weimaraner

Dark Gray = Blue Weimaraner

Let’s talk about genetics for a minute. The Weimaraner gets his color from two loci pairs: The Locus B pair and the Locus D pair. (You can read more details about that, here.) In short:

What we consider “silver, silver/gray, or gray” Weimaraners today is scientifically brown dogs that are not fully pigmented, and what we consider “blue” Weimaraners today is scientifically black dogs that are not fully pigmented. We know this to be true by seeing what happens when a purebred gray Weimaraner owner accidentally has a litter of puppies with another breed of dog: all puppies are primarily brown because they no longer genetically dilute. Same with the blue Weimaraner; if bred to another or unknown breed of dog, all puppies are primarily black. (Although rescues may say otherwise, it is genetically impossible for “Weimaraner mixes” to be gray. The reality is that “gray Weimaraner mixes” are likely some other breed altogether: fawn Pit Bull, fawn Doberman, Silver Labrador, etc. But this is an entirely different topic.)

Both of these Weimaraner mixes were recently placed by CalWEAR. At left is Buttercup (black); she came into the shelter with her mom, who was a blue Weimaraner. At right is Bodie (brown); he came into rescue with his littermates; his mom was a gray Weimaraner and his dad was likely a GSP.

Here is another Blue Weimaraner with her litter of mix puppies.

Back to Weimaraners. Here’s a simple chart that summarizes how colors are labeled by AKC, the general public, and science:

Shades of gray: The color variety we see in Weimaraners today is due to the different shades within the taupe/brown (top row) or gray/black (bottom) hues.

Of course, this doesn’t take into consideration lighting, camera setting, etc. In other words, photographers and graphic artists can change a dog’s color from light to dark, or gray to taupe with just a few adjustments. The same dog can look silver or light gray in one photo, and then taupe or dark gray in another photo.

Here’s a good example of two color appearances on the same dog:

CH Smokey Topaz n’ Barrett’s Santa Margarita Peak, Mango”

The above photo is of one of our dogs, Mango. On an overcast day, she looks silver. Under direct sun, she appears much darker. But in real life? We consider her to be an average gray dog. ::shrug::

Since AKC does not regulate or supervise a breeder or owner’s opinion of color (you kind of just check whatever box you want), what one person considers silver may be what another person considers gray. Neither are wrong. Or everyone is wrong (because we now know that Weimaraners are dilute brown).

For those of you who are new to Weimaraners, and are considering what color(s) you like, or don’t like, our best advice is to meet with a few breeders and see their dogs in real life. Note that Weimaraner puppies are born looking “silver” but they all turn into a shade of taupe that is similar to what their parents are. So take a good look at the parents.

See the color differences between the puppies and their mother? 

See the color differences between the puppies and their mother? 

See the color differences between the puppies and their mother?

See the color differences between the puppies and their mother? (Note: None of these puppies are blue; but some grew to be a much darker shade of gray than their siblings.)

Please also be open to shades of gray. And beware any breeder who specifically breeds for color over general health, temperament, and welfare. The most important decision you’ll make is the selection of your breeder. The right puppy in the right color, will follow.

Cheers!

There are two colors in this rectangle: At left is gray (dilute of black (RGB 193, 193, 193)). At right is taupe (dilute of brown (RGB 199, 199, 194). This comparison demonstrates how similar “gray” and “taupe” can appear, even though one color has a black base and the other has a brown base. Of course, it makes senses why the two terms can be interchangeable when discussing Weimaraner breed color.