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Breeders and Owners of Weimaraners for Sport, Hunting, and Companionship

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Weimaraner Coat Colors

May 17, 2020

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. 

Filed Under: The Weimaraner Breed

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Neeltje Rosenstok says

    September 23, 2021 at 1:42 am

    Love your colour chart explanation. May I please have a copy??

    Reply
  2. Julie says

    October 13, 2021 at 11:11 am

    Greetings

    I like to know of you have any blue weimeraner as pupies?

    Text me back at 956 6299286

    Reply
  3. Lori says

    January 13, 2023 at 1:59 pm

    Thank you. That was very helpful. New to the breed.

    Reply

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Welcome to Barrett Weimaraners!!!

Hello! We're Kim and Stacy, two BFFs who came together because of Weimaraners; Kim lives in Southern CA and Stacy lives in Phoenix, AZ.

With the mentorship and support of the Weimaraner community, we breed on occasion and with purpose under the Barrett Weimaraners kennel name.

This website is primarily a place for us to showcase our dogs, but it's also a resource for prospective and current Barrett Weimaraner owners. If you'd like to join our extended family, please start {here}.

Contact us anytime at kim [at] barrettweimaraners [dot] com or stacy [at] barrettweimaraners [dot] com.

Cheers!

Field Trial/Hunt Test News

December 2019 – Soba earns Third Place in the Open Derby at the WCA National Field Trial in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

November 2019 – Tearin wins the Open Derby stake in Paulden, AZ to bag all of her juvenile Field Trial points.

April 2019 – Tearin earns Second Place in Futurity at the Western Classic in Kennewick, WA. Half brother Soba earns a Third Place in Open Derby the same week.

March 2019 – Boulder WINS the Open Gun Dog Stake with Handler Terry Chandler at the Las Cruces GSPC Field Trial. Daughter Mango earns a placement in the Open Derby Stake.

March 2019 – Mango goes to the NWA’s National Field Trial in Conway, AR and comes home with a Third Place in Open Derby!

February 2019 – Tearin WINS the Open Puppy Stake with 18 starters in California City, CA!

February 2019 – Soba wins a huge Open Derby stake (18 starters) in a very competitive trial.

February 2018 – Baja wins the 2018 Western Field Futurity in California City. Littermate sister Sookie comes in Fourth Place.

September 2017 – Boulder earns a very nice SECOND PLACE ribbon in the Open Gun Dog stake with 21 starters at the Sahuaro Brittany Club Field Trial in Springerville, Arizona.

June 23rd, 2017 – Ronin earns his JH title as well as a Fourth Place in Open Puppy ribbon at the Willamette Weimaraner Club Field Trials!!!!

March 2017 – Turbo wins the NWA Open Derby Stake for the second year in a row with Diane Vater.

February 2017 – Turbo wins the 2017 Western Field Futurity in California City. Littermate brother Ticon comes in Second Place. Baja and Zanie also earn their JH titles in four straight passes!!!

April 2016 – Three of the Autobots (Luna, Ticon and Turbo) get NAVHDA NA-tested. Scores are: Prize I (112) for Luna, Prize I (110) for Ticon, and Prize III (102) for Turbo.

March 2016 – Turbo wins the NWA Open Derby Stake in Conway, AR with Diane Vater.

February 2016 – Gracie (2014 Max x Friday) WINS the Open Derby stake at the 2016 WCA Western Classic in Kingman, AZ! Gracie now has 4 points towards her FC.

February 2016 – Bug (2014 Torque x Friday) WINS the Field Futurity at the 2016 WCA Western Classic in Kingman, AZ!

December 2015 – Gracie earns SECOND PLACE in the National Open Derby at the 2015 WCA National Field Trial in Ardmore, OK!

Show News

February 2020 – Josie earns her THIRD 5 pt Major to finish her Championship at the Sahuaro State Kennel Club Dog Shows in Phoenix, AZ.

October 2019 – Josie’s sire, Judd, earns a Stud Dog Placement from Judge Dana Cline at the WCA National Specialty Show in Wilmington, OH!

October 2019 – Josie earns a placement from the BBE bitch class at the WCA National Specialty Show in Wilmington, OH!

October 2019 – Bogie earns a placement from the 6-9 dog class at the WCA National Specialty Show in Wilmington, OH!

June 13, 2018 – Blaise goes to the WCA National Specialty Show and Earns a Second Place in Intermediate Futurity dog.

December 1st, 2017 – Boulder earns SELECT DOG at the WCA’s Winter Specialty in Ardmore, OK!!!! Daughter Mango earns a Reserve Winners Bitch ribbon the same evening; not bad for a show debut!

October 15th, 2017 – Cowboy goes BEST OF BREED FROM THE CLASSES OVER SPECIALS to become a NEW CHAMPION at the Black Mountain Kennel Club Shows!!!!

July 1st, 2016 – BOULDER WINS BEST DOG IN MATURITY AT THE 2016 WCA WESTERN FUTURITY/MATURITY!!!!

Click {here} to view a summary of all show brags!

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