The hairs may be a little less noticeable if you have a short coated Gray Weimaraner, but they do shed enough to invest in some lint brushes if you favor wearing black!
Mine are shedding right now as the days have grown longer. (Factoid: It is not the warmer weather that causes shedding, it is the length of the days that triggers shedding as a part of a circadian rhythm.)
The shedding exposes a darker coat color which usually starts at the top of the back in stripe down the back. This is called an “eel stripe” and is considered typical of the breed.
Sometimes shedding also reveals a speckled pattern or even patches of new coat showing through the old dull coat.
The first puppy shed, as well as the seasonal shedding of Weimaraners with an undercoat (not common) can be quite striking with the eel stripe noticeably darker than with single-coated Weims.
It also seems that the thicker the coat in general, the more “artistic” the shed patterns can be. A heavy shed is often referred to as “blowing coat” and can be so dramatic that it’s not unusual for a new Weimaraner owner to be surprised at their new spotted Weim. Rest assured, it takes about 2 months for the new coat to replace the old.
How to Control All That Hair
I hate to disappoint, but while Weimaraners are generally wash and wear dogs, grooming is the best way to get shedding under control. Use a rubber curry comb daily to work out the dead coat. I favor Zoom Grooms. I bought the cat version on accident; turns out they are all really pretty much the same thing.
Is It More Than Just Shedding?
Excessive shedding and bald patches are signs that something might be wrong. Stress, poor nutrition, or medical problems can be part of a larger issue with hair loss. Causes can be:
- Parasites
- Dietary deficiencies
- Hormonal imbalances (e.g., thyroid or adrenal diseases)
- Pregnancy and lactation
- Hot spots and excessive licking
- Allergies (contact or inhalant)
Remember, there is a difference between shedding and hair loss. If your dog is losing hair for “no reason” and new hair is very slow to grow in, or does not grow in at all, it is time to take your Weim to the vet.
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Love my Animal Dyson as well, but didn’t want to fork over all that $$$. Didn’t have a group that wanted to buy, so I did the next best thing. I bought a remanufactured one with all the warranties for half the price. Bought it off Amazon.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for the post ! I wish I would’ve came across it earlier. My Weimaraner is experiencing this right now and I was really worried because his coat is not as shiny and even it once used to be . He is 11 months old so I’m hoping this time shall pass. I’m going to my local pet store to pick up the zoom groom tonight and hopefully I’ll see a change in his coat !
Also when should I start seeing these spotty patterns start to go away after using the zoom groom ? I just used it and there was soooooooo much hair !
The spots will still remain but will get better as you get rid of the dead hair. Just keep brushing! 😉
So will he have a even coat eventually ? Or will he have these spots for the rest of his life ?
No it won’t be for the rest of his life, it will go away! The brushing just makes the process go faster. 🙂
I am so glad I saw this. My 9 month old weim has these spots everywhere and I was worried she had some terrible sickness!!! Thank you. We have an appointment with the vet on Monday to see what he says but now I’m not sure if I need to keep that.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you! I found your post while at the Vet. All of us, my vet, Penelope the weim and me are reassured 🙂
Great! I know it can be a little shocking if you’ve never seen it before!
Thank heavens I found this. A couple of weim owners had told me that my bitch was going through coat change but she’s nearly 2 years old. Just looks terrible. I’ve checked for lumps under the fur. None.
My comfort is the fact she is losing a lot of fur, which she has not done before. I am brushing a lot. I hope she’s right?
We just noticed the spots on ours for the first time and he is 8 yrs old! Glad to know he’s not sick, just has a few freckles. 🙂
My 8.5 month old Weim has the eel stripe down his back, but he doesn’t have an undercoat. I saw your article and was reassured it’s ok. At the vet yesterday, she blamed it on allergies, saying his coat is brittle. She wants to put him on Apoquel for life. My boy looks like the first pic posted in your article. Any advice?
Is he showing any other signs of allergies? If not, I would wait to see if he is just blowing coat. He is the “right” age and it’s the “right” time of year.