Weimaraner

AKC Group: Sporting

Club: Weimaraner Club of America

Corresponding Secretary : Ellen Dodge
Address: Po Box 489, Wakefield, RI , 02880--048
Website: www.weimclubamerica.org
Email: wcadodge@netsense.net
Club Type: Specialty

General Apperance:

A medium-sized gray dog, with fine aristocratic features. He should present a picture of grace, speed, stamina, alertness and balance. Above all, the dog's conformation must indicate the ability to work with great speed and endurance in the field.

Height:

Height at the withers: dogs, 25 to 27 inches; bitches, 23 to 25 inches.

Coat:

Short, smooth and sleek, solid color, in shades of mouse-gray to silver-gray, usually blending to lighter shades on the head and ears. A small white marking on the chest is permitted, but should be penalized on any other portion of the body.

Temperament:

The temperament should be friendly, fearless, alert and obedient.

History:

As history is reckoned, the Weimaraner is a young dog, dating back only to the early 19th century. The Bloodhound is believed to be among its ancestors, if not in direct line of descent, then certainly in a collateral way. The Weimaraner that we know today is the product of selective German breeding, and it came from the same general stock which has produced a number of Germany's hunting breeds, including the GSP. In fact, in its early days, the Weimaraner was known simply as the Weimer Pointer, its name deriving from the court by whom the breed was sponsored.

Throughout its early career, the distinctively gray Weim was propogated by nobles in the court of Weimar who sought to meld into one breed all the qualities they had found worthwhile in their forays against the then abundant game of Germany. In short, they sought speed, good scenting ability, courage, and intelligence. Formerly, the Weimaraner was a big-game dog used on wolves, wildcats, deer, etc. By the time these became rarities in Germany, the breed was supported by a club originally started by a few fanciers. It was extremely hard to obtain a Weimaraner at this point, since one had to be become a member of the club prior to purchase of the dog in a strict attempt to keep breeding and lines pure. However, when the American Howard Knight became a member and imported two specimens to the US, he helped found the club in this country and served as its first president in 1929. Meanwhile, the Weim grew to become a bird-dog rather than a big-game dog due to shifting priorities and rarity of big game, leading to its use as a personal hunting dog. The AKC granted recognition to the breed in 1943, and curiously enough, the Weim has seen more actual competition of various kinds in America than it ever saw in Germany.

Fun Facts:

• The Weimaraner is a fairly young breed, dating back to the early 19th century in Germany.
  
  
• Obedience trials incited the first interest in the Weimaraner in the United States. This was even before the AKC recognized the breed in 1943.
  
  
• The Weimaraner has seen more actual competition of various types in the United States than it did in all its decades in Germany.
  
  
• The Weimeraner is not happy when relegated to a kennel. He is accustomed to being a member of the family and accepts the responsibilities which that entails.
  
  
• The Weimeraner has made its mark on the White House; Heidi, the Eisenhowers' Weimeraner, lived in the White House with the First Family.
  
  
• The distinctive gray coat of the Weimeraner is the product of selective breeding in Germany.