History in brief:
It was in 1896 that the Weimaraner was officially accepted as a breed. Often referred to as the ‘Grey Ghost’, there are several theories as to its ancestry and colour development about which I will not go into too much detail.
The Weimaraner on the face of it appears to have a long history. It gets its name from Weimar, a small principality in central Germany, later part of Thuringia until 1919, when the new German federal republic was formed following the First World War. The republic, incidentally, took its name from the city of Weimar where the Government initially met.
The Weimaraner on the face of it appears to have a long history. It gets its name from Weimar, a small principality in central Germany, later part of Thuringia until 1919, when the new German federal republic was formed following the First World War. The republic, incidentally, took its name from the city of Weimar where the Government initially met.
The Horns start the day's hunting.
Music by kind permission of Thies Longmaack
Click to play the hunting horns which begin the hunting day.
The leaf of the Ginkgo Biloba symbol of Weimar
Memorial of the Longhaired Weimaraner
in the grounds of
Schloss Grafenegg in Austria.
Many theories have been aired about the breed’s antecedents, and many breeds are thought to go into the makeup of the Weimaraner. One may guess that in years to come with DNA testing more about their makeup will be revealed. It is thought by many that English Pointers, Setters, German Shorthaired Pointers, Great Dane, Leithund and the St Hubert’s strain of Blood Hound may be part of their history. Having worked the Weimaraner I have noted that some of my Weimaraners flatten to the ground when they flush game and this was thought to be a trait of the Setter breeds which hunted game to nets and this was a way of avoiding getting caught.
Then there is the Brachen, also thought to be an ancestor which searched the forest floor, drove game and barked when on a trail. This may explain why the Weimaraner has a lower head carriage when hunting. Barking when on a trail, too, is something my own Weimaraners tend to do.
History suggests that as far back as the mid 18th century the Weimaraner was used in the woods around Thuringia in East Germany to hunt primarily wild boar and deer where working with a slower dog was preferred. The dog had to have the character to deal with the large game. The then Duke, Grand Duke Karl August, was very protective of the breed and was very selective as to who could own them, allowing them only to be owned by those who would use them for hunting such as professional hunters and foresters, therefore keeping their working abilities to the fore. The origin of the breed was a well-guarded secret and alas when the Duke died in 1828 it appears much of the history was lost with him. With the possible addition of pointer stock and further generations of systematic breeding, by the end of the 1890s the Weimaraner was turned into an all round HPR.
Occasionally at this time the longhaired variety made an appearance in a litter but it was not until 1935 that the Longhaired Weimaraner was officially recognised.
Then there is the Brachen, also thought to be an ancestor which searched the forest floor, drove game and barked when on a trail. This may explain why the Weimaraner has a lower head carriage when hunting. Barking when on a trail, too, is something my own Weimaraners tend to do.
History suggests that as far back as the mid 18th century the Weimaraner was used in the woods around Thuringia in East Germany to hunt primarily wild boar and deer where working with a slower dog was preferred. The dog had to have the character to deal with the large game. The then Duke, Grand Duke Karl August, was very protective of the breed and was very selective as to who could own them, allowing them only to be owned by those who would use them for hunting such as professional hunters and foresters, therefore keeping their working abilities to the fore. The origin of the breed was a well-guarded secret and alas when the Duke died in 1828 it appears much of the history was lost with him. With the possible addition of pointer stock and further generations of systematic breeding, by the end of the 1890s the Weimaraner was turned into an all round HPR.
Occasionally at this time the longhaired variety made an appearance in a litter but it was not until 1935 that the Longhaired Weimaraner was officially recognised.
Grafenegg Castle was the home of Prince Hans v Ratibor and his famous Austrian Kennel
1897: The first Weimaraner Club was founded in Weimar. Although it was still a slow dog it was a good tracker. Brandt wrote in 1899 about a field trial in which Weimaraners took part but ‘they did not fare well as the dogs’ breeding did not suit the ground. Not being bred to have great searching powers as it was not required by the hunter as game was easily found and good searching dogs were not a requirement, but other traits were required’. Major Robert Herber took over management of the breed club in 1921 and is generally credited with developing the Weimaraner as we know it today, earning him the nickname of ‘The Father of the Weimaraner’.
1928: Weimaraners were allowed to be exported to America. But it was a long time before the first Weimaraner came to the shores of Britain.
1952: that Major Robert Petty was allowed to bring in two dogs from Germany.
Due to the use of breed and testing regulators to this day the Weimaraners in Germany continue to retain their working and confirmation attributes. As no crossbreeding has been carried out since official breed records began the Weimaraner has remained purebred and is the oldest German pointing breed at well over 100 years. In America an unrecognised colour strain has now be perpetuated from a crossbreeding in 1947 and reached the shores of the UK in 2004. The Kennel Club register them as colour not recognised. In my opinion they should not be registered at all. The breed should be preserved as a grey dog as was intended all those years ago.
The credo of Major Robert Herber can be found on all his pedigrees,
‘It is not the breed but the breeder’s selection that guarantees highest quality of confirmation and best performance’.
1928: Weimaraners were allowed to be exported to America. But it was a long time before the first Weimaraner came to the shores of Britain.
1952: that Major Robert Petty was allowed to bring in two dogs from Germany.
Due to the use of breed and testing regulators to this day the Weimaraners in Germany continue to retain their working and confirmation attributes. As no crossbreeding has been carried out since official breed records began the Weimaraner has remained purebred and is the oldest German pointing breed at well over 100 years. In America an unrecognised colour strain has now be perpetuated from a crossbreeding in 1947 and reached the shores of the UK in 2004. The Kennel Club register them as colour not recognised. In my opinion they should not be registered at all. The breed should be preserved as a grey dog as was intended all those years ago.
The credo of Major Robert Herber can be found on all his pedigrees,
‘It is not the breed but the breeder’s selection that guarantees highest quality of confirmation and best performance’.
