History of the Weimaraner
"A medium to large grey hunting dog, short or long coated with a moderate length of back and light to dark amber eye.
He should present a picture of great driving power, stamina, alertness and balance.
Above all, the dog should indicate ability to work hard in the Field.
The Weimaraner should be neither coarse nor too fine. He should be well muscled without being cumbersome - balance and moderation being the key."
The Weimaraner is an old European hunting breed. Probably descended directly from the ancient grey French Scent Hounds of the 13th Century, the modern pure breed Weimaraner and the Weimaraner Longhair have unbroken records which date back to the 1860's. Today, their distinctive grey colour and functional shape makes them unique among Gundogs.
It is documented that Louis IX of France (1226 - 1270 AD) owned a pack of Scent Hounds which were grey in colour and known as 'the Grey Hounds of St Louis'. In the 13th Century when Scent Hounds were favoured, hunting was not just the sport of aristocrats. Hunting was also a necessity when food was scarce.
Grey Scent Hounds have been used to assist with hunting since the 13th Century when the old type hunting dog which worked in front of the pack was called a 'Brache', 'Leithund', Leash Hound or Lead Hound. These Scent Hounds tracked the smell the prey left on the ground. A Huntsman with a 'Lead Dog' on the leash would go ahead with the other dogs in a pack following behind.
So the various types of dogs, or 'races' are they are more commonly called in Europe developed according to the terrain and the size of the game these dogs were designed to hunt. Falconry, nets, spears as well as bows and arrows were used in this period which pre-dated the invention of guns.
The Grey Scent Hounds of Europe were used for tracking the scent of wild boar and deer on the ground, were likely ancestors of the Weimaraner. But Scent Hounds which are grey in colour should not be confused with the breed we know today as Greyhounds. These Sight Hounds, probably Egyptian in descent, and tracked the prey by air borne scent. They came in any colour and are much lighter in general build as well as in the head and flews than the European grey coloured Scent Hounds. Sight Hounds work differently to Scent Hounds and chase wild prey like gazelle and bring them down, so assisting huntsmen to kill them.
By 1631 Van Dyke, a student of Rubens painted one of these grey Scent Hounds which was a probable ancestor of the Weimaraner. The beginnings of any of the breed we know it today are only as old as their records. Before the 1800's the predecessor of the Weimeraner, the grey coloured Weimar Pointer was commonly used for large game hunting like wild boar and deer. As the large estates broke up, hunting birds and small game became more popular amongst the Germans of the 1800's. These dogs, with their natural hunting tendencies of strength, tracking skills, speed and courage, were easy to work with in the field and in water, as well as making ideal companions at home.
Weimar, the capital city of Thuringia, is an area where several popular German breeds had their beginnings. The modern Weimaraner as a pure breed began with the Grand Duke Karl August, head of the Court at Weimar, born in 1757. The people who made up the Court of Weimar followed the Grand Duke, Karl August, in attempting to perfect the hunting talents of their dogs. Their breeding was a closely guarded secret for decades.
From 1860, hunters from the local district conducted a 'dog market' each year just a short distance from Weimar. This continued until the beginning of World War Two, sponsored by a group organized specifically for the promotion of pure breed dogs. The first dog show in Germany was held in Hamburg 1863. Then German Stud Book was founded in 1876 containing an unbroken line of Weimaraner pedigrees until 1924. But although the Weimaraner Club of Germany was formed in 1897, the Breed Standard including the Longhair was not adopted until 1935.
Then came an important period in the development of the Weimaraner as a pure breed because it coincided with a time of political turmoil in Germany. Called the 'Weimar Period', the rise of Hitler sadly affected all arts as well as dog breeding because of the mandatory burning of so many books and records. But somehow, two typed folders of Weimaraner pedigrees from 1940 - 1944 survived. These folders were mainly the work of Major Robert Herber who had been President of the German Weimaraner Club since 1921. After World War Two concluded, many American soldiers returned home taking with them Weimaraners with verified pedigrees. This secured uninterrupted records of Weimaraner pedigrees from 1924 to the present day.
The Weimaraner Longhair has also been documented with records dating from the 1860's. This was probably caused by an infusion of other German Hunting breeds a long time ago when hunting dogs that served the same purpose were bred together. At that time purpose was more important that physical looks.
Today the Weimaraner Longhair is the result of a single recessive gene, so it needs both parents to carry this gene in order to produce it. But certainly today the Longhairs appear in the same litter as their short haired counterpart and the two varieties can be bred together.
~ History of the Weimaraner in Australia ~
The arrival of 'Weimaraner Hounds' in Australia in July 1955 was first announced by well-known all-breeds judge 'Skipper' Taylor in his 'Australian Dog News'! Bred by Major Bob Petty in UK, the first pair of Weimaraners named 'Strawbridge Fidget' and 'Strawbridge Graf' went to Mrs Roma and Dr. Chris Kristenson, who bred under the "Passau" prefix. Shortly after another pair 'Strawbridge Furst' and 'Strawbridge Gypsy' were imported by Mr Matt Sproul. This latter pair produced the first Weimaraner to be registered as bred in Australia, Lausder Trudia.
From a subsequent litter from the original pair, Graf and Fidget, the well-known Gundog judge, Mr Jack Pontin acquired 'Passeau Silver Wraith'. This would have greatly assisted the recognition of the Weimaraner here both in the show ring and in the field. As these were the first Utility Gundogs to arrive in Australia, they had to compete in Field Trials alongside the English Specialized breeds of Pointers and Setters. But for registration and show purposes, fortunately Weimaraners were classified as 'Gundogs' and not 'Hounds' as predicted by 'Skipper' Taylor when first announcing their arrival.
Many Weimaraners have been brought into this country since then, some having a major influence on the direction of the breed. But the Weimaraner Longhair was not accepted by the ANKC until 1994 when they became a separate variety. Here in Australia, separate Challenge Certificates and Best of Breeds are awarded to Weimaraners and the Weimaraner Longhairs.
(Exerts taken from Jane Dogs)
Contact Details
Amanda WilliamsonWodonga Region, VIC, Australia
Phone : 0418711392
Email : [email protected]