The Weimaraner: A Gray Ghost
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By
Michael Russell
The German origin of the Weimaraner has been an important factor
in the carefully controlled development of this breed. Germany has
for many years been a leader in Europe as far as carefully
controlling the selection of breeding stock. Breeders who are
mindful of the quality of breeding stock are aware that a dog of
German origin is usually considered to be of the best descent. The Weimaraner is an original German breed that came originally from the
court of Weimar. The breed was highly prized as a superior hunting
dog, bred to stalk deer and trail and hunt bear and wild boar. Later
the dog began to be used as a bird dog since it showed such a great
propensity for this sport.
In 1897 an exclusive club was formed in Germany to maintain the
breed and protect the inheritance of the "gray ghost". This club
bred this dog for sport rather than profit and imposed strict
guidelines for breeding. This practice is still common in Germany
today for large numbers of breeds besides just the Weimaraner. At
any rate, for this particular association, no one was allowed to buy
a specimen unless they first became a member of the club. In 1923 an
American sportsman, Howard Knight, gained permission to join this
exclusive club and was allowed to bring back two fine Weimaraner
dogs to the United States. Later he was the founder of the American
Weimaraner Club. Since the Weimaraner was introduced into the
American Kennel Club in 1943, breeders in this country have been
much less restricted than in their country of origin and Weimaraners
are much more common now.
The Weimaraner is a silvery gray color ranging from a "mouse
gray" to silver. The coat is sleek and quite care free. The dog is a
high energy breed and needs plenty of exercise. Among genetic
conditions which may be found in this breed are gastric torsion, hip
dysplasia and bleeding disorders. The conditions are all
identifiable before breeding and a buyer would purchase from a
reputable breeders who has done the proper testing of his breeding
stock.
The Weimaraner today remains an all around hunting dog that is
also a great family pet. They posses high intelligence and do not
make good kennel dogs. The breed has a certain aristocratic look
about it, but is demanding in nature and needs a good trainer, one
who will be the alpha over the dog. They do very well when kept in a
family environment as a companion. Weimaraners have not competed
well in field trials in this country against the labs and
retrievers, but are very useful as individual hunting companions.
They are used for birds of all kinds and there are a number of
hunters who prize this bred as a dog that will run a deer or trail a
wounded deer.
The Weimaraner has become famous in another area besides the
sport of hunting in America, he is the subject of many of William
Wegman's photos. This photographers has used his own pet Weimaraner
in costume in all kinds of strange and different situations. These
photos have gone on to be quite popular as prints and on greeting
cards and have become a major factor in the publicizing of a
formerly little known breed of dog.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to
Animals
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