History

Despite the comparative rarity of the Breed in Great Britain, the Weimaraner has been maintained as a pure breed for well over a century in Germany and its ancestry can be seen clearly in paintings dated as long ago as 1630. 

The dogs were originally bred in the independent state of Weimar, for their qualities of intelligence, companionship and beauty, and especially for their all round ability to hunt, point, track & retrieve in all sorts of cover whatever the terrain. 

Once developed, the Nobles of Weimar, who jealously kept their dogs from other ownership, preserved the excellent characteristics of these dogs, and when in the course of time, the independent state of Weimar became part of a United Germany the German Weimaraner Club followed in this tradition. 

It was only in 1937 that the first Weimaraners were exported to the U.S.A. and not until World War II that any numbers reached owners outside Germany. The Weimaraner was introduced to Britain by Major R.H. Petty in 1952. He had hunted with them whilst serving in Germany.

 Hunt, Point Retrieve

The Weimaraner is one of the sub-group known as the Hunt Point & Retrieve breeds, within the Gundog group. He is an all purpose gundog but his character and temperament is quite dissimilar to that of other gundogs. 

He was originally bred to be the tool for the foresters who worked him. He had to be capable of tracking and holding at bay such game as boar and deer. He had to have the ability to find, flush and retrieve fur & feathered game for the pot. He had to catch and kill predators that deprived his master of sport and also defend him and his property. He was intended to be a powerful hunting dog with a strong protective instinct. 

What he is not 

He is not the wisest choice for a completely novice dog owner. Of course there are the exceptions. People do buy him as a first dog and succeed admirably in his care and training. These are the people who have energy to match the Weimaraner’s own, who are possessed of patience, perseverance, and a certain amount of gritty determination. He must know from an early age exactly what position he holds in the family pecking order and if you are wise that will be at the bottom of the heap. 

He does not take kindly to being left alone all day and every day and can show his disapproval by being noisy (very), destructive, or both. He needs free running exercise as well as disciplined walking and also to have his mind occupied. With correct training the Weimaraner will make a good family dog but he will never make an easy pet. 

What makes him tick? 

He is full of charm, a loving beast with a quick intelligence and a stubborn streak a mile wide. He will given the chance take over the household and all its adjuncts. He can become too possessive , too demanding , too intolerant of strangers. Under exercised, unoccupied and bored he can wreak havoc. Jaws such as his can make light work of the happy home. He is also quite capable of rearranging your landscape and can introduce a cavern or tasteful tunnel with apparently very little effort. 

Everything about this beautiful animal has an element of challenge. He is such a ‘get up and go' creature possessed of a quick intelligence, an abundance of energy, a drive to hunt, a streak of possessiveness and an exaggerated devotion, which has to be tempered to the demands of a modern world. He is not everyone's dog and should not be looked upon as a commercial proposition although, alas, he sometimes is. If you take him on you must remember his heritage and be sure you can apply the challenge and its immense rewards.