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Weim Breed Standard – Thank you to the Weimaraner Club of America & Many other Clubs & Rescues For Weim Info
Sporting Group
General Appearance
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. One inch over or under the specified height of each sex is allowable but should be penalized. Dogs measuring less than 24 inches or more than 28 inches and bitches measuring less than 22 inches or more than 26 inches shall be disqualified.
Head
Moderately long and aristocratic, with moderate stop and slight median line extending back over the forehead. Rather prominent occipital bone and trumpets well set back, beginning at the back of the eye sockets. Measurement from tip of nose to stop equals that from stop to occipital bone. The flews should be straight, delicate at the nostrils. Skin drawn tightly. Neck clean-cut and moderately long. Expression kind, keen and intelligent. Ears–Long and lobular, slightly folded and set high. The ear when drawn snugly alongside the jaw should end approximately 2 inches from the point of the nose.Eyes–In shades of light amber, gray or blue-gray, set well enough apart to indicate good disposition and intelligence. When dilated under excitement the eyes may appear almost black. Teeth–Well set, strong and even; well-developed and proportionate to jaw with correct scissors bite, the upper teeth protruding slightly over the lower teeth but not more than 1/16 of an inch. Complete dentition is greatly to be desired. Nose–Gray. Lips and Gums–Pinkish flesh shades.
Body
The back should be moderate in length, set in a straight line, strong, and should slope slightly from the withers. The chest should be well developed and deep with shoulders well laid back. Ribs well sprung and long. Abdomen firmly held; moderately tucked-up flank. The brisket should extend to the elbow.
Coat and Color
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. White spots resulting from injury should not be penalized. A distinctly long coat is a disqualification. A distinctly blue or black coat is a disqualification.
Forelegs
Straight and strong, with the measurement from the elbow to the ground approximately equaling the distance from the elbow to the top of the withers.
Hindquarters
Well-angulated stifles and straight hocks. Musculation well developed.
Feet
Firm and compact, webbed, toes well arched, pads closed and thick, nails short and gray or amber in color. Dewclaws–Should be removed.
Tail
Docked. At maturity it should measure approximately 6 inches with a tendency to be light rather than heavy and should be carried in a manner expressing confidence and sound temperament. A non-docked tail shall be penalized.
Gait
The gait should be effortless and should indicate smooth coordination. When seen from the rear, the hind feet should be parallel to the front feet. When viewed from the side, the topline should remain strong and level.
Temperament
The temperament should be friendly, fearless, alert and obedient.
Faults
Minor Faults–Tail too short or too long. Pink nose.
Major Faults–Doggy bitches. Bitchy dogs. Improper muscular condition. Badly affected teeth. More than four teeth missing. Back too long or too short. Faulty coat. Neck too short, thick or throaty. Low-set tail. Elbows in or out. Feet east and west. Poor gait. Poor feet. Cowhocks. Faulty backs, either roached or sway. Badly overshot, or undershot bite. Snipy muzzle. Short ears.
Very Serious Faults–White, other than a spot on the chest. Eyes other than gray, blue-gray or light amber. Black mottled mouth. Non-docked tail. Dogs exhibiting strong fear, shyness or extreme nervousness.
Disqualifications
Deviation in height of more than one inch from standard either way.
A distinctly long coat. A distinctly blue or black coat.
Approved December 14, 1971
Brief History of the Weimaraner Breed
The original Weimar Pointers appeared in the 19th century. They were prized for their versatile hunting skills and remarkable character. In the early part of the century, the Nobles of Weimar were avid sportsmen and hunted a variety of big game. They required of the Weimaraner an exceptional tracking ability, speed, courage and durability. Their breeding programs developed these specific traits and qualities. More likely by accident, they produced the distinctive gray coat color that is the hallmark of the breed. During the first century, the Nobles rigidly controlled the availability of the dogs. To insure the future of the breed, the German Weimaraner Club was formed. Membership was restricted and members only were permitted to own and breed the dogs. Few outsiders really knew much about the breed. Legends developed about the great gray hunting dog. Type and temperament was refined and eventually, during the latter half of the 19th century, the Weimaraner was converted from a bear and deer hunter to a ‘fur and feathers’ dog.
However, much of the original hunting instincts remain today and must be taken into consideration when deciding to buy a Weimaraner. In 1928 a New England sportsman, Howard Knight, applied for membership in the German Club. Despite his promises to protect the purity of the breed, the club sent Knight two sterilized dogs. He was determined to acquire foundation stock. Finally, in 1938, three bitches and a puppy dog were sent to him: litter sisters, Adda and Dorle v. Schwarzen Kamp; year old bitch, Aura v. Gaiberg; puppy dog, Mars aus der Wulfsreide. Others joined Howard Knight’s efforts and in 1942, the Weimaraner Club of America was formed, a standard was created for the breed. American Kennel Club recognition was applied for and dogs began exhibition in obedience. At the end of 1942, AKC recognition was granted and the breed had it’s coming out at Westminster in 1943.
An era of imports began in the forties. It may have been difficult to keep dogs in wartime Europe, so many quality dogs were sent to the states. The most outstanding of these was Aura v. Gaiberg (bitch) , the first companion dog titlist. Her son, Ch. Grafmar’s Jupiter, UTD was the first to complete all the obedience degrees. Thirty -six Grafmar dogs earned obedience titles in the next ten years. Weimaraners began attending field trials in 1948. The last half of the fifties brought fame, fortune and problems to the breed. In some ways they were the glory years of the first big bench winners, multiple Best in Show and big running flashy field dogs. It seemed for a while, though, that all the hard work and careful planning of the early years had gone for naught. A Weimaraner was a status symbol and the more it cost to obtain the more status it afforded. While the boom was going on, many of the animals produced were ill bred, ill tempered and ugly. The once rare Gray Ghost ended up “free to good home”. The breed quality survived among the concerned and dedicated people who maintained breed standards of excellence. By the mid-sixties, the breed began emerging from this devastating growth period and breeders began working on correcting past abuses. Recovery, however, would not have been possible without the original strong gene pool.
Today, the Weimaraner is enjoying a renewed popularity. It ranks forty-first in popularity in the United States. This is a drop of two points from thirty-ninth for most of the past decade. There has been a surge of the number of animals in rescue shelters and foster care (see rescue pages). A short number of years ago, there were only a handful of dogs in need of homes,currently there are more than thirty listed. The responsible breeders are carrying the burden of the taking care of the animals unwanted by careless breeders and buyers. While the over-popularity is not as extreme as the 1950’s, both breeders and buyers need to educate themselves about the Weimaraner temperament and needs before selling or buying a friend for the dog’s life.The Weimaraner Club of America has a growing membership of interested persons. The club encourages responsible breeding and dog ownership. Also, it serves as a collection point of information about some of the breed’s health and rescue issues. The club maintains a liason to Germany and has members in Australia, Austria, Bermuda, Brasil, Canada and other places throughout the world. The Weimaraner Magazine is published monthly with a Blue Ribbon Issue published in June. A members directory is also published allowing members to keep in touch. Some information taken from A Pictoral History of the Weimaraner, Volume One. |
“How to” Articles
Additional Topics of Interest from the AKC can be found here
Critical Periods In a Dog’s Life
Dealing with Separation Anxiety
Prepare Your Pet for a New Baby
Puppy Socialization, What Is, Why It’s Important
The Fundamentals of Early Puppy Training
Weimaraner Behavior – Thank you Michigan Weimaraner Rescue
Weimaraner 