Lavonia Harper - Weimaraner

The gray ghost, as the Weimaraner has been named, has captured the imaginations of writers, hunters and dog lovers for generations.

A gray specter poised on a misty meadow, forepaw raised; an illusion of molten silver blending into the fog. Two golden eyes pierce the smoky haze. Vision, artform or ancient canid? For centuries, the gray ghost called the Weimaraner has captivated the souls and imaginations of hunters, artists and dog aficionados.

Cloaked in mystery and controversy, the Weimaraner remains as much a paradox today as he was centuries ago when he was closely guarded by German royalty, who prized the breeds power and endurance. Revered also for his loyalty and devotion to his master, the Weimaraner was sometimes called upon to defend his hunter/master from the wildebeest encountered during the hunt. Although he has evolved into a prized family and hunting companion, the Weimaraners original instincts remain strong. Highly intelligent and affectionate, he is fearless and protective and will still track and retrieve wildfowl as well as furred game such as fox or rabbit.

In keeping with his ghostly image, the Weimaraners history is blurred by speculation. In a 1972 publication, Klaus Hartmann (German Weimaraner breeding regulator from 1963 until 1975) presented his conclusion that the Weimaraner can be traced back to the gray Leithunde (leash/lead dogs) of the Royal French Hirschmeuten (red deer packs) in the 1600s. Such theories are supported by examinations of wood carvings and artwork from the Middle Ages.

Dogs resembling the modern Weimaraner have been depicted in sculptures, tapestries and paintings as early as the 12th century. Some Medieval art depicts Weimaraner-type dogs surrounding a captured unicorn. The dogs are of solid color, many of gray hue, and have powerful stocky bodies, long backs and heavy heads, with moderately long ears and draping upper lips. A Van Dyck painting from 1631 shows a Weimaraner look-alike seated beside Prince Rupprecht von Pfalz of Germany.

The Bruno de Jura is a modern-day Swiss scenthound who shares common ancestors with the Weimaraner in the St. Hubertus Brachen.

In another comprehensive study of the breed, breed expert Ludwig Beckmann writes of dogs that are dark gray, with a few of silver gray. Ears are long, narrow and twisted, and the head is narrow when viewed from the front. He describes the dogs as being very devoted to their masters. They can readily distinguish their masters voice and horn. No encouragement is needed during the hunt where they are equally energetic in hot or cold weather.

The most accepted theories allow that todays Weimaraner descended from the St. Hubertus Brachen, a powerful hunting hound named for the monks who resided at the Benedictine Cloistered Monastery of St. Hubert in the Ardennes mountains. These long-bodied dogs were black, with red or fawn-colored markings over their eyes and on their legs, with an occasional small white patch on the chest. Although such markings are unacceptable under todays Weimaraner breed standard, Weimaraner pups are still sometimes born bearing ginger-colored spots over the eyes and on the legs.

The Bloodhound is the direct descendant of the St. Hubert Hounds of years gone by. As such, the Bloodhound derives from similar bloodlines as todays Weimaraner.

The first known pure-bred Weimaraners were developed by the Grand Duke Karl August during the late 1700s. The Grand Duke resided in Weimar, Germany, his estate surrounded by dense forests thick with wild game such as stag, boar, bear and wolves. An avid sportsman who hunted a variety of big game, he discovered the powerful gray dog while hunting on the estate of Bohemian Prince Esterhazy e Aversperg. He became enamored with the dogs enormous strength, courage and endurance, and felt that these attributes would be valuable assets to his hunting challenges.

Weim puppies hot on the trail! Even youngsters demonstrate the keen instincts for which the breed is known.

The Duke decided to develop this dog for his personal hunting pleasure. As a powerful aristocrat, he was able to dictate who would be permitted to own or hunt with the exceptional dogs he bred. His breeding stock and offspring were stringently protected, and only selected family members or privileged nobility were allowed to own his dogs. None of the dogs were permitted to become simply pets or family companions.

The Dukes protective attitude surrounding the Weimaraner was adopted by anyone who owned his dogs, and it persisted into the late 1800s. The breed was still virtually unknown to the German public at the beginning of the 20th century.

In 1897, the Weimaraner Club of Germany was formed with the express purpose of protecting and improving the breed under very strict guidelines. Membership was restricted; promoting the breed was not a club objective, and only members were permitted to own or breed the dogs. Club members took great pains to prevent a Weimaraner from going to anyone who might exploit the breed. They simply believed that the average sportsman was not capable of appreciating the superior qualities of their favored breed. In their quest to retain only the very best animals as breeding stock, the club limited to 1,500 the total number of dogs allowed to be registered with the club.

Type and temperament were carefully molded. As the large-game population declined during the latter half of the 19th century, the Weimaraner was refined from a deer and bear hunter to a fur-and-feathers dog. His ancient instincts remain strong even today, however, and must be an important factor for anyone who considers buying a Weimaraner.

GOOD SCENTS

Weimaraners have been known to follow scents that baffled Bloodhounds. During the White Sands missile testing project, the government used Weimaraners to detect and recover pieces of spent projectiles that human searchers failed to find.

In 1935, the Weimaraner Club of Germany and the Austrian Weimaraner Club (founded in 1924) drew up and completed the official breed standard for the Weimaraner. The famous Austrian author Ludwig von Merey von Kapos Mere, an influential authority on hunting dogs, is credited for joining Otto Stockmeyer, head of the Austrian Weimaraner Club, and Major Robert A. D. Herber, president of the German Weimaraner Club, in their collaborative effort to complete the standard. Major Herber bred Weimaraners under the Wulssriede affix. His devotion to his chosen breed was so renowned that he was fondly referred to as the Father of the Weimaraner.

The Weimaraners strength and popularity in its native Germany must be attributed in part to the widely respected Weimaraner breeder Heinz Reuper (19231995), German sportsman and renowned field-trial judge. During his 40 years in the breed, Reuper bred 30 litters under his vom Zenthof affix, and was staunch in training all of his Weimaraners to their