Ardenstorm Weimaraners & Bracci Italiani.

Theories as to
the origin of the Weimaraner.

The physical appearance is only one aspect in determining the origin. We come to the conclusion that the standard of the breed is not only through the outward appearance but also the presence of the characteristics. It is well known that many attempts have been made as to find the origin’s of the Weimaraner. It started by looking at the foundation in the House of Weimar. (It was unsuccessful). The Doggen (Great Dane) theory, Von Fries and the Braque Symptoms by Von Herber ended in the ‘grey past.’

Fixed ‘signatures’ for the weimaraner-pointer are :-

  1. The grey coat.
  2. The light eye’s.
  3. The twisted leathers.
  4. The loose coat.
  5. The curved bridge of the nose.
  6. The shape of the occiput.
  7. The keenness to hunt.
  8. The faithfulness.
  9. Easy training.
  10. His ability for trekking and retrieving.

All previous attempts to explain the origin of the Weimar-Pointer can be read in the Gundog Periodical ‘Die Jaddhunde’ in 1967 by the brilliant Weimaraner expert Herr Prof. Emil Hauk, but he makes no comments on the colour or origin.

Hauck’s theory on the origins are listed as :-

  1. Wuertemberger x pointer.
  2. CDK x Pointer.
  3. Imports from Russia.
  4. Herdingpudels.
  5. Bohemian pointers (yellow/white).
  6. Dogs bred by Richnow.
  7. Great Danes (Kleeman, In Game and Dogs).
  8. Braques.

But even today all breed characteristics of the Weimaraner like :-

Shape of head, colour of nose, slightly curved bridge of nose and slight stop are related to the Braques and the grey colour developed from black which was the colour of the St. Hubert dog and that both breeds had the same lobular leathers and tailset.

A portrait of Van Dyck shows however in 1631 Prince Ruprecht Von Der Pealz with a Weimaraner type dog. Also Oudry painted King Ludwig XV (1715 - 74) with a bitch called "Blanche". In the Luovre Comte De Sade has in his castle at Wolfberg paintings of the times of Oudry with grey Weimaraner type dogs.

Wittekop and Plagge are dead, written data not available, the new theory is Von Gustav Norden Flycht that approximately 80 years previously some silver grey shorthaired dogs appeared which were highly prized by their owners were soon mixed with other breeds, so in the 1870’s there were very few silver grey dogs about, which did not show any Weimaraner characteristics.

Nordenflycht mentions that at a show at Treptow some Weimaraners appeared resembling the old type of a lovely shade of silver grey. At a show in Hannover (1883) a judge Mr. Ross awarded a prize to a heavy example.

In the German Hunting Periodical in 1887 was the following advert ‘Pure-bred German Bird-dog, outstanding beauty, good figure, 70cm tall, 2 1/2 years old silver grey, well trained, for sale for 160 marks with box.

The Weimaraner club from 1965 stipulated that only pure-bred Weimaraners to be kept separate from pointer Weimar inbreeding. By inbreeding of the Weimaraner basis it follows that the colour from silver grey to mouse grey and the headshape is that of a pointer. According to Mendelsons Law the brown colour is a recessive gene and the grey colour has now been established. This colour must still be highly prised and any Brown dog’s must not be bred from.

As both lines will have to be bred separate and through inbreeding the Weimaraner type to be fixed, it must be assured that the dominant e.g. recessive inherited points like full pigmentation/colour fading, black nose/brown nose, dark eyes/light eyes, long head/short head. Grey has been inherited recessively, two grey parents will produce grey.

It was tried to establish the grey recessive gene with inbreeding to English dogs after 1848 during the German Revolution when hunting and shooting was only allowed by nobility, ordinary people got interested in this breed. Breeders of these dogs through the new standard of Delegierten Kommission in 1880 changed the old characteristics of the German Pointer to the Weimaraner type dog. This was controlled by pure inbreeding and registration. Karl Brandt (1896) suggested to found a Weimaraner Club, in 1908 there was a split for silver grey with possibly white markings against yellow hues. A dark dog was supposedly only a working dog. Then there was a compromise, in 1881 Herr Plitschke mated a pair and the Sanderslebende Weimaraners are the origin of today’s line. Richnow and Plitschke bred both for many years as a member of the club and Herr Von Witzingerode joined forces.

In 1934 The Longhaired Weimaraner Club was formed, but Herber mentioned that longhairs ought to be destroyed. It is an interesting fact that shorthaired parents can produce Longhaired pups but originally the coat of Weimaraners was short, long or roughhaired. Longhairs were in 1935 through Heegendorffs vote accepted. Longhair should never be mated to a shorthair as it has the recessive gene.

Not only Germany has developed the Weimaraner, before World War Two, they came to America, Canada, Australia, India and Holland, after the war to Denmark and Russia. From 1968 France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Africa, England, Spain and Italy.

The Weimaraner should not only be judged on his lovely exterior, but for his ability as gundog, bird-dog, small game, retrieving and lying still.

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