The weimaraner, which embodies the vision of Grand Duke Karl August of Weimar, has been called the dog with the human brain. In accordance with another vision -- that of William Wegman, the internationally prominent artist and photographer -- the weimaraner is also known as the dog with the human wardrobe. No other individual has done more to spotlight this unique-looking dog than has Wegman, and nothing has done more to invest this or any other breed with a human visage than have Wegman's studies of his weimaraners in outre costumes and eccentric conceits.
Dressed for Success?
Despite the quasicomic persona accorded the weimaraner as a consequence of Wegman's portrayals, which have appeared on postcards, calenders, magazine covers and art gallery walls around the world, this superb working dog should not be mistaken for a lens hound or a silver-gray mannequin. Longtime weimaraner fanciers are proud of their breed's dual functions -- hunter deluxe and boon companion -- and are devoted to producing dogs that are true to the grand duke's intent. The kind of trendy acclaim that would mislead anyone to acquire a weimaraner as a fashion accessory is the last thing those who champion the breed -- and those who rescue it -- would want.
"I wrote Wegman and told him he's ruining the breed," said one woman three years ago. "Between Wegman and the VW Jetta ads, weimaraners are becoming too popular. People think they're automatically trained to do the things in Wegman photographs. They get a 3-pound puppy, and six months later it's a 70-pound dog with very much its own mind."
"The weimaraner is most definitely not a plaything," adds noted breeder, judge and author Judythe Coffman of Riverside, California. "It's a dual-purpose dog, and we want to keep it that way. Nearly all of us who breed also hunt our dogs."
Every Figure Tells a Story
People who show and hunt their weimies, as the breed is sometimes called, have no desire to see a resurgence of the popularity that all but destroyed this dog in the 1950s. The flames of that conflagration were fanned by American servicemen who returned home from the Second World War with tales, both real and embroidered, of the matchless abilities of these amber-eyed hunters. In addition, many soldiers brought weimaraners back from Germany with them.
Sporting magazines and newspapers publicized these wonder-dog chronicles, which presented the Gray Ghost, another breed nickname, as a dog that possessed the courage of a lion, the speed of a gazelle, the intellect of a genius and the athletic abilities of a decathlon champion. Not surprisingly American sportsmen wanted to get their hands on this dog, which was fast becoming a legend; and the more people that sought one of the silver-haired beauties, the more unscrupulous entrepreneurs there were who found the kennel space to crank out weimaraner puppies.
In 1946, three years after the American Kennel Club (AKC) had recognized weimaraners, total registrations for the year numbered 32. Eight years later the breed had rocketed to 12th place among the 98 breeds then registered by AKC, with total registrations of 6,608 for that year alone. Needless to say, even the best-bred dogs were unable to live up to the hyperbole that had ignited their rise to fame, and the mass-produced stock barely qualified as good companions. People who bought into the tales of wonder connected with the weimaraner expected their dogs to all but add, subtract and solve algebraic equations. What these newcomers got instead was a sorry imitation of a dog that under the best of circumstances needed a steady, guiding hand and plenty of exercise to reach its full potential, a dog they had no clue about bringing to that potential.
Consequently the breed lost favor. Annual registrations peaked at 10,011 in 1957, when the weimaraner was still the 12th most popular dog in America. By 1968, registrations had fallen by nearly half, and the weimaraner stood 28th among 115 breeds registered by AKC that year. As the smoke was clearing, all that remained was the for people with the best interests of the breed at heart to sort through the rubble and start to undo the damage wrought by greed.
Three decades later, however, weimaraner registrations are on the rise again. After declining steadily from 1971 to 1988, when new registrations for the year numbered only 3,653, the trend was reversed; and in 1997 there were 7,701 new weimies enrolled by AKC, a 111 percent increase. The breed stood 39th in popularity among the 145 breeds that year.
The Grand Design
In the first decade of the 19th century the Grand Duke Karl August of Weimar set out to create a multipurpose dog to meet the assorted needs of the German forester. This dog would compete with the best hunting, fetching, tracking and swimming dogs of its day. It would, furthermore, be regal-looking, surpassingly intelligent, loyal, robust and strong.
Precise records have not survived the nearly 200 years that have passed since Karl August and others began their pursuit of the canine grail, but various observers believe the formula for his superdog included, at very least, the red schweiss hound, which resembles a bloodhound, and the Great Dane. Some claim that a French dog descended from stock brought home from the Middle East by Louis IX during the Crusades also figured prominently in the mix.
Whatever the combination of scent-hound and fowl-hunting dogs used to create the weimaraner, by the 1880s it had become a dog whose working ability in the field made him one of Germany's strongest, most highly revered hunters. The essence of versatility and intelligence, weimaraners have been used as bird dogs and water retrievers and have also been used on wolves, wild cats, deer, mountain lion and bear. In Europe weimies have further excelled at police work, making excellent use of their remarkable scenting powers and tracking ability.
Cautionary Tales
The weimaraner's short, slick coat, hardy constitution and medium size (males stand about 26 inches at the shoulder, females about 2 inches shorter) are widely appealing. Many breeders point out, nevertheless, that young weimaraners are not aware of their size and strength, and their lack of grace can present hazards for the toddler or the elderly.
Weimaraners are, in addition, people dogs. If they are relegated to outdoor runs with insufficient human contact or if they are left home alone for long periods, they can easily and quickly become neurotic, problem dogs that are almost impossible to manage. If you cannot control your weimaraner, it will control you.
Although weimaraner fanciers admit that the adolescent period of a weimie's life, which extends in some cases to 2 or even 3 years of age, can be a trying if not downright embarrassing time, they are quick to add that when maturity does arrive, there are few breeds as devoted, responsive and beautiful to behold as the silver-haired and celebrated Gray Ghost of the Weimar Republic. One is just as apt to find the breed competing in the show ring as in obedience and agility trials. Many mature weimaraners have proven to be excellent therapy dogs in hospitals and homes for children, the aged and the infirm. What's more, some of these dogs are even good sports about getting dressed up in human clothes and posing for unusual photos.
The Longhair Weimaraner
There is a longhair variety of weimaraner that many people find attractive. This variety is, in fact, recognized by and shown in all the major kennel clubs of the world except those in the United States. Although longhair weimaraners are in the minority, they are regularly born into shorthair litters. The long coat is no drawback in any of the many levels of competition or sport for which the versatile weimaraner is suitable. Unlike the shorthair weimaraner, which has its tail docked in puppyhood so that it is approximately 6 inches long at maturity, the longhair weimaraner generally is not subject to tail docking. If the longhair's tail is docked at all, only a vertebrae or two are removed.
Flaws in the Ointment
Persons interested in weimaraner puppies should be aware of the genetic disease conditions that have been associated most frequently with this breed. Like many medium- to large-size dogs the weimaraner is subject to hip dysplasia, a malformation of the hip joint resulting in a poor fit between the head of the femur bone and the hip socket, in which the femoral head normally lies. Because dysplastic dogs often produce dysplastic puppies, buyers should ask if both the sire and the dam of the puppy in which they are interested have been rated clear of hip dysplasia by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or by Penn HIP. Do not take yes for an answer without seeing the certificate, and ask for a copy to take to your veterinarian. Hip dysplasia can be corrected by surgery, but the prudent buyer is one who avoids problems rather than having to pay to correct them.
Weimaraners can be susceptible to skin ulcers caused by excessive licking. The onset of this condition, known as lick granuloma, is caused by boredom. The dog licks certain areas until the hair is gone and the skin surface breaks. Treatment can be prolonged and cure evasive. Changing routines and ensuring the dog gets plenty of exercise appear to help considerably.
Some families of weimaraners are susceptible to a condition called hygroma, a swelling of a joint, very often the elbow, that can grow to the size of a golf ball. Hygroma is caused by repeated contact with hard surfaces such as cement runs or hardwood floors. This disfiguring problem can be avoided if a weimaraner is provided with a padded or cushioned sleeping and resting area.
Other troubles that may befall weimaraners are bloat and assorted eye problems. Bloat is a condition wherein the stomach can turn and become blocked, causing a buildup of gas. Unless treated quickly, bloat can be fatal. Signs of bloat are stomach pain and futile attempts to vomit and to salivate. Bloat may also lead to cardiovascular collapse. Bloat usually occurs when a dog is exercised too soon after eating. The risk of bloat can be lessened by feeding adult dogs twice a day and, of course, by allowing them time to digest their food before going for a run in the park.
The eye problems sometimes found in weimaraners include distichiasis, entropion and eversion of the nictitating membrane. Distichiasis or double eyelashes is a condition in which a dog is born with an extra row of eyelashes, usually on the lower lid, that causes irritation to the cornea and tearing. Entropion or diamond eye occurs when the eyelid rolls inward and hair rubs against the cornea. The effects of entropion range from irritation to tearing to loss of vision from scarring. Eversion of the nictitating membrane is a condition in which the third eyelid protrudes..
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