Weimaraner (Longhair)

There are numerous theories regarding the origin of the Weimaraner Pointing Dog. Only so much is certain : That the Weimaraner, which at that time still contained a great deal of liam hound blood (« Leithund ») was already kept at the Weimar court in the first third of the 19th century.

In the middle of the 19th century, before pure breeding was started, breeding was mainly in the hands of professional hunters and game keepers in central Germany, mostly in the regions round Weimar and in Thuringia. As the days of the liam hounds passed, the dogs were crossed with the (« Hühnerhund ») and breeding was continued with this cross. From about 1890 on, the breed was produced according to a plan and regarded as suitable for registration in a stud book. Apart from the short-haired Weimaraner, a long-haired variety occurred, if only singly, since the turn of the 20th century. Since being admitted to the stud book, the Weimaraner has been pure bred, remaining mostly free from crosses with any other breeds, in particular, Pointers. Therefore the Weimaraner is likely to be the oldest German « pointing » breed, which has been pure bred since 1900.

The above History description is a direct copy of the English translation from the FCI Breed Standard on the FCI web site.

A medium to large size hunting dog. Functional working type, pleasing in shape, sinewy and very muscular. Difference in type between dogs and bitches easily distinguished.

Important proportions:
- Length of body to height at withers approximately 12:11
- Proportions of the head: From tip of nose to stop slightly longer than from stop to occiput.
- Forequarters: Distance from elbow to mid pastern and distance from elbow to point of withers about equal. [Distance from elbow to ground is slightly longer than distance from elbow to withers]

Not specified.

Versatile, easily trained steady and passionate hunting dog. Persevering in systematic search, yet no too lively. Remarkable ability to pick up scent. Ready to seize game and other prey; he is a good watchdog, without aggressiveness however. Reliable pointing dog and worker in water. Remarkable inclination to work after the shot.

Skull: In balance with the size of body and facial region. Broader in dogs than bitches, yet in both, the relationship between width and cranial region to total length of head must be in good proportion. Median groove on forehead. Slightly to moderately protruding occipital bone. Zygomatic arches easily traceable behind the eyes. Stop: Extremely slight.
Nose: Nose leather large, protruding over the underjaw. Dark flesh colour, merging gradually into gray towards the rear.
Muzzle: Long and, especially in the male, powerful, appearing almost angular. Region of canines and carnassial teeth equally strong. Bridge of the nose straight, often slightly arched, never with a concave curve. Flews: Moderately deep, flesh coloured, as are the gums. Slight labial corner. Jaws: Powerful. Cheeks: Muscular, clearly defined. Definitely clean head.

Amber colour, dark to pale, with intelligent expression. Sky-blue in puppies. Round, set barely slanting. Lids well fitting.

Lobular, broad and fairly long, just reaching to corner of mouth. Set on high and narrow, forming a rounded off point at tip. In alertness, turned slightly forward and folded.

Bite: Complete, regular and strong dentition. Incisors should touch with a correct scissor bite.

Noble in appearance and carriage. Upper line arched in profile. Muscular, nearly round, not too short, clean. Becoming stronger towards the shoulders and merging harmoniously into the topline and chest.

Front legs General: High on leg, sinewy, straight and parallel, but not standing wide. Shoulders: Long and sloping. Well fitting, strongly muscled. Well-angulated shoulder joint. Upper Arm: Sloping, sufficiently long and strong. Elbows: Free and lying parallel to median plane of body. Turned neither in nor out. Forearm: Long, straight and vertical. Pastern joint: Strong and taut. Pastern: Sinewy, slightly sloping.

Topline: From the arched neckline, over the well defined withers the topline merges gradually into the relatively long, firm back. Withers: Well defined. Back: Firm and muscular, without a dip. Not running up towards the rear. A slightly longer back, a breed characteristic, is not a fault. Croup: Pelvis long and moderately sloped. Chest: Strong but not unduly broad, with sufficient depth to reach almost to the elbows and of sufficient length. Well sprung ribs without being barrel-shaped and with long ribs. Forechest well developed. Underline and Belly: Rising slightly, but belly not tucked up.

General appearance: High on leg, sinewy and well muscled. Standing parallel, turning neither in nor out. Upper Thigh: Sufficiently long, strong and well muscled. Stifle: Strong and taut. Lower Thigh: Long with clearly visible tendons. Hock Joint: Strong and taut. Hock [Rear pastern]: Sinewy, almost vertical in position.

Front: Firm and strong. Standing straight in relation to median plane of body. Toes arched. Longer middle toes are a breed characteristic and therefore not a fault. Nails light to dark gray. Pads well pigmented and coarse. Hind: Tight and firm, without dewclaws, otherwise like the front feet

Set on slightly lower than with other similar breeds. Tail strong and well coated. Carried hanging down in repose When alert or working, carried level or higher.  In countries where it is allowed by law, appropriately tail docking is permissible for shorthaired Weimaraner used for hunting.

Movement in all gaits is ground covering and smooth. Hind and front legs set parallel to each other. Gallop long and flat. Back remains level when trotting. Pacing is undesirable.

Skin: Strong. Well fitting but not too tight. Short-haired: Short (but longer and thicker than with most comparable breeds), strong, very dense, smooth lying topcoat. Without or only with very sparse undercoat. Long-haired: Soft, long topcoat with or without undercoat. Smooth or slightly wavy. Hair at base of ear long and flowing. Velvety hair is permissible on tips of leathers. Length of coat on flanks 3-5 centimetres. On lower side of neck, forechest and belly, generally somewhat longer. Good feathering and breeching, yet less long towards the ground. Tail with a good flag. Hair between the toes. Hair on head less long. A type of coat similar to a double-coat (Stockhaar) with medium length, dense, close fitting topcoat, thick undercoat and moderately developed feathering and breeching sometimes occurs in dogs of mixed ancestry.

Silver, roe or mouse grey, as well as shades of these colours. Head and leathers generally slightly paler. Only small white markings on chest or toes permitted. Sometimes a more or less defined trace occurs along the back. Dogs with definite reddish yellow markings may only be given the classification good. Brown marking is a serious fault.

Height at withers:
Dogs: 59-70 cms (ideal measurement 62-67 cms)
Bitches: 57-65 cms (ideal measurement 59-63 cms)

Weight:
Dogs: about 30-40kgs
Bitches: about 25-35 kgs

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog, and its ability to perform its traditional work.

SERIOUS FAULTS:
· Widely spread woolly coat in the shorthaired variety.
· Extremely curly or sparse feathering in the longhaired variety.
· White markings except on chest and toes.
· Ears: Feathering extremely short or long, not turned.
· Back: Severe sway or roach back. Definitely overbuilt at croup.
· Particularly pronounced dewlap.
· Definitive bow or cow hocks.
· Poor angulation, definitely turned outward turned elbows. Open paws.


DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
· Aggressive or overly shy.
· Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
· Significant deviation in type, untypical for sex.
· Serious deviation in the proportions.
· Size more than 2 cm outside the standard.
· Absolutely untypical, above lumbering or weak.
· Absolute disproportionate.
· Extremely impaired when walking.
· Skin malformations and defects.
· Partial or total hair loss.
· Lack of feathering on belly or ears.
· Deviations from grey tones, such as yellow or brownish, tan brand.
· Colour other than gray. Blue colouring.
· Foreface absolutely untypical.
· Facial region: Absolutely untypical i.e. distinctly concave nasal bridge. Muzzle too short, pointed, roman nose or with too short flews.
· Entropion, ectropion. Slight and one sided lid defects.
· Jaw and teeth: Missing more than two PM1 or M3.
· Chest, belly: malformations; barrel chest; insufficient chest depth or length; definitely tucked up belly.
· Malformed legs.
· Other malformations.
· Excessively aggressive towards dogs or people, excessive fear.
· Clearly showing behavioural abnormalities.

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.