Weimaraner 183

The Weimaraner originated in Germany during the 19th Century. Germany’s Grand Duke Karl August wanted to develop excellent hunting companions, especially for tracking and chasing large game.

It is thought that the Weimaraner, also referred to as the Weimar Pointer at the time, was developed by crossing various French and German hunting dogs with Bloodhounds. He held court in the town of Weimar, which is where this dog breed got its name. Weimaraners originally hunted boars, bears, mountain lions, and deer with royalty until hunting trends shifted.

Then, they were used to hunt fowl, rabbits, and foxes. One of the facts about Weimaraners is that this dog breed is also a fantastic water dog because of their webbed paws and slick fur. This silver-gray coated pup is a loyal and loving dog. They can also make great guard dogs that were known to be fantastic working dogs as well as family companions.

Weimaraners were a closely kept secret within the German aristocracy for several decades. It wasn’t until the 1920s that some of them started to arrive in the United States. The American Kennel Club recognized the Weimaraner in 1943 as a member of the Sporting Group. Their popularity took off in the 1950s thanks to famous owners providing a boost in visibility.