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The Weimaraner Standard..
Then and now..........
The First American Standard,
From the "Blu-Mar"July,1971 issue..
We thought it maybe interesting to publish the first official Weimaraner Standard ( Adopted by AKC July 11,1944).This Standard has been changed many times since then and can be changed again,but it will require plenty of UNITED effort to bring back our BLUES the equality in the show ring they shared with their silver-gray brother and sisters back in the 40's.
Here it is.....
INTRODUCTION
Weimaraners are of the sporting group of German origin.They have been pure-bred for 135 years.They are by nature hunting dogs with natural instincts for hunting Wolf and Coyote,Mountain Lion,Wild Cat,Deer,Bear and wild Boar.
The same natural instinct causes them to hunt upland game and pause before stealthily following a scent or upon sighting their quarry.
Their natural instincts are readily developed into the type of hunter desired.
The breed is extremely intelligent-affectionate-dependable-loyal-and a courageous protector.
They are perfectly at home in the water and will retrieve Wild Fowl under any climactic conditions.
With these attributes,we look for the following standard points in conformation as basic.It is not the purpose of the Weimaraner Club of America to sacrifice the basic hunting instincts of the breed to bench performance.The objective in breeding is the maintence of those qualities which have made the Weimaraner outstanding as a hunting dog.
STANDARD
General appearance:
Color Gray(Silver,Bright,Dark,Yellow);the dark Gray maybe ash or BLUE,often blending to a lighter shade on the head or ears.A white star on the chest is allowable,but at no other place on the body.Any yellow tinge in such star is a definate fault.
Look for individuality in class and carriage as an indication of character and breeding and indicated by the head ,eye and stance.There should be every indication of a business -like muzzle with reasonably deep flews.There should be a strong clean neck gracefully joining muscular shoulders separated by a well-developed chest-all supported by staunch legs.The back should be moderate in lenght,strong and straight over well developed ribs.The hindquarters should slope gently over muscular legs with low stifles and firm feet.The whole should sum up to the maxium of power,speed,grace and endurance,absolutely sound fore and aft.
Weight and Height
Dogs 65 to 85 pounds;Bitches 55 to 75 pounds.Height at the Withers-Dogs 24-26 inches;Bitches 22-25 inches. Oversize should not be considered to serious a fault if conformation and instinctive character is outstanding.
Head
Fine featured and aristocractic.Some what narrower tha the Pointer,or atleast giving that effect because of the long muzzle and rather prominent Occipital bone and trumpets which set well back but beginning at the back of the eye socket.The flews should be quite deep,enclosing a powerful jaw.The foreface should be perfectly straight,delicate at the nostrils,and the hair slightly darker that the hair on the body,with the skin drawn tight.
Ears
General characteristics of the hound,slightly folded and placed rather high-soft coat.
Eyes
Color-Blue-gray or Amber,appearing amber to gray,depending upon the light-quite prominent when alert-and if the pupils are dilated the eyes appear almost black.Should be well set apart to indicate good disposition and intelligence.
Teeth
Well set ,strong and even,Must be well developed and proportionate to the jaw with a powerful scissor bite.Teeth undershot or overshot is a serious fault.
Tail
Cropped to 1 1/2 inches as a puppy(within three days).Aproximately 6 inches at maturity-tendancy to be light than heavy and carried expressively.
Legs
Fore-Straight,muscular and well boned.
Hind-Muscular and evidence of driving power.Stifles well let down.
Feet
Firm,well arched and closed,giving evidence of ability to stand hard work and withstand bruises.Nails should be gray ,black or amber.
Gait
The walk is rather awkward,promptly to become a perfect rhythm at a trot and effortless ground covering grace on extended leaps.
Temperament
The breed is lively,fearless,kind and obedient.They are extremely sensitive and exceptionally smart and anxious to please.Any sign of weak nerves,shyness or viciousness should be heavily penalized.
And Today's STANDARD
General Appearance:
A medium sized gray dog,with fine aristocractic features.He should present a picture of grace ,speed,stamina,alertness and balance.Above all,the dogs conformation must indicate the ability to work with great speed and endurance in the field.
Height
Height at withers:dogs 25-27 inches;bitches 23-25 inches.One inch over or under the specified height of each sex is allowable but should be penalized.Dogs measuring less than 24 or more than 28 inches and bitches measuring less than22 or more than 26 inches shall be disqualified.
Head
Moderately long and aristocractic,with moderate stop and slight median line extending back over the forehead.Rather prominent occipital bone and trumpets wellset back,beginning at the back of the eye sockets.Measurments from the tip of the nose to stop equal that from the stop to the occipital bone. The flews should be straight ,delicate at the nostrils.Skin drawn tightly.Neck clean-cut and moderately long.Expression kind,keen and intelligent.
Ears
Long and lobular,slightly folded and set high.The ear when drawn snugly alongside the jaw should jaw should end appoximately 2 inches from the point of the nose.
Eyes
In shades of light amber or blue gray,set well enough apart to indicate good disposition and intelligence.When dilated under excitement the eyes may appear almost black.
Teeth
Well set,strong and even,well developed and proportionate to jaw with correct scissor bite,the upper teeth protruding slightly over the lower teeth but not more than1/16 of an inch.Complete dentition is greatly is greatly to be desired.
Nose
Gray.
Lips and Gums
Pinkish flesh shades
Body
The back should be moderate in lenght,set in a straight line,strong and should slope slightly from the withers.The chest should be well developed and deep with shoulders well laid back.Ribs well sprung and long.Abdomen firmly held;moderately tucked up flank.The brisket should extend to the elbow.
Coat and Color
Short,smooth and sleek,solid color,in shades of mouse-gray to silver-gray,usually blending to lighter shades on the head and ears.A small white marking on the chest is permitted,but should be penalized on any other portion of the body.White spots resulting from injury should not be penalized.A distinctly long coat is a disqualification.A distinctly blue or black coat is a disqualification.
Legs
Forelegs
Straight and strong,with the measurement from the elbow to the ground appoximately equaling the distance from the elbow to the top of the withers.
Hindquaters
Well angulated stifles and straight hocks.Musculation well developed.
Feet
Firm and compact,webbed ,toes well arched,pads closed and thick,nail short and gray or amber in color.
Dewclaws
Should be removed
Tail
Docked.At maturity it should measure approximately 6 inches with a tendency to be light rather than heavy and should be carried in a manner expressing confidence and sound temperament.A non-docked tail should be penalized.
Gait
The gait should should be effortless and should indicate smooth co-ordination.When seen from the rear,the hind feet should be parallel to the front feet.When veiwed from the side,the top line should remain strong and level.
Temperament
The temperament should be friendly,fearless,alert and obediant.
Minor Faults
Tail to short or to long.Pink nose.
Major Faults
Doggy bitches and bitchy dogs.Improper muscular condition.Badly affected teeth.More than four teeth missing.Back too long or too short.Feet east and west.Poor gait.Poor feet.Cow hock.Faulty backs either roached or sway.Badly overshot,or undershot bite.Snipy muzzle.Short ears.
Very Serious Faults
White,other than a spot on the chest.Eyes other than gray,blue-gray or light amber.Black mottled mouth.Non docked tail.Dogs exhibiting strong fear,shyness and extreme nervousness.
Disqualifications
Deviation of height of more than 1 inch from standard either way.A distinctly long coat.A distinctly blue or black coat is a disqualification.
The Genetics Of Death
