The History of the Weimaraner

Despite the comparative rarity of the Breed in Great Britain, the Weimaraner has been maintained as a pure breed for well over a century in Germany and its ancestry can be seen clearly in paintings dated as long ago as 1630.

The dogs were originally bred in the independent state of Weimar, for their qualities of intelligence, companionship and beauty, and especially for their all round ability to hunt, point, track & retrieve in all sorts of cover whatever the terrain.

The Weimar Coat of Arms

The location of Weimar in Germany

Once developed, the Nobles of Weimar, who jealously kept their dogs from other ownership, preserved the excellent characteristics of these dogs, and when in the course of time, the independent state of Weimar became part of a United Germany the German Weimaraner Club followed in this tradition.

It was only in 1937 that the first Weimaraners were exported to the U.S.A. and not until World War II that any numbers reached owners outside Germany. The Weimaraner was introduced to Britain by Major R.H. Petty in 1952. He had hunted with them whilst serving in Germany.