Weimaraner Zuchtschau in Weimar 10 June 2000

Nikolaus and Aline visit from Georgia
Stockhaar Weiamaraners

It takes more than just the services of two dogs to breed registered Weimaraners in Germany.

The Weimaraner Klub e.V. of Germany, which controls breeding and registration has a list of strict requirements for breeders, including hunting tests for the parents, before litters can be registered.

The Zuchtschau, or "breeding show" is not a show in the North American sense. The German event is the official examination of dogs to determine whether their conformation is suitable for breeding. Additionally, Weimaraners are tested for "character" and are expected to show the willingness to protect their handler and not shy from aggressors. (This practice was dropped in 2001 for fear of having the Weimaraner become known as a fighting dog)

Weimar, of course, is the home of the Weimaraner - or at least the source of the name. In German, a Weimaraner is a person (or thing) from Weimar and applies to all the residents. Likewise, a person from America is called an Amerikaner in Germay.

It's a simple system, but North Americans seem to have a terrible time pronouncing Weimaraner.

Grand Duke Carl August is said to have developed the breed at his court in the late 18th century when what is modern Germany was a patchwork of independent principalities.

In recent history, Weimar was part of the old German Democratic Republic, or as better known in North America: East Germany. Today, Weimar is a charming modern town, proud of its heritage as the former home of German literary giants Goethe and Schiller.

On Saturday, the day of the show, the sun rose to a cloudless sky. Dogs and their handlers arrived at the Hundeschule Passion (dog-training school) in Schöndorf, a suburb to the north of Weimar, as the temperature climbed towards 90 degrees F.. Handlers headed for the shady spots on the perimeter of the ground to wait until they were called.

At 10:00, the handlers and their dogs gathered around the judges for instructions and details of the show.

Two areas were established and dogs were separated between young and old and dogs and bitches. The conformation examination was held in a large square marked by yellow tape and the character test was held in an adjacent field.

Each dog is examined closely by two judges. There is no "stacking," or posing by  professional handlers who try to minimize a dog's weak points. The examination even includes counting nipples on bitches for the proper number. 

The judges spent approximately five minutes with each dog, one dog at a time, while the others wait in the very large ring. A substantial amount of time was spent watching the dogs move, including running freely off-lead outside the ring.

Each dog is measured and the height as well as the overall evaluation is recorded permanently in the club records and will appear on the official papers (Ahnentafel) of any offspring.

Not all dogs take kindly to the measuring and if they cannot be measured, they are rejected because of temperament.

While conformation tests are common for other German versatile hunting dogs, the Weimaraner is the only breed expected to demonstrate a protective urge (Schutztrieb). (Abandoned in 2001)

In the Wesentest, the judge wears some sort of strange coat or covering and threatens to attack dog and handler .

Ideally, the dog should display willingness to defend itself and its handler, such as this dog is doing - but not be otherwise aggressive

A dog that shys away will get a bottom or zero score.

Nikolaus and Aline visit from Georgia
Stockhaar Weimaraners

Steve Graham
Updated 04 Feb 2005