As history is reckoned, the Weimaraner is a young dog, dating back only to the early nineteenth century. The Bloodhound is believed to be among its ancestors, if not in direct line of descent, then certainly in a collateral way. In their breed investigations, historians stopped when they got as far back as the Red Schweisshund, but it is difficult to imagine that any of the several varieties of Schweisshund did not trace to the Bloodhound, which was well established in Europe at the time of the Crusaders. Indeed, the red-tan Schweisshund found in the vicinity of Hanover is described as having "many of the characteristics of the Bloodhound." It was howwever, a breed measuring about twenty one inches at the shoulder, compared with the Bloodhound"s maximum of twenty seven inches and the Weimaraner's top of twenty seven inches.

The Weimaraner that we know today is the product of selective breeding; of judicious crosses followed by generations of line breeding to fix type and quality. It came from the same general stock which has produced a number of Germany' s hunting breeds, one of its cousins being the breed - The German Shorthaired Pointer. In fact, in its early days, the Weimaraner was known simply as the Weimar Pointer. Since then height and weight have both been increased, but the distinctive coat color, described as silver grizzle or mouse gray, was approximately the same.

Formerly the Weimaraner had been a big game dog used on such quarry as wolves, wild cats, deer, mountain lion, bear, etc. By the time big game in Germany became a rarity, the breed was supported by a club originally started by a few of the men who had drawn up the dog's specifications. They were amateur sportsmen who desired to breed for sport rather than for profit. Accordingly, it was not easy to purchase a Weimaraner in Germany and practically impossible in any foreign country. One had to become a member of the club before purchasing, while gaining admittance to the club meant that the applicant's previous record of sportsmanship must assure proper maintenance of the club's breeding rules. One of these rules demanded that litters resulting from matings deemed unsuitable by a breed survey were not given place in the stud book; another, that specimens, even from approved litters, which did not measure up physically and temperamentally were to be destroyed. Hence there was no chance of a boom in the breed.

It should be mentioned in passing, that with the demise of big game hunting in Germany, the Weimaraner was trained as a bird dog used on various types of game in upland shooting and as a water retriever noted for its soft mouth. However, both in Germany and in North America, the dog has been used more as a personal hunting companion than as a field trial competitor.

As for temperament, this dog is not happy when related to the kennel. He is accustomed to being a member of the family and he accepts the responsibilities which that entails.