The 'Republic of Weimar'
In 1896, the delegate commission finally accepted the Weimaraner as a distinct and separate breed after it was given sufficient evidence. It was no longer referred to as "l'mongrel". In the meantime, the German Weimaraner Club had been started by a few amateur sportsmen. These men wanted to breed this dog strictly for sport, not for profit. Therefore, a rule was made that no one was allowed to buy a Weimaraner without first becoming a member of the Club. In 1929, Howard Knight, of Providence, RI (USA), became a member of the German Club and was permitted to come back to the U.S. with two Weimaraners. Ultimately, Mr. Knight was instrumental in the founding of the Weimaraner Club of America.
After World War II ended, many soldiers brought home stories of this wonderful, strangely coloured dog known as the Weimaraner. As people heard of these stories many wanted this new Wonder Dog. The 1950's all but destroyed the Weimaraner breed. It is said that, "the best bred dogs were unable to live up to the hyperbole that made the breed famous, and the mass-produced stock (from puppy mills) barely qualified as good companions".
Since that time, breeders have struggled to recover this magnificent hunting and companion dog. Almost all that breed this dog also hunt with the dog. Their attitude is the only reason to breed is with the intention of improving the breed. Within six months a Weimaraner will go from a 1 pound puppy to a 70 pound dog with a mind of its own. It is not a plaything, nor should ownership be frivolous. Without proper training and socialization, this dog can become a neurotic, problem dog and almost impossible to manage.
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Additionally there was a story that after the 2nd world war an Officer in the British Army brought back a bitch in whelp to the UK, but when the pups were born and were all stripped; he thought that these were not Weims, so he drowned the whole litter. Whether this is fact or fiction remains a mystery, but this story is always a story associated with the breed.
It is understood that the Weimi was breed for Deer hunting - Hunt, point and retrieve (HPR) as the picture shows a long tail Weimaraner. Noblemen wanted a good all round gun dog and also a good family dog.
