Weimaraner

Weimaraner, breed of hunting dog, which originated in Weimar, Germany, at the beginning of the 19th century. It is believed to have been derived chiefly from a variety of bloodhound. The dog was bred by members of a club known as the Weimaraner Club, which imposed rigid breeding standards. The breed was imported into the United States in 1929 and has steadily become more popular. The dog runs with great speed, having been known to exceed 61 km/h (38 mph); thus, with the whippet, it is one of the fastest of domesticated animals. Originally the Weimaraner was used for hunting large game, such as wolves, deer, and wild boars, and later for hunting birds. It is often kept as a watchdog or pet. The animal has an aristocratic-looking head; slightly folded ears that are placed fairly high; intelligent eyes that are blue-gray or amber in color; straight, muscular forelegs and powerful hind legs; and a tail that is cropped when the puppy is about three days old and then attains a maximum length of about 15 cm (about 6 in). The Weimaraner has a short coat that may be one of several shades of gray. The male is from 61 to 69 cm (24 to 27 in) high at the withers and weighs from 29 to 39 kg (65 to 85 lb); the female is slightly smaller.