JUDGING THE WEIMARANER
wish to check something on the dog, turn and approach him from the front rather than laying your hand from behind when he is not aware that you are approaching. This view is frequently over- looked, but it tells all! As you walk down the line from the rear to the front, you can see if the neck is of sufficient length to balance with the body, if the shoulders lay back and lie down so that there is a smooth transition from the neck to the body, and if there is sufficient length and spring of ribcage (not slab-sided, not barrel- chested). Is there a waist at the loin (but not so much as to be wasp- waisted)? Are there well-developed first and second thighs? And is there a good butt, with tail as an extension of the spine—preferably carried at one o’clock? Finally, turn and look at the line-up from the front to have a final look at the heads, moderately long and aristocratic . The planes should be parallel, equal length of muzzle and skull, good chisel- ing, and although the muzzle tapers on the sides, it should have a squared-off finish to accommodate the large nostrils and well- developed teeth. The eyes are lighter than with most breeds. Occa- sionally they remain blue, but most of the time, adults have amber or blue-gray eyes. Eye shape is not defined in the standard, but con- sider two points: 1.) A round eye, and little to no brow expression along with a light eye, will give you a very stark look. 2.) A light but oval eye with a soft brow presents with a softer expression and still has the intensity of a pointing breed rather than a spaniel. Con- sider the desire for aristocratic features . This comes from the smooth body with no bumps and dips as well as from the regal expression. Of course, the dog then needs to move as it stands, indicating the ability to work with great speed and endurance. As the dog moves around the ring, remember that most of the Major Faults listed in the Weimaraner breed standard bring you to the conclu- sion that a sound dog is of great importance, both coming and going as well as in side-gait. Considering the Very Serious Faults: A gray dog is a dilute color and cannot have a black mottled mouth. It could have a gray mottled mouth and this is ok. If the dog has a black nose, you would be excusing it for a color not allowed, and if the coat was black or blue, the dog would be disqualified. I surmise they left this in to remind you that a purebred Weima- raner cannot have black. The Weimaraner is a single-coated dog. Their un-docked tail is very long, like a whip. This long tail has no protection from the brush and trees that it hits while hunting.
It can become very damaged. Docking the tail is a preventative measure. The United States is the only country that does not accept the longhaired variety. I have judged longhairs in other countries. Personally, I feel they do not retain the same aristocratic features that we look for in the United States. To my knowledge, our Wei- maraner Standard is the only one that asks for aristocratic features. Within every breed there will be differences in style from ken- nel to kennel. We do not pursue style , but if used within the con- fines of the breed standard to produce better dogs, it allows for latitude in the expression of qualities that make-up type . In the Weimaraner, these qualities are: 1. Rectangular Outline; 2. Prominent and Deep Forechest (Balanced with the Rest of the Body), Including a Well Laid Back Shoulder and Match- ing Return of Upper Arm; 3. Neck, Clean-Cut and Moderately Long; 4. Ability to Work with Great Speed and Endurance in the Field. Weimaraners were developed from the St. Hubert Hound. Remember that hound characteristics are the “drag of the breed” —level underline, ears too long, bone too heavy, excessive skirting in the loin area, thick tail, tan markings as in a black and tan dog, and pendulous flews.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gale Young, Starhaven (formerly Starwood Kennel Reg’d.), has been breeding and showing Futurity/ Maturity-winning and nationally-ranked Weimaraners for over 48 years. She has been judging for over 24 years in the US and internationally. A former member of the PHA and CPH, Gale currently judges the Sporting Group, Terrier Group, half the Toy Group, and Best in Show. She is a member of the WCA Judges’ Education Committee. Gale has a Master’s Degree in Music and is a voice teacher. Gale is a member of the Weimaraner Club of America and has been Chairman and Secretary for the WCA Eastern Field Classic. She was Secretary as well as President of the Yankee Weimaraner Club. For 15 years, she cared for and placed the Rescue Dogs for the Yankee Club. She was Chairperson for the YWC Specialty for many years. Gale is also a member of several other breed clubs, including Yankee Toy Dog Club, Ladies’ Dog Club, Manatee KC, New England Sporting Group Association, Norfolk Terrier Club, and the Venice DC. Gale’s first dog, a Weimaraner, achieved a Breed Championship, a CDX Title, and two Field Ratings, giving her the title of Versatility Excellent by the National Club. With only two litters to her credit, she also
became a BROM Dam. In 2015, her Top Ten male, GCHP CH Starwood’s Reinhard V Dietz CGC TKN, was BOS at the Weimaraner National Specialty under a breeder-judge. This multiple BIS winning dog was Select Dog at the 2016 National Specialty, BOB at the 2017 Westminster KC Dog Show and at the 2017 AKC National Championship Show, as well as Top Twenty Winner at the 2018 Weimaraner Club of America National Specialty, and Number One Breed and All-Breed Weimaraner in 2018. Satisfied that this would be the culmination of her breeding program, Gale was most pleased that this year, three individual dogs that she bred went Select Dog, Select Bitch, and Owner-Handler BOB at the 2021 Weimaraner Club of America National Specialty. After all, what good is a great breeding program if you do not pass it on to others who will run with it?
330 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 2021
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