It’s a dicey thing, protecting a breed. A common complaint among potential puppy buyers of today is that it’s difficult to find good heritage breeders who will sell a puppy to them, particularly if they are first time owners of the breed. This is a big topic worthy of further discussion (for another time and place), but it’s not entirely a new problem.

German noblemen of the Weimar court were passionately, if not vehemently, protective of their Weimaraners and the purity of their bloodlines. To maintain the integrity of their breed, the Weimaraner club was formed in 1897, and only members of the club were allowed to purchase a puppy, and then, only if they had reputations as honorable sportsmen. Members were honor bound to conform strictly to all rules and regulations of the club that was exceedingly difficult to join.  It didn’t promote itself or the breed, and went to great efforts to remain low keyed.

German protectiveness made it hard to form a breed club in America. It wasn’t until 1928 when sportsman, Howard Knight, applied for membership in the German Club that an American came to own a Weimaraner. Though Knight had promised to protect the breed, the club sent Knight two dogs that were either sterile, or sterilized. Subtle. Even so, he kept the dogs and trained them as a sign of good will, and in 1929, he became the first American member of the Weimaraner Club of Germany.

As an aside, WWII changed things. The rule prohibiting the sale of Weimaraners to non-club members was broken after World War II when soldiers of occupation forces took puppies back to their native countries (though one wonders how they managed to get their hands on the puppies in the first place). It was also suggested that because of the difficulty in keeping dogs in wartime Europe, many good dogs were sent to the United States.  In response, the club passed a by law stating that only half of all litters could be sold outside Germany. We don’t know if either is true and would welcome verification from a veteran Weim owner.

Weimaraner Grey Ghost by Michelle Wrighton is available in many options including prints, posters, mugs, and more. Find them here.