Did you know that there’s a long-haired Weimaraner?
The Long Haired Weimaraner is listed as a “variety” by England’s Kennel Club: From its breed standard: “Coat: Short, smooth and sleek. In long-haired variety, coat from 2.5-5 cms (1-2 ins) long on body, somewhat longer on neck, chest and belly. Tail and back of limbs, feathered.”
The German Weimaraner Club has a long-haired Weim as part of its logo (as seen at the left). That said, the AKC breed standard indicates that a distinctly long coat is a disqualification.
In a 1952 “President’s Report” from the Weimaraner Club of America, the argument opposing long-hair in the breed was presented: Weimaraners with the recessive gene for long-hair bred with dogs with the dominant short-hair would result in litters in which some pups would be short-haired, but carry the long-hair gene; breeders wouldn’t know what was being bred or introduced into their lines. Around that time, efforts to change the standard to disqualify the Longhair were made (and the “Blue” color along with it). Initially, the AKC rejected the move to DQ both the Longhairs and Blues, but in the 1953 proposed standard which was approved, both were subsequently classified as serious faults. The standard was updated in 1971, and the disqualification for a long coat remained. The December 14, 1971 standard is the Weimaraner’s current standard.
As far as we can tell, long-haired Weimaraners occasionally show up in breedings between shorthaired parents. While breeding such genetically mixed dogs, there will be 25% Short haired, 50% genetically split, and 25 % Long haired in the first generation. The pups grow up to be described as resembling a field setter with hair about two inches long and feathering appearing on the ears,belly and tail.
We have no proverbial “dog in the fight,” and are passing along information only so that you know. And now you do.
Having owned three short hairs over a period of 20 years and one long haired weim, I cannot recommend the long hair strongly enough. The short hairs were extremely high strung with incredible separation anxiety. Three different vets told us in their experience weims were the dog most likely to go on doggie prozac. After our last short haired we asked our trainer who lived through our last neurotic short hair with us what a good family dog would be for our family. She recommended over other breeds (we were open to anything!) a long hair without reservation.
We really had to search but found a beautiful long haired blue. Apparently some breeders love the personality of the long hair and breed for them. Finnie is without qualification the best dog I have ever owned. Loving, playful, patient with kids, no inclination to bolt when outside and he has just the right hint of protectiveness of his house.
I am mystified by the AKC counting Blue as a disqualifier. People stop us in the street to tell us how beautiful his coat is. If anyone is looking for an awesome family pet, strongly consider the long hair weimaraner!
We are currently searching for a long hair Weim and would have absolutely no reservation about a blue coat. We live in Switzerland. Do you have any suggestions about a breeder here?
We’re sorry, Craig, we have no contacts in Switzerland. Perhaps one of our readers has an idea.