Early History

The first breeding entries regarding the Weimaraner appeared in the pedigree book of the German Shorthair Club. Most entries were from the SH Weimaraner. Noticeable changes were brought about through the notable Austrian, Ludwig von Merey von Kapos Mere (1871-1938), who was famous for his many books on hunting dogs written under the pen name Hegendorf.

At a show in Vienna in 1934, he saw the LH Weimaraner "Tell von Stranzendorf" (OZW 279). TELL was from the SH parents "Hella Wagner" bred with "Pollo von Hollabrunner." TELL's sire and dam each had SH parents and grandparents. Among Hegendorf’s most notable books was "The Successful Battle Against Poachers By The Use of Hunting Dogs in Forestry and Game Protection." He was not concerned with color and hair texture, but rather with this versatile hunting dog and its many practical uses.

The honorary title "forestry dog" applied only to such dogs, which in addition to their hunting ability, proved reliable in game protection and by distinguishing themselves in tracking these poachers. Hegendorf worked closely with Otto Stockmeyer, the head of the Austrian Weimaraner Club. Stockmeyer also held the title of Chief of the Department of Forestry in Grafenegg. He had been handling Weimaraners since 1913. Stockmeyer convinced Prince Hans of Ratibor-Hohenlohe of the usefulness of the Weimaraner. Consequently, each forester and hunter in the service of the government was required to have a Weimaraner for his use.

A puppy from Dr.Schmidt's "N" litter explores shallow water.

In 1924, when the Austrian Weimaraner Club was founded, 10 of the 32 Weimaraners in Austria were owned by the Department of Forestry in Grafenegg. The Club was also the first hunting dog organization in Europe which trained its dogs for security duties and for this purpose, established competitive testing procedures. Using Stockmeyer's influence, Hegendorf was able to convince Major Robert a. D. (retired) Herber, the President of the German Weimaraner Club from 1921-1946, of the value of the LH Weimaraner.

Puppies from Dr.Schmidt's "N" litter sun themselves in the grass.

During the 1935 International World Dog Exposition in Frankfurt/Main, the variety gained both national and international recognition. The breed standard would be supplemented with a corresponding addition. Meanwhile, in Austria, a systematic plan for breeding the LH Weimaraner was developed. Klaus Hartmann from Wolfsburg, Germany (Breeding Regulator from 1963 until 1975) attracted the attention of the club members for the qualities of his LH Weimaraner, "Nina von Branneckerhof" (W. 983) and her offspring. Countless valuable purebred LH Weimaraners have come from the Greifenburg Kennel.