Characteristics

View A: Bronze of two hounds in front of the Bourbonenschloss- Chantilly, France. The dogs represent LYMERS of the royal French deer pack during the middle of the French Empire (circa 1589-1789). The hound in front is indentified as BRILLADOR, the other as FARFARU. View B:The base of the statue bears the inscription "A.Cain 1880" and was probably done by August Nicholas Cain (1822-1894), a prolific sculptor of bird and animals. View C:In front of the Bourbonenschloss. Special Breed Markings: To describe and understand the characteristics of the LH Weimaraner (hardly different from the SH variety) it is worthwhile to consider the background and development of the breed. Klaus Hartmann considered in his 1972 publication, various theories of development. He came to the conclusion that the Weimaraner, as well as the Hannovarian Bloodhound, can be traced directly to the gray Leithunde(leash/lead dogs) of the Royal French Hirschmeuten (red deer packs). Upon examination of various wood carvings, tapestries and paintings from the middle ages, the acceptance of the relationship with today's breed is compellingly convincing. The dogs were gray or at least of a solid color and of a powerful and somewhat stocky figure. Their backs were long; heads were relatively heavy with moderately long ears and draping upper lips. Their tails were thick and in earlier times curved over the back. Later,however,tails were carried in a lower position. Karl the Great preferred to recruit his pack dogs primarily from the black Bracken (hunting dogs) of the Benedictine Cloister Andaye (renamed Abby of St. Hubert in 825 A.D.). In later centuries, however, the royal hunting pack was gray in color. According to legend, Louis IX (1226-1270) imported the gray dogs from the orient. (*)Ludwig Beckmann (1822-1902) described the gray dogs of St. Ludwig in his comprehensive work as follow: Two of Dr. Schmidt's puppies rest in the sun. "The color of these dogs is dark gray. A few of them are completely silver gray. On their bodies, especially on the abdomen, they have coarser hair. Their ears are long, narrow and twisted. The head (viewed from the front) is noticably narrow from side to side and the thick, strong, coarsehaired tail curves over the back. By comparison, the legs are covered with somewhat longer hair. They are described as very devoted to their masters. They can readily distinguish their master's voice and horn. There is no encouragement needed during the hunt where they are equally energetic in hot and cold weather." (left) Head study of Kimm aus Wald und Feld. Breeder Peter Hoppe, Germany. It is interesting to note that both "Kimm's" parents are SH Weimaraners. (*)Reference to dogs mentioned in the preceding Beckmann description may be found in Weimaraner Ways, Chapter One "In the Beginning" figure 1-13, page 25. A tapestry detail from The Hunts of Maximilian I (circa 1500).