Longhair Weimaraner Hunting Temperament

Hunting Temperament

Even in those days, the strong genetic dominance of their gray color in association with other characteristics was recorded. Years after the cross breeding of the red Haidbracke (leather hound) with the red Hannover Bloodhounds, pure gray puppies appeared occasionally and were so recorded.

The name Leithund (leash/lead dog) is commonly mistaken for Kopfhund (head/lead dog). Leit dogs in the original sense, however, were especially valuable, selected and trained to pull on the lead line.

They were worked on the long lines by so called Besuchsknechten (game searchers) in the pre-tracking/location of game. The heaviest and most placid dogs with especially accurate scenting abilities were chosen as Leithunde from the huge pack (over 2,000 hunting dogs belonging to an estate).

By selectively breeding the Leithund through the centuries, distinctively typical characteristics were developed and passed down to us as we have observed in many old works of art. Not only the Leithund enjoyed a conspicuous, favored position (Tantzer 1682), but also their masters called game searchers were specialists who attained a fame recorded in poetry and song.

The apprentice game searcher began his training at the age of seven. His entire life belonged to the hunt and the dogs. The Leit dog was never left to it's own pursuits or placed in kennels in the village or Cloister Andaye as the pack dogs were. It constantly enjoyed contact with the family. So, it became increasingly dependent even to the point of devotional obedience.(Gotz 1834)

Sneaking along behind a rabbit, puppies from Frau Wordtmann's study demonstrate early hunting ability.

In keeping with a very calm manner, the Leit dog was never allowed to bark when following a scent.

These well-balanced, deliberate dogs were capable of extraordinary tracking feats (Tristan and Isolda). Noteworthy for those times-- It was a strong taboo to beat the Leit dog as one would a dog used for fowl hunting. When necessary, the hunter would pull on the lead line to show his displeasure; he shamed his dog rather than scolding it (Flemming 1719). Count Mellin wrote in 1779, "One handles them with goodness and gentleness. This is the only breed which is trained without punishment. In no case may a Leit dog be jerked off a scent, but must in every instance be gently guided off the scent."