The following is the Weimaraner Standard, as I would formally re-write if ever given the opportunity. In the meantime, this is the standard that drives what Barrett Weimaraners ought to be. It is simply the current American Weimaraner Breed Standard, with details stricken and inserted to more accurately describe what I believe a Weimaraner is: a noble hunting dog. – Kim
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General Appearance: Originating in Germany, the Weimaraner is a versatile hunter, an all-purpose gun dog capable of high performance in field and water. He is a medium-sized gray dog, with fine aristocratic features. The dog is neither unduly small or conspicuously large. Field conditioned coats, as well as brawny or sinewy muscular condition and honorable scars indicating a working and hunting dog are never to be penalized in this dog. He should present is a picture of grace, speed, stamina, alertness and balance. The requisite instincts and abilities to maintain a “dual dog” are always to be fostered and appreciated, never deprecated. Above all, the dog’s conformation must indicate the ability to work with great speed and endurance in the field.
Temperament: The temperament Weimaraner should be is friendly, fearless, alert and obedient. He is loyal and affectionate with a well developed protective instinct. He is eager to please and enthusiastic to learn. Dogs exhibiting strong fear, shyness or extreme nervousness are very seriously faulted.
Height: Height at the withers: dogs, 25 to 27 inches; bitches, 23 to 25 inches. One inch over or under the specified height of each sex is allowable but should be penalized. Dogs measuring less than 24 inches or more than 28 inches and bitches measuring less than 22 inches or more than 26 inches shall be disqualified.
Coat and Color: Short, smooth and sleek, solid color, in shades of mouse dark-gray to light, or silver-gray, usually blending to lighter shades on the head and ears. A small white marking on the forechest is permitted, but should be penalized if it appears over the top of the sternum or below the elbows on any other portion of the body when a dog is standing naturally. White spots resulting from injury should shall not be penalized. A faulty sparse, uneven, mottled, or excessively wiry coat is a major fault. Tan points are a major fault. A distinctly long coat is a disqualification. A distinctly blue or black coat is a disqualification.
Head: Moderately long and aristocratic, with moderate stop and slight median line extending back over the forehead. The skull is reasonably broad between the ears. Rather prominent occipital bone and trumpets well set back, beginning at the back of the eye sockets. Measurement from tip of nose to stop equals that from stop to occipital bone. The flews should be straight, delicate at the nostrils. Skin drawn tightly. Muzzle should be square and deep. The length of the muzzle should equal the length of skull. A pointed muzzle is not desirable. A dish-shaped muzzle is a fault. A snipy muzzle is a major fault. Whiskers serve a functional purpose; their removal is not preferred.
- Neck clean-cut and moderately long, arched and muscular, broadening smoothly into shoulders. A too-short, thick, or throaty neck is a major fault.
- Expression kind, keen and intelligent.
- Ears-Long and lobular, slightly folded and set high. The ear when drawn snugly alongside the jaw should end approximately 2 inches from the point of the nose. A short ear is a major fault.
- Eyes-In shades of light amber, gray or blue-gray, set well enough apart to indicate good disposition and intelligence. When dilated under excitement the eyes may appear almost black. Eyes other than gray, blue-gray, or light amber are to be very seriously faulted. Eye-rims gray; flesh or pink eye rims are to be faulted. Lower eyelids should neither turn in nor out.
- Teeth-Well set, strong and even; well-developed and proportionate to jaw with correct scissors bite, the upper teeth protruding slightly over the lower teeth but not more than one sixteenth of an inch. Complete dentition is greatly to be desired. More than four missing teeth missing is a major fault. A perfect level, badly overshot or undershot bite is a major fault.
Badly affected teeth are to be majorly faulted. - Nose-Gray. A pink nose is a minor fault.
- Lips and Gums-Outer lips gray. Pinkish flesh shades inside lips and mouth. A black mottled mouth shall be severely faulted.
Body: The shoulders are well covered with muscle. The shoulder blades are well laid back nearing a 45 degree angle. Loose, short-bladed or straight shoulders are to be faulted. The upper arm (the bones between the shoulder and elbow joint) is of same length as the shoulder. The back should be is strong, moderate in length, set in a straight line firm, strong, and should slope slightly from the withers. A back too long or too short, either roached or sway is a major fault. The loin is slightly arched due to muscle, not structure. Improper muscular condition is a major fault. Bone structure too heavy or too light is a fault. Tall and leggy dogs, doggy bitches, and bitchy dogs are to be majorly faulted. The chest should be well developed and deep with shoulders well laid back. Ribs well sprung and long. Abdomen firmly held; moderately tucked-up flank. The brisket should extend to the elbow. Flat or slab-sided ribs are to be faulted. A steep croup is a fault.
Forelegs: Straight and strong, with the measurement from the elbow to the ground approximately equaling the distance from the elbow to the top of the withers. When viewed from the front, legs appear to be parallel. Elbows in or out is a major fault. Feet east and west is a major fault. Pasterns are strong, short and nearly vertical with a slight spring. Knuckling over is to be faulted.
Hindquarters: Well angulated stifles and straight hocks. Thighs are broad and powerful and musculation well developed. Hock joints are well angulated and strong with straight bone structure from hock to pad. Hocks turn neither in nor out. Cowhocked legs are a serious fault.
Feet: Firm and compact, webbed, toes well arched, pads strong, closed hard and thick, nails short and gray or amber in color blends into coat. Dewclaws-Should be removed. Poor feet is a major fault.
Tail: Docked. At maturity it should measure approximately 6 inches with a tendency to be light rather than heavy and should be carried in a manner expressing confidence and sound temperament. The tail must never be curved over the back toward the head when the dog is moving. A tail curved or bent toward the head is to be severely penalized. A non-docked tail shall be penalized. A tail too short or too long is a minor fault. A low-set tail is a major fault.
Gait: The gait should be is far reaching, graceful, effortless and should indicates smooth coordination. When seen from the rear, the hind feet should be parallel to the front feet. When viewed from the side, the topline should remains strong and level. When moving, he has a long. ground-covering stride and single tracks without crossing or interference as speed increases. Elbowing out should be penalized. The hindquarters drive the back legs smoothly and with great power. Poor gait is a major fault.
Deviations that impact performance and function should be considered more serious than those that affect only appearance.
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