Weimaraners are very, very different between bloodlines. I can’t stress enough how CRITICAL it is for a breeder to send the right puppy to the right home. (And good breeders should know how to do that.) When breeders get it wrong and aren’t around to support their puppy buyers, folks end up dogs that weren’t right for them to begin with and nobody is happy (the new owners or the dog). I know because I run a rescue and see plenty of people who give up on their dogs. (Gah!)
The general public wants a Weimaraner that can fit easily into their home/lifestyle. Think of a pet Weimaraner as a Toyota Highlander. If bred correctly, it’s versatile, goes where you want it, does what you need it to, easy to handle, easy to maintain. For the average family, this is great. And there’s nothing wrong with it!
This is Britta playing the part of “pet dog.”
Show Weimaraners are like the Lexus RX. They’re from the same line of dogs (Toyota) but slightly elevated… prettier… shinier. They’re also more to upkeep: Must have coconut oil! Must be plump, but not fat! Muscular, but not lean. Must have short nails! Must scrape teeth! Must use oatmeal shampoo! Must have daily affirmation talk! Must get beauty rest!
This is Boulder playing the part of “show dog.”
Then there’s FIELD TRIAL WEIMARANERS. Think performance. They’re like the Porsches or Lamborghinis or Ferraris of Weimaraners. Lots of extreme edges (structurally speaking). They also run so effing FAST they’ll disappear in the blink of an eye. BUT – these are special dogs, and only the most dedicated should have them. These dogs were bred for serious competition, and therefore require more work to handle, maintain, and keep in tip-top condition. (Premium nutrition, athletic conditioning, investment of time, etc.) Unless you are a field trialer or have the active lifestyle of a field trialer, stick with the Toyota Highlander. 🙂
This is Baja playing the part of “field dog.”
This is Hammer, also playing the part of “field dog.”
Now… imagine blending a show dog and a field dog to produce the DUAL, beautiful working dog. For me, that’s the Aston Martin. Polished, shiny, sleek, (costly, ha!), elusive, and FAST.
The pinnacle of driving machines.
This is Reese. She is one of our breed’s Dual Champions. She is also the dam to our Barrett Collective dog, “Soba,” and aunt to our Americana Nine litter (her littermate brother Rossi was their sire).
This is Betty. She is another one of our breed’s Dual Champions. She is also behind two of our dogs: Betty is Tearin’s maternal grandmother and Sierra’s paternal aunt.
To provide an alternate analogy, from L to R, here’s Angela Jolie playing the part of “pet dog, “show dog,” “field trial dog,” and “dual dog.”
Dual Champion Prospect – Stella, bred by Timberdoodle Weimaraners in Michigan, and owned by Touchstone Weimaraners in California, is currently show-pointed. She is also stunning to watch work in the field.
In summary, the below chart will help you decide which types of Barrett litters (show, hunting, etc.) you may want to consider, based on the types of activities you expect to excel in with your dog.
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