The Other Weimaraner!
Our research leads us to believe the long coats have always been around. The smooth-coat (short hair) is dominant and the Long hair gene is recessive. Therefore the Long Hair variety are not as commonly found as the smooth coated variety of Weimaraners--especially in the United States where not many Weims carry the Long Hair gene. Nevertheless, interest in Long Hair Weims is growing. This may be in part due to Steve Graham's Long Hair, Piezl (see pictures of Piezl below), whom was recently featured on the cover of the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association magazine. NAVHDA.
In Germany where the breed originated, the Long Hairs are just as popular as the smooth-coated Weimaraners. Many Germans count the longer coat type an asset because they seem to withstand the colder climate. Secondly, it appears that the Long Coat gene pool carries with it health benefits. It appears Weims who carry the Long Hair gene do not produce offspring subject to the HOD.
As Weimaraners in general nearly everything is the same: the breed standard (except for the length of coat) and the fact that they do not have their tails docked. The Weimaraner Long Hairs coat as a mature adult is one and a half to two inches long, with extra feathering around the tail and legs. The tail coverage is excellent protection in the field. The coat is easy to manage and free flowing and does not mat or shed to the same extent as most coated dogs.
Click Here to read what Trisha & Tony Wileman of Australia have to say about Long Hair Weimaraners.
Click Here to read even more about the history of the Long Hair.
Click Here to read more about Long Hairs and Weims in general.
Click Here for an explanation of how breeders can use Mendel's discovery to track recessive genes in their pedigrees. This method works well for tracking different coat lengths (long, smooth, fluffy, etc) and coat color. This is a must read article.
