Weimardale

The Weimardale is a rather rare hybrid dog, and there is relatively little information regarding his development. In order to understand more about the history of the dog, it is important to study the origins of his parent breeds. The Airedale was first developed when a Rough-Coated Black and Tan Terrier was bred with an Otterhound. The purpose of this cross was to obtain a dog that could hunt rats and mice on land, but also hunt otters in the nearby rivers. This mating produced a dog that was able to swim and smell game both on land and in the water. At this time, the dog was known as the Waterside Terrier or Bingley Terrier. In 1879, a group of breeders met and agreed that the dog's name should be changed to the Airedale Terrier as tribute to the Aire Valley where the first development of the Terrier took place. The Airedale was a popular show dog for a number of years, and he became popular in England. During World War I, the Airedale served as a Red Cross dog, a messenger, a scout, and a number of other positions. Although it is not certain how the Airedale was brought to America, we do know that he was immensely popular. Presidents T. Roosevelt, Harding, and Coolidge all owned Airedales. The dog we know as the Weimaraner was developed during the nineteenth century in the Weimar area of Germany. The Weimaraner was an astute scent hound, was extremely intelligent, and agile to boot. He normally stayed close to the side of his human hunting partner, and he remained a faithful companion away from the hunt as well. In 1897, an exclusive club was created by Weimaraner owners; it is said that no one could own a Weimaraner unless he was a member of this club. In 1929, an American hunting enthusiast, Howard Knight, gained membership in the Weimaraner owners' club, and he purchased two Weimaraners that he took back to America with him. The Weimaraner Club of America was formed in 1942. The Weimaraner is also a presidential dog. President Eisenhower brought a Weimaraner to the White House for the duration of his stay there.