Weimarrott

While the Weimarrott is a new breed, both the Weimaraner and Rottweiler have rich German histories. The Weimaraner is the result of highly-selective breeding that began around the early 19th century by the Weimar court in attempts to isolate traits for an ideal all-around working dog. Its trim, athletic body provides excellent speed and agility and combined with a sharp nose and webbed feet, makes a prime candidate for chasing down just about any type of game. Weimaraners are also quite intelligent and loyal, which not only makes training easier but has earned them their “Gray Ghost” nickname, a play on both their nearly metallic coats and their shadow-like tendency to stick close to their masters. Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1943, this courageous breed is a member of the Sporting Group. The Rottweiler has an even deeper heritage, stemming all the way back to the first century AD. It is believed that the breed evolved when the Romans first settled in the area of the German Black Forest. Initially descending from ancient Mastiffs, the Roman's dogs were interbred with the ancestors of Bernese Mountain Dogs, Appenzellers, and Entlebuchers in order to create a breed that could be used for hunting and driving cattle as well as for protection. The area eventually became known as “das Rote Wil” meaning “red roof tiles” and over time, “rot wil” dogs were eventually attributed the name. While their numbers almost teetered on the brink of extinction toward the mid 19th century when trains displaced droving, their reclamation of popularity has since flourished, as evidenced by their frequent use as guard dogs, guide dogs, search and rescue dogs and police dogs.