The Longhair

Frequently Asked Questions

Submitted by Denise McLean,
www.greyghostweimaraners.com

Where do they come from?

The longhaired trait in Weims is genetically, a simple recessive gene. This means that shorthair is dominant and shorthairs can carry the longhair gene without the owner knowing it. Longhairs can appear in a litter with 2 shorthaired parents if they both carry the gene. Entire litters of longhairs can only be produced by breeding 2 longhaired parents.

Are they registered?

Yes, longhaired weims are registerable with kennel clubs all around the world. There is no separate registration with either the Canadian Kennel Club or the American Kennel Club.

Can you show them?

Yes, they may be shown in conformation in Canada and in all countries except for the USA. They are allowed to compete in all performance events such as Obedience, agility, tracking and field both in Canada and the USA!

A litter of Short and Long hairs

Why are they so rare?

Since longhairs are a disqualification in USA, breeders have attempted to eliminate the trait. Longhaired puppies appearing in litters from shorthaired parents were culled, sold as pets or sold to other countries that accept longhairs.

Rarity can also, unfortunately, lead to bad breeding as unscrupulous breeders use any longhair available to produce “rare” puppies. This can result in an overall deterioration in health and temperament in the breed.

How much hair do they have?

The amount of hair that a longhair has can vary. Some have a coat similar to an Irish setter (with out all the long feathers) or a field-bred English Setter. Some have a coarser and more abundant coat making it look more similar to a Flat-coated Retriever. The coat is not supposed to be as abundant as that of a Golden Retriever or a husky. Take a look at the many pictures posted on the internet to see the variation in coats. Some good sites include:

http://www.weimclubamerica.org/worldweims/longhair/index.html

http://www.weimaraners.com/coats.htm

How much grooming do they need?

During shedding season, they need brushing everyday. Otherwise, once a week is adequate.

Do they shed?

Yes, they shed the same as a shorthaired Weim.

Is their temperament different from a shorthaired Weim?

No. Longhairs have the same range of temperaments as shorthairs. The only big difference is that they tend to not like to sleep under the covers like the shorthairs do - they get too hot. They also enjoy playing outside in the snow more than the shorthairs.

Why is their tail left long (not docked)?

The shorthaired Weim’s tails are docked as part of their hunting heritage. Shorthairs have only a thin covering of hair on their tails that doesn’t adequately protect the tail from the thorns and brambles that they would encounter. Injuries to tails are notorious for not healing well and many hunting dogs have had to have their tails docked as adults when injuries would not heal. Docking at 3 days of age avoids this problem later in life.

Since longhairs have lots of hair cover on their tails, there was no need to dock them. This became part of the breed standard

Why would I want a longhair?

If you like the temperament of a Weim but live in a cold climate a longhair may be more suited to your home than a shorthaired Weim. Longhair’s also have a “look” that is unique and appreciated by many.

Note: just because they have the coat to live outside does not mean that they should live outside. Longhaired Weims have the same issues of wanting to be a part of the family and they are not a dog that will tolerate a life living in an outdoor kennel separated from their family for long periods.

(* this article has been edited for the website)

DNA Test for Coat Length
Weimaraners now available

submitted by
Bethany Manderson
January 18, 2007

I am pleased to announce that a DNA test for coat length has been proven for Weimaraners. Whether you are breeding toward, or away from, a longhair coat, this is a valuable tool for future breedings. Test will determine Clear, Carrier, Affected. Carrier of course being of great interest.

I put together a research group of dogs and worked with a company that had proven the test for a few other breeds. My gratitude goes out the the Canadian breeders that were both eager and willing to submit buccal swabs & pedigrees to me for the required research group of dogs in impressive turn-a-round time. The breed is in your debt. For the test group, I created a vertical-type pedigree document of these family related dogs included with the test group. The company was very impressed at our knowledge and confirmed through their testing, that we were 100% accurate in our prediction of every dog on the pedigree submitted for research testing.

These are exciting times we live in. A simple buccal (cheek) swab of a dog of any age can be submitted and test results can be both e-mailed immediately with the original, signed hardcopy then sent back to you within 10 days. Tests can be done at home, no veterinarian required. The test kits are free from the company. You pay for the test and test result. Therefore, it would be prudent to order kits and organize a clinic at specialties as there is a reduced fee for 5 or more tests submitted together.

I explained to the company that in future, we will need to work out a method to expidite test results for this breed in the case of a mixed litter where we dock tails at age 2-3 days. They are happy to report that whelps can be swabbed at that age, and that mother's milk does not interfere with the test result. The possibility exists where a breeder can prepare (order test kits) and never again be faced with docking a longhair in error. The results can be submitted to the OFA for their website also.

Whether you breed for, or away from, the longhair coat, this is a very valuable test we now have available to us. As a new breeder, I am thrilled to have been a part of this breakthrough. I'm also thrilled to have the first set of test results for my dogs!

My website is being updated now and a page for DNA test results will appear shortly. Flint and Ellie's results will be added to my site.

The following kennels participated in the reasearch group and I am grateful for their co-operation: Kennebank Perm. Reg'd - Nova Scotia, Canada - provided longhair sample Greydove Reg'd, Nova Scotia, Canada - provided possible longhair carrier samples Zweilicht Reg'd, Nova Scotia, Canada - provided known longhair carrier sample and longhair samples Forester's Reg'd, Ontario, Canada - provided possible longhair carrier sample and shortcoat sample Winoka Reg'd, Ontario, Canada - co-owner of the shortcoat.

To contact the company for free test kits their website is below. I spoke with their research department today. They had completed the research test group yesterday, the test was proven and they e-mailed my test results this morning. They are in the process of adding the Weimaraner to their list of dogs eligible for coat length testing to their website, but you can certainly call their 1-800 number or e-mail them to request the free test kit now.

Yours in Weims,
Bethany Manderson
Forester Reg'd (Weimaraners)

Company: Veterinary Diagnostics Center, Ohio, USA
website: www.vetdnacenter.com
Tollfree: 1-800-625-0874

Announcement: Stockhaar-type coat:

DNA test for coat length; Weimaraners

Submitted by:
Bethany Manderson
Forester Reg'd

This is a follow-up to my announcement of January 18, 2006.

I am pleased to announce that the DNA research test group was done on Weimaraners with stockhaar-type coat. Just as a reminder, the Company does not provide coat testing until a research group has been tested and proven.

Again working with DNA Diagnostic Center (DDC), I proposed a follow-up research test group for the Stockhaar-type coat. This was a smaller research group and was intended to be more of an elimination-type test. Discussions with the research department revealed that there were slight differences between coats in breeds they have proven, attributed to the mode of inheritance from original stock for each breed, and they were indeed interested in this research group to round out their testing for Weimaraners. I had noted however, that the formula universally used does not seem to allow for the blended coat expression so I was curious to know the DNA outcome of a stockhaar-type coat in Weimaraners.

For this test group, the stockhaar-type coat tested as N/F – Carrier, (longhair carrier). This valuable information will be most helpful in decision-making in breeding programs. I find it very interesting that this test proved the individuals as shorthair and carrying (and expressing to a small degree) the longhair gene.

Once again, a Canadian breeder was eager to step forward and assist with the research and provided samples from their breeding program within just a few days. My gratitude goes out to Stonepoint Reg’d, Ontario Canada for their willingness to assist in this endeavour and provided excellent examples of the stockhaar-type coat. Also, Stonepoint has agreed to allow me to attach a couple of photos to this announcement. It is interesting to note that this lh x sh breeding produced 9 puppies. This of course is known to produce 100% carriers according to the usual formula used. This litter contained 5 shortcoats and 4 stockhaar-type coats. The shortcoat dam was DNA tested with a result of N/N Clear (shortcoat). Therefore, even with the stockhaar-coated puppies, the formula is still 100% carriers.

The original group I chose for the longcoat test group of five generations, also began with an lh x sh breeding (again equals 100% carriers) and 2 littermate sisters from that breeding. No stockhaar-type coat has been produced down through the five generations of breeding to date. Those generations have been bred to shorthairs, longhair carriers and longhairs.

Stockhaar/Stockhaarig:

The Stockhaar is achieved only when a longhair is bred to a shorthair in Weimaraners. Other breeds have a true stockhaar coat. The correct German Shepherd Dog’s coat is a stockhaar coat. Stockhaar coat is short to medium in length and always with a full undercoat. It is symmetrical over the entire dog. In Weimaraners the tail (undocked) has no plume. With or without Marcel (waves) down the back of the neck, &/or over the whither, &/or down the spine, and/or top side of the tail.

As an aside, when I was researching other breeds with stockhaar, I note that in other breed histories, breeders have found that separating out the two coat types leads to changes in the phenotype in their breeds. Most likely due to unintentionally carrying over and separating out other breed traits and can of course include health issues/concerns. Also in other breed histories, a stockhaar-coated dog is sometimes used in breeding to longhairs, as the breeders felt this improved a longhair coat that needed correcting.

This new information is very informative. However, I personally don’t believe it is the full story. The canine genome has been mapped. Hopefully in the coming years, we will be able to access the precise alleles that are responsible for this/these trait(s) and the mode of inheritance in the Weimaraner. I believe when that level of testing is achieved, we will then have the rest of the answers to our two coat varieties and the blended coat.