Celebrating 50 Years of the Weimaraner Regional Group in North Rhine-Westphalia and founding the IWK​

A Legacy Rekindled​

On the weekend of 14 September 2025, an exciting new chapter was written into the rich tapestry of the Weimaraner’s history. Hosted in the scenic town of Billerbeck, deep in the rural province of Westphalia, this year’s Major Herber Memorial HZP marked not only a pinnacle event in the Weimaraner calendar—but a turning point for the breed globally.​

This year also celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Weimaraner Klub Group Nordrhein-Westfalen, which had the honour of hosting the prestigious HZP. In a weekend packed with tradition, excellence, and promise, Weimaraner enthusiasts from across Europe and beyond came together to honour the past, celebrate the present, and lay the foundation for the breed’s future.​

Origins in the Mists of Time​

The Weimaraner’s history stretches back to the early 19th century, when the Count of Weimar began breeding these silver-grey hunting dogs for his foresters and gamekeepers—and as gifts for aristocratic allies across Europe. It took until 1890 for the first official studbook to be created, followed by the founding of the Weimaraner Klub in 1897 under the name Verein zur Reinzucht des silbergrauen Weimaraner Vorstehhundes.​

From that point forward, the breed was protected by strict breeding regulations—no crossbreeding permitted—ensuring the preservation of the Weimaraner’s unique working character and striking appearance.