I have been breeding Blue Weimaraners since 2007 with the goal of improving this variety -- as well as the breed as a whole. Since most reputable breeders will not deliberately produce a disqualifying fault, I started with the best I could, and have been determined to bring the Blue Weimaraner up to standard. I use the word "standard" not to describe the show standard, but to describe a field trial competitive bird dog in the United States.
Weimaraners are notorious for having a big split in the breed between show and field types. This split is so severe (coat color and length aside) that the show Weimaraner and field Weimaraner almost appear to be two different breeds that merely share the same gray coat color. And while my first Weimaraner was a Dual Champion (one of fewer than 90 in the breed's history), I personally do not think the conformation and build of an athletic field dog that is designed to do his job -- not looks like he can, but actually does do his job -- is rewarded in the show ring.
What does that have to do with Blues? Well, I've engaged in my share of the "blue argument," both with opponents of the color and within the small group of supporters. Arguments with fellow supporters may seem surprising, but they ultimately ended up helping me get to an important realization for my breeding program -- that I had a passion for a variety that had not be tainted by the show ring for 40 years. And that this was a good thing!
Granted there is a huge problem of Blues being tainted by those just wanting to make a buck off the coat color, but at least there isn't some lopsided focus on over-done, over-angulated, out of proportion, gigantic beasts that can't hunt their way our of a paper bag.
In 1944, prior to the Blue coat color disqualification, the Weimaraner Club of America's breed standard was quite clear:
It is not the purpose of the Weimaraner Club of America to sacrifice the basic hunting instincts of the breed to bench performance. The objective in breeding is the maintenance of those qualities which have made the Weimaraner outstanding as a hunting dog.
There are many breeds that prefer to stay out of the AKC to keep the focus on function and ability, not the show ring. This goes for all working breeds, but for pointing breeds, just take a look at the dogs registered with American Field's Field Dog Stud Book and the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association, and you will see breeds that look and act nothing like their AKC counterpart -- that is, if there even is an AKC counterpart!
My first Blue Weimaraner was thoughtfully selected and was from backyard bred "huntin' lines." She was an excellent dog with an amazing temperament that can still be seen in my dogs today. She was hardy and healthy, with an exceptional nose and intelligence that was unparalleled. Was she as stylish and flashy as my field trial dogs? Nope. But damn that dog could put birds in the bag.
Three generations later, with some careful breeding, along with some luck, her grandson has won the Weimaraner National Field Championships, and he can keep his own in field trials -- despite his Blue coat color.
So why do I breed Blues when the same could have been achieved with traditional Gray Weimaraners? It certainly would have been an easier path! But my desire is to contribute towards the goal of legitimizing Blue WEIMARANERS as all-breed competitive field trial dogs. That said, the larger goal of my breeding program has very little to do with color. I love them both!