The Weimaraner gets its name from the German court of Weimar, where the dog was very popular. Dogs of similar appearance, albeit more houndlike, appear in paintings from the early 1600s by Van Dyck. The dog has proved effective for hunt, point and retrieve duties. Originally it was used to hunt boar and deer, but today it usually accompanies hunters looking for smaller game. The most commonly seen version of this dog is the shorthaired variety, although there is a longhaired form.