Calling all Weimaraner owners!

[showjump]

Me an my OH are now in a position too get a dog. We both love Weimaraners, and are very interested in getting one!

So ive been doing abit of research on the net, but would like owners views, on actually having one!!

So anything i need to know about them, or consider before getting one. Also best places to look/ avoid when getting a puppy, its abit of a mine field out there!!

Thanks.

 

[ladylisa]

I breed weimaraners and wouldn't want any other breed of dog, but i just depends on your situation as to weather ther are the breed for you.
They love human company, so much so that they don't like to be left alone while you are out, and will bark (alot) and are known to chew. they are good to train, and aim to please. They will follow you around the house just so they can be with you. But they do need alot of exercise.

Have a look on Champdogs or epupz, always make sure you see at least one parent and that they have a good nature, go back to see pups as many times as you like before making up your mind, and dont buy just because you feel sorry for the pup. and never buy a pup that isnt kennel club registered because in my opinion that could mean that they are having a litter ever 6 months with the bitch, just to try to make some cash!

 

[MrsElle]

Hi, we also breed, in fact LadyLisa above used our male as a stud on her bitch.

I would say they aren’t a novice dog owners dog. They are very intelligent and can be quite dominant, especially the dogs. They need a lot of stimulation (see Lisa’s comment about being left alone) and can become destructive if bored. They need to be very well socialised as pups as they are a breed who are not always tolerant of other dogs if they are not used to them. They also have a high prey drive and although our two are good with horses, cattle and sheep and have good recall, one whiff of a rabbit and all training goes straight out the window. Our bitch is used to cats as she was brought up with them, but our male was two when we got him and killed one of our barn kittens.

Do loads of reading up and go to a few local shows and speak to people there – they will talk about their dogs for hours.

The best places to look for a pup are the Kennel Club website and Epupz. When you see the pups look at the bigger picture – we had someone come to look at our pups and she actually asked if we had drugged our dog and bitch as they were so calm! Every other litter she had looked at, the bitch was a complete lunatic! Laid back parents tend to produce laid back pups. It is also important to like the breeder. If you have bad vibes walk away.

Any questions, feel free to ask!

 

[showjump]

Thank you. The plan is that when im at work the dog will go to my parents house all day with their two dogs, and i go there at lunchtime anyway. Then after work it will come to the horses with me.

Can i ask afew questions if you dont mind answering them!
They blue eyes, do they go when they get older?
The bitches are smaller arnt they, we would like the smallest possible.


Thanks for your help, ive emailed afew people on champ dog.

 

[MrsElle]

The pups do have blue eyes when little that fade to amber as they get older.

Bitches are smaller, but don’t go for a small one, check out the breed standard (can’t remember off the top of my head) as a small one will not be ‘breed standard’. If you are paying out a lot of money you want to make sure you get the best, not a miserable specimen!

 

[showjump]

Have replied to your PM, but then pc crashed so hope you got it.
Think breed standard is 22- 25" so would like one to towards the smaller end! Arh right that figures, do some eyes stay lighter than others as in the pics you see they vary alot.

Are they fairly easy too train?- i wouild take it too puppy classes too. What are they like in the house? Our downstairs is that big so just worried we've got enough room. I guess as long as they get suficent exercise they are not too giddy?

Sorry for all the questions. Im off to do the horses now, so will reply later.

 

[ladylisa]

They are pretty easy to train, my youngest bitch was fully house trained at 11 weeks, as i kept ontop of it, never left her long enough to wee in the house i just kept taking her out, and she got the hang of it really quickly. They learnt to sit and give paw quickly but recall took a little longer, mine will now walk to heal.

In the house my two are happy to to curl up infront of the fire as long as i am in the room, when i get up they get up, but they are quick to learn a routine.

 

[Louby]

A lady at the stables has one, he has boundless energy and spends hours at the farm constantly wanting someone to throw his toys for him to chase. Dont get me wrong he isnt bouncing off the walls, he just loves to run and play.
She has left him alone from being a pup during the day but she works part time and he has been fine only chewing one chair leg but he has always had hours of exercise. He actually didnt bark until he was older, she thought something was wrong with him. He is vocal though and sort of talks to you.

 

[JLB]

Hi,I've had two now.The first one we took as a favor because his owner was getting constant complaints from her neighbours about nuisance barking.She was a firewoman and worked 12 hour shifts!She knew I'm at home and gave him to us.He was a joy,behaved perfectly,all he wanted was human company.They are very 'their' family orientated and can be stand offish with other people,they don't matter to them!Some friends have a bitch who can be a little stressy,she can be very unfriendly to strangers,dogs and humans.Her mother was the same,so definately look for laid back parents.When we lost our first boy,we replaced him quickly.We found a lady who worked her dogs and their temperament was exellent,our new boy is now 22 months and a darling.He wants to please, so is not difficult to train.Good luck with your search.

 

[sarahhelen1977]

I have a 3 year old bitch. She is the most loving, loyal dog, but she is also VERY stubborn and too intelligent for her own good, she is a dreadful thief, she frequently emits a horrendous high-pitched scream because she wants to go out/hasn't gotten her own way. We have had to put all of our door handles on upside-down, because she learnt how to open the doors and escape. Just taking her to the vets now to be spayed, so will come back and edit shortly!

 

[showjump]

Thanks for all the replies. I have rang round afew good breeders, and struggled to find bitches. I have now put my name on one, was only born on friday. We are going up to see them (2hr drive) in afew weeks to meet them and see if they will let us have one! - im abit nervous abit that!

Will keep you posted!

 

[sarahhelen1977]

Couldn't edit my original post, so will add to it!! I would only reccommend a weimaraner to someone who is willing to put a lot of time and effort into training their dog - I have done this, and she is still a nightmare sometimes. I would also echo the post above saying they are not ideal for novice dog owners. They are beautiful dogs, and as I said before very intelligent. Sephie flew through the classes at training, but we are now stuck because she refuses to go into a down, unless she really wants to, and won't do a retrieve when she is at the club (can do it perfectly at home!) Also we used to go to agility, but she would hide under the A frame when she felt she had done enough, or stand on top of it, or on top of the dog walk, or hide in the tunnel - highly frustrating, because when she decided that she would run she was amazing!
Don't be wooed by the beauty of the dog - really do your research - they are not all as difficult as mine can be, but they are certainly not easy dogs. Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't change her (other than to make her a little more trainable!) but I don't think I would get another one, certainly not while I've got this one!

 

[showjump]

Thank you for that. We are planning on taking any pup to dog training, plus my OH says it has too be obdient, so we will defo keep up with it. Yours sounds a real character!

We have both had dogs in our lives, so not first time owners. Also the mum of theses pups has a very laid back temp.

Thanks.

 

[sarahhelen1977]

Sephie's mum has a very laid back temperament too!!!

 

[Cyberchick]

Well all the others have pretty much covered it all. I take my Weimaramer bitch training every week. She loves it. It gets her brain working.
She has a very good recall and doesn't wander to far off. I couldn't lose her if I tried as she is very much 'my' dog.
She is friendly with other dogs and people but wont bound up to strangers unless she knows you then you get launched at at speed!! and she is fantastic with children.
On the downside she needs lots of attention, doesn't truly settle to sleep until we have gone to bed incase she misses something. She can be a thief and I dont trust her with any food on the side and she quite often destroys her bed just because she can!
The pro's far outway the con's and I wouldn't change her for the world.

Good luck in the search.