Weimaraner

[Jersey Boys]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 6:02pm

I have done a lot of research on the Weimaraner breed. I was wondering if you could share your experiences if you have ever had this type of dog? Also, if you have any pictures or good breeders that you could post that would be great. I am also interested in other types of breeds. If there are any other types of breeds that you like that are a larger dog let me know. Thanks!


Updated On: 7/9/07 at 06:02 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 6:03pm

Beautiful, elegant--and crazy!

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 6:06pm

My brother breeds them... they are great dogs, very trainable, a total spazz! If you're not careful, they can become quite aggressive - they've had issues with the dogs and strangers. But they are wonderful family dogs, never had a problem with any of the kids in the family.

[Jersey Boys]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 6:49pm

DayDreamer does your brother have a website I could look at?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 7:00pm

They're beautiful dogs, but not terribly easy. Have you had/trained dogs before? I suppose the no brainer if you want a larger dog is something in the retriever family, but I'm assuming you want something more... obscure?

Updated On: 7/9/07 at 07:00 PM

[blueroses]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 7:23pm

I love them (and treasure my William Wegman books!) but am not that familiar with the breed. A neighbor had a very sweet, highly energetic one and it was one of the most gorgeous creatures I'd ever seen. Light eyes and a coat that looked like silver.

I'm a Labrador Retriever enthusiast myself (as you can tell from the av)--they are the only breed I have ever owned personally and their loyalty, gentleness and temperament can't be beat (they can be hyper, though, and really need a lot of attention and affection or they can get into trouble). I prefer the medium to big breeds. If I could I'd have a Newfoundland, too.

[Jersey Boys]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 7:29pm

I would love to get a Bernese Mountain Dog. I think they are very pretty.

[kelzama]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 8:02pm

I apologize if this sounds preachy, but your posts sound like this might be an impulse purchase, so...

First of all, the basics:
Do you live in a house?
Do you live in an apartment? Are you allowed to have dogs over 50 pounds?
Do you have neighbors tolerant of barking?
Do you have a fenced-in area large enough for a dog to run and "do his business"? Are you willing to pick up after your dog?
Do you have a MINIMUM spare two hours a day to devote to exercising and training your puppy?
Do you have income to suppliment the hours you are not available with a dogwalker?
Can you afford the vet costs? --annual ($300+ per animal) and unexpected sky's the limit here) veterinarian treatment. Food? Supplies?


The specifics:
Weimaraners are highly energetic dogs that will get into great mischief if left alone without dedicated and strenuous daily exercise. They are also territorial, and without proper socialization will be a terror. They're hunting dogs; they bark and have a very strong prey instinct (cats, squirrels, rabbits, birds...)

Bernese mountain dogs are bred for herding & protection and also require exercise and training, as well as a high tolerance for drool.

I would consider neither breed a "starter" dog. They both require knowledge of dog training and handling.

Don't buy from a pet store. Go to some AKC shows in your neck of the woods, talk with the breeders. They'll be happy to enlighten you (and point you towards breeders who might have a litter available.)

Consider strongly looking into rescue programs for either breed (good breeders will have plenty of info on these, too).

Consider more strongly simply rescuing a pup from a shelter.

Lecture over.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 8:15pm

Or rescue a dog from the pound. That's always good too.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 9:09pm

When I was a kid...a long time ago, my neighbors owned one. I had to walk past their house everyday going to and from school. That dog never bothered anyone but me. It would grab me by the arm with it's mouth and drag me around the yard. It never hurt me, but it sure scared the crap outta me I can tell you that. It didn't matter if I crossed to the other side of the street or not, it was always there ready to get me. God, I hated that dog. They eventually had to chain it up or keep it in the garage before and after school. I think they tired of hearing me scream bloody murder every morning and afternoon.

Updated On: 7/9/07 at 09:09 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 9:56pm

Your mom made you roll around in raw liver every morning, didn't she?

[Mamie]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 10:01pm

My niece used to work for a vet and she said that the Weimaraner's were a little too 'snappish' for her. She said they always had to be extra careful when they came in or someone might get bitten.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 10:02pm

"Your mom made you roll around in raw liver every morning, didn't she?"

No, but if my older brothers had thought of it, I'm sure they'd have tried it just to get rid of me.

Updated On: 7/9/07 at 10:02 PM

[chicolini]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 10:10pm

Choosing A Dog For Dummies is a pretty good basic source of info on the different types of dog breeds. They don't sugar-coat the details and spell out which breeds are best depending on your lifestyle.

If you do go the adoption route, I highly recommend an adult dog. You'll know the size, have an idea on temperment, and house training is so much easier with a dog that's 2 or 3 years old. There's always the risk of previous behavior issues with a pound dog, but talk to the volunteers to get an idea of what you're in for. It's in everybody's interest to match dogs with permanent owners rather than with someone who will just bring back the dog in a few weeks.

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 8:45am

They're not great dogs for the city, so I would recommend against that breed if you live in an apartment. They can also be a little skittish, and they're not the easiest dogs to train, so I wouldn't recommend that breed if you've never trained a dog before.

I agree with those who recommend a shelter, but that isn't right for everyone. We have allergies, so we had to be certain we were getting a dog that was hypoallergenic, so we went to a breeder since we couldn't be 100% certain at the shelter. We went with a schnoodle (schnauzer/poodle mix).

[sweetdisaster]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 8:46am

I had one when I was younger, and though we had to send it to be trained, she was quite gentle with me. They are pretty high energy, so it's probably best that you have a yard or are in an area where it can run around. They have a reputation of not being good for kids, and I'd have to agree. Mine was very jumpy and quick to snap with strangers, but very sweet to our family.

Another breed that's mid-large size that many people overlook is a German Shorthair Pointer. They're hunting dogs, but were a perfect family pet for me.