Weimaraner

Beautiful, elegant--and crazy!

---

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

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.

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.

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

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.

---

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.

---

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.