Weimaraner Addict

Hunter has turned me into a Weimarowner for life! I'm considering a puppy, but planning for a year or two from now. Part of me just wants another weim, period. Part of me wants to raise it MY way, rather than dealing with the issues other people have created. And another part of me just wants to be able to train it, from the ground up, for tracking for search and rescue. I mean, I've got to face it - Hunter's 7, which means his SAR career is going to not be all that long. Although, his vet says he's more like a 3 yr old than a 7 yr old, so maybe it'll be longer than I think!

So, sure, I'd happily take a "normal" pup. But I think the long haired ones are just stunning, too. So I'm wondering how hard it is to find/get one?

Of course, what would be _really_ cool would be to get a dog, regular coat or long, from Germany! And, with a friend who lives there, not entirely out of the realm of possibility.

Thanks!

Someone in my weim club had a long hair. She got shipped up to Canada fast. I saw baby pics and boy was she cute.

PamK wrote:Someone in my weim club had a long hair. She got shipped up to Canada fast. I saw baby pics and boy was she cute.

Was her name KC? Our breeder got a LH from the states this spring, she's adorable!

One thing you may want to consider is that the LH coat will make your dog heat up much more quickly in summertime thus making it a little harder for your SAR work. But on the other hand it will be great in the winter!

I am praying for the day when the WCA accepts the LH. There is a LH German import in Canada that I am keeping my eye on. I sooooooo want to breed one of my bitches to this dog.

CherrystoneWeims wrote:One thing you may want to consider is that the LH coat will make your dog heat up much more quickly in summertime thus making it a little harder for your SAR work. But on the other hand it will be great in the winter!

*nods* I agree it'll get hotter faster. Management is key! Just as though you're hunting with them, because, effectively, you are. But, if you look at the breeds traditionally used for SAR, you'll find that they are all, or almost all, double coated breeds - German Shepherds, Labs, Golden Retrievers, Border Collies... My search team's currently certified trailing dog, and our air scent dog-in-training, are both Goldens. Which, I'm finding, are extremely sweet dogs... but I'm still partial to my new breed-of-choice.

I am praying for the day when the WCA accepts the LH. There is a LH German import in Canada that I am keeping my eye on. I sooooooo want to breed one of my bitches to this dog.

I've read that a LH will occasionally spontaneously appear in a SH x SH breeding. Have you ever gotten any in your litters? I presume not, since you'd like to breed to the LH in Canada, but figured I'd ask, anyway.

I've read that a LH will occasionally spontaneously appear in a SH x SH breeding. Have you ever gotten any in your litters? I presume not, since you'd like to breed to the LH in Canada, but figured I'd ask, anyway.

Both parents need to be LH carriers as it is a recessive gene.

So far I haven't had any LH's in my litters. We did look very closely at the pups in a litter that I co-bred 6 yrs. ago. Sire was a LH carrier and the dam was a possible carrier. The offspring in the litter could very well possibly be carriers but none have been tested and the one that has been bred was bred to a non-carrier.

Pearl could possibly be a carrier as her great-grandmother produced LH's but I am not sure as I never had her tested. Most likely Ethan is not a carrier and Saga is definitely not a carrier.

Weims don't tolerate the heat very well (actually they are pretty smart and won't be extremely active in the heat. they usually just quit) so I find that they do even worse than some of the other coated breeds when worked in heat in the field.

PamK wrote:Someone in my weim club had a long hair. She got shipped up to Canada fast. I saw baby pics and boy was she cute.

That pup is a Riley grand-kid!

I know the breeder we got Ella from has LH every now and then. If you want I can give you the breeder?

http://www.k9stud.com/PuppiesforSale/We ... 55390.aspx These pups are in WI!

ellaphant wrote:I know the breeder we got Ella from has LH every now and then. If you want I can give you the breeder?

That'd be cool. PM it to me, please? Like I said, I'm not _really_ looking for at least a year. But if something were to come up before, and I'm finally in a position to consider it....

excited4riley wrote:http://www.k9stud.com/PuppiesforSale/Weimaraner55390.aspx These pups are in WI!

Beware! please look for breeders who are health testing, showing, field testing, and other performance testing their dogs. Look for breeders who have titles on their dogs BEFORE they breed them! It scares the heck out of me and makes me see red flags when I see on a "breeder's" webpage "All Sales Final and NO deposits on refunds". And a breeder who only gives a 72 hour health guarantee?? Or only 1 yr. for genetic defects? Hips are not screened until a dog has reached TWO years of age........

I bumped up my thread "Investigate Before You Invest" on the General Discussion forum.

I totally agree, Pam! In fact, just yesterday my daughter was telling me that her friend back where we used to live now has TEN Weims, because they are breeding them and have puppies. She asked me if I wanted her to tell her friend that we want one some day. I said, "Are they showing them?" "I don't think so." "Hunting or field trials?" "I don't know." "Hips, elbows, heart, eyes, temperament and such being tested before breeding?" "I don't know. They are their dogs and they're breeding them." "Right. Whether they are your friends or not, they are backyard breeders. And Weimaraners are crazy enough without adding in all those unknowns! No thanks! I'll pay the extra for a sound dog!!" So, no.... no backyard Weims for me. That's one of the reasons why getting a puppy is in the planning stage for a year or more away!

Always a good reminder, though. I always take opportunities like this to educate my daughter about the "rights" and "wrongs" of responsible pet ownership. She's been really very good about taking what I say, doing her own research, and reaching responsible conclusions. She makes me proud!

Thank you for teaching your daughter as to how to find a reputable breeder!

I was reading your original post and saw that you may look into a dog from Germany. One thing you may want to know is that the Weims from there have a tendency to be a little "sharper" in temperament. They do still have a "guarding of the rucksack" portion of their testing before a dog can be used for breeding. Here in the US we have softened the dogs' temperaments somewhat and made them a little sweeter. Although mine will guard my vehicle! Amy saw that when she first met me last year in Ardmore, OK at the National Field Championship.

Let me know when you are ready for a pup whether SH or LH. I am part of a LH group and usually can find out about pups and potential litters.

I have seen a few here and there in rescue but not many. They find homes so quickly. I would love to eventually rescue one. They are so beautiful. Pam, you're sure right about the heat tolerance. Greta won't do crap in the heat. She'll maybe run for three minutes and then plop her lazy bum under a tree or whine to come back in, and we're in Iowa, it doesn't even get that hot here. Especially this summer. I think we got to 87 degrees once this year.

WeimSARbest, you are wonderful for teaching your daughter these things. I love hearing that because I always try to teach my young boys how to be responsible with/for animals. Efforts like these will produce a smarter, more consciencious next generation of people.

It is sad that it's so difficult to find a responsible breeder. When I set out to get Milo, I set out to be incredibly picky about what breeder I got him from. And in talking to different breeders, they sure do a good job of convincing you that their pup is for you. But I had to be vigilent and keep looking for the high standards of ethics and morality that I expect in a breeder. So planning a year ahead is a good plan for you. It might take that long or longer to find who/what you are looking for!