Soon to be a Weim owner (yay!) and a few questions...

CheechakoWeim

Wow, I am so happy to find out that this board exists! I may be jumping the gun a little to post at this point, but I will be getting a Weim puppy from a litter soon to be born - and I know that those weaning weeks will go by fast! So I am eager to get ready! I have a few questions for those of you out there more experienced than me...

First question: My puppy will be coming from the 'lower 48' - I live in Alaska. I need to decide pretty soon whether I will fly down to pick up the puppy or have the breeder ship him up here. Obviously it will be more expensive to fly down to pick him up, but if there is a clear advantage to doing so (like less stress for the puppy, etc) I will. Any opinions?

Second question: Any tips on lessening the trauma of a several hour flight on a young puppy who will just be leaving his mother and siblings and coming to a new (albeit loving) home?

Third question: Any tips on Weim ownership from those in cold climates? Alaska has a long winter but is not that much different from North Dakota, Minnesota, etc., in terms of winter lifestyle. It is a very dog friendly place and we have a some good winter indoor exercise options.

Lastly: Thanks in advance! Very Happy

versatilek9s · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:21 am Post subject:

We flew our puppy and had no problems at all...I think I'm the one that needed something to lessen my stress! Very Happy

I also had considered flying cross-country to pick her up, but in the end it worked out great. She popped right out of her crate and started sniffing around!

About to cold weather--I think most of us have jackets or fleeces for our dogs--and almost all of them like to parade around looking so nice!
Eddie Bauer and Land's End have nice doggie coats, and there are a few internet sources as well.

meredith

PamK · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:56 am Post subject:

Welcome, I think there is someone else on the board from Alaska. maybe they'll chime in.

I can't help I live in Texas where its been hotter than heck lately.

There isn't a Weim club in Alaska, maybe e-mail the one in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin Weimaraner Club
Rosmary Gruber
W211 N6895 Pleasant Street
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
(262) 253-1706
Email: Weimmom@earthlink.net
Lic. Field Trials, Hunt Tests and Specialty Shows

CheechakoWeim · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:04 pm Post subject:

Thank you for the welcomes! I have been looking all through the forum posts and I've already found a lot of good information. You brought up a good point - I'm going to be stressed out the whole day he is travelling ANYWAY and I am not sure if being on the same flight with him is going to be that helpful for him. Because I don't think he can fly in the main cabin with me...or can he? He has to go in the hold, right?

It's good to hear that shipping doesn't have to be that traumatic...

And great idea about checking with a 'cold state' weim club, they probably would have some great tips. BTW I think those dog coats are cute, I will check out those retailers.

luana80it · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:57 am Post subject:

welcome tot he forum! Very Happy

NenaGunther · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject:

Welcome!

weinyrhymer · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:56 pm Post subject:

welcome! For some reason, I think a good friend of mine who lives in AK has a weim mix puppy, or else it's a viszla mix, can't remember. If I can get in touch with her, I'll ask ..

CheechakoWeim · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 2:43 am Post subject:

Yes, I'd love to hear from anyone in Alaska, or from someone who knows someone with Weims who lives in Alaska. We put a LOT of research into choosing a dog breed, and then a breeder, but I've only met one other person here (and that was very recently) who owns a Weim - he got his boy from a breeder in a remote town. I checked with the Alaska rescue group before contacting a Weim breeder, they didn't have any. Which is a good thing. But it would be nice to know that there are some others here....

GailB · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:22 am Post subject:

Welcome to the site...I think we share close to the same weather here in N.B. Canada...a warm coat should do the trick..and booties...I find with my boy it's his feet he doesn't like getting cold...Congrats on the new addition...any name picked out yet?

peppernaei · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:12 am Post subject:

Congratulations on your puppy to be!

Marvin loves the cold and snow. He is obsessed with eating snow and I joked he was going to go through withdrawal when it melted. He has a jacket but most days he is happier without it. He only wears it on the extremely cold and windy days or when we are visiting Northern Ontario.

Weim winter fun last February

For his growing period we went with a simple cheap jacket modeled after a horse blanket but it worked well...

www.greenhawk.net

I liked these jackets but haven't shelled out the funds yet...

www.ruffwear.com (They make cool boots too)

www.thedogwearcollection.com/coats.html

sherry · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:49 am Post subject:

Welcome

weimdawgs · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:08 pm Post subject:

Welcome! Flying them is harder on us than it is on them!!

CheechakoWeim · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:25 am Post subject:

Oh, that does my heart good to see some pictures of happy Weims in the snow!! Laughing

What beautiful pictures. The coats and the booties are good to know about - that link next to the camo coat was very nice, I liked the collars they have with the handle (so you can hold on to your dog without cinching his collar too tight).

Names... We are still trying to figure out a name - that is really hard! We have a several ideas but we are having trouble narrowing it down. We have a few Russian names we are thinking about (husband is from Russia), the names are really cool but harder for people to learn.

I am leaning more and more towards having him shipped instead of 'picking' him up. It will make me less stressed. And will be much less expensive. Which will make me even less stressed... Razz

To think, I could be relaxed and rested when he arrives, instead of drained and exhausted... Well, rested anyway- don't think I'll be that relaxed!

The litter is due any day now, so excited!

versatilek9s · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:55 am Post subject:

about names...pick out a bunch of names you like and when you meet your new pup it will just pop into your head. All of my dogs were named on the car ride home!

CheechakoWeim · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:18 am Post subject:

That was exactly what my hubby suggested!! The whole name thing is a consuming project for me.

Note to self - DO NOT buy any cute personalized nametags until you definitely decide on a name... resist the urge....