Advice on getting a Weimaraner?

Question

Im thinking of getting a Weimaraner. Can anyone advise what type of dog they are. are they nasty or can they be good house dogs as well as bodyguards to the family house.

I have 1 acre of land so im sure that is plenty. I did hear that they like attention, bit like my littlebrother

Answer 1

weimaraners are wonderful dogs. I've never met a 'nasty' weimaraner, but i really believe that temperament has a LOT to do with how the dog is raised. Weimaraners are most certainly house dogs and should not be left to live outside. They were bred as personal hunting dogs, and as such, do better in the home than in a kennel like some other breeds, such as the german shorthair pointer.

Weims are indeed very energetic and require lots of exercise. Having an acre of land is a definite plus, but shouldn't be used as an excuse not to walk the dog. I own and have had experience training several weims and haven't found them stubborn. While they are not as eager to please as a lab, they are definitely trainable and will likely bond to one person in the family.

Others have recommended viszlas and german shorthair pointers (GSPs) over weimaraners...it has been my experience (my family participates in showing weims in conformation and field) that the viszlas and GSPs that I have been around have been more more high energy and stubborn than my weims. However, I've also been around lots of weims that are just as high energy as those breeds. While I do believe there are lots of characteristics that run in the breed, there is so much to be said for training and the environment the dog is raised in. Regardless any hunting breed will be high energy and need attention and excercise.

My weims literally crave running...they want more than anything else to be in the field running off leash, however, in the house, they are calm and relaxed and spend most of their time sleeping on the couch.

The best thing to do is to find a reputable breeder in your area and get to know them and their dogs before bringing one home. You should be familiar with the parents' personalities and talk in depth with the breeder regarding your lifestyle and whether they think one of their puppies will fit in with your family. While all weims have many things in common, due to breeding differences, different 'lines' may be stronger in one area than another. all reputable breeders should be breeding for conformation, but some may really stress birdiness and others may stress a calm and sociable temperament over birdiness. This is why it's very important to get to know a breeder and their dogs before you purchase a puppy. This is also why, even though you've asked people on this forum about their weims, it doesn't mean that if you purchase a puppy it may be nothing like what people have advised you.

Good luck and welcome to a wonderful breed.

check out www.akc.org and the weim club of america's website--http://www.weimclubamerica.org/

The WCA's website will have lots of useful info for a prospective weim owner and can also point you in the direction of breeders in your area.

Answer 2

Are you sure you want a Weimaraner? I have never recommended them (or Dalmatians or Chows to anyone!) Some of them are great dogs, but they are a challenge to train and they need a LOT of exercise! Hope you're going to be using a crate? These dogs are prone to separation anxiety and I've seen them chew a house apart and jump through plate glass windows.
You should begin obedience training immediately. Don't listen to people who tell you that you have to wait until they are six months old - by then it's way too late. (Would you send your child off to his first day of school when he's 13??)

If you like the pointing breeds, I'd recommend a Vizsla, Pointer or German Shorthaired Pointer over a Weimaraner. They are much easier to train and have less aggressive and less stubborn temperaments. If you want a better watchdog, get a Labrador Retriever.

Before you get any dog, I'd also suggest reading some really good books on training. Try not to do it randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also! These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know - Volhard
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan

Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.

Whatever breed of puppy you decide on DON'T go to a pet shop or buy one off the internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. The breeding animals are kept in deplorable conditions. They probably haven't been vaccinated against contagious diseases or tested for any health or temperament problems or genetic diseases - that costs money and cuts into their profits. A female is often bred every time she comes into heat. When her poor little body can't take it any more, she is often clubbed in the head and tossed into a dumpster or an open ditch. Most puppy mills ship their pups to pet stores at wholesale prices and many pups die before they even get there. These "breeders" have figured out that they can use the internet to ship a dog directly to the customer and thus make more money by cutting out the middleman. If you buy a dog from out of state, good luck getting your money back if there's something wrong with the pup. These people count on you becoming instantly attached to the poor little guy and being willing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars at the vet to treat whatever is wrong with him.

Find a good breeder by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money.

Answer 3

Weimaraners are great dogs but they do need a lot of attention and exercise. If you are an active person they make a fantastic pet.
Check out this site of owner's and information.
http://groups.msn.com/Weimaraners

Answer 4

They are a very nice breed of dog, however they are a sporting breed so need a lot of exercise. They do make good house pets.You will need to be committed to training & socialization (as anyone should be with any dog regardless of breed/mix) and to seeing that the dog gets proper exercise.

Answer 5

They are loyal and friendly. They need a lot of attention and room. Don't leave them alone for long periods of time in the house... they will chew everything.