Weimaraner Q&A
Is a Weimaraner Right for You?
This is a breed that you will either love or hate. Spend as much time around a Weimaraner as you can and explore any information available before you decide to adopt one.
Do you really want a Weim? Is a Weim the right dog for you? Before you get a Weim
Here are some additional questions that can help you decide:
Who should own a Weimaraner? Only people and families who enjoy an active life style with lots of time outdoors. They are excellent companions for runners, walkers and hikers. If hunting is part of your recreation they are an excellent personal gun dog. They are thorough, meticulous hunters with a great nose and natural retrieving instincts. As such, they need to live on a fenced property.
If you can answer yes to most of the questions below, a Weimaraner may be a good choice for you:
- Do you like moderate exercise such as walking, jogging or running?
- Do you have a fenced yard where you can let a large dog run safely?
- Can you commit to an intelligent, stimulating companion that requires constant attention, exercise, training and strong leadership?
- Are you willing and able to make a financial commitment to ensure your dog’s long, healthy life?
Who should NOT own a Weimaraner? Weimaraners require a serious time commitment. Weimaraners do not do well when they have hours of time on their hands for they will take out their boredom on furnishings, or anything else they see as a source of amusement. They are not a dog that can be relegated to a kennel situation. They are strong and are not recommended for frail people.
- Are you a couch potato?
- Do you live in an apartment or small home?
- Do you often say no, but don’t really mean it?
- Do you find it difficult to correct a dog for unacceptable or problematic behavior?
- Do you want a dog that sits quietly and waits for you to notice it?
- Do you lead a busy life that might restrict you from committing to providing daily exercise?
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, a Weimaraner may not be the dog for you. If you cannot say no and mean it or set boundaries for acceptable behavior a Weim will take over, running your home and life. A Weim without leadership or exercise will quickly become a problem to live with and neither of you will be happy.
How Are Weimaraners with Children? They love their family and are wonderful playmates for children. However, Weimaraners may accidentally knock over very small children because of their size, strength, and quick motions. Their energy level is a good match for that of active kids. Weimaraners are possessive of their children and will protect them if they think they are threatened. Roughhousing by children who are not members of the family maybe interpreted as a threat and such play between family members and outside children should be supervised. Due to the fact that weimaraner require alot of exercose and attention coupled with the fact that many of our dogs are given up by families with small children and can not devote any extra time to a dog, we do not adopt weims under the age of 5 to families with children under 5 years old.
How are Weimaraners with Other Pets? Reactions vary tremendously. Some coexist with cats, birds, and other types of pets while others will not tolerate other species. Generally, if a puppy is raised with a cat or kitten they will live together peaceably. You must remember the Weimaraner is a hunter and therefore do not put the dog into a situation that would trigger a hunter's reaction.
Getting a Weimaraner Puppy. DO NOT GET A PUPPY FROM A PETSTORE. These dogs are brought up in horrendous conditions, not socialized and often sick. These puppies come from places known as puppymills. Stay away from backyard breeders as well (the average person trying to make money off their family dog's puppies). Only use reputable breeders. A reputable breeder does not ship their dogs, a reputable breeder allows you to come to their home/kennel and see where the dogs were raised, a reputable breeder does not sell a puppy to a famiy that is not equipped or ready to handle a breed such as a weimaraner, a reputable breeder takes back their dogs no matter how many years after they sold the dog.
