Author Topic: Getting a dog, or not.... (Read 322 times)

glocke · « **on:** September 13, 2008, 04:03:07 AM »

Need some input from dog people on this one.

Been wantint a dog for a looong time. Finally in a single family home with enough land for a pet.

Had my mind set on a blue female weimaraner. They arent very common, and those that do breed them are very selective to who they sell them to. I finally found a breeder in ohio that has some. Other breeders I contacted about this type of dog had questionaires for me to fill out, these people had no such thing.
At best I just figured they were just some backyard breeders who did this to make some extra cash, at worse they are a small time Puppy mill, but do appear to be responsible.

I posted on a weim specific forum about this, and posted a photo of the dog. One thing led to another, and some of the more serious weim people on there figured out who I was getting the dog from. Next thing I knew I was gettin emails from folks warning me about the origin of the parent dogs, claiming that weims from these people are known in rescue circles for having bad temperments, and various behavor problems including biting. One person also pointed out to me that it was not entirely clear if the hip certs had been done on the parent dogs. They had been done on grandparents of the puppies, and one came back as being mildly dysplastic.

Ive contacted the people Im getting the puppy from and they swear up and down that the dogs that the pups came from are nothing more than big babies (most weims Ive met ARE big babies), but they have yet to reassure me of the hip certs....

To make matters even worse Im supposed to pick the puppy up weds, and I have arranged to take the following two weeks off of work to do some crate training, bonding, and I have already prepaid for puppy kindergarten classes and that is non refundable.

Its all pretty distressing and Im really not sure what to do. I know dog breeders can be a quirky group of people and it is a culture onto its own, but Im not sure who to believe. All Im interested in is a pet for hiking and companionship at home (and to bark really loudly should someone touch my Alembics when Im not home)....but these people emailing me DO know more about these dogs than I do....

Im not sure if I should just bail on this whole deal and find a dog from another place, or what.

Anyone have any experience with this type of thing?

glocke · « **Reply #1 on:** September 13, 2008, 04:23:14 AM »

this is the pup in question:

richbass939 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 13, 2008, 06:21:46 AM »

I've never had a weim but I've been around a few and have always thought they were beautiful dogs. I'm a dog lover myself. My general advise is to be really sure about what you do. You obviously are putting a lot of your personal resources into a dog (time, attention, emotion, probably money too) and want to make the right decision. Once you get a dog, I'm sure you will stick with it through thick and thin. It's worth very careful consideration at this point.
Maybe I'm a little sensitive at this point. I just did a 14 hour day on Wednesday on the jury of a really nasty animal cruelty case. Don't get me wrong; I'm not suggesting anything about you with this. I'm sure you will do what's best for you, your family and your new addition to the family.
Rich

811952 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 13, 2008, 07:27:37 AM »

Dog breeders are nutjobs, otherwise they wouldn't be dog breeders!

A dog is functionaly the same as another child, at least in our home. Sounds like your concern for nurturing and bonding will assure a loving, well-adjusted companion for years to come. You'll get a lot out of the training, and recurrent training is a good thing as well..

This summer we lost Khatru, our 13-year-old husky pup. Sometimes one questions whether the years of love are worth the deep hurt when the inevitable comes, but the answer has been yes. Of course, we've got 3 goats, several cats and 3 dogs to soften the blow...

John

Edited to add: Many people are under the misconception that it's the breed that determines a dog tendency to be mean. I don't buy into that, because socialization can make or break any breed of dog. Some of the sweetest, most gentle animals I've ever been around have been pit bulls, for instance, and I've been bitten by a collie with no provocation. Love the animal and train it well, and it will be a good dog. Other breeders implying that one particular breeder's animals are mean implies (to me, at least) that they don't understand socialization and training issues. Lots of breeders treat their adult animals like crap (ignore them, inconsistent discipline, etcetera), and those animals will respond in-kind.

John

(Message edited by 811952 on September 13, 2008)

flaxattack · « **Reply #4 on:** September 13, 2008, 11:01:37 AM »

i would check online through www.akc.org. U might find s local breeder
YOU might want to ask for references from others that have bought dogs from the breeder.
i personally wouldnt buy without seeing the pup and its parents.
i just looked at the site and there is a ton of info.
do your research before we see you on the dog whisperer
good luck
they are beautiful dogs//
also how old is the pup= from what i have seen you dont want a pup less than 8-12 weeks old since it needs to be socialized by the parents and other puppies

flaxattack · « **Reply #5 on:** September 13, 2008, 11:06:04 AM »

i think that breeders look out for each other. nothing probably does more harm to a breed to have a bad breeder out there selling pups as it gives a bad name to the breed.
its a nice picture but you have no idea what the temperment is. is it a dominant or submissive pup?
you wont know unless you see it and interact with it
this aint no bass you can sell on ebay

flaxattack · « **Reply #6 on:** September 13, 2008, 11:08:37 AM »

http://www.weimclubamerica.org/

811952 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 13, 2008, 11:11:45 AM »

Agree totally on seeing and interacting with the pup, for a number of reasons.

glocke · « **Reply #8 on:** September 14, 2008, 03:27:26 AM »

Thanks for the input guys. first, no local breeders are having litters until later in 2009, and these already have a waiting list.

I still plan on driving out and looking at the pups (I get two pick from two), an the parents, both are at the owners residence, I guess if Im uncomfortable with anything I wont go through with it. The hip data (or lack of) concerns me, so I need to talk to them about that.

John,

I agree with you on temperment. I do think that some of it is genetic, but I think a large part of it is socialization and environment. I was attacked by a chocolate lab one time. Just walking down the street, and it LUNGED over a 4 foot tall fence at me. EVery choclate lab I have met before or since, were just big, dumb, energetic dogs. BUt not this one....My friend was a neighbor of these people, and he said since the day they go it they treated the dog like crap.

Same with weims...every weim I have ever seen in person is a giant baby. They will bark like crazy when somone comes in, but than just end up licking them to death....

lbpesq · « **Reply #9 on:** September 14, 2008, 02:57:45 PM »

Here's our new puppy, Monty, short for Monterey Pop (he replaced our recently deceased Woodstock)
That's a guitar pick in the background to give a reference point as to size.

Bill, tgo

georgie_boy · « **Reply #10 on:** September 14, 2008, 09:03:50 PM »

Yeah?
A Weim that a friend of mine has just came up to me and bit me for no reason!
And I'm the world's greatest dog lover

G

georgie_boy · « **Reply #11 on:** September 14, 2008, 09:05:28 PM »

Get a Golden Retriever
The ultmate dog!

flaxattack · « **Reply #12 on:** September 14, 2008, 11:05:08 PM »

i am locked in on getting me a sweet bull terrier one day. just like petey in the little rascals..
:-()
aka pit bulls... smart-always tries to please its master-

flaxattack · « **Reply #13 on:** September 14, 2008, 11:06:07 PM »

nice inlays bill

flaxattack · « **Reply #14 on:** September 14, 2008, 11:07:58 PM »

how bout one of these?