I Want a Weimaraner Puppy

Are you sure?  Please read on.

Have you recently gone into an animal shelter and seen some of the thousands upon thousands of unwanted dogs, most of whom will be put down? The numbers are astounding.  Most of the dogs you see will likely be "put down" not too long after you leave unless someone adopts them.  In Houston alone there are tens of thousands put down annually.

One of the biggest sources of unwanted dogs are those who are so cute as a puppy but, when they grow up, are suddenly unable to "fit in" due to their size, due to their friskiness and activity around small children.  A puppy might do well in an apartment at first, but when it grows up, it needs wide-open spaces to run and play.  A Weimaraner is not fit to crate ALL DAY in an apartment while you work, especially when they have been motionless all night asleep.  They need to be able to walk and run.  They need to "use the grass" frequently.  And they drink LOTS of water. 

When you get a puppy they are cute at first, but they grow up to be BIG dogs and there are a LOT of trials and tribulations during that process. Some Weim owners can tell you of trips to emergency clinics in the middle of the night, about furniture or clothing damaged and uncontrolled behavior when they were ill-prepared to discipline and train their dog properly.  Puppies love to chew almost any and everything, like shoes, furniture parts, etc.  Also be aware that when Weims drink water and walk away, they may drip water for up to five or six feet across the floor due to the nature of their mouths and loose lips. 

When you adopt a rescued, “seasoned” dog, you avoid all of the period we humans might call “the terrible twos.” Many a puppy has swallowed something like its owner’s stocking and had to have surgery to get it out of it intestines. Younger dogs are also prone to eat things that would make many an owner gag. Many are prone to eat or roll in cat feces, or a dead bird, for example, then come in to give you a “kiss.”  Read about "scooting" and the anal duct on the LINKS page. Bored Weimaraners are famous for chewing through drywall, ripping the stuffing out of sofas, and turning your yard into a moonscape of giant craters.

 

But if you still want a puppy, remember that the rescue groups also take in puppies along with adult females. 

A rescued dog is thrilled to have a stable place of its own.  Weims are very social dogs and need a family, a “pack” where it can "belong."  It will "move you" to see how a rescued dog transitions to a real home, how it will start recognizing it and "possessing" it as its own domain.   

Many rescued dogs are already trained, or at least housebroken, especially if they came from homes where the owner had to move, became ill or died.

When you adopt a rescued dog, you are truly a hero, especially to that dog. You won’t ever forget it and neither will the dog.

 

Still think you want a Weim for yourself?   Take this very interesting quiz about the breed.  http://www.weimrescue.org/quiz/index.html   

 

Want to see some of the many Weims ready for adoption right here in Texas, maybe even in Houston?   Check  http://www.weimrescuetexas.org/adoption.html  Here in Texas, the North Texas Weimaraner Rescue is the main source of rescued Weims.  They can always use a donation, too, to help defray the cost of fostering so many rescued Weims.  It costs a lot of money to put up dogs in paid shelters.   

 

Oh, one more thought about taking on a new dog, whether a puppy or grown dog.  Remember this:  That dog is completely dependent on your for survival, contentment, shelter, food and its very life.  It will be up to you to see that it is fed, kept in good health, groomed, entertained, and provided with socialization experiences.  It can be very rewarding for you and, certainly, good fortune for your pet.  A child will grow up and move on after maturity.  But your dog will always be dependent on you till the day it dies.