Son buying a Weimariner... what should he know? - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

Jersey Girls · 12-08-2012, 08:21 AM

Hi ... My son is going to buy his family a Weimariner. WELL>>>> If they'd chosen a Dobe, I'd KNOW what to tell them to look for before they buy

Does anybody know what standard health tests should be done on Weims before they are bred?

Does anybody know a good Weim forum like this one?

Does anybody know why a family wouldn't get a DOBE? LOL. Kids!

Rosemary · 12-08-2012, 08:30 AM

Here's a good place to start. http://weimaranerclubofamerica.org/

flaminscotch · 12-08-2012, 09:14 AM

My brother has a Weim and she is a jewel.
Very similar to my Dobes in energy level.
I hope your son has lots of energy and free time. Their new dog will require hours each day of playtime.
My niece is really smart, and extremely beautiful.
Again, they remind me of Dobes a lot.

ddvv · 12-08-2012, 09:14 AM

Suggest that he looks into a rescue one. In our area they can't keep up with the intake.

Shell81 · 12-08-2012, 01:55 PM

Weims were my other choice when we were in the puppy buying process, but we went with a Dobe (obviously).

My "surrogate" dog is a Weim (he stays with me probably 1/4 of each year. It started as his owners were past clients who hated boarding kennels, and has stuck because Oscar and I have bonded so well). Oscar is extremely well trained, and well mannered, but he isn't really the smartest dog I've met lol. He is very energetic, as long as I run him about 2 hrs a day he is great. If I don't he is annoying as hell, clingy, whiny, won't fully settle (it rarely happens, pretty much just if it rains as he thinks rain will melt him).

He is great with my cats, but that is because he is terrified of them lol. He is very prey driven with other small animals though (squirrels etc). He's a typical velcro dog, wants to be with me all the time when I have him. As I said, not the smartest (not a "thinking" dog), but well trained. His off leash/recall is outstanding, even when playing with other dogs. He is great with other dogs, and great with my kids and people, although he is usually quite aloof with people he doesn't know.

All in all, I love the breed, but I have met a number of Weims who weren't as good as Oscar. They can have some pretty crazy anxiety. Energy wise they are pretty similar to Dobes. Overall though, a nice breed, and at some point I would love one (full time, since I have a part time one lol).

4Dobes · 12-08-2012, 02:05 PM

I have a weimy Rupert come to stay for his holidays.
When he was younger he was a nightmare, jumping over the stair gates, screaming for attention, trashing the house etc etc
As he has matured and with training he is now a well adjusted lovely dog.

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4Dobes · 12-08-2012, 02:09 PM

Forgot to add the picture

Rupert is in the middle ... Don't mistake Darcy for one she gets very upset lol.

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brw1982 · 12-08-2012, 02:38 PM

It's easy to get your hands on a poorly bred Weim (in my area it is anyway) so I'd recommend he do good breeder research. Also, like Dobermans, you've got show lines and you've got hunting/working lines. It'd be good to meet and talk with people involved in both to understand what the different breeding programs strive for.

The Weims I've known have been high energy, nervy dogs with loads of anxiety but I've never met a well bred one (just the random BYB pet) so I don't know how much of that is due to poor breeding vs being true and intended breed characteristics.

A woman in my training club has trained gun dogs for years and years. She's very knowledgeable and experienced and her take on the breed is they were bred to hunt alongside their master all day long, day after day. So they need a lot of human interaction and closeness and they need a job (i.e., lots of training and exercise) or the dog will drive you crazy. She's partial to the working lines but she's partial to all gun dog working lines. She doesn't care for conformation showing or show lines of those breeds, at all. So, take that how you want.

Adara · 12-08-2012, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brw1982

The Weims I've known have been high energy, nervy dogs with loads of anxiety but I've never met a well bred one (just the random BYB pet) so I don't know how much of that is due to poor breeding vs being true and intended breed characteristics.

I've had similar experiences. I have NOT interacted with the ones at conformtaion shows so can't share there. BUT at hunt tests, IF there is a dog fight it almost always invovles a Weim. Of the sporting dogs they have what I would describe more of a "working dog" dog temperament and are prone to separation anxiety. I'm sure there are good ones out there. I don't post that to turn them off the breed, but to point out what to look for. In Viszlas, I'd be telling you to watch our for fear aggresoin and soft/skiitish dogs and I love the breed

Sporting dogs to me are Hyper. Dobes are energetic.

Asmit · 12-09-2012, 03:59 PM

Tons and tons of energy. Tons of weims around here of all types. Even the poorly bred ones are energizer bunnies.

Do NOT get a byb Weim. (well any breed from a BYB). There have been so many Weims come to the training facility with many problems. All have had uncontrollable nervous energy, extreme fearfulness, health problems, and in general they have all been extremely nervy and hardly any confidence to them.

The working line ones I have interacted with are very uninterested with anything and anyone other than their owners and their job. They are sport dogs and that is what they were bred to do.

I've never met a show line one, but if they are unwilling to rescue, I'd go show line. I would also insist on meeting atleast one of the parents, relatives, etc. I really worry about a lot of the weim's temperaments.

MusicDobesLove · 12-10-2012, 01:57 PM

I had German Shorthair Pointers growing up and they are very similar to Weims and they are very energetic for the first few years but are great family and hunting dogs.

The only thing I am not sure about is their coat/skin, with them being Blue, I'm not sure if it is the same thing for Blue/Fawn Dobes' skin issues.

They are beautiful dogs though! Just make sure to socialize the dog good with cats and other animals such as Rabbits, etc young or they will want to kill anything like that they put their mouth's on, mainly because they are hunters.

Good luck!

LindaH · 12-10-2012, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MusicDobesLove

I had German Shorthair Pointers growing up and they are very similar to Weims and they are very energetic for the first few years but are great family and hunting dogs.

The only thing I am not sure about is their coat/skin, with them being Blue, I'm not sure if it is the same thing for Blue/Fawn Dobes' skin issues.

They are beautiful dogs though! Just make sure to socialize the dog good with cats and other animals such as Rabbits, etc young or they will want to kill anything like that they put their mouth's on, mainly because they are hunters.

Good luck!

Weimaraners have a ton of health issues. Was interested in getting a rescue weimaraner or vizsla until realizing that I really couldn't afford two sick dogs at once if that were to happen. Looked up the health issues of both and Weimaraners were loaded...scared me, vizslas looked pretty healthy.

Back in the '70's I ran across two, both of which seemed intelligent with no nerve issues. One was my Blue's mom. In the 2002 or so, ran into another at the vets and it was a bundle of nerves with horrible fear aggression.

Advise them to only buy from reputable breeder and to do their research, research, research on the breeder and the lines before committing to a pup!!!

MusicDobesLove · 12-10-2012, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LindaH

Weimaraners have a ton of health issues. Was interested in getting a rescue weimaraner or vizsla until realizing that I really couldn't afford two sick dogs at once if that were to happen. Looked up the health issues of both and Weimaraners were loaded...scared me, vizslas looked pretty healthy.

Back in the '70's I ran across two, both of which seemed intelligent with no nerve issues. One was my Blue's mom. In the 2002 or so, ran into another at the vets and it was a bundle of nerves with horrible fear aggression.

Advise them to only buy from reputable breeder and to do their research, research, research on the breeder and the lines before committing to a pup!!!

Very good insight!

I have had friends in the past that have had them, but never personally dealt with any for long periods of time.

Something people don't always seem to understand is: Just because a dog looks great, etc, does not mean they are the right fit for you. Not saying that about the OP, but, I've had people in the past that strictly adopt/buy dogs on looks without knowing anything about the breed or health issues.

With these type of dogs and their health issues, I echo what you are saying, find a VERY reputable breeder, it may be a decent chunk of money now, but it will be well worth it in the long run with not having to potentially deal with many of the health issues of this breed.