With GardenFork's audience, I'm sure that I'm preaching to the choir on this, but I still felt compelled to say what I want to say and share the video.
In the video is Waverly, a 9 month old Weimaraner pup. With two Weimaraners already in our home, our cup runneth over long before she showed up. We do love the breed and we love our dogs. Friends of ours know this and when others have Weims, we tend to hear about them.
This particular pup was bought by an elderly couple who thought Weims were beautiful and friendly, which they are. However, they didn't know how much energy they have and what dangers the breed bring along with them.
Weims are super friendly and VERY attached to their family. However, Weims don't understand that running up to their 110 pound owner, or 40 pound child to give them a "full body greeting" is, at best, traumatic for the receiver.
Also, these dogs are smart. To a fault. If you don't exercise them, challenge them, and give them something to do, they'll find stuff to do on their own -- Like dismantling a couch, one thread at a time.
If you decide to cruelly lock them up in order to keep them "good", you'll find that a locking up a Weimaraner is like winding the spring on a toy; when you let them go, all of that energy is going to be released at once. And the longer they're in there, the tighter that spring gets!
Really, this isn't meant to be a lesson in Weimaraners. It's meant to be a lesson in preparing for getting a dog properly. Also, if you know about dogs, making sure your friends who are thinking of getting a dog know everything they need to know.
Before we got our first Weimaraner, we read every guide on the breed we could find. They are all over the internet and in book stores. We spoke to others with the breed and we visited as many Weimaraners as we could find.
I knew very well that if I fell asleep on the couch, I would wake up with two 70 pound dogs sleeping on or under me.
I also knew the costs. A spay, shots, licenses, food, toys, crates, and everything else. We made sure we could afford the dog(s).
It's easy to sympathize when someone can't keep a dog because of an illness, injury, or worse. It's infuriating when I feel compelled to take on a third dog because someone didn't do some simple homework. We were told that "It's either you take her, or she ends up in a shelter or just released in a field. PLEASE... Take her." How do we NOT take her?
Sure the people were heartbroken and ashamed, but is that enough? I don't have the answer to that question, but I do hope this is the last dog we need to rescue. She's only here temporarily, but in my house, fostering a Weimaraner "temporarily" is like "temporarily" touching one finger to the other when there is super glue on them.
My son has been wanting a third dog, I've been saying "No", but I may be powerless against the cosmic powers behind the prayers and wishes of a 14 year old boy who loves his dogs.
Watching her sleep peacfully with the other two dogs, it's easy to imagine that some angel brought her to us...
... actually, watching the video again, it may be repayment for something bad I've done. I'm not sure yet.
Isolde
Very touching, beautiful!
Eric Gunnar Rochow
imagine having 5 like that every weekend, and you know what my life is like.
Stuccolow
PUPPIES!!!!
Rowan Moore-Seifred
I have a weim and anytime someone approaches me about the breed because they want one I generally try and talk them out if it. They are great dogs but not everyone is suited to the breed. I have 5 acres in the country and work at home so my Luna is with me all the time.
Does Waverly still need a home?
Ps the video of the dog colliding with the video camera was classic.
Tim
Great post and awesome footage. My family had a Weimarheimer when I was young and luckily we always had some decent acreage for her to run around on. She was a bit more laid back than your Weims seem to be but that may be because there was only one of her. Keep the Weimaraner footage coming. We don't have enough property to keep big dogs with that much energy so I have to enjoy them virtually and be satisfied with our two little rat terriers. Hmm, I wonder if anyone is working on a toy Weimaraner breed.
Cin
We too have a rescue dog and ours is Dude. He is a choc. lab/ weimarheiner cross and the best dog for our 10+ acres and pond. These three look like so much fun!
Candace
I like how the picture of you and the dog is basically her not able to move. That is how some pictures are with our Husky mix. She is very, very energetic and we too live on a couple acres on a lake. So in the warmer weather we are set.
Eric I have always wondered how many of the dogs are yours and do you get paid to dog sit on the weekends?
Mike
The pup is still in need of a home. But with every day, the heart strings grow more tangled.
I have a new phone that lets me take decent pictures and video, so I plan on putting up some more.
That couch is very cushy, so it makes a very humane weim-trap. Actually, my wife took a picture of the three of us asleep on the couch. I was on the bottom, one dog was on my back, and another was tangled up in my legs. We couldn't find that one. 🙂
Tim I
Your example of a tightly wound spring is exactly on point! I'll be using it when folks ask me about our dogs.
We have collies and a blue heeler. Both of these breeds are wonderful, athletic, and smart. As you say, sometimes too smart for their own good. We live on a farm, and that is exactly where these breeds must be. Outdoors, and with miles to run every day. And jobs to do. If they do not have assignments, they well self-appoint tasks - which may not be the tasks you would prefer them to do!
Collies (old Scotch collies, not border collies) are great with people and children. Heelers like everybody, but they are 'one-man' dogs so are probably not the best choice for family dogs. Knowing the breed, its characteristics, and needs is key to having a fun, happy, loving experience. Our collies take care of our cats. The heeler opens and closes doors for me in my shop every day. He watches me constantly to be sure he doesn't miss a chance to open the door when I go in or out.
These are all 'rescue' dogs, by the way. Trying to make house dogs out of them caused abuse and abandonment in all cases. But they're great farm dogs!