getting a dog, or not.

[glocke12]

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....

AS far as the agression goes, Ive never met an agressive weim. I do realize it can be genetic, but I also feel that it canbe curbed through ALOT of intense socialization at an early age.

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....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 now, but I have a feeling that no matter WHERE I get the dog from these people will be critical.

Anyone have any experience with this type of thing?

here is a pic of the pup in question

 

[Queso]

99% of a dog's temperament comes from how its owner treats it as a pup. It's essential that someone is around the dog virtually constantly for the first six months, and that the pup is properly socialised with both other dogs and people (especially children) during this period.

Personally I would go and see the pup, spend some time with it, and try and get some view of its personality. If it seems confident and happy to be itself around you (as a stranger) I don't think you'll have much to worry about in the future. However, if it's nervous and timid now that could grow into aggressive behaviour later. Either way, spend time with it, and don't let the breeders pressure you into a quick decision. The dog has to get used to you before it'll act naturally.

 

[Applespider]

It's odd that there's no questionnaire. Good breeders tend to be very strict about who they give pups too including requiring neutering for non-show-level pups to avoid watering down the breed etc.

Hip certs and genetic health are important in pedigrees - and puppy farms aren't always great about it. Pedigrees have a higher risk of certain diseases and problems (each breed has different ones) and it could get expensive as the years go on.

I have a suggestion for you. You've obviously told the breeders that you have some concerns given that they're giving you reassurances. Can you ask them if they could ask a couple of previous purchasers whether they'd be willing to talk to you over the weekend? Then you could get the first-hand info from existing owners from that breeder as to temperament and see if what the other emailers are telling you is accurate. And get an idea whether they've had any medical issues that their vets have told them are genetic.

 

[glocke12]

Yes, Ive asked for some of that information, but to be honest it really will not me very much to me since I dont know the people. For all I know it could be close friends of the breeder I am talking to. Ive also asked for copies of the hip certs.

As for the questionaire, I found that odd also...

 

[gonyr]

In your original post, it sounds like you were looking around for a breeder that wouldn't have a questionnaire. Were the more selective breeders unwilling to sell to you? If so, they might have a reason that you haven't considered. These are pretty decent-sized dogs that need a significant amount of space and exercise.

If you're really convinced that this is the dog for you, I do have a suggestion. The breeder you're dealing with does sound a bit shady - legitimate breeders all know each other and are a pretty tight-knit group, so if they don't like this one there's probably a reason. I don't know if one exists, but have you looked for a rescue organization for Weimaraners? Most breeds have one, for dogs that didn't fit into their owner's lives for one reason or another.

Edit: a quick google search showed lots of local rescue groups in various parts of the country.

 

[glocke12]

In your original post, it sounds like you were looking around for a breeder that wouldn't have a questionnaire. Were the more selective breeders unwilling to sell to you? If so, they might have a reason that you haven't considered. These are pretty decent-sized dogs that need a significant amount of space and exercise.
y.

Thats not what I said or meant. I have not found a blue breeder (outside of true puppy mills) that has pups available or plans on breeding within the next year.....Filled out a few questionaires from breeders and had no problems with them, but there are several people ahead of me on their lists.

I hike...ALOT....and walk several miles a day so exercise is not an issue.

As far as rescues go, Im really interested in raising a dog from puppyhood, and dont really want to get a dog that may already have behavior problems....

 

[mrfrosty]

Well you could always just get it (maybe for xmas?) then if you don't like it by new year you can always find some excuse to strangle it.

 

[mrfrosty]

On a more serious note, i would say that some dogs are just born bad. Sure, some get it from their owners, but by no means 99% of them IMHO.

 

[scotty96LSC]

Dog owners are a big network. Especially ones involved with certain breeds. They know who the backyard breeders are, where these puppy mills are, etc. because a lot of those dogs end up in rescues.
We rescue Great Danes and we trace how they got here. Believe me we know where the bloodlines are coming from and who is breeding for money and not for the preservation of the breed.
Good to listen to those folks.

 

[Applespider]

Then again, the number and behaviour of rescue dogs from this breeder might be nothing genetic at all.

Simply that if these breeders aren't doing the due diligence that most others breeders seem to consider essential and there are less than responsible owners out there who then get bored, don't train the puppy or exercise them properly, then there will be a higher number who are abandoned or given up with bad behaviour.

So far as the breeders not giving you genuine purchasers and rather their mates, if you feel they are likely to be be that dishonest and are skirting around the hip certificates etc, then walk away from this deal. Yes, you want a dog, yes, you've made good arrangements at your end but you're going to have this dog for the next decade... don't rush into it.

 

[glocke12]

Then again, the number and behaviour of rescue dogs from this breeder might be nothing genetic at all.

Thats what I have thought. Ive seen a few weims in my time. I have NEVER seen one is agressive. They have all been the type of dog that will bark when someone comes to the door, but than lick them to death....

So far as the breeders not giving you genuine purchasers and rather their mates, if you feel they are likely to be be that dishonest and are skirting around the hip certificates etc, then walk away from this deal. Yes, you want a dog, yes, you've made good arrangements at your end but you're going to have this dog for the next decade... don't rush into it.

Im more than likely going to go out and look at the pups and the parents. Hip data for the grandparents seems good....

Im also keeping in mind that some of these people may have an agenda.
The pup is a blue weim, and at least one person contacted me and said that blue weims are an "abomination" and should not bred.

unfortunately, this has really tainted what should be a happy time for me.
Even if I pass on this pup, this experience will always haunt me no matter where I get a pup from.