Are You Right For A Weimaraner?
Owners of our puppies are carefully screened. It is not a matter of having the money. And puppies from Celestial come with strings attached-
- They must be loved
- Pet puppies must be spayed/neutered, and there is a partial refund with proof of surgery.
- We ask that Puppy Pre-School and the first year of basic Obedience is completed. This ensures a happy home for the puppy. It socializes them, teaches them manners, and who the boss is. Good obedience clubs also teach the owners about being good leaders, which is important to Weimaraners.
- Any pups or dogs that cannot be kept by the original owner, for any reason, must be returned to us, No explanation required. If not for us, these pups would not be here, and so we are responsible for their safety for all of their lives. We do this to try our best to ensure that no dog bred by us ends up in a pound, unwanted or as a puppy machine in a Puppy Mill.
- We expect prospective owners to ask us lots of questions. People should have done their homework on the breed and suitability by the time they are thinking of a puppy. It is also important that they are looking for ethical breeders, and not just someone with a litter.
- We expect new owners to become part of the family - lots of contact, photos, updates, etc. If you want to get your puppy and disappear, we are not the breeder for you.
- We ask that all puppies bred will have to have their hips checked at 2 years. This is to ensure that the line is healthy, not just the ones we keep.
- We also take responsibility for puppies produced by our stud dogs.
- You will not find a litter here by the latest 'flavour of the minute'. Genetic diversity is very important to us, and should be to everyone. If everyone uses the same dogs, where do they go for their next and subsequent generations?
We are never desperate to place puppies, so are more than willing to wait for the best owners.
Before you get a puppy from any breeder,
ask yourself -
Are you right for a Weimaraner?
Weimaraners are a wonderful breed, but they are not the right dog for everyone. So before you get a puppy, ask yourself if you are right for a Weimaraner.
They are a breed that lives to be with their human, and so do not do well where they have to be left as they would do in a household where everyone is at work and school full time. When left for such long times, they will find something to keep them busy, and you might not like what they find to do! (See photo above). It may also lead to barking problems, and anxiety. They have been selectively bred for more than 100 years to work and live closely with people. This cannot be ignored.
They are not an outside dog. They must be part of the family. It is imperative they live and sleep indoors.
They need a very well fenced and secure yard or dog park. They can jump very high, they are strong and can tear down flimsy fencing. They can also dig well - excavate more like it- and these things need to be taken into account. They will do this when bored and left as a backyard dog.
They are a breed with a high exercise need, but can also be lounge lizards, but don't let that fool you. If you cannot give them that exercise they will also find another way to get it when you are not there.
Weimaraners are a breed that is very intelligent. You must give them something to do with their mind. They excel at Hunting, at Obedience, at Tracking and at Agility. Those that do not get mental stimulation can find their own. You need to be someone who can, and will, give their dog something to do. These are not dogs that can be a fashion statement. They were bred for something specific, and that cannot be ignored. That is why they are the dogs we love.
Some Weims can live with cats.
It is up to you to be diligent with training; still we recommend that you Never leave a Weim and cat alone together when you're not there to supervise.
For a dog, there is little difference between a rabbit and a cat. Both are furry and both run. Instinct is strong, and you cannot expect it to be denied.
Weimaraners grow quickly. That means a heavy weight with the mind of a puppy. Small children can and would be knocked down by a pup that is still too young to understand or control itself. They reach full size at only about 10 - 12 months old. Children must be old enough, big enough and mature enough to cope.
They should be crate trained. It is not a cage, to them it is their den. It gives them somewhere to escape to, it helps them cope at the vets, it is a time out space when there are non-doggy visitors, and generally makes life easier for all concerned.
Weimaraners are a breed that need to know who the boss is. If they feel the lack of a strong leader, they are more than happy to fill the role. Obedience training is important as it helps the Weimaraner and the family to fit with each other. Good obedience clubs help the people understand things the way the dog sees things, and this can prevent many 'misunderstandings'. Keep in mind Chris is a Professional All Breed Dog Trainer and Behaviorist, so your Celestial Weim comes with unlimited free training advice for life.
It is highly recommended.
All of these things need to be taken into account.
Weimaraners are not the breed for everyone. There are many reasons NOT to get a Weim. However, if they are the breed for you, you will never be without one.
_____________________________________________________________
A special thanks to Wendy of Syrinx Weis for allowing us to use the
picture and portions of your text for this very important page!
Questions to Ask A Breeder
- Please give me more information about your breeding program?
- Are both parent's hips and elbows OFA certified?
- Do the parents originate from reputable breeders? (Kennel names)?
- Do the parents meet the breed standard?
- Do you show your dogs, or do obedience, agility, or other training
with them?
- Do they have hunting titles?
- Do at least three or four dogs in the last three or four generations
have titles?
- Do you offer a written health guarantee and what exactly is it?
- Do you limit your breeding of each female to a maximum of once
a year? (Has the female reached maturity, and again, OFA hip certified?)
- Are your puppies raised in the house and socialized with adults
and children, and has their housebreaking and crate training begun?
- Do you belong to your National and local breed club?
- If the dog doesn't work out, do you require that it comes back to you?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, reply with 'thank you for your time'.
If the link does not work with your computer, send an email to ctgabiweim@yahoo.com and I'll attach a copy.
