About Weims:Bringing Home Your New Dog
Hints and Tips for Your New Dog
Reprinted from “So you want a Weimaraner”, The Weimaraner Club of Columbus, 1998
Your Responsibility
Any dog is nearly totally dependent on his owner/trainer for his physical and emotional health. Providing your Weimaraner with a good veterinarian who wins your confidence is the basic step to proper health care.
Good grooming is also essential to good care and our breed is a breeze in this respect! A quick brushing once a week with a stiff brush will lead to a good, glossy coat. At the same time the ears should be cleaned, teeth checked, and toenails clipped and filed.
Providing your dog with plenty of constructive, playtime exercise is critical for both the physical and mental well being of your Weimaraner. The attractive structure and muscular, athletic build of the breed must be kept in condition. Since common sense and leash laws prohibit you from allowing your dog to rome free to exercise, you will have to deliberately provide walks, swims, fetching, and other recreational activity on a regular basis. Weimaraners do not need two acres to be happy. They much prefer to be with their owners. A walk around the block or a game of fetch in the yard or basement will give you both a good workout and special time together.
Intelligent dogs need to be schooled. It is their nature to be an important and an active part of family life. If you do not occupy them with some learning and play periods they may be very well invent things to do—not always things to your liking! Good manners begin in the home. Your dog cannot read a book on good manners, so you will have to educate him. It is also your duty to obey all laws regarding dogs: licensing, vaccinations, and leashing. And it is your moral obligation to make your Weimaraner a welcome member of the neighborhood by never permitting him to be a nuisance.
His special place
One of the most important investments you will make along with the purchase of your dog is his special place, which “dog people” call a crate. A crate can be made of wood, molded plastic, wire, or a combination of these, but no matter the materials, it will soon become his security blanket and your best house training tool.
A crate is the ideal bed for your dog. When he is confined to it, he will not be soiling your carpets, chewing an electric cord, or diving through a plate glass window at the mailman. He quickly learns that when he is confined to his crate it must be nap time and you can count on it that he will take refuge in it if he is scolded or hurt.
A correctly sized crate, properly used, can be the best thing that ever happened to the dog-man relationship!
Protecting Your Weimaraner
You should have a collar for your dog with your name and address, which he wears at all times. His tag should be marked with “Reward”; this is to insure his safe return. Another safe guard for your Weimaraner is to have his AKC registration number tattooed on the inside of his flank. A new alternative is micro-chipping your dog, which can be done at selected clinics. Also, take pictures of your dog from the side and front views. Note any special identifying scars, markings, injuries etc. You will never be sorry if you take these precautions.