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Spuggyhawk · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:08 am Post subject: Weimeraner question

I rescue dogs on a part time basis and was asked to help home a 2 year old male weimeraner. He was very well bred but had not had any training and was just left to fend for himself until he finally chased a very expensive brood mare into a wire fence causing so much damage to the mare she had to be pts.

Anyway the upshot of it was that I had a recently returning to falconry chap waiting for a GSP and I wondered whether this young weimeraner would fulfil his needs. So the question is...what do you think the chances of this young weimeraner being turned around and channeled into working as a HPR and also how good are weimeraners as falconry dogs?

Deb

Claire · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 1:36 pm Post subject:

I can't answer the bit about falconry as I really don't know enough.

I'm an area officer for Independent Weimaraner Rescue and I also have 3 weims myself.

Weims have a bad reputation in the shooting field but it is my personal opinion that this is because they aren't properly trained. They are not an easy breed to train, infact I've heard several working people say they find them complicated Laughing

But, I firmly believe that all weimaraners have so far managed to retain their hunting instincts (ie we've not bred it out of them like some breeds) and so I guess it depends on what has gone on in this weims 2 years of life, ie has he been allowed to use his hunting skills, albeit possibly for himself instead of his owner, or have they tried to curb the instinct with discipline and obedience.

My 6 year old male weim didn't attend his first shoot until he was 2 years old. Up until then we hadn't really done any gundog training with him, other than the recall whistle. We had a right problem with him chasing any animal that moved, particularly hares and this was caused by us not stopping him chasing animals when he was a pup.

I would say we didn't knuckle down on his training until he was 2 years old but up until then we hadn't done anything to stop him hunting, we had actually encouraged him to quarter purely because we liked to watch him ! Then we got involved in our local shoot, started beating and realised we really enjoyed this so we knuckled down on the training. Took us 2 solid years to stop him from chasing and even now he might still go off to chase but 98% of the time we can stop him in mid flight. He's not perfect and I would say that each season he has learned more and more because we have noticed big improvements on his general obedience, his hunting and pointing skills and his retrieving skills. This past season and the one before is when we've noticed the biggest improvements.

I would say that anything is possible. This dog is only 2 years old and won't reach full maturity until 4 or 5 years so if his new owner understands weims, remembers they are not a grey gsp! and has the time, energy and commitment to train the dog then it would certainly be worth a go. One of the main things he would need to remember is that because the dog is 2yrs old he will most likely have inherited bad habits, chasing could be one of them, so he would need to have the patience to get the dog through this. Weims can be sensitive and don't do well with harsh handling.

HTH.
_________________
Hunting is natural, even foxes do it !

Whenever life hands you lemons, grab the salt and add the tequila

tashap · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 686 **Breed:**

Best bet is to have the dog assessed by someone from the club who works their dogs, can I ask what his lines are?? Where abouts are you?? There are a couple of people in Yorkshire that I would recommend that will be closer than the others I know of. Try getting in touch with Val O'Keiffe or Penny Pickstone both can be found via the Weimaraner club (either weimaraner association or the wcgb both are on the net) try Val first.

You will have to resolve his problems with self hunting otherwise he'll be of no use in the field be too unreliable.

Spuggyhawk · Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 10:43 am Post subject:

Thanks for your replies.

The dog is in Ireland, I am in Staffordshire, so I haven't met him. The info I have is from the lady who rescues dogs over there. I have been rescuing Irish dogs for nearly two years now, mainly GSPs, and the majority have had no home life, have been left to fend for themselves or just left tied to a tree. So I imagine thats the kind of life this chap has had. I was told that he was well bred but not what his lines are, as when rescuing dogs its immaterial, but was told that he appeared to have a very strong hunting instinct, hence I thought he would be better off going to a more knowledgeable working type home. I have, however, found that the Irish dogs are so grateful for attention, regular meals and shelter that they fit in with family life quickly.

I believe that Weim Rescue are rather full which is possibly why I was contacted. Thanks again for your help.

Deb

tashap · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 686 **Breed:**

If the dog comes from good lines have his breeders been contacted?? weim rescue do have alot of dogs in but they don't usually turn a dog away.

Maybe once you've got him over here you could arrange to see someone that can assess him for you, given a job weims are usually very good but it does depend on the dog they are strong willed and not the easiest to train.

Claire · Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 2:33 pm Post subject:

Yip, weim rescue are very busy but never full. By that I mean we never turn dogs away. We might say we don't have any suitable homes right now but we never say we are too full to take in a dog.

Could I suggest you try contacting Jeanette Meech ? She is one of our (IWRRS) area officers in Gloucestershire and she did have a working home but that may very well have gone now. However, she is also very friendly with Val and Val has assessed several dogs for us. Jeanette's number is 01608 652091.

Keep us posted on how the lad does.
_________________
Hunting is natural, even foxes do it !

Whenever life hands you lemons, grab the salt and add the tequila

tashap · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 686 **Breed:**

if your GSP person is prepared to take on a weim he'd have a good dog I know a couple that work with hawks