For more information on the breed or Weimaraner that you are thinking about getting, you may want to check out the Dog Owner's Guide. This will tell you a lot about the dog that your thinking about and if the dog has any special requirements. So many people pick a dog that they really can't handle or don't have the time to provide the dog in its needs for exercising and grooming. So do a dog a favor, and select the pet that's right for your life style.
Pups Health and Diseases
If you are rising a show dog or even just a house pet, there are many other things that are important to the good health for your dog. One of the most important items is to keep the puppy from coming in contact of diseases. This can be accomplished by quarantining the puppy until its 3 months old. Puppies do not have immunity to diseases until they are 6 months old. During the first 3 months, puppies are building their own immunity system, and they should not come into contact with any diseases. Quarantine means not letting the pup around any other dogs (outside the home if you have another dog). Having everyone wash their hands with soap and water or to use an anti-bacterial wash before handling the pups. And street shoes should be removed outside the door (or in an area where the pups can't get), The soles of the shoes can also be sprayed with a 50/50 mixture of water and Clorox bleach to kill any diseases that may be on the soles.
Teething and Chewing
Puppies are known for chewing when they are teething. Some helpful items can be a frozen wash cloth twisted and shape into a circle, or a bowl of ice cubes. This gives the pup something to chew on that's cold and will numb their gums. Raw hide bones can choke a pup if they bite off a piece that is to big for then to swallow. We have found that Nala-Bones are great. They're made of nylon and big pieces can be bitten off.
Types of Dog Foods
A lot of people also think that dog food is just dog food. That's not true at all. We have tried a number of dog foods over the years and found that not all dog foods are the same. Some dog foods are good for very active dogs, but not so good for older dogs. Older dogs can gain weight on high performance dog foods, which is developed for active dogs. Some dogs do very well on a Lamb and Rice mixture, and some dogs get bladder infection. Some people also care about what there dog is eating like certain by-products. Dogs are a lot more like a human then a lot of people think. Just like some humans can't eat certain things and some can. Some dogs can eat certain things and others can't. My wife and I have done a lot of research on dog foods and have found this web page that has researched many major brands of Dog Foods on the market today.
Making a Good Show Dog
Everyone, who is rising a show dog, wants the dog to be its best. I have found that you need to start earlier, if you want to finish earlier. To do this you should start working with the pup as soon as the pup has accepted his new home and environment. Start with stacking the pup, then gating the pup, and remember to keep it fun for the pup. Here are some of the things I have found.
Stacking
Work with the pup every other day or evening. Take the pup and play with him or her and then work on stacking. Use bait if need be to get the pups attention. Don't over do it, it will only make things worst in the end. At first try just getting the pup to stack up. Then start working on having the pup stay in a stack after you have stacked him. Then have a little playtime, before you work on gating the pup. After you get the pup to hold a stack for a minute or two, have someone else to inspect the pup while stacked. The pup must be able to maintain a stack while being inspected by a judge. Just remember that keep it fun for the pup, and the pup will work well for you.
Gating
Work with the pup on the same nights you practice stacking. Pups like a day off too. The pup must be able to gate a straight line down and back. This usually means to the corner of the show ring and back. To get the pup to gate in a straight line you may need to work with him next to a fence. Put the pup between you and the fence, and gate the pup along side the fence for about 25-foot. Then turn and gate the pup back without the fence. With the pup between you and the fence, the pup must gate a straight line. Without the fence you can tell if the pup is gating straight on his own. Working on gating 1 or 2 and then have some more play time. Just remember that keep it fun for the pup, and the pup will work well for you.
If all goes good you'll be beating the socks off the older dogs in the rings when the pups 6 months old.