Help picking out a puppy...

[Watts]

Does anyone have any suggestions when picking out a puppy? I found a breeder for a weimaraner that i want and he has 4 left. I know there are certain things to look for when picking out a puppy, but i dont' really know what they are. Other than checking the surroundings and parent dogs to see how they've been kept. Any thoughts? I"m pretty excited. Luke(our min. dachshund) is getting a buddy to play with!

A breakthrough with Luke yesterday. He normally doesn't like treats. I've tried all kinds. So it's hard to bribe him to do something with a treat. BUT, i found some that he likes. The "T-Bones" treats. he loves them. I carried them around for a minute pretending that i was eating them, then gave him one and he scarfed it up! Now i can use them to teach him new stuff! I just had to share my enjoyment.

 

[Debi]

I'm no help in picking out a puppy....but I just started using vanilla wafers to train my dogs. They have NEVER liked ANY dog treat....wow, am I seeing results! So, I am sharing in your enjoyment...........when they have something they respond to, life sure gets easier!

 

[2pups622]

you should try greenies my yorkie is very picky and he loves them
make sure the puppy looks heathly no runny nose no cough check its butt to see if there anything stuck there and they didnt clean it look at its eyes if there look clear not cloudy deff look around be nosey look at the parents touch them to see if they have good temperments and deff take the puppy to you vet once you get it if the vet finds something wrong you dont want your dog to get it good luck

 

[*metalmorphosis*]

It is difficult when they're all the same colour!

I think it really depends what temperament would suit you (and your Dachshund). When we picked Cleo for example we wanted a pup that was bold enough to cope with Hoofa's exuberance, but not the No.1 pup that would challenge him. So we went for the middle-of-the-road puppy. And we're so pleased with her!

Good luck

 

[poodlesmom]

I have always heard that most people shouldn't pick the shyest nor the most outgoing pup and I can understand some of the reasoning for it. I would definitely look for input from the breeder - they are the most knowledgeable in knowing the pups and which one would seem better suited for your home environment.

You also should check to see that the parents have had and passed all the testing for the problems that are typical of the breed. I would also want to interact with the parents and see what their temperment is like. The breeder should also be asking you a ton of questions as well. Is the breeder giving a health guarantee? The breeder should also be willing to be available, even after the sale, to answer any questions you have. You can do as I did when I got Chloe - I actually asked for references and called people who had purchased pups from her breeder in the past.

Good luck & keep us posted! And congrats on your new soon-to-be furpal!

 

[Renee750il]

Be sure to read the sticky thread at the top of this forum. It will give you good guidance in checking out this breeder to make sure you're getting what you expect.

When we picked out our Fila pups, we took the one that was more interested in us than in its littermates or any of the other dogs. Some people advise that you choose a pup that's involved with its littermates and isn't as assertive, but we wanted the assertive, outgoing and fearless pup. Whoo, boy! Did we ever get what we asked for! LOL

 

[candy722]

Oh gosh, picking puppies are the hardest. Your gonna go back and forth with all four and then finally go with the choice that you made at first. I would check for watery nose and check if coughing because this is the time when some dogs can get kennel cough. I would ask the owner to feed the puppy to see if it will eat on it's own. I would stay even longer hoping that he would potty just to check if theres any greasy stool. Make sure you pet the puppy all around for any bumps because it's usually a sign for skin allergy so is dandruffs. Check for healthy gum lines. Hum....I think that's it.

 

[Watts]

Thanks for all the helpful replies. Although i only got to read a few before i had to go get him. I ended up being the proud new owner of Wrigley, my weimaraner puppy. He was the one that seemed to take to my girlfriend and i the most. He also seemed really curious and not so shy when we let him down. It was soooo hard. they all looked the same, all but one of them was jumping up wanting us to hold them. I liked him cause he seemed a bit bigger than the rest and as i said, he took to us very well. I'll post some more stuff about him in the training section, cause i've got some questions, that's for sure!

But, a couple things about the breeder. i wasn't as pleased as i thought i'd be. It would have been fine, but the parents kind of scared me. They were outside dogs. And they were very protective of thier yard. I went outside to see them, and the male was very protective. the mom wasn't so much, she was loving, but we didn't get to play with them because the breeder said he was protective around people he didn't know, in his yard. So that kinda got me worried. Not so much to affect my decision, but just enough to worry about my dog's temperment. the mother was fine, but when we asked if we could pet them, the owner said, "i wouldn't do that". so i'm worried. The breeder didn't seem to know alot about the puppies. I think he was a back yard type breeder. He had dachshunds and terriers also(inside). So he wasn't all that infomative. But, he did offer a 2 year health guarantee against all genetic defects and the puppies all seemed to be healthy with no signs of anything. It would've been a harder decision had i not drove 2 hours to get him, and then sat there with him. Aweful hard to say no. Do you guys think that i could have any temperment problems or was the father dog just being protective around his girl and yard? Maybe he just isn't used to being around new people? they said that when they take them to the vet he becomes everyones baby. I dunno, just concerned i guess. I'm gonna be taking Wrigley everywhere with me, so he's well socialized.

 

[Renee750il]

I'd have been more concerned had the dog not been somewhat protective of his territory, mate and the puppies. Just carry on with your plans to take Wrigley (great name for a wriggly pup, by the way) with you when you go places and socialize him well and you really shouldn't have any problems on that score.

I understand about not being able to resist once you've been exposed to the puppies, but that's why you try to do your research on the breeder before it's time to pick up your pup. Sometimes you just don't get to do that, though, especially when you really want that pup. I guess it's a safe assumption, though, that you're going to have Wrigley neutered?

Now, be sure to post some photos of him the Members' Gallery!

 

[Watts]

Oh, i'm for sure gonna neuter him. I have no clue about breeding and i haven't even gotten his papers yet. I just want him as a pet. I'll leave all the breeding up to people that know how to do it. I'm not gonna play any part in degrading this breed. I love weimaraners and wouldn't want them to suffer from being overbred.

I'll post some pics as soon as i get some. I don't have a digital camera, but i'm gonna get the pictures developed onto a disc so can email them around and post them here. I chose Wrigley because i'm a big Chicago Cubs fan and it just fits him so well. I'm gonna get him his very own Cubs collar and Cubs jersey this summer, he's gonna be awesome!

oh, and Luke is taking to him pretty well. He's only snapped at him twice. Once around food and once because Wrigley bit his back.(that had to hurt) But i watch him pretty close and keep telling him to be nice if he's starting to growl or look mad.

 

[Renee750il]

Sounds great!

Don't be too quick to stop Luke from disciplining him. Luke will teach him how to behave, and is also teaching Wrigley his place in the pack order. Just keep an eye on them and don't let it get too rough. Bimmer disciplines the girls, but never actually lays a tooth on them, just holds them down and acts like he's going to eat them alive. It's actually pretty impressive considering they both outweigh him by over 2:1 - but they mind him!

I never call him down for disciplining the girls, I just calm things down if necessary (like when he does it right next to my legs); tell him he's a good dog, tell the offending Fila she needs to mind Bimmer, and pet them both. He always washes their faces after he's chewed them out. I guess it's because they've always got tears on those long faces afterwards and it's his way of letting them know he's not upset anymore . . . just as long as they don't do it again! lol

 

[milo]

My puppy was the bully of the group and now he thinks he can beet up any dog what come along!!lol he thinks!!lol
anyway Lucky was the greedy one but the strange thing was, was he was the second to last to be born!!!!
Anyway good luck picking out ya puppy!!
Keep us up dated!!