Pendlehaze Weimaraners - Puppy Welfare

Puppy Welfare

Deciding to buy a puppy is a major decision and must not be taken lightly. All members of the family should be consulted prior to purchase to ensure that a puppy will find a loving and welcoming home. Puppies can be very destructive, as indeed, can adult dogs which have not been loved and properly trained. There is far more to dog ownership than simply buying a puppy. Weimaraners make excellent friends, are very intelligent, faithful and fun. But, they take up a lot of time and energy, are quite expensive to look after and need plenty of space. Many dogs are quite comfortable when housed in a kennel outside the house, but this is not the case with Weimaraners. They are very likely to suffer from 'separation anxiety' if they are left alone for even relatively short periods of time, but with constant companionship they will easily integrate into a family environment. It is essential that they are properly trained so that they understand their position in the household as the Weimaraner will constantly try to get it's own way and they therefore require a firm but sensitive hand. A Weimaraner is not a good choice for people who are out all day or live in a small home.

Before buying a Weimaraner puppy you should ask yourself:

Will I have the time to train, groom and generally care for a Weimaraner?
Have I selected a Weimaraner for the right reasons and not just as a beauty accessory?
Do I really want to exercise a dog several times each day?
Will there be someone at home for much of the time?
Is my home big enough to house a Weimaraner?
Can I afford to keep a dog like this, taking into account not only the initial cost of purchasing them, but also the ongoing expenses such as food, insurance and vet fees.
Can I make a lifelong commitment to a dog? - Weimaraners can live for 12 years or more.
Will I be able to answer YES to all these questions every day of the month and every month of the year.

After deciding to buy a Weimaraner puppy, the next most important decision is which breeder to buy from. Buying a Weimaraner should not be done ‘on the cheap’ and it should come from a reputable source. By going to a responsible breeder you stand the best chance of getting a dog that will enjoy a happy and healthy life. It's important that you are able to see the puppy with it's mother and siblings in order to handle the puppies and form some idea of their character. It should also be possible for you to meet the puppies father, if you wish to do so and the puppies should, of course, be Kennel Club registered by the breeder. Further advice relating to finding suitable breeders and what questions to ask is available from the Kennel Club Website.

Weimaraners need:

Companionship - to be with other dogs or people and not to be left alone for long periods.
A balanced diet.
A constant supply of fresh, clean drinking water.
A comfortable bed and blanket.
A well-fenced garden to play and exercise in.
Help to clean their teeth. They also need to have their teeth checked regularly by the vet.
Regular walks and a lead for walking near traffic or farm animals.
Someone to clean up after them with a pooper-scooper, nappy bag or alternative.
Never to be left in a car in warm weather, even with the window open.
A collar and identity tag containing your name and address.
To be properly trained.
Preferably to be microchipped.
To be neutered if not intending to breed from them.
To be taken to a vet if they fall ill.
To be given annual injections by a qualified veterinary surgeon to prevent serious diseases.
Worming and regular tick & flea treatments - more information about Ticks & Fleas.
To be looked after when you are on holiday.
To be loved.

For further information on caring for your new puppy please click here.

Prior to purchasing your Weimaraner puppy, you should research your local area for veterinary services and decide at which one you will register your puppy. You may wish to have your selected 'vet' examine your new puppy shortly after purchase, simply to satisfy yourself that he or she is fit and healthy. It is at this time that you should register your ownership of the puppy with the 'Kennel Club' and decide if you wish to continue insuring your puppy against illness, following the expiry of the 6 weeks complimentary insurance provided by the Kennel Club (activate your 6 weeks free insurance). Insurance usually covers other aspects of dog ownership including things such as third party liability in case your dog is instrumental in causing a car accident or similar for example. There are many different pet insurance policies with widely varying benefits and premiums so don't just select your insurance company based on price alone.

I have supplied below, a number of other website addresses you may wish to visit to help answer some of your questions and generally help in your decision making process:

Pet Insurance Reviews

It is always worthwhile using more than one review site and asking relatives or friends if they would recommend a particular company.

The Review Centre Pet Insurance

Compare Pet Insurance Quotes Online

Often quotes from the same company can vary depending on which comparison website you use and possibly, which day of the week you check them.