WeimMe

Hmmmmm.... I'm looking at mine and remembering his puppy days. He was sooooo cute. I gotta say though, I prefer him infinitely more as an adult. The cuteness is a self defense mechanism I think!

Yes, this is just the first of many adjustments and compromises that you will have to make. Welcome to dog ownership! Don't worry, it does get easier...eventually. But it kind of gets worse before it gets better and you have to be prepared for that (remembers chewed up couches and ruined back verandah by darling dog who is now far more trustworthy around the house). It is all worth it in the end.

It's just so much easier on everyone concerned to have them with you at night when they are tiny. I don't think it makes them super dependent on you forever. I know it doesn't - I have raised two dogs, one of them a breed renowned for having separation anxiety and have not had that issue with either of them. That said, if I'm home my dog can be inside or out as he chooses. He does like to be in the garden for periods during the day, but at night he prefers to be with the family indoors. Neither of you will be getting much sleep right now and it is so unnecessary. Ask yourself how you feel when he cries like that - to ignore him is not a natural response. Not to mention that if he needs the toilet during the night - and he will for some time yet - you will know right away and be able to speed up the toilet training process.

I agree. Put the crate in your room so he can see you. I usually have it right near the bed at first so I can put my hand on it. It is reassuring for them, especially on the first night away from their mum in a strange new place. You can move it further away each night until the crate is where you want it.

Note to be biased, but have you considered a Weimaraner? Sounds like you are offering the perfect home for one - plenty of company, lots of room to run around and every now and then a trip with the guys in the ute. They are amazing companion dogs, easy to look after and just need the occasional bath when they get a bit stinky. They aren't suited to sleeping outside though as they can't cope with the cold....and also need to be with their people.

It sounds as though you have made your mind up, however bear in mind that your pup will become easier to handle as he matures. Is getting some one on one training on walking the two dogs together an option? You also have to take into consideration that the pup will be company for your older dog right now while you are busy. If you are never around, is it really fair on your older dog to be completely alone? Especially if he is now used to having another dog there.

My beautiful girl declined very suddenly at the age of 14 and my vet helped us to make the decision to let her go. She said that dogs have dignity and I knew that she was right and the time had come to let her go with dignity. It was very very difficult, but I knew that her condition was causing her distress and that she would only deteriorate further. Do you have a good relationship with your vet? Perhaps she can help to make your husband understand.

So adorable!! And how exciting!! I'm waiting for a pup too, another Weim. It's very early days at this stage. If everything works out, we will bring her home around June/July.

I am currently waiting for a pup from a breeder I contacted a few months ago. This is the first time I've ever bought a dog from a registered breeder, and it is a bit intimidating for a first timer. Especially when you have done some research and know that you want a pup from this particular breeder. I still haven't asked about price as I don't want to give the wrong impression and blow my chances!

If your dog is the one causing the issue, shouldn't it and you be the ones who leave? Barking, growling and howling at another dog for no reason is not a normal reaction and there's no such thing as a friendly growl. Dog parks are risky places at the best of times and when there's a known reactivity issue, even when it's just a certain type of dog, you must accept that these places are off limits because of the risk your dog poses. I get really tired of hearing excuses like "he only does that to small dogs/large dogs/black dogs/people wearing red" as an excuse when a supposedly friendly dog attacks. This is of small comfort when it's your dog who was the small dog/large dog/fluffy dog doing nothing wrong who was attacked and injured. You know that your dog does not like spaniels. Don't put her in situations where she could encounter them offleash where things could get out of control.

I found it handy to have an area like that set up, however it didn't take long before the pup learned to push the enclosure along the floor to get where he wanted to go, and then shortly after he could escape it within moments. I was heavily into Ian Dunbar's method of puppy raising at the time, but the indoor enclosure was not very successful after just a few weeks. As Hugo would get into mischief if not supervised or given something to do, he ended up going outside for short periods from quite a young age, and either being in his crate or tethered to me on a leash. I've never really liked the idea of putting pups in a separate room. My first dog would have found it very distressing, and our current boy would have found his own destructive way of entertaining himself! BTW, where's a pic of your new addition? I hear rough collies are lovely dogs! :)

1. It's a dog beach. People with dog phobias probably shouldn't be there. 2. They were probably drunk. 3. Sounds like they were the dregs of society. I'm sorry you had this horrible experience. Had they encountered another of "their kind" I'm sure there would have been a physical fight - perhaps that's what they were spoiling for. Don't let it stop you from taking your dog to the beach. I am so tired of encountering people who think it's their right to intimidate and threaten others.

I have no interest in owning an entire dog or in breeding and have always had my pets desexed at around 6 months. I can understand why breeders have that caveat, but I would not buy a dog that was desexed as a puppy myself.

That's so horrible! I'm so glad that they don't have the pound contract here in Brisbane any more.

Old dog used to be extremely flatulent and always was. She had to eat a very low fat kibble for most of her life due to some medical issues and it made it soooo much worse. I once switched her to a mostly fresh diet when she was recovering from surgery and the farting miraculously stopped...or at least was reduced to a more socially acceptable level. She still could clear a room, but the farts weren't quite so frequent..or audible! Maybe Ernie's just a farter? Maybe a peg and goggles would help? :) It's funny because Daisy would let go a ripper and we were so used to it we'd rarely even comment, but any guests would be horrified! Small dog is a different breed and only really seems to fart on supermarket grade dry food, which he loves. On better quality kibble he's fart free, but he is a bit "meh" about the taste. We have decided that our need for a methane free environment trumps his desire for junk food.

That's astonishing - he's like the Brad Pitt of dogs! Don't you think he has some kind of star quality about him? Crossing my fingers that owners show up for this lovely boy.

I'm thinking of getting another dog sometime next year and am really struggling to decide. I thought I would get a different breed this time - a Standard Poodle or a Rough Collie perhaps. But then I spent some time with a lovely Weim at the dog park last weekend and went a bit melty inside. I keep telling myself that it wouldn't be the same, but it was like seeing echoes of my lovely girl in another dog. If I do go with another Weim, I know exactly who I hope to get a puppy from.

I'm really sorry. What a beautiful boy he was. Your tribute was touching - you obviously loved him very much.

I do. Generally my boy is outside during the school day and can find a cool spot on the verandah or in the garden, however if we are going out for a short time during the day and want to leave him indoors when it's hot I will leave the air con on for him. If we go out at night he stays inside with the air con on as well. It is just too hot in the locked house in a Queensland summer.

Some breeds and individual dogs are more vocal than others. It may not be possible for your puppy to sleep outside without making enemies of your neighbours and having complaints made to the council. I have a dog that cannot go outside at night at all - even to go to the toilet - unless on leash because he barks incessantly at possums, toads, people walking past etc and I have very cranky neighbours. It is easier for me to limit his opportunity to bark than deal with the council - the neighbour made several official complaints and it was very stressful. This way, everyone is happy. Also, there are some advantages to allowing your pet to sleep indoors that you may want to consider. If your dog becomes seriously ill during the night they are able to alert you and you can take action quickly. On two occasions I have saved the life of one of my dogs because she let me know she was very unwell - once with an internal bleed into her spleen from a cancer, and later in life from an attack of bloat. Both incidents happened suddenly during the early hours of the morning and the difference of a few hours in getting to the emergency vet can sometimes drastically affect the chance of survival. I am admittedly a bit of a soft touch, but at 12 weeks old and with no other dog for companionship, I can understand why your pup might not be too happy at being separated from you at night. I let my new pups sleep in their crate/on their bed within arms reach of my bed and I have never lost a single nights sleep (maybe lots of getting up for toilet breaks, but no barking/crying at least!). After a short time you can start to move the bed/crate further away a little distance at a time each night so that eventually they are where you want them to sleep on a permanent basis.

Ugh it was disgusting where I live - 43 degrees. Hugo refused to go outside all day. He's been laying tummy up, legs spread on the wooden floor all day in our feeble air conditioning. Thankfully when I'm back at work next week it will be a bit cooler for him.

I used to see a King Charles Cav on my walks who was a vegetarian. His owner was gifted the dog from her vegetarian daughter when she moved. He looked in good condition - bright eyes, shiny coat, lots of energy - a bit porky actually! The new owner tried to introduce meat and kibble but he would not touch it.

Our first family dog was a labrador called Stranger, who my Dad brought home from a visit to the vet. He was an escape artist and would jump/dig under the fence and go and visit the all the occupants in our street. When he died my mother bought a doberman, who was quite placid until her later years when she became cranky and a little unpredictable. My first own dog was my avi girl, a Weimaraner. She was willful, destructive, boisterous and spirited - and completely devoted to me. The whole time I had her, she was rarely more than an arms length away. Even when I was in the bath or the loo! I think the right first time owner would cope, just as we did, but they'd have to be the sort of people who absolutely love dogs and are prepared to see them as a family member, not a backyard decoration.

When I introduced my new kitten I kept him a room for the first week and the dog "met" him under the door. They ended up having their first real face to face meeting sooner than I had planned (my daughter left the door open and the kitten wandered out), but it was all fine. It doesn't always work that way though - be careful!

I don't think there's any specific breed that is necessarily right or wrong for first timers in general, it all comes down to what they are like as people, how much of a part of the family the dog will be and what they are prepared to do in order to accommodate the needs of the dog. Some people can't tolerate shedding, or barking, won't put up with any dog related destruction/damage of furniture or garden or allow the dog in the house and can't or won't commit to the training and exercise required by certain breeds and that to me is more of a red flag rather than how many dogs they've owned before. I think most dogs require certain allowances to be made and if you are not the kind of person who is willing to do what is necessary for the love of your pet, then you need to choose from breeds that fit with your lifestyle, rather than loving the breed and the dog and adapting your life to fit well with theirs.