So...100 pounds of silver adrenaline walked into our life.

[Maddy McCall]

Meet Dusty. 10 months old, adopted from a family who thought they wanted a weimie, until five pounds of six-week-old puppy hyperactivity grew into 100 pounds of ten-month-old puppy hyperactivity. Like Monkeyfunk said, he's a horse of a dog. :)

He fits us perfectly. He doesn't replace Wilson, but I think we'll keep him. :)










He's shedding his puppy coat and his adult coat is coming in...thus the polka dogs on his back. He loves being brushed, and he's on the floor with Rada right now, sharing a pig ear.

(A special thank-you to Heidi, PeaceNikki, and Monkeyfunk, who told me to follow my heart, as we considered bringing this big boy into our home. :loveya: each of you. And this thread complies with DU code, 349754--thanks janesez for making me aware of it! :rofl: )

[Mutley]

1. He is a beauty!

I love weimies. :D

[Maddy McCall]

4. Thank you!

:hug:

[bicentennial_baby]

2. What a handsome boy! Squeeee!

:bounce:

[Maddy McCall]

7. Thanks!

:hug:

[Fran Kubelik]

3. What a perfectly beautiful dog.

I am so happy you found another sweet soul to open your heart to.

[Maddy McCall]

8. Thank you...

I was hesitant when I first read that he was available but I knew we could give him a good home.

He fits right in with the craziness here...lol.

:hug:

[Beaverhausen]

5. WOW!! He is gorgeous!

Looks like he's very happy to be with you already.

and is that little "mini me" on the couch Rada?

[Maddy McCall]

9. LOL. Yes, that's Rada.

Thank you. I think he's handsome.

Oops...gotta run...he's found an empty coke can in the recycle bin and he's chewing on it...lol.

:D

[SalmonChantedEvening]

6. Hooza good lad then?

What a handsome dog!! :loveya:

Congrats Maddy!! :hug: :woohoo:

[Maddy McCall]

10. Thank you...

we lubs him.

:D

:loveya: :hug:

[terrya]

11. OMG, Maddy....Dusty is gorgeous.

And he's now a part of a very loving family, so all benefits. :-)

[Maddy McCall]

12. Thanks, terry.

I really wanted to rename him Ike, but my son said, "Mom, he's Dusty." That's the name that he had when we adopted him...so I guess he'll stay Dusty.

But he's truly a huge big ol' Ike.

:loveya: :hug:

[PeaceNikki]

13. Awww! He's so lucky to have found you!!

And the reverse is equally as true, I'm sure!

He's a real beaut!! :bounce:

[Maddy McCall]

14. Thank you...

and thanks again for the advice.

:loveya: :hug:

[PeaceNikki]

15. ANYtime!

:loveya: :hug: backatcha!

[LibertyLover]

16. What an absolutely love of a dog

You are very lucky and so is he. Funny, that's how we got our Siberian Husky - family wanted the cute,cuddly, fluffy puppy but they didn't want him when he turned 9 months old and hit adolescence. Oh well, we have him now just like you have this pretty boy. Congratulations and many, many years of happiness.

[Maddy McCall]

18. Thanks, LL.

I have to give the family credit...he came to us in great condition, vet records, perfect health...maybe a little overweight from lack of exercise...

But I think a lot of people make the mistake of thinking that this dog or that dog will grow into a William Wegman photograph...with Weimaraners, they don't calm down until they're about two, and even then they remain dogs that have to have human contact or they do not thrive.

Hugs to you for taking in a guy that didn't live up to his former family's expectations. :hug: :loveya:

[Fran Kubelik]

27. Funny - same here.

Our poor dog's previous family thought they were getting a lap dog. Once she passed 25 pounds at 4 months, they dumped her with a rescue organization. Their ridiculousness was our gain!

[Maddy McCall]

47. I just don't see how people can do that.

:cry:

[SallyMander]

17. Aww, he is a beauty!

I take my pooches to a dog park often, and there's a gentleman with two weimies - both were cases of people buying the dog on looks, not knowing anything about personality. In both cases the dogs became "too much to handle" for the original owners. :(

Anyway, this is just to say I'm so glad that you found each other and Dusty has a great home now! :D

[Maddy McCall]

21. Can't wait until Rada's shot series is done, so I can take her out!

Yeah, Weimies are high-strung, and that only changes a little with maturity.

If these families would hold on until the weimie hits two, they'd have a more calm, loyal, loving pet.

:(

Thanks for your kind words. :hug:

[Wcross]

19. What a sweetie pie! He is beautiful.

Is that Rada on the couch? Is Rada a winerwihmer too? (I know my spelling is wrong!)

[Maddy McCall]

22. That's Rada...

she's about eight weeks...so I have my hands full.

Thanks! :hug:

[Wcross]

29. She's a cute lil girl- ALL EARS!

It's great they are "around" the same age, they are going to be best buddies.

[Maddy McCall]

42. They already are! You should see them on the big dog bed...

sharing a pig ear...one chewing on one corner, and the other chewing on the other corner.

They get along great.

[Wcross]

65. You need a bigger dog bed Maddy!

Have you given them those "smoked pigs knuckles"? My guys love both the pigs ears & the knuckles. I figure with TWO pups in the house they are going to need to chew on something, better a pigs knuckle than momma's shoes!

[SammyWinstonJack]

70. What an adorable pic! Dusty and *mini me* are beautiful!

[BuelahWitch]

20. He is gorgeous!

The pets we lose are never replaced, but thankfully there's always another furry face around the corner who needs love too. :hug:

[Maddy McCall]

23. This is true!

And with the way circumstances played out, I can't help but feel that he was meant to be a part of our family.

:hug:

[femmocrat]

24. What beautiful dogs!

You are going to be very busy! (But it a wonderful way!)

Enjoy them! Biiiigggg :hug: to the pups!

[Maddy McCall]

32. Thank you, femmocrat!

Yes, we're busier than if we had a new human baby in the house.

Thank you. :hug:

[Texasgal]

25. Awww Maddy!

He is a BEAUT!!!

He's got a face I just wanna grab and KISS!!!!

He looks like a GREAT addition! :)

[Maddy McCall]

33. Thank you, J.

:hug: :loveya:

I'll try to fire up yahoo in the next night or two...my days and nights have been monopolized with training this big boy that "couch is for people" and "huge dog bed is for Rada/Dusty."

:D

[littlebit]

26. He is a beautiful puppy

[Maddy McCall]

34. Thank you.

:hug:

[KamaAina]

28. Good dog.

Arf!

[Maddy McCall]

35. Day and night, arf.

He nuzzles me when I sleep...walks up to my bed, gives me a big snout, and just makes sure I'm still around...lol.

:hug:

[flvegan]

30. He looks from the snout like he's got Dane in him.

Just a touch. What a beautiful animal. Absolutely beautiful.

100 lbs at 10 months. Whoa.

Congrats to you and that helluva lucky dog!

[Maddy McCall]

37. Yeah, that's what monkeyfunk said.

And he very well may.

He's the largest weimeraner I've ever seen. I'll go in debt to Nutro, I'm sure. :D

Thank you so much for this message...it means a lot to me that you chimed in on this thread.

:hug: :loveya:

[hedgehog]

31. Great pictures! I never realized what a nice gleam their coats had.

I read something recently to the effect that the problem with pet overpopulation is that everyone wants a kitty or puppy, but few are prepared to make the lifetime commitment to the animal. It takes a special person to make that commitment. Enjoy!

[Maddy McCall]

38. There are rescues these days JUST for weimaraners....

people don't know what they're getting when they adopt the little guy or gal.

This one will be with us for all his days...I can't imagine giving up a dog...just can't imagine how badly it would hurt.

:hug:

[LostinVA]

63. I read a few months ago that border collies are the #1 pet dog in rescues

I've also noticed that in the last year or so, they are ALL OVER THE PLACE in commercials. I'm convinced that having them on TV that much adds to the problem. Today we shaw a commercial with one that had a docked tail. It was truly a :wtf: moment.

[littlebit]

72. Beagles are the same way

People get them because they are so cute. But they don't realize how much work they can be.

[Redstone]

36. Handsome Weisenheimer you got, right there. Enjoy!

Redstone

[Maddy McCall]

39. Thanks, redstone!

:hug: :loveya:

[SeattleGirl]

40. He's so handsome, Maddy!

And I'm glad you followed your heart too.

[Maddy McCall]

43. Awww....thanks.

:hug:

[peacefreak]

41. What a bright looking boy.

You are lucky to have found each other.
William Wegman did a lot to popularize them, huh? Funny story about Wegman's dogs. We had them in for a signing years ago. It might have been Batty & kids. Anyway, the dogs were great, real troupers. The kids pet them, climbed on them & the dogs were pure love. When the signing was over, they went into the back room And the first thing they did was head for the garbage can! They may have been "stars", but they were DOGS when they were off duty.
Many years of happiness with your new arrival.

[Maddy McCall]

45. Great story!

Yeah, I think it is Wegman who popularized them....we got our first Weimaraner because he had been dumped near our rural home...we undertook all the vet bills to get him healthy, and we watched ads and checked with vets to see if anyone had lost him. I told my son, "two months, no contact from an owner, no ad in the lost and founds, and he's ours."

Well, no one contacted us, no vets were contacted, and no one placed a lost and found ad...this was in 2001. Our vet guestimated that he was roughly three. He lived with us until this past spring when he crossed the rainbow bridge. Pretty much a normal life span for such a huge dog. He made us fall in love with the breed. He was a great dog. And of course we lost Wilson to intussusception a week ago. :cry:

I'd love to go to a Wegman book signing...I'll have to keep my eyes open for one.

:hug:

[Skittles]

44. ooh now that is a GOOD-LOOKING DOG

yes INDEED!

[Maddy McCall]

46. Thank you.

:hug:

[LostinVA]

48. Awww -- he's a beauty

Is he big for his breed? I had no clue they got that big.

I hate it when people get puppies not realizing what they turn into. Of course, I wouldn't have my Mick had someone not purchased him thinking he would never run around or chew on things. They probably spent a LOT of money on him, with his pedigree, and they dumped him at a kennel two months later. He's actually pretty laid back, provided he gets his herding lesson weekly and a couple trips to the dog park.

[Maddy McCall]

51. Can....not.... breathe...he....is.... in...my....lap..... right.....now.

Yes, HUGE for his breed. I've never seen a weimie as large as him...his upper chest is the breadth of a pony's...lol.

I'm amazed that so many people in this thread have had similar experiences, getting "reject" dogs. Tell me more about the herding lessons! I'm thinking about putting Dusty into birding lessons. Are the lessons expensive? How did you find someone to teach him?

:hug: :loveya:

[LostinVA]

60. I really think that dogs should be used for what they're bred for

The herding lessons are $50 each. Expensive, but he loves it. I know some places are cheaper, but we're actually getting lessons from one of the top herding trialers in the world. We found out about his through a friend with Border Collies. We're hoping to get Mick trialing in a year or so.

Mick started his lessons at 6 months, normally they start at a year, but he showed early promise. His grandfather on his sire's side was an international grand champion in herding. At first, we watched and the trainer did the lesson, but now Haruka's the handler (and she gets yelled at more than Mick). In ABCA trials, the beginning level involves an outrun of about 100-150 yards to gather the sheep and return them to the handler, then they are led through some gates, and finally the dog pens them. At the highest level, the sheep may be a mile away and the dog works through whistles and on his own.

In AKC herding competitions, they work in a small ring, and it doesn't really reflect anything a working dog would face. Mick could already trial very good in the AKC, but we don't want to register him with the AKC (they have an open registry for BCs), because of the problems they've caused with the breed.

I think starting birding with your dog would be great.

[Maddy McCall]

61. Awesome!

Please keep me updated on this. I'd love to hear about Mick's progress and how he does at trials.

I'm going to look around and see what I can find out about this, to see if I can find someone to help train him...Thanks a million for this!

[LostinVA]

62. I will

Haruka's mom has a bunch of pictures of Mick at one of his lessons. I'll have to get them from her.

I'm sure you can find somebody to train him. We oddly lucked out living so close to a trainer. We're going on a cruise to Alaska in a few weeks, and Mick gets to go to "summer camp" with him. He probably won't want to come home. He'll be living in the house with eight other border collies, and working sheep everyday.

The story of the Border Collies and the AKC is actually quite interesting. Donald McCaig wrote a pretty good book on it called "Dog Wars." It also covers some other breeds. Did you know that the lassie-type collies came from breeding Border Collies and Borzoi's? Talk about an odd mix of dogs.

[JeffR]

49. Hey, congratulations!

He's a very handsome guy.:o

[Maddy McCall]

53. Thank you!

And you played no small part in this. Your thread, about our loss of Wilson, helped us come to terms with our boy's death. Had that not happened, I'd never have considered bringing this big brute into our home.

:hug: :loveya:

[Lil Missy]

50. He looks like a big ole baby puppy to me. They are the best!

And he looks like a good snuggle puppy too!

Congrats! :bounce:

[Maddy McCall]

54. Indeed...he's a huge puppy.

He just can't fathom that he's a small horse.

He's breaking the rule and on the couch right now with me...I'll get serious about the training--next week. :D

:hug:

[Lil Missy]

64. That's what is so cute about big dogs. They are babies and "think" they are lap dogs! LOL!

You have a mighty fine specimen there, Ms Maddy. I think he's adorable. :D

[Brigid]

52. He's gorgeous!

May you have many happy years with him. :)

[Maddy McCall]

55. Ohhh....thanks.

What a sweet wish. :hug: :loveya:

[NanceGreggs]

56. What a beauty!

We're all so happy for you!!!

[Maddy McCall]

58. Thank you, Nance.

:hug: :loveya:

[Whoa_Nelly]

57. He's beautiful!

And very lucky! :hug: :hi:

Congrats to you all! :loveya:

[Maddy McCall]

59. We are the lucky ones.

Thank you, sweetheart.

:hug: :loveya:

[Phillycat]

66. Beautiful boy!

:loveya:

I'm glad you're now up to code. We take our pet posts very seriously here. :D

[Shell Beau]

67. Aw! I love him!! He is so sweet!!

:loveya:

[Missy Vixen]

68. He's gorgeous!

Of course, he chose your family, too.

Julie

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

69. What a gorgeous dog!!

I've loved Weimies since I was a child. Our neighbor two door down from us had two and they were the best dogs, Puffer and Schatzie. Schatzie was bred and born in Germany so when our neighbors first got the dog he didn't understand English. Our next door neighbor was a first generation German-American and he used to talk to Schatzie in German. That always cracked me up. Eventually, of course, Schatzie became "fluent" in English. They were beautiful dogs and great for birding as well.

[ScreamingMeemie]

71. What a beautiful, happy looking boy.

I hope all of you have long, happy lives together.