All of our rescue dogs must be spayed or neutered. We do not place intact dogs. They must also be micro- chipped, with registration to be updated at time of adoption. Our dogs will be up to date with veterinary needs prior to adoption.

Patience is in order for most of our applicants. An appropriate Weim may or may not be available at this time. Sometimes we get a call for an owner-surrender or we may get a call from a shelter about an available dog. We encourage our owners who surrender to hold onto their dog if possible, while we find the right home for their dog. That is less traumatic for the dog. The dogs that come from shelters are usually fostered for a period of time, for assessment, and for necessary vetting to be done. We may not get a call for two or three weeks, then we may get two or three dogs in one week. It is unpredictable. If a specific age or gender is preferred, your wait might be longer.

We do not adopt dogs to families on a “first-come-first-serve” basis. We strive to make the best match possible between dog and adoptive family, and not every family is appropriate for every dog. Examples: Some dogs are fine with busy, small children, and others are not. Some dogs are fine with cats, others are not. Some dogs are fine with other dogs, some are not.

When we place a dog in its new adoptive home, there is a 2 week probation period for both the dog and the new family. If everything goes well, after the 2 week probation time we will finalize the adoption. Our adoption contract is thorough and binding. This contract states that at ANY TIME during the life of the dog, REGARDLESS OF REASON, if the new owner cannot keep the dog or take care of it, the dog MUST be returned to our rescue.

Generally our rescues do not have problems. More often the problems are with the owner, or the owner’s circumstances. We do sometimes have rescues that come to us with issues. Few issues are difficult, rarely are they insurmountable. Patience and knowledge is always in order. It is strongly recommended that if you do not already know the Weimaraner breed that you take the time to become educated. We can help you with that. It is also extremely important that you know the general needs and temperament of hunting breeds. The Weimaraner is NOT the breed for everyone!

Rescue is a time-consuming, costly venture. Our rescue program is run by volunteers. We do charge an adoption fee to cover expenses related to getting a dog ready for its new family. The adoption fee is stated on the application. We depend on adoption fees, donations, and fundraisers to keep our rescue program going.

The Weims in our rescue program will have a complete file at time of adoption, with medical records, microchip records, necessary contact information and a contract.

We in Weimaraner Rescue love to have updates and photos, we want to stay in touch with our dogs and their families. We are available to answer questions, offer advice when needed, and provide information. We have resources for many dog owner subjects, including nail trimming, obedience training, reputable veterinarians in our areas, and activities well suited for Weims and their families.

Always remember, getting a dog is a 10-15 year commitment!

Read and answer all of these questions to yourself! The most important step is to look at yourself, your home, your family and the time and money you have available and ask yourself:

• Is it ok if I have dog hair in my house, nose prints on my windows, a chewed corner on the sofa, mud on the carpet?
• Is it ok if a wet dog comes in the house, rides in the car and spends time trying to dry herself off on the furniture?
• Do I have time to care for a dog, spend time with a dog, walk a dog EVERY day, take a dog to the vet, trim his nails, feed him twice a day and take him with us everywhere instead of locking him up and leaving him alone when we leave?
• Is my home big enough for a Weimaraner? Will she be happy, safe and warm?
• Will a barking dog bother my neighbors?
• Can I afford $30-$40 per month for food, $500+ annually for miscellaneous veterinary vet bills? Can I afford to fence my yard to keep my dog safe? Can I afford an interior kennel with a source of heat? (garage, basement, etc.)
• Do I want a dog that goes to the games with the kids, goes camping with us, over to Grandma’s house, is part of the family?
• Do I have a kennel a good fenced yard a warm toasty place for a Weimaraner to stay when we are all away from home?
• Do I want a Weimaraner enough to provide a good home and not keep him/her in a crate or locked outside by itself or in the cold?
• Do I want a dog that will be with me and my family for all of its life which might be as long as 15 years?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, it is likely that a Weimaraner is not the breed for you. Please reconsider getting a Weimaraner. If you answered “yes” to all of the above questions we would love to have you fill out an application.

Appearance

This breed’s short and very smooth gray coat and its unusual eyes give it a regal appearance different from any other breed. The eyes of the Weimaraner may be light amber, gray, or blue-gray. The coat may range from charcoal-blue to mouse-gray to silver-gray. This coloring has also lead to the breed the nickname ’silver ghost’ or ‘gray ghost.’ The coat is extremely low maintenance; it is short, hard, and smooth to the touch.

According to the AKC standard, the male Weimaraner stands between 25 and 27 inches (63-68 cm) at the withers.

Females are between 23 and 25 inches (58-63 cm). Of course, there are many dogs taller or shorter than the breed standard. The breed is not heavy for its height, and males normally weigh roughly 70-85 pounds. Females are generally between 55-70 lbs(25-32kgs). A Weimaraner carries its weight proudly and gives the appearance of a muscular, athletic dog.

Temperment

The Weimaraner Standard describes the breed temperament as friendly, fearless, alert, and obedient, but this is but the half of its personality. Assertive, bold, loyal, and headstrong also fit, giving the dog a loving attitude with a willingness to take the upper paw in the family if the opportunity presents itself.

Like most large hunting breeds, the Weimaraner needs lots of exercise and must be kept in a fenced yard to prevent him from ranging in search of game. Because he was developed as a hunting dog and still maintains those instincts, he may be dangerous to birds and small mammals. Unlike many hunting breeds, however, the Weimaraner is definitely a house dog that loves to be with people and does poorly if confined to a kennel a majority of the time.

This is a breed that needs obedience training to control his rambunctious nature. Owners should have a crate for a new puppy to help in housetraining and to protect furniture and woodwork from puppy teeth when the little rascal cannot be watched. Training classes or control exercises at home are essential for the Weimaraner the moment he enters the family. He must be taught that all members of the family are to be obeyed. Training methods must be gentle and firm, for harsh treatment will sour his attitude.