Looking for a Weimaraner puppy?! 😊
Apparently, lots of folks are. CalWEAR currently has over 40 active applications on file from people who are specifically looking for “puppies.”
One inquiry recently said, “We’re looking for a puppy because we want to have a long time with the dog, but we don’t want to buy from a breeder so we’re wondering if you have any for adoption.”
Another email asked, “Can we get on the wait list for a puppy that is good with kids and other dogs?”
Sadly, no.
Rescue exists because people don’t want their dogs anymore. And they usually don’t want their dogs anymore because something about that dog just doesn’t work for them. Oftentimes, it’s because the dog isn’t good with kids, or isn’t good with other dogs in the house. And almost all of the time (like 99.99% of the time), by the time a family realizes their dog needs a new home, that dog is waaaaaaaay past puppyhood. For example, another email we recently received was, “Hi, my dog is 11, but she needs more time and attention than I have right now so she needs to find a new home.” 🤦🏻♀️
Folks, if you’re looking for a Weimaraner puppy through rescue, it WILL come with at least THREE of the following caveats:
– You will have been waiting for over a year
– It will not be purebred
– It will not be socialized
– It will have temperament issues
– It will have behavioral issues
– It will have medical needs
– It will have other special needs
In other words, the likelihood that a perfect little puppy will come along and be available through rescue is almost Z-E-R-O.
Please understand that rescue is just that. Rescue. We take in what other people throw away. Sometimes literally.
It’s incredibly noble to adopt a dog through rescue. Those of us who do, belong to an elite club of people who own Weimaraners despite their imperfections, and choose to love them anyway.
Rescues are not shiny and perfect. Our latest guy came from the shelter. He has lumps. He has bumps. Some tartar on his teeth. But underneath that gray suit of his is also a friendly soul. A grateful heart. And a cheerful spirit. Despite the fact that his family of nine years, just dumped him. (Update: Cullen has been adopted!!!)
If you’re looking for a Weimaraner puppy, PLEASE INQUIRE WITH REPUTABLE BREEDERS. 👍😊 We’ll make it easy for you: www.weimaranerbreeders.org.
DO NOT just cruise through PetFinder or Craigslist and buy the first puppy you see that’s available. (Because then you’ll be part of the problem down the road when you bring us your uncontrollable beast.)
Should you choose to adopt through rescue, know that you’re probably not going to get a puppy, but if you’re open to it, you may just luck into the best dog in the whole wide world.
– Kim/Team CalWEAR ❤️🐾
Oh Kim, you just made me cry…again. You so eloquently and succinctly captured the essence and the heart of rescue. One thing we as a family have discussed over our 8 years of rescue is how we miss knowing our rescues as puppies. BUT, the rewards of getting to know our “babies” as their personalities begin to show themselves FAR outweighs the puppy days. Thank you for always giving perspective and pushing the E in CalWEAR.
Easier for us humans to fix or adjust than to expect our beloved dogs to make the change. 
Granted, Weimaraners like to be next to their humans way more than other breeds.
The love they give us and the life they give us to me! Is the closest thing to Heaven. I died once. They brought me back and I was put in a coma for 8 days. First thing I said (my adult children told me) is where’s my boys?! Who has my boys?!
My son was with them and my two daughters would rotate between them and me. I insisted to come home because I knew that I was their whole world.
Guess who helped me get out of bed faster? They did!
Only a dog can give you that unconditional non stop love. Imagine how betrayed they would feel if I just didn’t like something they started doing and I’d dispose of them? Oh hell! Now I can’t stop crying. But you get my point.
When my kids are grown and out of the house I’m for sure adopting a senior dog. I love my weim so much. And I know we have a few good years left and it’s been wonderful to raise her from a puppy but it breaks my heart to see lonely dogs like this.
I would never buy another puppy!!! A rescue dog comes with some issues, but make the best family members ever!! They are so grateful for a safe, loving home they let you know every day. The age doesn’t matter at all!
thanks for that excellent explanation. As we both know, weimaraners are not for everyone. The main reason I’m _very_ picky about who I sell a puppy to from the occasional litters I breed.
Thank you, Kim and CalWEAR. People in these times of quarantine want dogs–who have never been dog owners before. And they want a Weim puppy? I wonder if all these “emptied shelters” will be glutted with dumped dogs when the lockdowns come off. The Wall Street Journal had an article on this rush to adopt dogs. Some parents wanted a “companion” for their children. They don’t seem to understand a dog is forever.
Please learn about the breed before adopting or buying. So may of these beauties are up for adoption because their owners had no idea what a Weimaraner is about. These are living, sensitive beings that deserve the same commitment we give to our other family members.
Rescued my boy at 7 years old. He is now 13. He has been the best companion and friend. Old dogs are the best.
Beautifully stated! We’ve been fortunate to adopt our two at the age of three. Ours came with minimal baggage or issues, but both owner surrenders. They are now 9 & 13, lumpy, bumpy & sometimes grumpy! We will forever have rescue dogs. They need us!!
Such a well written post for all new adopters and those of us who work with rescues. Thanks for posting! Let me know if you need any help with Calwear. I’m in SoCal.
Thank you for the reminder about puppies. One nice thing about using the rescue most of the dogs have been trailed by you guys so if a family needs a family friendly, does good with cats you can usually match one up. Thanks for all you do. We have a 2 yr old puppy that still CHEWS that would have been a problem for someone else but we put up with her. It would have been nice to place an order for a non-chewer!
We just lost our boy, Duke (at 13.5 years old) who was from a rescue. We rescued him when he was 6. We purposely do not rescue puppies or even look for puppies. Duke was a full blood Weimy who was dropped off because of the velcro attribute. We loved him, non stop. Adult dogs can, and will, still learn if you work with them. Well worth it.
Our family, the Mohrbacher’s have adopted 4 Weims from your family organization. People need to have experience to adopt a Weim. They are funny, beautiful and very entertaining. We are glad that you have such high standards for adoption, it’s necessary. We most recently adopted, 6 years ago our Ebby.
I fostered 17 Weims in 3 years while I lived in TX and I’ve adopted 3 (my first 2 were bought pups). I would encourage looking into adopting as I keep in touch with adopters and they couldn’t be happier with their “second hand Weim”. Plus, I’ve never had to re-Sheetrock walls with any of my adopted Weims 
Sure true. Jaxson came physically beautiful but quite a few mental issues well worth the effort of helping him overcome. He’s sacked out on the top of the couch pillows right now and is at peace until his favorite squirrel zips across the back fence and he smells it while dreaming and he flys out the dog door barking that deep very loud weim bark. Squirrel chasing is one of those quirks you gotta love about a weim 
Love love love this truth!!!!!! I’ve had the most amazing, perfect middle aged rescues!!!!! I would never recommend looking for a puppy!
We rescued our first weim when he was about 2.5 years. He had been hit by a car in Kansas. His owners never came forward. Mile High Weim Rescue paid for his front leg amputation. He was terrified when he came to us. It was clearly apparent that he had been abused. Fast forward 7 years. He’s still somewhat skittish, but so much better, happy, and we love him dearly. Second Rescue weim was neglected. We got him at 8.5 years and he wasn’t supposed to make it long, but he made it to13 years. He was an inside marker. Probably the reason he was surrendered. We dealt with the issue and he did get better. He had 16 teeth removed, lost 20 much needed pounds, etc. Our third Rescue was 11.5 when we rescued him. His parents went on a mission to Taiwan. He has neither been abused nor neglected, and is now 12 and is wonderful also! Adopt the elders if you’re up to the challenge. You won’t regret it
Our man-eater bites, occasionally. Reason- unknown. Trigger- Feeding time, Awake time, Rest time, Play time, Sleeping time, Any time. Now he doesn’t bite all the time just occasionally. It’s a man thing because he has not gone after me & no he is not “mine” but he will come and lean on me, take treats pretty as you please, throw his head in my lap flirting, climb all over my space, stop, come, sit, lay, & stay for me. He is perfectly house, yard, leash trained and yes he just occasionally bites the hands that feed him. 
Don’t get me wrong, I love my ruby girl… but she will be the last weim puppy I ever have ha it was a BIG commitment
And honestly, puppies are so much work! A dog that sleeps all night and goes potty outside are great benefits of the older dog.
We adopted Nui from you guys 2 yrs ago. She had been abused. She is the biggest lover-she lays down and flips over for the everlasting belly rub. We love her, but she is still a royal pain at times. It’s a weim thing.
Those puppies are coming! They’ll be about 6 to 8 months old and holy terrors.
Weims don’t even calm down until 6 or 7. My current and 4th Weim is 13 and he came to me as an 8 week old. But I will only have older rescues going forward. This 9 yr old looks like a sweetie.
So true. Puppies are a nightmare I loooooove the middle aged and old ones.
I loooooove the middle aged and old ones.That pretty much sums up most breed rescues. Thank you for sharing those wise words.
Top Fan
Rescue Weimaraners are the best! Especially the older ones! 
Very honest and well written!
Love this!!! So very true in rescue
Well said and thank you!
Old buds are the absolute BEST buds!!!
All 3 of my amazing Weims were rescues- 3, 5, and 7 years old, and with the two younger ones, I was actually their 3rd home..and both of those boys were my heart and soul. I so look forward to when I was once again foster and own Weims. Life just isn’t the same without them
Love! Well said!
Oh that face! So sweet!
Excellent post!
I’m older and I’ve got 2 dogs 8yrs old raised them from puppies found in a box in a hot parking lot but I want to rescue one more dog an older senior citizen dog like me that I can give all my love too for the rest of its life a snuggle buddy like my others all dogs are wonderful beautiful the best friend you will ever have and the very best living being we were blessed with I wish I could adopt them all I pray more people feel that way adopt an older dog you will never regret it
Awwww his face!!
Nicole Daum
…send this to John and Christine. 
TRUTH
Amen!
Well said
This.
Very, very nice information for the public!!
I’ve had 2 puppies in 40 years of Weims. One was the hardest dog I ever owned, the other was the easiest (fate’s way of saying thanks for sticking with rock heads for 40 years? 
). In between there were the most loving, dear sweet 2nd hand dogs that ever roamed the earth. I got some as young as 6 months and others as old as 12 years. I had the 12 year old longer than I had the 3 year old (the old man lived to 16, but the 3 year old died of pneumonia at 6 despite our best efforts).
). In between there were the most loving, dear sweet 2nd hand dogs that ever roamed the earth. I got some as young as 6 months and others as old as 12 years. I had the 12 year old longer than I had the 3 year old (the old man lived to 16, but the 3 year old died of pneumonia at 6 despite our best efforts).Puppies can be fun, but they are HARD. They have no story except the one you make for them. They come expecting more from you because their hopes have never been shredded day after day by their puppy-coveting, non-dog ready, thoughtless, careless, cruel buyers (not owners).
But the 2nd hand dog, the “rescue.” The one that comes with baggage piled high. The one who still hopes that his human is going to be kind today. The one who still loves and protects that puppy-buyer when they dash that hope. Well, when that dog walks through the door of my house at…6 months, at 18 months, at 3 years, at 12 years…I have been blessed with a most generous and grateful companion. Oh, we butt heads. I yell some when legs are lifted and food is stolen…I am ONLY human. But it is always followed with correction and training and love and play. And they are SOOOO receptive. And they learn. The ones not so damaged that they just exist in sad relief in the corner, glad to not be targeted today. One of the saddest days of my life was the day my 12 year old rescue and I had a misunderstanding of protocol. I ended up with stitches from a bite and when I came home 2 hours after the incident, that poor old soul still believed he would be beat. 2 hours! No dog should think that way after 2 hours. He should be on to the next mischief. I have only once hated someone more than his former owners.
People who make excuses to pass up a dog with life experience are passing up the most loyal, grateful, passionate, loving companions of their lives. What a terrible shame. All we can do is what we do with the dogs that come through our doors to relief. We love them. We teach them. We practice patience with them. We illustrate with our actions what persistence is. Because we know how. Because we KNOW our dogs to the core of their broken bodies and hearts and we have practiced patience and persistence and love with them. We will work the same plan with the people who think they want puppies. And we will be there to guide them to their next rescue and when we fail, we will be there to save the heart they broke.
I’ve had weims since 1979. I’ve had 6 weims. My first one was from a breeder. I’ve gotten 3 baby weims from rescue. It looks like they don’t have babies because they don’t have to advertise for them. They have applications on hand for babies so when they get a baby they already have people waiting. Like I said I got 3 babies and a 14 month old, a 2 year old…a total of 6. Rescues are the best way to go. The interesting thing about rescue. Rescues will do a home check to make sure you’re the right kind of home. A breeder will take your check and the dog is yours. No background check. I got a rescue from Missouri and they found someone in the weim family team .. to do a drive by to see where I lived and did I have a home that’s taken care of.
I can’t love this enough.
Cullen