28/02/2020
It applies across the board when we get inquires of " I'm just looking for a pet I don't want a show or hunting dog"
Why do people recommend choosing a breeder who shows and titles their dogs to folks who are just looking for a pet and have no interest in showing? Why should breeding to breed standard be important to a pet home? Does it seem excessive, or âsnobbyâ?
Itâs not, and hereâs why.
Dog shows are a means of evaluating dogs against the breed standard, to evaluate soundness, movement/gait, type, and temperament.
Soundness: The state of physical and mental health when all organs and faculties are functioning properly, each in its rightful relation to each other.
Type: Breed type encompasses appearance, character, condition, bone structure, temperament, and movement; âbreed type is all these things.â Breed type also includes a character specific to each breed, a combination of behavior, temperament and carriage that demonstrate an essence of the breed.
Gait: The gait of a dog is its quality of movement. You want to see ease of movement, unimpaired by illness or poor structure.
Temperament: The general attitude a dog has towards other animals and people.
So. Thatâs a very basic intro to what goes on at a show⊠why does this matter? You want a pet, a companion, not a show dog, right? Well, you chose Weimaraners for a reason. Youâve done your research, and have read that theyâre great with family, they make excellent companions and love spending time with their people. That their good and kind nature predisposes many to be excellent therapy dogs. That theyâre medium large, and STRONG with greatbhunt drive. Good, responsible breeders seek to preserve those definitive and positive characteristics.
Hereâs an exampleâ An aggressive dog is no joke, Aggression can run in lines as well as seperation anxiety. Wouldnât it be difficult to show an aggressive, reactive, fearful, or excessively shy Weimaraner? Do you want to take the gamble and trust someone about their dogâs history, or would you rather buy from someone who has taken their dogs into the ring and had the dogâs temperament proven over and over, consistently?
What about type and structure? How the dog is put together, able to move freely and comfortably? Would you rather buy from someone who has proven publicly, over time, that the dog theyâre breeding can move well, free of limp, or a structural problem? Or just trust someone who has no interest in proving their dogs? Itâs your puppyâs quality of life and comfort (as well as your wallet) thatâs at stake.
Not every dog in a well-bred litter is going to be show quality- there will ALWAYS be pet-quality puppies. Well-bred, but maybe with a slight imperfection, and those are the puppies placed in pet homes. You donât have to want a show-quality puppy to get a well-bred puppy!
Hereâs the bottom lineâŠ. every day, weim rescue is seeing more and more temperament and health issued weims. Weims in pain because they were poorly bred. Weims requiring extensive vet care, expensive surgery. People having to remand their dogs to breed rescue because they canât manage the dog, fear the dog, or found out the dog needs costly vet care they canât afford.
This is not about being snobby, being elitist, thinking that one dog is âbetterâ than another, itâs about ensuring you get a puppy that acts and looks like the breed you fell in love with. Itâs about ensuring that all weim puppies have the best start in life, and will grow into a loving family member. Itâs about loving our breed enough to want to see everything thatâs good about them preserved for future generations to enjoy. If you want a healthy dog, with a properly sweet temperament, choose your breeder wisely.