Choosing a Weimaraner Breeder Breeding quality dogs is a time, resource and education intensive activity. Someone who breeds dogs responsibly does not make a profit from breeding. They do it because they are dedicated to the breed and are hoping to improve it by careful breeding. To find such a breeder, you will need to do some research. Contact your local Weimaraner club or kennel club. Talk to other owners of Weimaraners. Learn as much as you can about the breed. The effort you put into finding a quality breeder will reward you many times over. You'll be assured of a dog bred to have sound health and temperament, plus you'll have continued access to a knowledgeable resource--your breeder. You will not get this type of support from a pet store or from a casual breeder. You will need to decide for yourself whether or not a particular breeder is right for you. Below are some things to consider as you look for a breeder. A responsible breeder will interview you, the buyer. They will want to know that you are able to provide the adequate care, training and attention a Weimaraner needs. They will want to be sure that you are aware of the responsibility of dog ownership and that you will be able to care for the animal for its entire lifetime (which may be as long as 12 or 14 years). You will be able to see that the breeder has had a long involvement with the breed. They will have books about Weimaraners and photos of their dogs. They may have ribbons and awards that their dogs have won. They will belong to the Weimaraner Club of America and perhaps to a local Weimaraner club or an all breed kennel club. They will follow the breeding guidelines and/or Code of Ethics of these clubs. (It is unusual for a responsible breeder to be involved with more than a few different breeds.) The breeder will know the ancestry of the puppies. They should know more than just what is written on the pedigree. They should be able to tell you about the personality of various relatives to the puppy. They should know their strengths and weaknesses, both physically and temperamentally. They should be able to tell you things like what it was like to hunt over the puppy's grandmother, or how the grandfather did in the show ring. The breeder should be able to explain why the breeding is taking place, and how this litter is expected to improve this line of Weimaraners. The breeder will be able to tell you about health problems affecting the breed. (All breeds have health problems.) They should be able to tell you what health testing they did before the breeding and be able to show you proof of the results. The puppies will be well cared for. They should have a clean and comfortable area. They should be properly socialized with people. They should receive at least the first round of vaccinations and a worming (or worm test), and the breeder should provide a written vaccination schedule for you to give to your veterinarian showing which shots they have received and which ones you will need to provide. The puppies will not be separated from their litter mates and mother before 7 weeks of age (and some breeders may wait until 10 or 12 weeks). The breeder will provide you detailed instructions on how to care for your new puppy, including information on feeding, health care and training. The breeder will require a signed contract. This contract is for the benefit of the buyer and the seller (and the puppy!). It should contain the full names of the parents of the puppy, along with results from health tests (such as OFA or PennHip). Many breeders also offer some form of guarantee for the puppy against certain genetic problems. The contract may also place limits on future breeding of the puppy (for example: limited registration, spay/neuter required, or a co-ownership). Many breeders also require that, if for any reason you are unable to keep the dog, that you return it to the breeder. The breeder will provide the appropriate forms and instructions to register the puppy with the AKC or other recognized registry. In the United States, Weimaraners are primarily registered with the AKC (and some may be dual registered with both AKC and UKC or AKC and FDSB). The AKC requires that anyone selling a dog registerable with the AKC to provide the buyer with a properly completed AKC Dog Registration Application or a properly completed AKC Registration Certificate. Although the presence of AKC papers does not necessarily indicate quality, the lack of registration papers from a recognized registry should be seen as a warning sign in evaluating a potential breeder. You may have to wait. Responsible breeders do not always have puppies available. A couple of litters per year is typical, and many good breeders only have a litter every few years. A female dog should never be bred more than once a year (and even that is a lot). Finding a breeder you can trust is very important. When you buy a puppy, you are making a commitment for the life of the dog. While no breeder can guarantee that you will be getting the "perfect" puppy, you should feel that the puppy you have chosen was bred to be what you are looking for in a Weimaraner. For more info, please read Responsible Breeding. For a list of TWC members with puppies/dogs for sale, see: Available Dogs. For a breeder referral in North Carolina, you may contact: Cindi Caravati Tarheel Weimaraner Club cmcaravati@aol.com (804) 883-1192 Please email to request an information packet about the breed and information on local breeders. For breeder referrals in other areas of the country, contact your Local Weimaraner Club. 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