Desperate in Lynnwood...


I'm looking to any source that may help me convince my father-in-law
that he has made a poor and uneducated choice in adopting a 2 1/2 year old
spayed female Weimaraner named Lilly. (Her former caretakers were a husband and
wife with three children who feel they simply can't invest the time into the dog
any longer.)

When he started talking about getting a dog (for companionship: his wife
died just a year ago), for some reason he became absolutely set on getting a
Weimaraner, and did not read or gather information on the breed beyond the
glowing praises of two family friends who had the dogs when they *were in their
early 30's*. My father-in-law is in his mid-70's, has damage to the nerves
leading to his legs (which makes them react as though they have blood clots,
even though they don't) that has him currently on a walker! He's to undergo
surgery 1/6/06 (this Friday), but how long he'll need to rehabilitate and how
successful the surgery will be at restoring mobility (he's also a late-onset
diabetic and medically obese) is unknown.

Despite all these factors that should have led a *sane* person to take a
high-activity dog like a Weimaraner off his/her list, not one friend or family
member could gainsay this man. And here I am, picking up the insane slack with
this dog who *completely* lacks sufficient training, needs work with anxiety and
fear-responses (lost count of how many times her hackles went up at strangers
during our last walk), and who my father-in-law expects to "live outside because
it's healthier for the dog." He has *no* idea about even basic canine health
care (I've worked in veterinary medicine for a number of years, so I do have
some beneficial experience there), let alone the specifics of the Weimaraner
breed, and it's only because I've inserted myself into this
disaster-waiting-to-happen that I've got him feeding her something other than
Purina Dog Chow.

(excuse me whilst I go engage in primal scream therapy)

I'm looking for a definitive source--print, person, anything--to show
him that due to his age, health concerns, and his view that dogs don't live in
the house, that Lilly is NOT the right dog for him. I desperately need something
or someone with authority who can crack through his stubbornness and show him
that Lilly just is not a match for his lifestyle!

Apologies for the long post, but I'm desperate--desperate!--to find
something to convince this man...because *I'm* the one who's going to be taking
Lilly to training so she doesn't fear-bite someone...*I'm* the one who truly
cares enough about the dog as a companion animal to help, but I also have a life
and companion animals of my own (two cats, tropical fish) that I can't set aside
to play emergency dog caretaker.

Anyone. Anything. I see this situation exploding as soon as I go back to
work (I'm on leave right now). Feel free to e-mail me if you like. All replies
appreciated. Thanks for reading and allowing me to vent a bit.


Hoping for a solution for both person & dog --
--
Deb Kraft
4525 164th St. SW, Apt. N101
Lynnwood, WA 98087-8601
(425) 787-6652

"D. K. Kraft" wrote in message
...
Desperate in Lynnwood...


I'm looking to any source that may help me convince my father-in-law
that he has made a poor and uneducated choice in adopting a 2 1/2 year old
spayed female Weimaraner named Lilly. (Her former caretakers were a
husband and
wife with three children who feel they simply can't invest the time into
the dog
any longer.)


Have a look at http://www.weimaranerforum.org

there are ways around it, if maybe he can invest in a dog walker to ensure
she get a good run and if he had a good yard, a daily game of fetch or go
find (hidden objects) is low energy on him but high burn off for her.

My weim is 2.5 and they are hard work, but she's also very quiet indoors and
loves nothing more than being a sofa cuddling companion.

See you there

Diana
--
Cindy the weimaraner's web site:
http://cindy-incidentally.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk

"D. K. Kraft" wrote in message
...
Desperate in Lynnwood...


I'm looking to any source that may help me convince my father-in-law
that he has made a poor and uneducated choice in adopting a 2 1/2 year old
spayed female Weimaraner named Lilly. (Her former caretakers were a
husband and
wife with three children who feel they simply can't invest the time into
the dog
any longer.)

When he started talking about getting a dog (for companionship: his
wife
died just a year ago), for some reason he became absolutely set on getting
a
Weimaraner, and did not read or gather information on the breed beyond the
glowing praises of two family friends who had the dogs when they *were in
their
early 30's*. My father-in-law is in his mid-70's, has damage to the
nerves
leading to his legs (which makes them react as though they have blood
clots,
even though they don't) that has him currently on a walker! He's to
undergo
surgery 1/6/06 (this Friday), but how long he'll need to rehabilitate and
how
successful the surgery will be at restoring mobility (he's also a
late-onset
diabetic and medically obese) is unknown.

Despite all these factors that should have led a *sane* person to take
a
high-activity dog like a Weimaraner off his/her list, not one friend or
family
member could gainsay this man. And here I am, picking up the insane slack
with
this dog who *completely* lacks sufficient training, needs work with
anxiety and
fear-responses (lost count of how many times her hackles went up at
strangers
during our last walk), and who my father-in-law expects to "live outside
because
it's healthier for the dog." He has *no* idea about even basic canine
health
care (I've worked in veterinary medicine for a number of years, so I do
have
some beneficial experience there), let alone the specifics of the
Weimaraner
breed, and it's only because I've inserted myself into this
disaster-waiting-to-happen that I've got him feeding her something other
than
Purina Dog Chow.

(excuse me whilst I go engage in primal scream therapy)

I'm looking for a definitive source--print, person, anything--to show
him that due to his age, health concerns, and his view that dogs don't
live in
the house, that Lilly is NOT the right dog for him. I desperately need
something
or someone with authority who can crack through his stubbornness and show
him
that Lilly just is not a match for his lifestyle!

Apologies for the long post, but I'm desperate--desperate!--to find
something to convince this man...because *I'm* the one who's going to be
taking
Lilly to training so she doesn't fear-bite someone...*I'm* the one who
truly
cares enough about the dog as a companion animal to help, but I also have
a life
and companion animals of my own (two cats, tropical fish) that I can't set
aside
to play emergency dog caretaker.

Anyone. Anything. I see this situation exploding as soon as I go back
to
work (I'm on leave right now). Feel free to e-mail me if you like. All
replies
appreciated. Thanks for reading and allowing me to vent a bit.

Perhaps you could enlist the aid of your father's doctor(s) here about the
medical consequences of him having a large, difficult to control dog with
his health problems. Also, a very short-haired dog like a Weim can't live
outside 24/7 where the temp gets cold.

This is from www.akc.org about the Weimaraner: "Very Serious Faults--White,
other than a spot on the chest. Eyes other than gray, blue-gray or light
amber. Black mottled mouth. Non-docked tail. Dogs exhibiting strong fear,
shyness or extreme nervousness." Maybe he would decide against the dog if
you could convince him she was the product of extremely poor breeding and
needed to live with a dog professional.

Excerpts from www.weimrescue.org:

"Weimaraners are very energetic animals...they are bred to hunt all day with
their master. Changing this behavior changes the essential Weim. If you can
not deal with this behavior, you should look at other breeds less
rambunctious!"
"Although Weimaraners are hunting dogs, they do not like living outdoors.
They require your attention. They are the true, loyal, hunting companions in
every respect, needing your friendship. Chaining a Weim outside will not
work!"
"In spite of the folklore and myth surrounding the breed, the Weimaraner is
not a wonder dog. Given the opportunity, he will still steal the pot roast
off the dining room table when no one is looking!"

Maybe you could use the above to convince him that it is cruel to keep a
Weimaraner if you aren't a hunter or don't have the ability to give the dog
the amount of exercise that it needs.

I take it he already has the dog? Find a Weimaraner rescue that can take
her. Maybe that will help him give her up, knowing that she'll go to a
caring owner with the wherewithall to do right by the dog. And then you can
steer him toward a companion animal that would be more suitable.

flick 100785



Hoping for a solution for both person & dog --
--
Deb Kraft
4525 164th St. SW, Apt. N101
Lynnwood, WA 98087-8601
(425) 787-6652

With patience akin to a cat's, flick, on 1/5/2006 5:51 AM typed:

Perhaps you could enlist the aid of your father's doctor(s) here about the
medical consequences of him having a large, difficult to control dog with
his health problems.

This is an excellent suggestion! Thank you! I will discuss it with his
surgeon and hopefully have him be able to convince Dad he needs to make a
different choice.

Also, a very short-haired dog like a Weim can't live outside 24/7 where the
temp gets cold.

A point that has already been brought up and filed under the category
of beating the proverbial dead horse in Dad's case. He's so old school at
times it's painful. And very stubborn to accept new information, even if
it comes from a reliable source.

This is from www.akc.org about the Weimaraner: "Very Serious Faults--White,
other than a spot on the chest. Eyes other than gray, blue-gray or light
amber. Black mottled mouth. Non-docked tail. Dogs exhibiting strong fear,
shyness or extreme nervousness." Maybe he would decide against the dog if
you could convince him she was the product of extremely poor breeding and
needed to live with a dog professional.

I'm uncertain about her breeding, but I know for a fact that her
training has been neglected by her former caretakers, and the fact that they
adopted her out because they didn't want to "invest any further time" in her
speaks volumes. I have brought up her fear-response many times now. That and a
flurry of websites may be making an impression. May. Hope springs eternal.

Excellent Weim info snipped

All those excerpts and more I've forwarded to Dad at his office to
(hopefully) review and realize that even though Weims are great dogs, they
aren't right for *him*. If he had gone to the AKC website *alone* prior to
adopting Lilly, he would have seen that Weims need more care than the
average mix dog.

I take it he already has the dog? Find a Weimaraner rescue that can take
her. Maybe that will help him give her up, knowing that she'll go to a
caring owner with the wherewithall to do right by the dog. And then you can
steer him toward a companion animal that would be more suitable.

(Sigh) Yes, Lilly is already in da house. My husband (his son) has been
talking with a couple who run a Weimaraner rescue association on Whidbey Island,
and they would be willing to take her if things don't work out. I myself am
still fighting with Lilly's former caretakers for her most recent vaccine
receipts (they forgot to bring those with her) so she can attend class on 1/14.

My own silly personal thought: Lilly's doggy sixth sense has discovered
that I'm really a cat person, and therefore under much suspicion. ;-)


We'll see what happens; thanks very much for your info --
--
Deb Kraft

"D. K. Kraft" said in rec.pets.dogs.breeds:

If he had gone to the AKC website *alone* prior to
adopting Lilly, he would have seen that Weims need more
care than the average mix dog.

How so?

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

"D. K. Kraft" wrote in message
...

snips throughout

With patience akin to a cat's, flick, on 1/5/2006 5:51 AM typed:

Also, a very short-haired dog like a Weim can't live outside 24/7 where
the
temp gets cold.

A point that has already been brought up and filed under the category
of beating the proverbial dead horse in Dad's case. He's so old school at
times it's painful. And very stubborn to accept new information, even if
it comes from a reliable source.

You might tell him that if the local humane society sees a shorthaired dog
like a Weim living outdoors in cold weather, they might get a little ticked
off. He probably doesn't want to get in trouble with the law over this.

I'm uncertain about her breeding, but I know for a fact that her
training has been neglected by her former caretakers, and the fact that
they
adopted her out because they didn't want to "invest any further time" in
her
speaks volumes. I have brought up her fear-response many times now. That
and a
flurry of websites may be making an impression. May. Hope springs
eternal.

If she is extremely fearful and an adult, it will be a long, long road to
get her calmed down, if it ever happens, in my nonprofessional opinion. It
would be better for everyone if she went to a home with someone who had the
time and physical capability to handle her problem.

There are some dogs that despite proper handling and decent socialization,
are much shyer than normal. Maybe it was inherited from one or both
parents, which is why breeding could be mentioned.

A female Weim is a good-sized dog. If she's fearful, panics, your dad has
her on a leash, well, he sure doesn't need to get pulled down and break
bones, does he? Maybe a 25 pound dog. Small enough to not be physically
overpowering for your dad, big enough to not seem too "wimpy."

(Sigh) Yes, Lilly is already in da house. My husband (his son) has been
talking with a couple who run a Weimaraner rescue association on Whidbey
Island,
and they would be willing to take her if things don't work out. I myself
am
still fighting with Lilly's former caretakers for her most recent vaccine
receipts (they forgot to bring those with her) so she can attend class on
1/14.

My own silly personal thought: Lilly's doggy sixth sense has discovered
that I'm really a cat person, and therefore under much suspicion. ;-)

LOL!

We'll see what happens; thanks very much for your info --

Sure. Keep us posted.

flick 100785
--
Deb Kraft

"flick" wrote in message
...
"D. K. Kraft" wrote in message
...

snips throughout

With patience akin to a cat's, flick, on 1/5/2006 5:51 AM typed:

Also, a very short-haired dog like a Weim can't live outside 24/7 where
the
temp gets cold.

I didn't see the bit about her living out side - that really, really is not
good for a weim, and frankly, what good is a companion outside if you are
inside?

I see that if someone *really* wants a weim and they are willing to put
their backs into it, then age and physical ability can be worked around, but
my Cin would have a breakdown at the thought of being shut outside alone.
(Inside on the sofa or bed is fine )

Diana

--
Cindy the weimaraner's web site:
http://cindy-incidentally.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk

From the description of your father-in-law and credentials I'm not sure he
isn't going to do whatever he wants to do irrespective of the information he
has available but you might try the selection questionnaire at
http://www.glowdog.com/bestdog/. Good luck


"D. K. Kraft" wrote in message
...
Desperate in Lynnwood...


I'm looking to any source that may help me convince my father-in-law
that he has made a poor and uneducated choice in adopting a 2 1/2 year old
spayed female Weimaraner named Lilly. (Her former caretakers were a
husband and
wife with three children who feel they simply can't invest the time into
the dog
any longer.)

When he started talking about getting a dog (for companionship: his
wife
died just a year ago), for some reason he became absolutely set on getting
a
Weimaraner, and did not read or gather information on the breed beyond the
glowing praises of two family friends who had the dogs when they *were in
their
early 30's*. My father-in-law is in his mid-70's, has damage to the
nerves
leading to his legs (which makes them react as though they have blood
clots,
even though they don't) that has him currently on a walker! He's to
undergo
surgery 1/6/06 (this Friday), but how long he'll need to rehabilitate and
how
successful the surgery will be at restoring mobility (he's also a
late-onset
diabetic and medically obese) is unknown.

Despite all these factors that should have led a *sane* person to
take a
high-activity dog like a Weimaraner off his/her list, not one friend or
family
member could gainsay this man. And here I am, picking up the insane slack
with
this dog who *completely* lacks sufficient training, needs work with
anxiety and
fear-responses (lost count of how many times her hackles went up at
strangers
during our last walk), and who my father-in-law expects to "live outside
because
it's healthier for the dog." He has *no* idea about even basic canine
health
care (I've worked in veterinary medicine for a number of years, so I do
have
some beneficial experience there), let alone the specifics of the
Weimaraner
breed, and it's only because I've inserted myself into this
disaster-waiting-to-happen that I've got him feeding her something other
than
Purina Dog Chow.

(excuse me whilst I go engage in primal scream therapy)

I'm looking for a definitive source--print, person, anything--to show
him that due to his age, health concerns, and his view that dogs don't
live in
the house, that Lilly is NOT the right dog for him. I desperately need
something
or someone with authority who can crack through his stubbornness and show
him
that Lilly just is not a match for his lifestyle!

Apologies for the long post, but I'm desperate--desperate!--to find
something to convince this man...because *I'm* the one who's going to be
taking
Lilly to training so she doesn't fear-bite someone...*I'm* the one who
truly
cares enough about the dog as a companion animal to help, but I also have
a life
and companion animals of my own (two cats, tropical fish) that I can't set
aside
to play emergency dog caretaker.

Anyone. Anything. I see this situation exploding as soon as I go back
to
work (I'm on leave right now). Feel free to e-mail me if you like. All
replies
appreciated. Thanks for reading and allowing me to vent a bit.


Hoping for a solution for both person & dog --
--
Deb Kraft
4525 164th St. SW, Apt. N101
Lynnwood, WA 98087-8601
(425) 787-6652

Tech Guy wrote:
From the description of your father-in-law and credentials I'm not sure he
isn't going to do whatever he wants to do irrespective of the information he
has available but you might try the selection questionnaire at
http://www.glowdog.com/bestdog/. Good luck





I have to say that this is only the second online dogbreed quiz that
has actually matched me with German Shepherds.

Beth

"D. K. Kraft" wrote in message
...
Desperate in Lynnwood...


I'm looking to any source that may help me convince my father-in-law
that he has made a poor and uneducated choice in adopting a 2 1/2 year old
spayed female Weimaraner named Lilly. (Her former caretakers were a
husband and
wife with three children who feel they simply can't invest the time into
the dog
any longer.)

When he started talking about getting a dog (for companionship: his
wife
died just a year ago), for some reason he became absolutely set on getting
a
Weimaraner, and did not read or gather information on the breed beyond the
glowing praises of two family friends who had the dogs when they *were in
their
early 30's*. My father-in-law is in his mid-70's, has damage to the
nerves
leading to his legs (which makes them react as though they have blood
clots,
even though they don't) that has him currently on a walker! He's to
undergo
surgery 1/6/06 (this Friday), but how long he'll need to rehabilitate and
how
successful the surgery will be at restoring mobility (he's also a
late-onset
diabetic and medically obese) is unknown.


I've worked in physical therapy in a nursing home for several years now.
The symptoms your describe in your FIL would tend to say to me that this man
will most likely be needing long term care in the very near future. I would
imagine that a short term stay in a nursing home/rehab facility, will be
needed after his surgery. I am hoping that as plans were made for adopting
a young dog, plans were also made for what was to become of the dog if
something were to happen to your FIL. You may not like my idea, but I would
just go ahead and implement those plans while your FIL was in the hospital
for surgery. Then just explain to him the cold hard fact that at this point
in his life, he has enough to worry about just taking care of himself, and
that he is in no shape to take care of this dog. Yeah, he'll be mad as
hell, but it beats the alternative of leaving trying to convince a
impossibly stubborn old man.