If you are looking for a Weimaraner as a family addition, please be sure and read the About Weimaraners section of the web site. Click here for our Local Breeders page. These Weimaraner breeders are members of the SFBWC, but no endorsement is assumed. You should talk directly to the breeders as well as people who have adopted puppies from them.
There are many adult Weimaraners needing homes if you prefer not to go through the puppy stage.
What You Should Know When Purchasing a Weimaraner
AKC Papers
American Kennel Club (AKC) maintains accurate records of each breed of dogs from the time they are recognized as a breed in the USA. AKC papers are your guarantee that you are purchasing a purebred dog of a particular breed. They are not a guarantee of quality nor are they a “license to breed”. When purchasing a purebred pup, if the parents are AKC registered, you are entitled to AKC papers to register your pup. If the breeder does not yet have the puppy registration when the dog is sold, the breeder should give you a sales receipt with the AKC number and name of the sire and dam of the pups and should forward the registration to you as soon as it arrives. We urge you to register your pup with AKC. This is your proof of ownership. It also allows you to participate in AKC events if you so desire. Do not accept “my dog is papered”! There are other registrations which have been set up for the convenience of commercial breeders but they have no validity with AKC. Once a Weimaraner loses full AKC registration, it can never be regained. AKC papers are important! For more information about the American Kennel Club, go to www.akc.org
Buying Off The Internet
LET THE BUYER BEWARE! In this age of cyberspace, anything can be purchased on the computer and Weimaraner pups are no exception. Many commercial breeders have websites and ads and are breeding only as a commercial venture. They offer no health guarantees, pedigrees, hip screening, history of the sire and dam, or follow-up and advice in raising the dog. Once you have the dog and they have their money, the transaction is over. Do not be taken in by a website with lots of cute pictures of pups. You want to see AKC certified pedigrees on the sire and dam and OFA (Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals) or PennHIP clearance and ratings on hip x-rays for the sire and dam. Do not be misled by “papers” as some commercial dealers have made up their own registry. Make sure the pups are AKC registered. You also need to know how the pups have been raised, i.e., in a home environment with lots of socialization or in a pen with little human contact. Is a health guarantee offered?
DO NOT purchase a Weimaraner from a pet store.
Most dogs sold by pet stores are brought into the world by “Puppy Mills” which are commercial farms where dogs are kept in small cages their entire lives with little human contact and are bred at every cycle. Pedigrees are rarely checked and problems such as health and behavioral issues are extremely common. Please do not support this cruel industry by purchasing their “product.” Just because they may have AKC papers does not guarantee quality.
Buy From a Reputable Breeder
To save your family from disappointment and anguish and to help ensure a happy adoption, please read the below guidelines. Note that reputable breeders are a minority – newspaper ads and listings on the supermarket bulletin board usually won’t lead you to a breeder that is experienced and has spent the time and money to have both sire and dam tested for genetic problems (e.g. OFA hip X-ray). “Backyard breeders” may show you cute puppies, but in the end, you want a reputable breeder that will support and help you.
A reputable breeder participates in events sponsored by National Clubs such as the American Kennel Club or breed clubs. These events include conformation shows, obedience, agility, field and herding trials and coursing and tracking. This is the reason he or she breeds dogs, not to produce a cash crop. Request pedigrees of both the sire and dam.
A reputable breeder will interview YOU. They will not sell a puppy to anyone who has money, but only to those who will give it the home that it truly deserves.
A reputable breeder never sells puppies to pet shops or brokers, but only through direct contract.
A reputable breeder does not release a puppy into a new home until it is at least 8 weeks old.
A reputable breeder shows you the mother and all of the puppies rather than bringing out one puppy at a time for you to view. If the sire (father) is not on the premises, photos, a copy of the pedigree and AKC certificate as well as the owner contact name and information should be provided. Ask for references from previous clients.
A reputable breeder sells puppies that are properly vaccinated and advises you of any screening (such as OFA hip x-rays) that should be done as the puppy grows older. The breeder should provide you with results of both the sire and dam’s OFA ratings. To check a rating, go to www.offa.org/search.html. A health guarantee is given.
A reputable breeder will be able to tell you the strength and weaknesses of both the sire, dam and lineage of each.
A reputable breeder will give you the following documents when you buy a puppy:
- Health Record listing the dates and types of vaccines and worming treatment received by the puppy so you can present this record to your veterinarian.
- AKC Registration Papers and a sales contract to insure that all expectations of both parties are identified and agreed upon. If the registration papers have not been returned from the registry, the breeder will give you the name of the dam and sire, their registration numbers and the puppy’s date of birth.
- A copy of the puppy’s Pedigree and information about raising a Weimaraner.
A reputable breeder will also discuss the pros and cons of owning this particular breed and will advise you of the training the puppy will need. Even after you buy a puppy, the breeder’s help and advice do not end, but continue throughout the dog’s life, a responsibility cheerfully accepted by the reputable breeder.