Posted on 02/12/2008 9:15:59 PM PST by Salena Zito
Awwww... Thanks for that picture.
BTW, with OEM and Anatolian you have two halves of an American Mastiff, but you, of course, know that since you referenced Flying W Farms - Fredericka Wagner developed the breed.
Rare and wonderful creatures, wish you many happy years together.
They are called “alpha” dog, not “top dog”... and yes, they know.
Unless you referred to the “Best in Show” - then no, not really, they just know they are “very special”. :~)
Yes, because poodles don't shed and are non- or hypo-allergenic, because some people are allergic to dog's hair and dander. They are also cross-bred with Labradors and Goldies (and some other breeds) to create a smart, more versatile dogs - Labradoodles and Goldendoodles are wonderful. See also the comments by SatinDoll in this thread.
Yeah, I know. I guess i wasnt clear enough. It’s hard for me to evaulate the dog from here, since I’m watching it on TV.
“There is a choice - they come in fawn / “silver” (most typical), gray and “blue” which is really very dark gray or chocolate color. “Blue” is not recognized (yet!) by AKA as accepted and eligible for competition, but they are quite beautiful and have no recessive genes like e.g. some albinos.”
And if that isn’t enough.. they even have the occasional longhaired Weim show up. The LH’s look more or less like a setter.
LH Weims are also not recognized by AKA (however with more reason than “blue” ones, since it seems LH is a result of recessive gene in Weims), but they are quite striking.
I would not go quite as far as to say their “long” hair makes them look like setters (who are absolutely striking dogs, especially Irish “Red” Setters), but another long hair variety is interesting and beautiful mix of Weims and Labradors, which is being sold at a premium to unsuspecting owners - who buy into the scam thinking they are actually getting a pure-bred Lab with unusual skin color - as “Silver Labrador” by several farms (a couple of them in AZ). They are easy to recognize as Weim mix by their eyes.
Actually his real name is “Ch K-Run’s Park Me In First”.
“Uno” is his a.k.a., a pseudonym for “First” in Italian, because one of his breeders is Leah Bertagnolli. One of his owners is another breeder, Kathy Weichert.
http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2008/results/bis/
Showed that to Mrs. Scoutmaster immediately. Vet once laughed that mine were the only two Cavaliers in the world that didn't get to sleep in the bed; after all, another of the Cavaliers' duties for 500+ years was to keep the bedding warm for noble women.
There are so many great breeds with distinctive personality, behavior, and physical characteristics. Most other dogs love their owners; Cavaliers are in love with their owners and love everyone else.
> It’s hard for me to evaulate the dog from here, since I’m watching it on TV.<
Especially since nobody has ever gotten the camera angle right to evaluate the dogs on the down and back.
I am assuming you have some experience in the sport?
Yes, he’s an American Mastiff, 7/8ths OEM and 1/8th Anatolian. Fredericka bred and sold us our pup. He is the sweetest big dog in the world. I feel so secure with him guarding the door all night!
He is, however, a picky eater (at approx 200 pounds) and he rubs against me like just like a cat, only way bigger. :D
“Especially since nobody has ever gotten the camera angle right to evaluate the dogs on the down and back.
I am assuming you have some experience in the sport?”
Just a little. I’ve had one Ch dog that I raised from a pup. Handled him a few times myself, but mostly hired pro’s. I’ve also spent a LOT of time at shows learning from breeders and such. It took a couple years to get him his Ch, since he was of the wrong “type” for a California dog. Sent him with a pro handler to Oregon and got enough points and majors to have finished him in one weekend, especially with the few he had already. After that I was done with it, and the dog was glad. He was much happier as a field dog than in the ring.
“LH Weims are also not recognized by AKA (however with more reason than “blue” ones, since it seems LH is a result of recessive gene in Weims), but they are quite striking”
They’re “recognized” by the AKC in terms of registration, but a blue, black, or long coat is a disqualifying fault in the show ring. The blues and LHs do just fine in obedience, agility, and field trials, though.
The agility champion at Westminster in the 24” class this year is a Weimaraner.
Sorry, I was not precise enough re “recognized”. I meant, as you said, the blue and LH are not allowed in (disqualified from) competitions, however my point was that blue ones should be qualified since they don’t have recessive genes unlike LH which do (since it’s considered a SH breed). However, AKA notwithstanding, IRL I love them all. GSPs / Kurzhaars are more mellow in character - 2005 BIS Carlee was a beauty and my all-time favorite BIS dog.
Weims should do great in agility if they can be directed, obedience in competition is usually not their strong point - they are just way too smart and controlling, they don’t call them “dog with a human brain” for nothing. They usually don’t place high within the sporting group overall and make it to the Best In Show. This year was a pleasant surprise and I thought “Marge” was outstanding, and great enough to have been BIS.
Like many dogs from large and medium-large breeds they do like to "lean" (their expression of trust and protection), and are so adorable when they do :~)
I’ve started looking at a few breeds to decide what I’m going to have next, once I have time for a dog again, and GSP/Kurzhaars are way up at the top of the list. Carlee was magnificent, almost too much so ( the GSP rescues are still smarting from that one!) I’m actually GLAD that Marge didnt win BIS, because our Weim rescue has enough business right now.
Carlee was a standout - that was one of the few Westminsters where there was no doubt about BIS outcome in anybody's mind, and nobody could feel slighted.
I’m actually GLAD that Marge didnt win BIS, because our Weim rescue has enough business right now.
I understand and, reluctantly, agree. It's similar to a "Dalmation situation". Many people are attracted to Weims because they are unusual and beautiful, and they have no idea what they are getting into or have the time for them - as a result the dogs wind up in a rescue or shelter and many remain psychologically scarred for a very long time, their psyche is usually quite fragile to begin with. They always give all of their love, but they require a lot of love in return.
Five minutes of conversation with people who are fascinated with the breed and want to get a Weim as a pet, explaining them what they should expect and be ready for, is usually enough for most people to lose interest in the idea... some of them will consider Kurzhaars. Those who understand and have the time and circumstances and are willing to research further usually become very proud companions of Weimaraners. I've seen many owners of Kurzhaars whose first dog was a Weimaraner or Vizsla, and vice versa - they get "infected" and would not consider any dogs outside of these breeds.
These dogs are also doing much better in pairs, just like another very affectionate breed, Cavaliers. You will not go wrong with Kurzhaar, I wish you luck in your search.
“Carlee was a standout - that was one of the few Westminsters where there was no doubt about BIS outcome in anybody’s mind, and nobody could feel slighted”
I had that one guessed as soon as they had her move around the ring, and once she free-stacked at the end.. there were NO other dogs in that ring. I agree, I dont think anyone would have said otherwise that day.
As far as my search for a new dog goes, it’ll be a little while, since I need to get my job hours sorted out first. What draws me toward a GSP/Kurzhaar is that they are a bit better in the field than the Weims I’ve seen. Weims ( I think ) are a little better for retrieving/water work, because water work is MANDATORY for them for their JH title (Weims and GWPs are the only ones that require water retrieves for this)while GSPs are better pointers than Weims. Dont know about V’s, as I’ve never hunted with one.
For the time being, I just do rescue, which lets me play with ‘em a bit when I evaluate and transport them. Looks to be a busy week ahead, too, as we’re buying out a puppy mill right now.
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