Blog Archives
Broken-Hearted
~ Our Bailey Crossed Over the Rainbow Bridge
Today we had to let our sweet, amazing Bailey boy go. Stormy and Dusty we his parents– he was the only Silver Puppy in their litter.
We had 13 wonderful years with him for which we will be eternally grateful. While our hearts are broken, we will always remember the adventures, cuddles and all the love we shared.
Our lives wouldn’t have been the same without him.
Thank you so much for such a special gift, Mandee and Lee
Breeder Comment
Dear Mandee–thank you, for remembering us at time you are grieving over this loss. As I thought about the details, I remember so well you picking him up and a few email conversations we had. Of course, the only silver-gray pup in the litter defined him, too. Thanks for giving him such an outstanding life. We appreciate you!
Pushkin
One Year Celebrated
~Picture This
For his 1 year birthday, Pushkin graduated from the advanced obedience course. I was not sure it was going to happen. He was fussing while other people and their dogs were going through their paces so I decided to take him outside for a couple of minutes. Unfortunately, just before we got to the door his training collar came loose. That would not have been too bad if someone had not dropped a pork roll on the floor. He spied that, ran over and got it and took off like a bat out of Hades. He was all over the facility and would not respond to a recall as he knew he was in trouble.
I finally got him to sit and did a return and grabbed him by the scruff. Jennifer (the trainer) came over and held him while I got his collar back on. We waited until all of the other dogs finished and then went through the commands. He behaved quite well.Go figure! Everyone in the class clapped for him when we finished. Ya gotta love the Wiley Weims!
I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving.Marie
PS: These two flowers apparently do not realize that it is November
Breeder Comment
Pushkin
Roadtrip
~Coping with Excess Energy
Pushkin and I are preparing for a long road trip to Arizona to move my mother into an assisted living facility. Once that has been taken care of we are going on to the Chaco Canyons of New Mexico. It is the oldest Anasazi site in the U.S. In preparation for the trip to Arizona, we took a trip from Salem to Kennewick to see my grandchildren.
What I learned on the drive was that we had to stop quite often, not because Push had to “potty” but because he needed exercise. Once he was out of the car and we walked for a bit he settled right down when we started up again. At every rest stop, someone would comment on what a beautiful dog he is. I have attached some pictures for you. The man is my son, the children are obviously my grandchildren. I am not sure who that white-haired old woman is, could it be me?😏
What a great dog he is!Marie
Breeder Comment
Maverick
Celebrating Two Candles!
~The All-Around Versatile Weimaraner
Greetings from San Jose, California! Maverick celebrates his 2nd Birthday today and I wanted to give you an update. He is very energetic and non-stop, like the Energizer Bunny! A little 5-10 minute rest and he is ready for another round. Funny thing… about 8pm at night, he is ready for his snuggles with me on my bed. Once he has about 30 minutes of that, I tell him “it’s time to go to bed” and he jumps down and heads right to his crate.
He has been crate trained since he was a puppy and sleeps in it every night and spends a few hours a day on it as well. Our 13-year-old Weim, Sawyer, has learned when it’s cold it is better to tolerate Maverick and let him cuddle for body heat.
He LOVES going nuts from inside as he sees squirrels and birds out in our yard and does his “cry” to let him out for the chase. Bill, my husband, takes him pheasant hunting and reports that he had the natural instinct the first time he went out in the field last year and this year did an even better job of pointing, flushing and retrieving the birds. He is a fantastic family and hunting companion. Maverick is exactly what we wanted in a Weim and you delivered!
Breeder Comment
We are thrilled Maverick is as advertised (so to speak). I think you folks know we take this process seriously. It is not our first placement with you. Of course, along the way to here and now, you have had a couple of Rescue Weims, too.
We realize that it is a significant risk to trust us to do what is best. Thank you, for your loyalty and this update on Maverick.
How Important is
The Fetch
How Important is it to achieve the recall? The retrieve. The Fetch. Combined with the essential rock-solid recall it is a thing of beauty. Exercise is easy and fun–for both you and the Weimaraner. The Fetch-addicted Weimar can be eased into the water retrieve. The benefits are nearly endless.
When should you begin? There is no time like the present. The earlier you achieve the recall and have the pup retrieving–the better.
Jeff writes, “Toby loves to fetch!”
Kaizer
First Snow
~Yum
- No Snow Here
Kaizer experienced his first snow this last week, he had to stop almost every 20 feet on walks to stop and take a bite of it. it was very comical to watch him wipe out repeatedly when he would try to chase his ball outside.
Christmas With the Gray Ghost
Surprisingly he didn’t destroy the tree or eat any ornaments and only once did I catch him proudly walking around with one of the wrapped gifts in his mouth. when it came time to open his little gift he attacked with such ferocity that all the camera could catch was a blur. Hope you all had a very merry Christmas and a Happy new year!
-Pete and Kaiser — Idaho
- “Looking Innocent and for the most part, I am.” “Woof!”
Breeder Comment
Isn’t it interesting he has his gift? You did well to capture a blurred photo. Thanks! There were several Facebook Posts where the Weimaraner got their present–didn’t touch the others. Then too–there were rumors of those who pilfered without preference at the tree. Some liking to unwrap the gifts more than anything. Others left the tree alone but not by choice.
We have not heard of any Weims eating Christmas Tree Limbs or goodies that sent them to the Emergency. For that, we are exceedingly glad. The fact the young Kaiser is doing so well speaks volumes about your work with him. Keep it up! We look forward to reading about his birding experience. Thanks for thinking of us!
Jaeger
Just Napping
~He’s getting along nicely.
The above snapshot is taken with my wife’s dog Caoimhe (pronounced Keeva). She has taken to him very nicely… They play a lot.
Here he is with Ruger, who actually curled up there when Jaeger was already there. Ruger is progressing slower; he has never been one to play a lot with other dogs.
Jaeger is still gaining like a horse, 16.9lbs today. He doesn’t like crate training, but we are slowly making progress.
Breeder Comment
Duke
Reporting on Duke
Duke is 9 weeks, 3 days now and adjusting well with us. We are working on the puppy biting, potty training, fetching and walking on a leash. He loves running with the other dogs in the backyard and learning which cats he can and can’t mess with! 😉 He especially loves our cat Tiger who tolerates being tackled by Duke daily! He also loves our walks down to the bus stop to pick up his human siblings. We are really enjoying him, he’s got so much personality and sass already!
Breeder Comment
Thanks for staying in touch and giving us this update on Duke. We know how much it is to manage the household, a small business, and everything else associated with the family. You are doing great!
If you are reading this and live in the Treasure Valley Sandy has a cake business. You can connect with her on Facebook–Cake Creations by Sandy! You’ll be glad you looked her up.
Dash
Happy Together
Dash had his 12-Week Vet Visit and the Parvo Shot today. He is 24 pounds and has the best disposition. He is just a gorgeous boy!
Breeder Comment
Dave, we are happy to learn you and Dasher are off to a great start. It is also a blessing to know that you are delighted with your new family addition. We know how important that is and never more so when someone has had a less than ideal experience before coming to OwyheeStar.
The importance of looks–while often a top consideration, pales in comparison to temperament and health. A beautiful unhealthy Weimaraner is heartbreaking. We realize that living creatures have issues–some more than others. Regardless, getting off to a fantastic start with a thriving pup is something we wish for every OwyheeStar client. Of course, we give tips that can help maintain these goals–follow the OwyheeStar Weimaraner Vaccine protocol, keep guard against parasites (they are everywhere), and get the basics done. Each of these things is foundational. There may be hiccups and rabbit trails along the journey, but nothing is more imperative than getting off to a good start.
Parasites are something not discussed much on the blog. Nonetheless, a goodly percentage of pups become infected–OwyheeStar and other than OwyheeStar. Possibly the biggest culprits are Giardia and Coccidia–one-celled parasites that are found in the environment. To some degree cleaning practices can help avoid these issues; however, puddle-drinkers and paw-lickers can ingest these opportunistic predators. When they do, they can take off like a wildfire in the gut. This scenario is best avoided–it can undo housebreaking at its best. A simple fecal check can help prevent this unraveling adventure no one wants to visit. Of course, keeping the young pup wormed is essential too.
Loose stools can be caused by stress but should you see them it is best to keep an eye on things. The cost of the fecal exam can put your mind at ease. Many times these issues resolve without medication–that is optimal. Pumpkin or squash are helpful. Bloody or mucous filled stools (a bigger concern) should be checked. If you see them, don’t think the worst–so far, no OwyheeStar pup has been lost to the Parvovirus. (I hold my breath as I type that statement, but following our recommendations helps keep your new family member safe). There are a number of things that can bring on such an event (terrible diarrhea)–the parasite infestation, and irritated gut, etc. Some Weims have a very sensitive stomach. The same ones may not leave the woodpile alone or stay out of the trashcan. (oops) It is imperative that you are proactive and find a solution–not only can ingesting these garbage-can-finds be upsetting, but it can also be life-threatening.
Gray Ghost
In Southern Oregon
Ramsey is 23 lbs. He is house broke and cage broke. He’s already learned how to sit, stay and lay down. We just love him!
Breeder Comment
When the new Weim family does well it makes us extremely happy. It is a win for all concerned–the breeder, the pup as well as the family. Getting the first things mastered is of key importance. The underpinning is your relationship–skills without respect do not carry over to adulthood.
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