SparkyTansy

OK I will ask a question if a problem is not genetic then why are breeds 'known' to suffer from certain allergies and immune/skin problems. I am not denying his skin issues are genetic... I am saying that my vet said that the atopy is genetic, and that the food allergy may not have been... there are more pink skinned/white dogs with skin issues but they are not usually due to a food allergy... In fact in the OP's case I would consider like PF said getting blood work and derm skin testing done... I have also heard that thyroid issues show similar symptoms. My dog does not have a thyroid issue.

sorry i dont agree with this part,reacting to one food isnt the end of the world & each dog is an individual.My dogs cant stomach beef ,many dogs cant tolerate chicken its very common. Its like saying if your a parent & you cant eat peanut butter you shouldnt have kids. The demodex is a whole different ball game ,i have never experienced it but i believe it can come in different forms & certain scenarios can set it off. We board alot of dallies & pointers who all have red bellies & no food issues but laying on the ground & having fine skin there seem to irritate it especially concrete. Also Eukanuba has been known to send dogs red . Eagle pack holistic gives my guys the runs,optium makes them scratch like crazy & lose weight so in reality any food can set a dog off so before considering your breeding doomed make sure you research well. I tend to agree with settrlvr... I do have a dog with skin issues - cropped up at an early age with many ear issues etc. Discovered the allergy to chicken at about 6 months but continued to have issues so had him referred to a specialist - he was diagnosed with not only food allergy, but atopy as well (inhalant allergy). My specialist vet basically said that it is unlikely that the food allergy was inherited, but that the atopy was. My breeder refused to believe it at first, claiming that they hadn't had any issues for many years, however when she saw the state he was in she quickly changed her mind. I chose not to breed with him due to not wanting to risk anybody else (or any other dog) go through the same thing... I continued to show him but it was for fun and the intention to breed was never there. Had he had only the food allergy I would have considered breeding him - there are many dogs out there with food allergies and I tend to lean towards it being environmental influence over genetics. As for food my boy cannot tolerate any type of meat generally except on occasion lamb and kangaroo (he hates kangaroo) and turkey. He loves fish and is fine with it. Early in the piece he could handle Advance Turkey and Rice but i later discovered a food called Natural Balance which is all lamb and he does well on this. He is 7 years old now, and after a long time with desensitisation injections he is basically allergy free except for during the season change (winter to spring). He is still allergic to chicken - how do i know? He ate a whole chicken carcass (stole it!) and 4 days later got a bad ear infection and his usual lumps and bumbs... He is an English Setter, and like Dalmatians, it's a breed that have been known to suffer from skin issues historically...

Just to add to this the breed average is 16.36 in 2006...

Altheau great drawings - you are very talented! love the zero one especially... let me know if you would like to try a difficult coated breed the Old English... I did one of him in pastel which wasnt easy i would imagine that sketching would be even harder.. or you could try an English setter... spots are fun!!

That is fantastic!! Is that from your imagination or a photo?

As Ellz said it happens in other states - it happens a lot in WA... in fact we have more shows spread over two days than we do double header shows... and it really does suck having to go back on the second day - especially with an OES!

I do not weigh their food, and very rarely do i weigh them... I know when they are too light or heavy by look and feel. The wei gains and loses weight quickly and it is very dependant on her exercise, so her food amount often fluctuates... The boys are very easy to maintain... Spartan is a little more on the pudgy side these days since desexing but nothing serious... James needs to be kept lean due to his HD so i keep a very close eye on his weight. A breeder once told me my very heavy boned (but not necessarily big) boy was much too heavy at 32kg (sight unseen), so i dropped his weight to the "ideal" and it was much too thin... weight is very much an individual thing, even within breeds.

Love the photos everyone!! Luke those photos are brilliant - very Arty!! here is one of Ari and I when she was a bubba... using the mac camera so a bit grainy... one of James and I at a show watching the (dog) world go by

QUESTIONS 1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc) I am an owner of the weimaraner and breeder in training... I have had the breed since 1991. 2. Where and why was the breed first developed? bred in Germany, named after the Grand Duke of Weimar. The original Weimar Pointers appeared in the 19th century. They were prized for their versatile hunting skills and remarkable character. In the early part of the century, the Nobles of Weimar were avid sportsmen and hunted a variety of big game. They required of the Weimaraner an exceptional tracking ability, speed, courage and durability. Their breeding programs developed these specific traits and qualities. More likely by accident, they produced the distinctive gray coat color that is the hallmark of the breed. During the first century, the Nobles rigidly controlled the availability of the dogs. To insure the future of the breed, the German Weimaraner Club was formed. Membership was restricted and members only were permitted to own and breed the dogs. Few outsiders really knew much about the breed. Legends developed about the great gray hunting dog. Type and temperament was refined and eventually, during the latter half of the 19th century, the Weimaraner was converted from a bear and dear hunter to a ‘fur and feathers’ dog. Sourced from Weimaraner Club of America Website 3. How common is it in Australia? They are quite common in Australia. they are quite a recognisable breed. 4. What is the average lifespan? Average 10-12 years 5. What is the general temperament/personality? High energy breed, incredibly devoted to their family. They can be known to many as sufferers of separation anxiety, but this can often be mistaken for their intense desire to be with their family. Their personalities vary with strangers. They can be incredibly friendly with people they don't know, but there are many that have quite an aloof personality towards strangers... sometimes even wary. They are a smart breed that thrives on a variety of activities. They are an ultimate versatility breed - they can do field trials, retrieving trials, agility, obedience, tracking (and blood tracking), flyball and no doubt they would try and be successful at other activities such as doggy dancing. They have also been used as assistance dogs and police dogs. They can have a high prey drive. 6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult? at LEAST 30 minutes... they would do well on 30 minutes plus some mental stimulation. 7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with? Yes and No... So long as the person does their research, is aware of the breeds capabilities and demands, and shows a certain level of dog savvy, I would say yes... for someone who has never had a dog, but hasn't researched the breed or general dog behaviour, i would say no... they require a firm direction especially when young as they can be very strong willed and will run circles around anyone who lets them get away with it. 8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods? I would lean more towards no, but it really depends on the personaltiy of the dog. In general I would say no - their intense desire to be with their families indicates that they wouldn't do well on their own for long periods... particularly if you are around and they are not with you. 9. How much grooming is required? The shorthair variety does not need a lot of grooming. The longhair requires a little more, but generally their coat and feathering is fairly easy to keep. The shorthair would do well with a good groom with a mitt once every 1-2 weeks. They do lose coat during season changes. 10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)? YES - weimaraners are clumsy and cumbersome... they would not do well unless trained to be under control around small children. They are good with children, but they are clumsy. They are also strong. 11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of? They can suffer from immunodeficiency but it is not common... Hip Dysplasia HOD PRA Bloat 12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be) Hip/elbow Scoring is probably the only thing that is really checked for in this breed, although the eye test has become available I think. Hopefully a breeder will come along that can give more detail on this. I think (and I could be wrong) that the breed average is 9.

thanks PC!

I havent noticed any side effects although I do not give a daily dose... more like every 2-3 days if my boy is looking sore (HD)

So they only retrieve - not flush? or do they do both? I always assumed their body type was bred for a specific type of scrub/brush but as you wrote that they were sort of bred for the show ring i was wondering what their purpose was in the field and their location origins. Thanks

Poocow when you say they were specifically bred for the showring, were/are they still used in the field?

Cool thanks Lowenhart for the explanation

staffyluv they would be the German Wirehaired Pointer - similar but not the same and bred and shown as a separate breed.

Lowenhart are the smooth Lowchen smaller than the coateds or is that photo a bit of an illusion?

They are just beautiful dogs. it's nice to read up about them!!thanks everyone!

Good to know they move fast... just not quite the pace of a good ground covering weim i hope!!

I've always been so drawn to this breed... I am thinking it's the breed I will have when i can no longer run around the ring with a weimaraner or a setter... how often do you clip them for showing?

English Setters - Hell yes Old English Sheepdog - Hell No WEimaraner - usually if a show coming up, No (should have dense, harsh coat)... but I will condition occasionally especially if there are no shows...

Some of our shows in WA do the breakdown which is returned with numbers... not many though...

What ML said I only give it once a day as well *oops*

Erny Roo tails really depend on size... I have fed my guys some absolutely massive roo tails that they couldn't finish and the bones were very hard... however they do keep them going for AGES because of the amount of meat, tendons etc on the tail. Obviously, the tail tapers so you get smaller bits as well... they are much easier for the dog to chew and swallow the bones and I found the closer to the end the softer the bones seem to be (based on how easily the dogs chomped and ate them). Roo tails are a good alternative but one of mine (the ONLY one allergic to many meats, but not kangaroo) really doesn't seem to like the taste and/or smell and, no matter how much he would kill for any other type of bone, will not touch a roo tail.

MM - whilst not disagreeing with you, I was wondering if you would consider the fact that a dog with a score of 1:9 (for example) may have had an injury relating to the average score, vs the better score of 1 on the other hip? Would you take this into consideration if choosing to use a dog with such a score?

I am very sorry for your loss shaw... to you and take care. RIP Sandy