Adoption Process
KiwiWe strongly recommend that you read The Breed Standard and Weimaraner Q&A before you decide to adopt a Weimaraner. The information provided will give you a clear understanding of our breed and its requirements which will help you make the right decision for you and your family.
The Process
Fill out our online application
Within a few days one of our volunteers will contact you via email to set up a time for a telephone interview.
Next, we will interview you over the phone. This allows us to assess your interest and define your needs. This information will help us select the right dog for you and your household.
We do not operate on a first come, first served basis. We go through all our active applications and choose the applicant that best suits the needs of the particular dog needing a home at that time.
When the right dog is found, you will be called by one of our volunteers. At this point a home visit will be scheduled. We will then arrange to have you meet the dog. We do ask that you drive to meet the dog, however, if the location is very far we will try to accommodate you by meeting somewhere.
If the meeting goes well and you choose to adopt the selected dog we will ask you to sign the transfer agreement (which transfers ownership of the dog from the rescue to yourself) and pay the adoption fee.
The average time that it takes to receive a dog can not be predicted. It can take anywhere from a month to three months from the date of application, but it may take longer depending on your requirements and the dogs available. FYI - there tends to be more dogs needing homes during the Fall and Winter months.
Medical Records
If available, new owners receive a record of the dog's medical history and information from the previous owner. We will provide you with proof of the dog's vaccinations and spay/neuter. Please note that all dogs will be spayed or neutered prior to being adopted. The rescue pays to have all dogs brought up to date on rabies, distemper, and heartworm tested.
Desired Adoptors
We are looking for individuals who understand the needs of this breed and are ready to make a commitment to the dog they adopt. These dogs demand constant attention and require lots of exercise. The Weimaraner is not the breed for your casual dog owner. You must absolutely love dogs and everything that comes with that. You must be willing to take the time to train the dog in a consistent manner. These dogs do not do well with physical reprimand or aggressive training. However, they do need someone who is assertive and in control. Having control over your Weimaraner will make it much easier to enjoy spending time with him or her.
Expectations
Many of these dogs have come from situations were they were left for 10 hours alone in a crate or were left loose in a yard with no supervision. They will of course need you to teach them what is expected of them in their new home. Any dog whether it is a puppy or adult needs to be taught what is expected of them and you will need to be patient and flexible during this time. The rescue is looking for owners who will love these dogs unconditionally and be able to guide them through whatever issues they may have whether it be separation anxiety, chewing/destructive behavior, housebreaking, excessive energy, etc. We will of course do what we can to help you but if it is necessary for the dog to be put on medication or to see a behaviorist, we expect you to be willing to do or at least try everything you can to make the dog as comfortable and happy as possible.
Breed Requirements
This breed is bred to work in the fields all day, they can possess an enormous amount of stamina. Sufficient exercise can alleviate many of the issues you may experience. This does not mean going for walks. Training your dog to walk properly on a leash is a great tool to teach him that you are the one that is in control and frequent walks are recommended but it does not do much in the way of exercise. Opening the door and letting them out into the yard by themselves does not constitute exercise either, they will not run around and play alone they will only become destructive and noisy because they will want to be with you. The younger the dog the more exercise you will need to provide. On average an hour run every day should be enough. These dogs are true athletes. An overweight dog is not a healthy, happy dog and a fat Weimaraner is not a pretty Weimaraner.
Warning
If you feel you do not have the time to exercise your rescue weim every day then you should adopt a Weimaraner that is a least 5 years old as they start to calm down at this point. However, they will still require daily exercise. Please be aware that although puppies are very cute and most people think they will be easier to work with, they do require a lot more supervision. If you think you should get a puppy because you have young children, think again. A puppy Weimaraner will not grow up with your child. These dogs will be full grown (65-85+ lbs of pure energy and strength) by the time it is 18 months old. Your child will just be starting to walk. You can not leave the puppy and children alone unsupervised for even a second. These dogs make quick movements and are very mouthy when young and an accident could easily happen. For this reason, we do not adopt to families with children under 5 years old unless you are looking for an older dog.
After having read this, please put some more thought into whether you will be committed to providing a Weimaraner with all that they require before proceeding with this application.
Returns
If for any reason the adoption does not work out, your rescue weim must be returned to TSWR.
Top 5 reasons Weimaraners are giving up by their families.
1. A new baby.
2. Family has not sufficiently trained or exercised the dog causing destructiveness, separation anxiety and other behavior problems.
3. Divorce
4. Moving to a location that does not allow dogs.
5. Illness of caretaker.
