My friend has asked me to ask your advice.  She has had a couple of dogs before, a german shepherd and a labrador.  Both sadly passed away due to old age.

She now can't decide which breed to get between a golden retriever or a weimaraner.  What are the pros and cons of each dog.  She has been on all the usual sites looking at breed characteristics but would like to know from people who have actually had these dogs, she has 3 children.

Thanks for any help.

Changing from a GSD/labrador to a Weimaraner is like moving from a Ford Focus to a Ferrarri.  Yes the Weim is a gundog like the GR/lab but there the resemblance ends!  The retrievers were born and bred to do just that, a Weimi is an HPR (hunt, point and retrieve) member and as such has a totally different mind set.  It is extremely independent and, if left to its own devices, will uses its initiative to become self employed in short shrift.  It is extremely intelligent, athletic, stubborn, sensitive and very strong willed.  They require a lot of training from Day 1 and I read somewhere that in the time it takes to train 1 HPR you could probably train at least 3 retrievers; that is NOT to suggest that they are "thick" quite the contrary!

When mature they require a great deal of exercise, and the males are assertive and like to be top dog.  They are NOT your average gundog.  They were built to track wounded stag and bring down wild boar if necessary and rid their master of vermin which includes cats!  Because they DO hunt, they will be 3 fields away before you can say knife unlike a GSD that likes to keep their owner in view!  Even working labs do not have the turn of speed and "up yours" attitude of a Weimaraner!

I love the breed but it is not for everyone; their Kevin stage can be particularly long and irksome in the male and 9 - 10 months is the prime time for rescue to receive a ring!  They are more of a hobby dog than just a pet as they do need something to do such as agility, working trials, field trials etc.  A tired Weimaraner is a dead one :D

You do not mention the ages of the children.  Weimis are fine with children, however if the children are very young I would question whether an adolescent/mature dog will get the exercise and training it needs when the needs of the children compete, especially during inclement weather!

If she gets on to the Weimaraner Club of Great Britain and/or the Weimaraner Association web there will be further information there.  Weimaraner Rescue have 40 on their books at the moment if she may be interested in homing an older dog.  Most are there through no fault of their own.  I would strongly suggest that your friend visits several experienced owners of Weimis to see them au natural and/or go to Discover Dogs at Crufts in March where owners will give a warts and all picture of the Grey Ghost.  I would never recommend a male to start off with.

HTH

Thanks for that information, if I were her I think it would be best to stick to her Ford Focus!!!!  I thought that the weim was supposed to be very strong willed and some people told her not to get a weim as a first dog, which sent alarm bells off.  Anyway I will pass the info onto her and let her decide but if I were her I would stick to the golden retriever.

Thanks