OwyheeStar Random Photo Series

There are few things cuter than a Weimaraner to a Weimlover. Yes, we are biased in our dog preferences.
Here is the first post in a series of random photo posts. The only thing the photo posts (or slide-shows) will have in common is the Weimaraner pictures. Cliff and I have no specific agenda. We are grabbing photos from our archives. Some are client photos. Some are OwyheeStar photos. We hope you enjoy this series! Yes, the photo assortment will appear at random times too! We hope you enjoy the assorted photos. ~ Shela and Cliff

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OwyheeStar’s Weekly Newsreel

Our OwyheeStar Blog’s Summer Schedule will start tomorrow! What this will mean is a change. You will no longer find the OwyheeStar Blog published each morning (Monday-Friday). The Saturday Synopsis and Sunday Snapshots will also be on vacation. Instead look for the OwyheeStar Random Photo series. These photo posts will appear anytime during the week. Some photos will be from our archives; other photos will hail from client contributions. Photos could come from anywhere including our current OwyheeStar events. In addition, we will publish our Weekly Newsletter. At this time, we do not have a specific day the newsletter will appear, but once a week you can expect an update. Our goal is to keep you abreast of what is happening at OwyheeStar.

Before we move on to discuss more on this topic, we want to thank all our faithful contributors. If we didn’t get your photo or news published, please forgive us. We read and responded to each, and every email received. Your notes, thoughts, and photos are important to us. We do hope you will continue to send them.

There will be other changes too! For example, we will be adding another new summer category–The OwyheeStar Featured Weimaraner of the Week. It will be challenging to select only one featured Weimaraner each week. However, we will comb through our current update folder in search of the best choice. Our goal is to feature a unique Weimaraner each week. Therefore, during the next three months we are hoping not to repeat the same featured Weimaraner. Counting from June 1 forward to September 1 gives us a magical thirteen weeks.

The summer schedule usually sees people on vacation, and involved in various other seasonal events. We all try to pack as much into our summer as possible. During this busy time, it seems appropriate to have a scaled-down version of the OwyheeStar Blog. We think you may enjoy it just as much. We sincerely hope you will continue to read our posts and send us your news.

While you are at the county fair, the beach, or on vacation capture some of those moments to share with us. Everyone writes how much they love to read about each of your Weim’s lives. We sincerely hope to be able to share a diverse collection of OwyheeStar updates this summer. Keep the photos and stories coming our direction.

Finally, another weekly event is still taking form in our minds and hearts. Thirteen weeks would allow us thirteen opportunities to showcase one of our own OwyheeStar Weims. We feel many of you would enjoy learning more about the various OwyheeStar Weims. To learn more about our several of our Weims look for the OwyheeStar Billboard.

We find comfort in things staying the same, but change on the home-front calls for adjustment. We believe the new OwyheeStar Blog Format may find favor and fit into your summer plans. Here are the Summer 2012 categories:

• OwyheeStar’s Random Photo Series
• The OwyheeStar Featured Weimaraner
• OwyheeStar’s Weekly Newsreel
• OwyheeStar’s Billboard

Our Blue Weimaraner Ilsa

Hello Cliff, Shela, and random Weimlovers!

We just wanted to let you know that Ilsa is doing great! As you know she’s a little over a year young and a whopping 48.9 pounds of pure joy! I’m sure you get it all the time but we can thank you enough for her!  As of last weekend she’s getting in the water at Sauvie Island and retrieving.  She also loves going through the kids jungle gym at the park and sliding down the slides! Ilsa gets to play with her sister Piper on a somewhat regular basis at doggy daycare.

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 We will be contacting you about a second adoption when ilsa is 2.5 years old. I really want a long hair but Liz loves the short! We’ll see how convincing I am!

 Thanks again for all of your hard work and dedication!

 Sincerely, Jake and Liz

Reno at 2 Years

A Note from Larry to update us on Reno, a two-years old Weimaraner!

Your most important advice was to concentrate on the relationship. The things that happen from day to day do not matter in the long run. So enjoy the process, enjoy the puppy, enjoy the young dog and at two and older you will enjoy your adult dog.

Reno is still trying to be the boss. In the last 2 or 3 weeks he thinks that we should get up earlier – like 5:30. I told him that 7:30 was a much better time. So I just make him go back to bed.

If I leave the bedroom door open, he will drag the blanket off the bed and into the front room. So I have to keep the door closed.  I have a gate to keep him out of the kitchen. When he stands on his back feet he is almost 5 foot tall, so anything on the counter is fair game.

When I take him for his run, I put the leash on before I open the garage door. On his own he will go out into the front yard and the neighbor’s yard to smell and run around. It is a real pain to try to get him into the truck. After his run I will put the leash back on him before I get to the truck. He does not want to get into the truck and wants to stay and run some more.

I think you said that the weims are head strong. I always fail when I try to get Reno to do something that he does not want to do. Like come into the house. If he is not ready, he will just stand there and not come in. So what I do is go into the house and close the door. Reno will then make a run for the door trying to get in. When he gets to the door I just open the door and in he comes. He will try to set in the chair with me but he is just too big. So to keep him happy I will set on the couch and he will set next to me.

I will often see Reno doing something and I will try to understand just what going on. Example in the backyard he will raise his nose high up in the air. Yes then I smell it, the neighbors are barbequing. Or he will look up into the trees – where are the blasted squirrels.

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Breeder’s Note: Thank you for sharing your life with Reno. The key to making it past all the challenges, always relates directly back to your relationship. If the Weimaraner wants to please you, and thinks what you want done is their own idea, things will go better. It is a bit like leading humans. Everyone has a better idea (including the Weimaraner), and they want things their way. Finding ways to get around that is crucial. Working out the household pecking order takes a knack. You are doing a great job Larry!

The Post WWII Weimaraner

The Weimaraner gained popularity in America as the World War II (WWII) Veterans returned home. Here is Uncle Clifton pictured with one of the first Nielsen Weim’s “Doc.” Over the years, the Weimaraner has been misunderstood, and often touted as the ‘do-all’ dog. True, the Weim can wear many different hats, but they are not for everyone. To many who see their first Weimaraner romping on the beach or sitting regally alongside their owner, they seem to look to be perfection. Indeed, a well-mannered, mature, and good-natured Weim can melt almost any dog-lover’s heart.

The German Weimaraner of the fifties was the more traditional gray ghost variety. There was no Blue Weimaraner, and although the longhair gene was present, many were working to eradicate it. Times change, and today in Germany to many a Weimlover’s chagrin the Blue Weimaraner is gaining popularity. The once almost extinct longhair is back in vogue and gaining popularity. Reports cite that one-in-three German Weimaraner is of the longhair variety.

Trends change along with people’s preferences. In America, the longhair is gaining popularity too! Much like the blues, it slow to see the die-hard Weimlovers embrace, but over time more and more are falling for them too!

It seems appropriate on a day such as this to discuss the Weimaraner’s tie to a period in time when veterans were returning to America. Having made the discovery of the gray ghost (Weimaraner) many returned wanting one of their own. Today, they are once again gaining popularity in America. Some are finding their rightful place in the field as a hunting companion. Others are companions of another sort. Whether the Weimaraner is right for you or not, for some, there is no other choice.

If you are serving in the military, we salute you! If you have lost a loved-one that gave their life as the ultimate sacrifice, we send our condolences. We pray that on this day, set aside to honor those who gave their life that we have the freedom to make choices, we all remember some paid by giving their life. Hug a Weimaraner in honor of a fallen veteran today, or do something else to honor one!

~Blessings from Cliff and Shela

Sunday Snapshots

Did someone say not to use this chair???

The OwyheeStar’s Saturday Synopsis

Happy Saturday Weimlovers!

Last Saturday was the NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association) local hunt test. It was put on by our local chapter–Treasure Valley NAVHDA. Once again, Cliff pulled off a great event with Zula Blue earning a Prize II. With her hormonal condition prior to the test, her performance was spotty at best. However, at the hunt test, she was consistent and made a good showing in each category netting a prize. These prizes are not a given, and every NAVHDA hunt test sees participants leaving hand-empty. So, Cliff was more than delighted, and some of his training partners were surprised.

This was a three-day event (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Cliff and Zula Blue ran on Saturday. It takes a lot of work to put on such an event. It requires importing judges, as well as organizing the test. Food, fellowship, and lot of patience is involved in the process. Even the most experienced participant finds themselves with time on their hands. They may also contemplate what is going to occur on this given day, during their moment of opportunity. While some talk with other participants, others try to walk away the anxiety and keep their dog fresh and ready. 

Penny Masar is the Treasure Valley Test Secretary. She also sets a pretty spectacular table for the participants. Without an understanding of what are involved to make this all happen, we cannot truly appreciate the opportunity. We are so fortunate to have a quality NAVHDA group here in the Treasure Valley. There is a sister club in Baker City, Oregon, and events are scheduled there as well. Opportunities are few and far between when you live away from the metropolitan areas. Geographically, it is feasible to attend several different events, which are not much further than Boise is from Ontario. With this in mind, we realize we are more than fortunate to not only have the local clubs, but to have some great people in the organizations. It takes dedication, commitment, and old-fashion experience to offer this kind of quality event. We send a big thank you to our entire club for all they have done and continue to do to make this possible!

This Week’s OwyheeStar Blog Featured Articles:

1. Monday May 21 ~ ( Click Here ) — OwyheeStar News
2. Tuesday May 22  ~ ( Click Here) — Ruca and Company
3. Wednesday May 23  ~ ( Click Here ) — Scout at One Year
4. Thursday May 24   ~ ( Click Here ) — Brynn and Elliott
5. Friday May 25 ~ ( Click Here ) —  Tuomo

Reflections, thoughts, and whatnot…

Cliff has incubator working hard. The Coturnix, also called Japanese Quail are due to hatch on or about June 2. We must get to photos of these spectacular speckled eggs. Other than waiting for our chicks to hatch and running in the hunt test, we have been busy around the home place. I am working in the garden, and hoping to get something good going. Cliff has been the bugs worked out of his aging irrigation system. With the first crop of hay off, and the second one already a foot high, another cutting is around the corner. Nonetheless, with higher temps and less rain irrigation is a must in the Treasure Valley.

Yes, we also have a wonderful litter of pups. Several of you have especially enjoyed seeing the three longhairs in the litter. Thank you for your comments and continued interest in our pups. That wraps it up for this week. We look forward to sharing with you again this coming week.

Puppy Breath Your Way

~ Shela & Cliff (OwyheeStar Weimaraners)

Tuomo, our Weimaraner is a sweet boy!

Remember When?

Tuomo is doing awesome – he is huge, 93 pounds the last time we weighed him and NOT fat – which is good cuz that’s what we wanted!  You were totally right about getting a boy – not only is he my sweet little (well, not little ) boy, but Ava has really asserted her alpha-ness, so I can’t imagine how she would have been with a girl. 

Here I am winning her over…..

They get along really well tho – except when they both want the same toy, lol.  Anyway, he’s such a sweetheart with an awesome personality, but you were also right about the temperament – he is a bit stubborn, which has made training a little more challenging, but all in all he does really well and is COMPLETELY spoiled. Oh, and he LOVES to take a nap with me – in the bed, of course .  I’ll send you a recent pic as soon as I can get him to stay still long enough for it.

Thanks again for an awesome dog!!! ~ Rebekah

One Child Plus One Weimaraner

I just received the photos from out latest photo shoot and could not help but to share this with you.  Brynn is such a good dog.  I have a couple more I think I will send, just because it shows how well they do with kids

 

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I really love the photo of Brynn and Elliott being silly together! ~ Shannon

Breeder’s Note: While some people struggle to incorporate the Weimaraner into the family, others make it happen. Much of what becomes of the Weimaraner pup’s life depends upon attitude, environment, and commitment. While some who face struggles are embracing all the latest guru’s advice, others follow gut-instinct or have a knack with the Weimaraner. As with raising children, there is not one exact formula for success. The Weimaraner is more challenging, and can pose a problem. The concrete-thinking Weimaraner is not the independent soul that some pointers are; rather they will ignore you at some juncture. However, despite this behavior, their Velcro-nature leaves them needing you despite all appearances. Your relationship and understanding of what makes them tick are the key factors in reaching blissful success. The Weimaraner is not the lazy-man’s dog; nor are they content to lay in the backyard and await you to notice them.

A One-Year-Old Weimaraner Named Scout

Scout (at one year)

Hi Shela and Cliff! Scout here. I thought I would tell you how I am progressing, since I just turned one. My mom and dad gave me a pig ear birthday cake and it was soooo yummy!! I got to see some of my best friends too: Abby the mini Dashund and Button the Golden Retriever. We had soo much fun! Afterward, Mom and Dad took me to the lake for a bit. It was so cool! There was so many things to smell! When we got back to the house, I got two new toys! I got a new NylaBone and a new Kong. Wow! I like birthdays!

 

Tell me again why I am the one wearing the hat….

At one year old, Mom says my personality is unique and quite the opposite of my sister, Remington’s. She says that I am a cuddler and that I have two speeds: on and off. She affectionately calls me Sweet Pea and Dad called me Scouticus (kind of like Spartacus). I like my nicknames.

 

Speaking of being the opposite of my sister, Remington is my best friend in the whole wide world! We play together all day long, we cuddle together, we even have learned how to tag-team Mom and Dad together. Oh what fun we have!

 

Well, I’m going to go. I want to get back to chewing on my NylaBone. I hope you are doing well!

–Received From Scout on April 26, 2012