I had wanted to stay home today. The agenda was to snuggle with puppies and take a million photos. Unfortunately, the universe had other plans and I ended up making a three hour drive to Pasadena, CA to meet with a CalWEAR volunteer who had just been viciously bitten by the dog she was transporting. The CalWEAR post is pasted below, but I want want to share the following information with the Barrett audience:
We know from over ten years of experience that a dog’s temperament is primarily predetermined by DNA. It’s one of the six core elements of our breeding program. And it shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Unfortunately, there are lots of folks out there who are quick to make a buck, and truly believe they can do this by putting a male and female dog in the backyard together, and then a few months later, sell the puppies on Craigslist. People who are desperate to get a puppy now start thinking to themselves, how bad can it be? and make the decision to buy one of these instead of waiting a few months for an ethical breeder to have puppies available.
I know. I’m preaching to the choir. 🙂 But I wish there was a way to tell the world what can happen if dogs aren’t bred right, like this fellow who I had to take in as a foster last night because there was nowhere else for him to go.
This dog was purchased from a family who wanted a Weimaraner. Reputable breeders didn’t have anything “available now,” but they were lucky enough to find a nice guy on Craigslist who had a litter and “had one nice puppy left.”
Unfortunately, the once nice puppy was insecure, timid, fear aggressive, and without proper socialization and training, learned quickly that it was acceptable in his world to lash out at people if they didn’t belong to his immediate family. With a mouthy predisposition and zero obedience, he also figured out it was okay to start biting people.
Except for it’s not okay.
So now, at the age of 17 months old, when most Weimaraners at this age have acquired the necessity life skills to succeed in this world, this guy’s family is at their wits’ end and don’t know what else to do, except for to turn him over to rescue. ‘
So here we are. In the next week or so, I have to divide my time between working full time, raising a litter, and managing a foster through rescue who has a bite history and has a long way to go before we’re comfortable even thinking about placing him in an adoptive home.
MEET 2021-405.
This beautiful disaster entered rescue today because he had worn out his welcome at home.
To be specific, he’s great with the kids in his family but freaks out when new people come over. 
In rescue, we never know a dog’s entire story. There’s usually very little or no history about where the dog came from, how well it was socialized, and people typically leave out pertinent details.
Sadly, we sometimes have to find out the hard way what a dog is all about AFTER they’re in our care.
Best we can piece together, we’ve got a boy on our hands who’s insecure, fear aggressive, and severely lacking in basic obedience.
– – – – –
CalWEAR is proud to be an organization that takes in all dogs. Most Weimaraners, but not always. 
We take in seniors, blind dogs, BLIND SENIOR DOGS 
, dogs who have four legs, dogs who have three legs, dogs who lick, dogs who bite, dogs who lunge, dogs who snarl.
We understand that many of the dogs who come to us are the result of questionable breeding practices from families who are not able to cope with their “special needs” and that the best we can do is to thoroughly assess for triggers and develop a game plan going forward. For many, it’s a matter of finding the right home. They’re out there. 
While we wish for every dog who comes into our program to be deemed adoptable, protecting our community comes first and we will NEVER knowingly place a dangerous dog with a foster or adopter. Ever.
We’re going to try real hard with this guy. We’re his last chance. Pray for him. Pray for us. He’s a beautiful Soul and we want to be able to help him. 
– With love and gratitude, Team CalWEAR
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