Leah, a female Weimaraner about 6 months old, came to Freddy's house on 20 September 2002. She was one of the seven rescues brought up to Heartland Weim Rescue from North Texas Weimaraner Rescue to make foster room for the Wetobe Weims after the puppymill was busted so the Wetobe dogs could be fostered there in TX after they got out of the vets'. Other fosters from North Texas went even further than Missouri and Kansas - some as far as Canada to be fostered and placed into new homes up there so that North Texas Weim Rescue would be able to deal with the influx of the neglected and abused Wetobe dogs.

First impressions: They are in the backyard playing. Leah is curious about the cat (Cali), but hasn't bothered her at all. .. Looks like Leah and Dixie have made friends pretty well; Enka is friendly, but she's not as much into playing with other dogs as Dixie is.

She is a sort of mouse grey color, has some khaki tan to it - she is pretty light colored of the Weims I'm familiar with, and she has a very smooth sleek coat. She's been as good as you could ask for so far, and she rode home in the van very well. Dixie and Leah are playing--Leah is just a little shy about it yet, but she's getting into it a bit more. It is going to be hard for me to let Leah go when she is adopted - she is such a great dog. I'll try her with the ball a little later, see if she likes retrieving - I have a feeling she will.

As days went by: Leah is nice, but she's had completely 0 discipline. She's wild as a horse; she's very lovable--but she jumps up really badly, she paws, and she bites. I'm going to have to be pretty hard nose with her - but she'll learn; it's not any big problems, she just needs to learn some manners. It would appear that the people that had her must have been "hugs and treats" people. .. [When she jumps] I give her a knee to the chest. I had to send her really sprawling a couple of times - and as soon as I do it, I tell her she's fine and pet her - I think we've got that pretty straight that she's NOT going to do that, but it is going to take a lot of reminding to break her of a habit she's had for a long time.

It is funny, Enka and Dixie BOTH know she is being bad!!! And they think they need to be EXTRA good because she's being bad - it is like they are trying to apologize and show that THEY aren't doing it when she misbehaves. Poor little Dixie is really upset the most, Enka is too. ..

Leah is playful--but very hyper and rough. We'll manage fine--it is just that she's going to need a little therapy to learn some manners. She is a bit of a barker-but that can be taken care of; but tonight she looked out the front door(there was a glass storm door, but the front door was open), and she did her "get tough" bark--it is pretty deep and threatening; but what ever she was barking at scared the poopy out of her-she came dashing up the stairs like a shot.

She acts like she's never had toys before - she is totally obsessed with E&DB's stuffed animals - she was grabbing them, shaking them and trying to get everyone to chase her. She's rough on them [the toys], but she's a puppy and that is what they are for, so I don't get on her about that at all - if they get chewed up, that is what toys are for. She also acts like she's never learned how to behave in the house - she tries to run and chase and fight, and I suspect she was probably never allowed into the house, so she's going to need to learn some house manners; she's down in the laundry room with Enka right now. It is just that the people who had here did nothing in the way of discipline; as for the training--we'll get it done, I just have to be kind of a hard nose for awhile - MOST of it is just KNOWING that what you are doing will take care of the problem; it is just that no one has given her ANY discipline at all so the bad habits have gotten really bad.

You'd laugh your head off at Enka and Dixie if you were here - they are positively HORRIFIED when Leah misbehaves. They know she is doing wrong--and they are afraid she's going to get THEM into trouble too I think, and they try to be extra loving when she does, so I know that THEY didn't do it.

In a few days we'll have things much more in order around here - it is not anything that cann't be fixed. Dixie is acting just a little depressed, so she is staying out with me. Enka is in with Leah, she handles being with the wild child a little better. I'm feeling like I'm trying to sail a ship through a hurricane, and have a mutiny at the same time, LMAO. It has been pretty hectic around here tonight, but things are slowly coming under control; it is tiring because you have to pay extremely close attention every minute - because, when you give a correction it has to be timed JUST right - a poor correction is worse than NO correction I think. So, it is tireing when you are done because you have been having to be on your toes every minute.

Leah went to the Weim Club meeting and she was REALLY pretty good - we worked her on a few birds. She will be a good hunting dog if she goes to someone that wants to hunt, and let me tell you---she is FULL of energy!!! Steve that is a club member who likes hunting worked a little with Leah and Enka also - they wouldn't have any chance to otherwise. .. Leah is very smart--she is learning to behave in the house very quickly.

I'm going to try taking her for a walk with E&DB - I think we'll do ok, she was pretty good at the meeting, and if I don't try her, I'll never know how she'll do.