Wire-haired Weimaraners

[greydove]

No explanation given. I guess they just decided that there needed to have the physical specimen in the country to warrant registration but I cannot see why. I cannot see why anyone would spend the money to import without knowing you can immediately register them....there is also a clause that says you cannot show until a particular time after the registration of the breed....Narelle

[syrinx]

OK, I've got some info for you on a possible cause for the coat stuff. There is an Australian author, Pat Colby, who writes on all things organic - farm wise- and I found some interesting things in one of her books. I was reading about black sheep and how they used to be kept by Scottish shepherds as they would sunbleach when they were on pasture that was copper deficient. They were indicators. So she talks about how the hair sunbleaches, becomes coarse, and the ends lift up, like little hooks.

In the valley where we were living, there were red Kelpies used as working dogs. And it struck me that they were all ginger, but with dark, shiny heads. It was happening to our own Kelpie, but the worse one I had ever seen was up the road. It was suggested in the book that a small piece of copper pipe placed in the water dish was enough to fix it, and on the one up the road, it was interesting to watch. First the hair sat down, as the hooked end started to straighten out. Then you could see the dark and shiny hair that was only on the head, start to move down the neck, and the overall texture of the coat become much softer.

It worked on ours, and several others. For some reason, the other colours didn't seem to be afftected like the reds were. So perhaps it is something you could try.
Wendy

[christina]

Wendy,

Thank you so much for that suggestion - I just had a little google into copper deficiencies in dogs, and from what little I have read (and tried to understand!) so far, you could be onto something. I don't suppose, placing a bit of copper into the dogs drinking water could do any harm - after all, most waterpipes in the house are made from copper - but to be on the safe side I will also ask my vet if he sees any hidden risk in doing that.

If this works, I will nominate you for a medal!

I wish I could find a way to attach those photo's, since Irena does not seem to be around. Might swallow my pride and ask my husband later, he can fix most things, maybe he understands how to do it.....

Many thanks again,
Christina

[marjolein]

Christina, I can attach pics too...

[christina]

oh - forgotten to ask.... What sort of time scale, do you reckon, I would be looking at before seeing an improvement in the coat, if I put a piece of copper pipe in the water?

Christina

[christina]

Fantastic Marjolein - many thanks - pictures are on the way to you via pm in a second.....

Christina

[marjolein]

[christina]

Many thanks, Marjolein .....


Those two pictures were taken after Kimber had Skin Biopsies taken to find out more about his coat condition. The Biopsy areas stayed absolutely naked for just under one year, then suddenly hairs sprouted on the site of the incision (with normal "grey" hair, as you can see) and the whole sites (there were 3 in total) filled in within a couple of weeks. This happened when Kimber had this 10 week moulting session....

Unfortunately the Vets could not come up with any explanation either - it's "cosmetic" apparently ..... sure ! and pigs may fly !! Any ideas, anyone?

Christina

[daniela]

I guess they just decided that there needed to have the physical specimen in the country to warrant registration but I cannot see why.

Unless they think they already recognise enough breeds?

It will be interesting to see how many 'new' breeds are recognised now they have this new rule. Moreover, how many 'new' breeds they pass and/or turn down.

[syrinx]

The time frame - well, it is not a quick thing, but I think (and it's a couple of years ago now) I think should notice some slight changes in a month or two. But because it is a slight change, it takes a while. Try googling the name Pat Colby, the book it is in is her Natural Care of Sheep. I will try to find it and copy out the relevant chapter.
I am wondering if a condition he has is interfering with the uptake of copper in the diet.
Hope it works,
Wendy
Oh, and no medal, you can buy me a drink when I get to where ever you live on my World Wei'd Tour!

[christina]

Hello Wendy,

I've tried to google Pat Colby, but I could not find anything about this book you are talking about. I did find, however, a very interesting article on Copper deficiencies in goat, sheep, cattle etc. on this website:
www.saanendoah.com/copper1.html

It's quite long and a bit technical, but there are clear references to the kind of coat changes that I am experiencing with Kimber, although the article does not refer to dogs. I am going to see my vet very soon since Thomas needs a routine blood test, and I will take all the info and ask his opinion. My vet is a conventional as well as a qualified homeopathic vet, and I am sure he will give this idea a lot of thought.

I am getting quite excited by the prospect to have found a possible explanation - but regardless of whether this could be "it" or not, should our paths ever cross, I will be more than happy to buy you a drink, Wendy So far I have been searching for an answer for the past 7 years, and neither I nor 4 specialists could come up with anything. So if your suggestion were right, we'll make this a double !!

Many thanks
Christina

PS - If you do find the passage in Pat Colby's book, I would be grateful if you would copy and send it to me. My email is [e-mail]

[moonbeam]

My dear old Rascal had the stockhaar coat only I didn't know it was called that until I saw those photos!! He also had a ridge of hair that stuck out on the back of his neck.

Mariy

[syrinx]

My LH girl Lara has a little ridge between her eyes, as does her Mum. But it is only little and doesn't stick right out, luckily! I have seen one with one on the back of it's neck here, too.
Wendy

[marjolein]

That ridge is normally called a cowslick. It is common in Weimaraners, although I haven't seen it too often. Daan's dad has one on his nose.

[simona]

Hallo to everyone!
I will tell you what I know from roots of weimis here in Czech Republic. We have had pure wirehaired! weimaraners in the beginning of the century. Fans of these type try to apply to Germany to be organized under weimarner. They get back NO. So these wirehaired weimaraners were crossed with GSP and now sometimes again with weimaraners and the "new" breed was born - slovak roughhaired pointer.
Stockhaair is something different, its type between short and longhair. I have one stockhaar female by my friend I will try to make some photos. Its very good seenable on tail and hind legs, it makes small pants of hairs there.
We have time to time stockhaar here born despite mating between longhair and shorthair isnt allowed and advised, cause longhairs coat lost of their long and quality of these mating. We do it just cause of new blood.
I have these will be helpfull

[daniela]

That ridge is normally called a cowslick. It is common in Weimaraners, although I haven't seen it too often. Daan's dad has one on his nose.

Yep, it's called the same here too. I have seen various cowlicks on the shorthaireds, mainly on the shoulder. I have also noted that most of the dogs I have seen with cowlicks have long hair breeding somewhere in the pedigree.

[greydove]

I have also noted that most of the dogs I have seen with cowlicks have long hair breeding somewhere in the pedigree.

Chip actually has thrown alot of cowlicks ...

Narelle

[daniela]

That's very interesting because I have not seen any here....perhaps there's something in the water there

[ralph]

christina

hope you don't mind me for asking
but i'm bloody curious to see the whole dog.
If you don't mind please place a pic.

thnx alot

Gr. Ralph

[syrinx]

My little Chipette, Zed, is perfect, no cow licks or anything else. About three white hairs, if that. Just a big halo as she is a TOTAL angel!
Wendy