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Buying a Rottweiler

Dog ownership of any breed should never be entered into thoughtlessly. You will, hopefully and with decent care, have this dog with you for a dozen or so years. Whether those years will be filled with happiness or fraught with frustration depends largely on your having carefully considered the pros and cons of a number of breeds before settling on your final choice.


Do You Want A Rottweiler?

Do you really want the responsibility of owning and training a rottweiler?
You should realise that he is a demanding animal in terms of your time and energy.
Also he is a very smart and intelligent dog who needs your focus to be concentrated on him. A dog such as a Rottweiler contributes loyalty and protection, among other things, to the relationship. In return, he deserves the same from you.

If you feel that a dog is to be patted on the head occasionally, fed and provided with a place to sleep, and otherwise allowed to go free on his own, you should not really own any dog at all, and should not consider owning a Rottie!
If you are a person wishing a dog that you will see only occasionally, do not choose a Rottweiler, for no Rottie can be at his best unless truly appreciated by his master. This is a sociable breed, longing primarily to be with the person or persons he loves. A truly devoted family member, to the extent even of rising and following you from room to room, his greatest wish in life is to be with his owner.

Buying a Rottweiler Pup:

Decide if you want a pet pup or a show pup and the sex of the pup which would be suitable for you.

Do your homework. Go to as many shows as possible and observe the rottweilers, talk to many breeders and try to get as much info as possible.

Avoid buying pups through brokers, always go the breeder directly.

Avoid puppy mills and backyard breeders. Choose breeders who care for their dogs and are knowledgeable about the breed, its care, bloodlines, breed specific health concerns etc.

Look for healthy, well-bred parents.

Both Dam and sire should be temperamentally very sound. Never underestimate the importance of the parent's temeprament. Temperament is inherited to the extent that genes determine 80% of temperament and 20% is ddetermined by the environment and the owner's attitude.

Equip yourself with the knowledge of the breed standard and apply it to the parents of the pup.

Do not buy a pup without seeing at least one of the parents.

Do not buy pup just because one or both parents are champions. You look at the parents and see how much they conform to the breed standard.

look for a puppy that is friendly and outgoing.

If you want a show dog and have no experience in choosing a prospect, study the breed standard and listen carefully to the breeder on the finer points of show conformation.

enquire about the vaccinations given and due, also about deworming schedule. a good breeder will provide you with the uptodate vaccination card.

check the eyes and ears for signs of mites or irritation.

coat should be jet black with visible tan markings.

puppy should have sound, deliberate movement with no tendency to stumble or drag the hind feet. but donot mistake puppy awkwardness with physical defect.

Reference: Rottweilers by Anna Katherine Nicholas.