Guidelines for Buying a Rottweiler
Your first consideration in buying a Rottweiler should be the knowledge that for the next ten or more years that dog will be a part of your household.
Unlike your automobile, you can not trade in your Rottweiler for a newer model. As a companion to your whole family, your Rottweiler will reflect the love and affection you show him. He will represent an emotional investment as well as a financial investment. Therefore, choose him carefully.
Know as much as possible about the breed and his breeder before you buy. Deal only with a reputable breeder!
Selecting a Breeder
Much of the success you will have with your Rottweiler depends upon what happened to your dog before it comes to you. Its genetic background, early conditioning, and socialization are the results of the breeder’s efforts.
Reputable breeders are those who:
- Study genetics, nutrition, structure, and movement because their primary concern is producing dogs that measure up against the breed’s standard of perfection.
- See that all their animals receive the proper inoculations at the appointed intervals in consultation with their veterinarian.
- Give evidence of their concern with the humane treatment of dogs by shipping only to individual parties, shipping puppies in safe, comfortable enclosures with adequate ventilation, and never shipping puppies under seven weeks of age.
- Give individual attention to raising and socializing each puppy in clean and healthy surroundings where it can live happily with people and with other dogs.
- Are happy to assist you with directions for the feeding, training, and grooming of your puppy.
- Occasionally have young adults as well as puppies available. They will help you select a quality animal at a price comparable with, and ultimately better than, that offered by a commercial pet store.
- Will openly discuss pricing and financial arrangements. They will provide proof of AKC registration.
- Never mass produce puppies to be sold as a commodity.
- Never deal in gimmicks or unreasonable guarantees.
- Never use high pressure sales practices to sell you on a breed or a particular puppy. Rather, they will encourage you to study, visit other breeders, and attend an all-breed dog show before you decide.
Not all breeders are conscientious. Commercial establishments, those specializing in “attack”, “aggressive”, “over-sized” or other exaggerated traits in Rottweilers, or pet shops (which, by definition, source their stock from puppy mills or other commercial breeders) seldom have the time to give the individualized attention that puppies and new puppy owners need.
The American Rottweiler Club can assist you in locating a breeder.
Visiting the Kennel
Whenever you visit a kennel there are certain things you have a right to know about the breeder. You may want to ask some of these questions:
- Why did you breed this litter?
- How many litters do you breed a year?
- Do you show your own puppies and dogs and with what success?
- Do you belong to a local or national breed club?
- Has your veterinarian checked these puppies?
- If a hereditary defect appears in the puppy, will there be a refund or a replacement?
Decide before you buy whether you want a pet quality puppy or a show potential puppy. A pet quality puppy is a healthy example of the breed which falls just a little short of the standard of perfection in some way. A show potential puppy is one which measures up strongly against breed standard and has no disqualifying faults. If you intend to show your dog, study the breed standard carefully. Visit several breeders. Observe the off spring produced by various breeders at American Kennel Club (AKC) sanctioned matches and shows.
Some Terms You Need to Know
Purebred: A dog of known quality and ancestry, with both parents of the same breed for many generations.
Pedigree: A form which has the names and (occasionally) the registration numbers of a dog’s ancestors. Pedigrees are sometimes referred to as the dog’s “papers.” A pedigree is not accepted for registration with the AKC.
Registration Papers: Forms issued by the American Kennel Club which entitle you to register your purebred dog. If these papers are not available at the time you purchase your puppy, be certain that they are forthcoming. Do not buy the dog unless you receive:
- Full identification of the dog in writing.
- Signature of the seller including the co-owner, if any.
- Names of the sire and dam of the dog and their registration numbers.
- Name, address, and telephone number of the breeder.
- The AKC litter number or registration number.