Despite their popularity, Rottweilers are not for everyone. These dogs are exceptionally strong,
highly intelligent, and often willful animals. Owners must be equally strong and patient to provide the consistent guidance they require. Most well-bred Rottweilers have the intelligence of a three year
old child. Imagine a super-toddler with 42 bone-crushing teeth, and it’s apparent why lifetime obedience training and socialization is essential for Rottweilers.
Adopting a Rottweiler puppy requires a commitment of many years of your life. Be sure you’re ready to make that promise. Rotties are highly social animals; consistent affection is a requirement. Toss one into the backyard and ignore it, and you’ll end up with an enormous, unpredictable, undisciplined
problem. Well-publicized behavior problems usually stem from neglected dogs with socialization problems. Cities that have banned Rottweilers and other breeds fail to understand that the problem is with irresponsible owners, not with any particular breed.
Rottweilers are not lawn ornaments, burglar alarms, or guardians for your property; to be emotionally healthy, they must be members of your family. Their intelligence makes them easy to housetrain, especially with the jingle-bell method (coming up in a future column). A well-loved, secure Rottweiler adores his family and will protect them with his life. The biggest Rottie will patiently play nursemaid to his family’s children when he understands that they are part of his pack.
Please do not get your puppy from a “backyard breeder” who places classified ads and sells puppies out of his home. Go to a reputable breeder for your Rottweiler puppy. Why does it matter and how can you tell the difference?
Reputable breeders know what they’re doing. They’re professionals who have spent years and countless dollars perfecting the breed to standard. (Bigger does not necessarily mean better.) The puppy they sell will have registration papers. The parents, who should be on-site and available for inspection, must be healthy and good-natured. Professional breeders invest the time and money for genetic and personality testing of their dogs – before breeding them. They give their puppies first vaccinations and offer a health guarantee.
Backyard breeders are simply encouraging two dogs to mate, and then selling off the results. They haven’t done any genetic research on the dogs, and they have no idea how the puppies are going to turn out. They stress big Rotties. They don’t offer any kind of guarantee, and often don’t have registration papers. They just want their money. Buying from backyard breeders only encourages more of this irresponsible practice.
Before you agree to purchase a puppy, inspect the parents. Review the puppy’s health and inoculation record, as well as his pedigree (the blue slip) to determine his ancestry, and ask what and how much he’s been eating. Review the sales contract thoroughly and take note of what kind of guarantee is offered. If you’re satisfied with everything, talk to the breeder about what you’ll need to do to “puppy-proof” your home before taking the puppy with you.
On the day you actually purchase your puppy, you are entitled to a: (1) sales contract; (2) health and inoculation record; (3) application for AKC registration; and (4) copy of the dog’s pedigree (the blue slip). Never accept a purebred Rottweiler puppy without delivery of these documents at the time of sale. Most breeders provide a small amount of the puppy’s food, to ensure continuity in feeding. Breeders often provide a diet sheet that lists the brand, amount, and frequency of a puppy’s daily food, plus vitamin supplements, etc., as well as suggestions for increases to keep up with growth patterns.
Need help finding a professional, responsible breeder in Texas? There are online resources to help you. For example: http://www.doylesrottweilers.net/index.html - Doyle’s Rottweilers (Houston, TX),
owned by Tommy and Jessica Doyle, strongly follows the German traditions of Rottie breeding. They breed for intelligence, temperament, strength, and large, blocky heads. These are the standards to look for in a well-bred Rottie. (They also offer a discount for military, police, and fire fighters.) Contact them at:
Doylesrottweilers@sbcglobal.net. Visit their web page for photos of their beautiful dogs and puppies.
Properly educated and prepared, you can become the proud owner of a Texas Rottweiler who will do you proud.
Questions and comments to Sami Swan Thompson at swanwrites@gmail.com.
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