Breeder's Help
A reputable Rottweiler breeder is worth his weight in gold-and then some. After all, breeders know their pups better than anyone else and are best able to help you choose a pup. "The breeder, if they've got some years of experience, will know how their puppies come around, how they turn, that type of thing," Thompson says.
Because of the importance in knowing what breeders forecast for their puppies as they grow, choose a breeder as carefully as you choose a pup. The breeder should adhere to ethical breeding practices, be actively involved in a breed club or competition and show genuine enthusiasm for the breed. "I think the biggest thing is to pick a breeder you can trust," Justice says.
In some cases, breeders maximize on their familiarity with their Rottweilers by choosing pups for buyers to ensure a proper match. "Personally, people who buy from me don't pick their puppies," Justice says. "I pick their puppies for them."
Others use their breed insight to pick the best home for the puppy. "As a breeder, you know yourself what puppy should really go to what type of home," Schneider says. "You try to screen the family as best you can, meet the people who are looking for a puppy, see them at least once or twice, and speak to them on the phone. I don't sell my puppies on the telephone; I sell them when I meet the people. I have to like them, and my dogs have to like them."
However, for a Rottweiler puppy to select the people they do and don't like, including an owner, is much in keeping with the breed's strong-minded character, Thompson says. "I always recommend that you take the puppy that likes you," she says. "There's always one that hangs around or is the first one if you call, 'Puppy, puppy.' Numerous times I have seen the puppies pick the people they wanted to go home with. And I think that's a very good indication that the match is pretty good."
Healthy Pups
A healthy Rottweiler is also worth its weight in gold. When evaluating a litter of puppies, look for these simple signs of good health: proper weight; cleanliness, including clean surroundings; lack of odor; clear, not runny or red, eyes and nose; clean ears; full hair coat without balding patches; and no excessive scratching.
Healthy puppies should also appear well-socialized, playful and friendly. "The puppies should be really active and friendly and jumping on you and chewing on your shoelaces and you can't get rid of them," Thompson says.
Another important factor in a puppy's long-term health is its sale age, which should be between 8 and 10 weeks. "I keep my puppies until 10 weeks," Justice says. "I would be very wary of anybody letting go of puppies at 6 weeks of age."
Like most purebred dogs today, the Rottweiler suffers from a variety of heritable diseases, which cannot be determined by a quick look-see. Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and eye problems are the most common conditions, but cardiac disorders also affect the breed. Because of the degenerative nature of such maladies, deal only with breeders who routinely screen for the diseases and conditions that affect the breed. This is the best assurance, though no guarantee, of taking home a pup that's free of these conditions.
Orthopedic disorders are screened by taking X-rays of each dog's joints. Genetic studies have shown that breeding radiographically normal dogs produces less joint disease than when breeding affected dogs or dogs of unknown status. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, a nonprofit foundation that provides a standardized method of evaluating and registering the X-rays, is the most common method of certification. The Wind-Morgan Program of the Institute for Genetic Disease Control in Animals at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine is another.
To get an idea of a puppy's orthopedic health, ask to see orthopedic certification of both parents from one of these organizations. Reputable breeders will usually offer the information without asking. If the dog is less than 2 years old, it cannot be certified. If the breeder presents certification validation, it's probably for the grandparents.
Eye diseases, those present at birth and those that develop later in the Rottweiler's life, are screened by the Canine Eye Registration Foundation, an organization that works in conjunction with the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. Ask to see each parent's CERF number, which is evidence the dog has been screened and found free of heritable eye disease. Be aware that CERF registration is good only for 12 months from the examination date. Thereafter, every dog must be re-examined by an ACVO diplomate and re-registered in order to maintain up-to-date CERF registration.
In addition to evidence of heritable disease screening, ask to see the puppy's health record and note the vaccination and deworming dates. Once you've completed your preliminary health examination and have purchased a Rottweiler puppy, breed experts advise taking it to your veterinarian within 48 hours for a complete, professional examination.
Bits of Wisdom
Be truthful with the breeder about what you plan to do with your puppy, Thompson says. In order to get a particular puppy, some people claim to want a show dog, with no intention of showing it. "I don't think there's anything that's more disheartening than selling your pick of the litter to somebody to put in the backyard and never have it see the light of day," she says.
When choosing pups for competition of any kind, such as the currently popular herding and agility, Justice recommends pups that, based on puppy aptitude tests, show an interest in retrieving; have a medium-to-high pain tolerance; are very forgiving after correction and don't sulk; aren't noise-sensitive; and show themselves to be partners.
Choosing the right Rottweiler puppy takes a large commitment to educating yourself about the breed, self-analysis to determine your ability to care for the breed, and a willingness to wait until the right puppy comes along. When it comes right down to it, however, nobody can map out the perfect strategy to selecting the perfect puppy for you. At that point, it's like any puppy choice, says Justice, who likes independent dogs. "It's a personal pick."
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