Seems like many people are taken by flashy websites and glitzy promotion of dogs. Others seem to think that if they spend $800 or more on a dog, that the dog MUST be of quality. And then there are people who think that if a breeder tells them a dog is show quality, that it is.
Well guess what........there's a sucker born every minute.
A) Price guarantees you nothing.
B) If a breeder is going to tell you that a puppy is show quality, they'd best have the experience to back up that opinion. What dogs have they shown, in what venues, and how have they done with them? What is their list of accomplishments?
C) It's easy to throw money at websites and advertisements. Doesn't mean a thing when it comes to the quality of dog that you buy. A certain well known puppy mill in Kimberton, PA has a lovely website, but they should be paying YOU to take one of their dogs.
So.....
When looking into a breeder or breeding, do your research. Don't believe all that you're "told." Or all that a website "says."
Dogs in America do not have HD- or ED- ratings (with very few exceptions). Any breeder who lists an American bred dog as HD- ED- better be able to tell you EXACTLY where they got that rating from, because it is NOT an OFA rating. To legitimately have such a claim, a dog needs to have been xrayed in a foreign country, with their xrays then submitted to that country's examining body.
Take the time to look the dog up on the OFA website. Check it both by name, and by AKC registration number. If you can not find the dog online, then it does NOT have a hip or elbow rating done in this country. If the dog was bred and born here, that's inexcusable for breeding stock.
The American Rottweiler Club (THE parent club for the Rottweiler in the US, and the
only one recognized outside the US) requires ALL imports who arrive in the US with a foreign hip rating to re-do the hips/elbows within 6mos of arrival here. After such a time, if the dog is bred and the owner is a member of ARC (a Code of Ethics club), they will be disciplined.
Why do you think the ARC requires re-xray of dogs with foreign ratings? Think it might be because not all registries or xray readings are "above board?" Food for thought.
A good breeder should interview you and find out what your life is like, your home and what will be done with the puppy. Without this information, how can they assure that they have a puppy that will fit your life situation, never mind deciding which particular puppy best fits your home?
A good breeder will not sell two puppies to one home, or "give" you a puppy.
A good breeder will guarantee the health of their puppy, via a written contract. Such a contract should cover health aspects for ALL puppies, not just "show" dogs. A real health guarantee will not require you to return your puppy if it has a problem. A real health guarantee does not expire at some point in the life of the dog. A real health guarantee does not promise another puppy as a way to "solve" the problem of the first pup having health issues. What good does another puppy from the same bloodlines do you? It simply increases your chances at another defective puppy.
When researching a breeder, don't just ask to see copies of health certificates, ask for the registration numbers of the dog and take the time to research them yourself. The website for OFA is:
http://www.offa.org If the dog is supposedly titled with AKC titles, look the dog up on the AKC website (
http://www.akc.org) Go to the Store and then look up the points progression on the dog. You can search by name or AKC number. If the dog supposedly has SchH/VPG/IPO titles, ask for copies of the scorebook.
Some people well tell you anything to sell their puppies, and many know just the right things to say. A breeder who is truthful in what they say/offer should not be in the LEAST offended by someone wanting to double-check titles and health certs.