An ethical breeder will not ask for $$ until the litter is whelped and a contract is exchanged, or the very least, discussed. If I was you, I would spend a few days combing over the many educational threads that have been written on this forum. Also, don't forget that majority of ethical breeders will not accept a deposit until they know they have a puppy available for you--meaning a pup that fits your wants and needs. You have to do your homework to find such COE breeders, because they will not fall into your lap. It is also wise for you to learn about health clearences, titles, and other gargon, because if you don't sound educated, no COE breeder will take you seriously. Furthermore, you should understand how the puppy selection *should* happen. A good breeder should be the one selecting your puppy for you, not the other way around. Your "first pick of the litter" may not be the right puppy, which will have the qualities you are desiring for your wants and needs. It may even turn out that the litter produced will not have the right pup at all (it has happened to us many times), and in this event, you should have the option to stick it out until the right pup comes along, or move on. And for the love of Pete, please get past the whole "German vs. American" Rottweiler theme--many threads on this subject as well
So, as you can see, there is much to learn...happy reading
