Finding a Puppy

[BostonRott]

Think about what qualities are important to you in your puppy. What kind of lifestyle will you be living with this dog? I.e. mostly just hanging around the house? Lots of hiking and strenuous outdoor activity? Do you have an interest in agility/obedience/herding/tracking? Would you like to show your dog?

No matter what you plan to do with your pup, you should strongly consider health and temperament, for without health, your pup will have little enjoyment of life, and without good temperament, no one will want to be around your dog.

You should ask breeders about screening for hips, elbows and hearts. All 3 of these are certified via OFA (http://www.offa.org) and you can verify a breeder's claims of screened animals by doing a search of the OFA database on their website. You can also ask about eye clearances, verified via CERF.

If you're looking for an active dog, consider the breeders who value working dogs. Obedience, herding, Schutzhund, agility or tracking titles...........a dog who has been titled demonstrates some degree of trainability and athleticism. If the training/titling has been a real struggle, why? Did the dog come with baggage from a previous owner? Is the dog too independant and constantly "arguing" with the handler? (This is something that will pass along in the puppies, and personally something I have no interest in).

Dog shows are nice, but if you're not interested in a show dog, there are other places to look. Do some calling around, find a vet who is a reproductive specialist. Ask them if they have any Rottweiler clients who are planning a litter. Often, someone willing to put the time/money into using a specialist is someone who will have also done their homework on researching the pedigree of their planned litter, will have their health clearances in line, etc.

Do NOT be taken in by huge glossy ads, flashy impressive websites. Do your homework!!! Find out how many litters they breed per year, and think about how much time can really be put into each puppy. Puppies should have plenty of time with their litter, but also EACH puppy needs time apart, each day, after a certain age. They need to learn to handle life on their own, and not simply find "security in numbers." What kind of socialization does the breeder do with the puppies? Is the breeder willing to offer phone numbers and email addresses of previous buyers?

Be able to describe to a breeder your household (just you? a significant other? kid? other animals?), a typical week for your household, what the dog will be expected to handle, and what your dreams/aspirations are for you/the dog.

Realize that some breeders will not allow "picks" of puppies. The breeders spend 8 weeks with their litter, they know them better than anyone, and deeper than any 5-10 minute puppy test, and should be able to say "Based on your lifestyle, household and expectations, Puppy Q will be best for you."

Find someone you can establish a long-term trusting relationship with, someone who is willing and able to answer any question at any hour, or if they can't, is willing to ferret out resources for you. You should expect a good breeder to pry into your life as much as you are prying into their breeding plans. They may want to see your house, know if your yard is fenced, know your previous experience with either the breed, or dogs in general. Don't lie to them, and don't think that because you don't have any experience, that you will be automatically ruled out.

Finding the right puppy takes time, but that hard work will pay off in years and years of a phenominal relationship and a great dog who is happy to see you no matter the weather, time of day, or how stinky you may be.

Good luck in your search!!