Breeder question

[cbull76]

Here's my situation. I'm looking to buy a Rottie by the fall (ex. August). I've narrowed my search to 2 breeders. Didn't know where to look and these were the top 2 of what I found. Anyway, Breeder A has pups that will be ready to go in August. Price is $1,300 including shipping. Her dogs are OFA certified and she was pleasant to speak to in regards to her dogs. Breeder B charges $800 including shipping. OFA certified as well. She was detailed with her dogs as well. Both claim champion bloodlines, etc.

Should I be concerned with the pups with the cheaper price tag? She said she used to charge $1,500, but she stopped showing her dogs and she doesn't need the money any more.

[Shelby427]

Instead of looking just at prices - what are their temperaments like? What titles have they won? One litter might be mellower, one might have high drive...you have to see what fits best with your lifestyle and family. What are your plans for this puppy? There are a lot more variables to look at other than price.

If both are the same, I'd go for the cheaper pup. I have checked out a few reputable breeders and they ranged from $800 - $1,200.

[brunie's mom]

Glad you are doing your research.
There is WAY more to choosing a breeder than cost and if they ship puppies. Champion bloodlines means nothing....you can look at BYB pedigrees and find Champion bloodlines only a generation or two ago.

First of all.... what titles do the sire and dam have? Are they both Champions or at least major pointed? Do they have any obedience titles? do they have a CD or a CDX, or anything behind their name?? Why are these breeders breeding these dogs? are they worthy of being bred? If they are doing things with their dogs, tracking,herding obedience, showing...it means they care about their dogs and the breed.

What OFA certifications do they have...just hips in not enough..there must be hips, elbow, eyes and heart...and you can go to the OFA website..Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and put in the sire and dams registered name in the box on the top right hand side.

Breeders that you have not met and know nothing about you....have red warning flags flying for me, because they will ship. Most COE breeder will want to meet you, or at least know of someone that knows you and your reputation before they start shipping a puppy.

Are there no breeders within a days drive for you to look at and at least meet the breeder and meet their dogs?

People can put anything on a website...they can also talk sweet and tell you the things you want to hear.

Move slowly....cost is the last thing you should be worrying about...honestly. If you get a poor tempered, HD dog....it's not going to help you that you saved $400. on it.

Gina

[rottcrazed]

Gina just said this, but I want to make sure this is clear - EVERY registered dog of any breed will be of 'champion bloodlines' because pedigrees can be researched back many, many generations (you will usually see 4 or 5 generations in a standard pedigree).

SOMEWHERE in a 4 or 5 generation pedigree you are going to see a champion, thus, many backyard breeders claim to have champion bloodlines. That truly means nothing at all; unless parents and/or grandparents are champions (or V-rated at sieger shows), I wouldn't want to touch the breeding. There are plenty of nice breedings where you may find the bitch or stud dog are not champions for one reason or another (and I would want to know why exactly), but they will have champion parents, and health clearances, perhaps working titles, etc....

There are many good breeders out there who do show their dogs, who do not breed just to make money (which, if you are not out there showing and working your dogs to titles, you are breeding for money) who will have puppies at some point, so why not look around further, get some references, and find a breeder who is working towards bettering the breed?

Kristi

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by cbull76

...Both claim champion bloodlines, etc....

My first Rottie had some very nice titled dogs--champions!--in his pedigree on both sire and dam sides.

Otto was the product of a BYB. Missing four teeth and cow hocked.

Buyer beware, as the previous posters suggested.

[linedog]

If you didn't know where to look, you don't know enough yet to buy, not by a long shot. knowledge of the dogs and breeders are much more important than price.It sounds like you are looking for a pet, but buying sight unseen means your pretty well stuck with what you get in that crate. as said before the "champion bloodlines " sounds good to a new buyer, experienced buyers get very cautious when they hear that, it's a dead giveaway that nothing proven is up close in the breeding.
Get a pedigree at least of the parents with all health certs and check them out, get historys of previous litters from this sire and dam, people she has sold to, whats her standing with the breed clubs she belongs to, does she belong to any with a code of ethics, what does her contract say in regards to genetic faults, if it isn't in writting it doesn't exist.there are many threads in this forum dealing with finding the right breeder, and believe me, it's important

[cbull76]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come across as price being the number 1 factor. It's not. I was just wondering if price should be a concern. I'm trying to do my research. ;-) I looked on the OFA site. Breeder B only has 1 of 2 Males that she's breeding on the site. He is just certified for hips. Is that a red flag?

There's only one breeder in Nebraska that I know about I'm not too sold on them.

[Shelby427]

Originally Posted by cbull76

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come across as price being the number 1 factor. It's not. I was just wondering if price should be a concern. I'm trying to do my research. ;-) I looked on the OFA site. Breeder B only has 1 of 2 Males that she's breeding on the site. He is just certified for hips. Is that a red flag?

There's only one breeder in Nebraska that I know about I'm not too sold on them.

yes, it is a red flag, like Gina said, both sire and dam must be cleared for hips/elbows/eyes/heart.

Remember, you may have to drive a LOT to find a reputable breeder. Don't just decide on a breeder because of proximity. I know some people who have driven across states, staying in hotels/motels etc. on the way there and on the way back to buy from a reputable breeder.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by cbull76

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come across as price being the number 1 factor. It's not. I was just wondering if price should be a concern. I'm trying to do my research. ;-) I looked on the OFA site. Breeder B only has 1 of 2 Males that she's breeding on the site. He is just certified for hips. Is that a red flag?

There's only one breeder in Nebraska that I know about I'm not too sold on them.

Yes..big red flag. That's what I mean about website and "breeders" saying what you want to hear. They tell you that their dog is OFA'd....so you think that is great. But it must be for all of the things..hips, elbows, eyes and heart. What titles did the sire have? if any?

What is your location? Maybe we can send you to some dog shows that are coming up in your area?

Gina

[cbull76]

Breeder A: There were no titles. She doesn't show her dogs I believe.

Breeder B: Here are the achievments: Achievements:
VERY LARGE MALE WITH OUTSTANDING HEAD! WILL BE SHOWN TO HIS CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2005.

The other had none.

I'm in Omaha, Nebraska

[Shelby427]

Originally Posted by cbull76

Breeder A: There were no titles. She doesn't show her dogs I believe.

Breeder B: Here are the achievments: Achievements:
VERY LARGE MALE WITH OUTSTANDING HEAD! WILL BE SHOWN TO HIS CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2005.

The other had none.

I'm in Omaha, Nebraska

This is NOT GOOD. Anyone who states "Very large with outstanding head" is probably a BYB. Rotties are not meant to be a LARGE breed, the standard states "medium to large." A lot of BYBs say things like this to get people to buy - uneducated buyers who think rotties are supposed to be giant. Anyone who claims their male rott is "150lbs of pure muscle" you need to RUN FROM.

There's a ton of information in the breeding forum that you will need to read through. There are lots of questions you should be asking.

[cbull76]

Thank you very much. Yes, she said her Rotts get up to 140 lbs! I've decided to stay away from her! I'll just keep looking.

[spidey]

Also, "OFA" doesn't mean anything without an actual OFA number, the breeder should be happy to provide you with the dog's OFA number, or look it up yourself on the website with the dog's registered name. I've found quite a few breeders claiming to have "OFA" on their dogs, and yet those dogs are nowhere to be found on the website.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by cbull76

Breeder A: There were no titles. She doesn't show her dogs I believe.

Breeder B: Here are the achievments: Achievements:
VERY LARGE MALE WITH OUTSTANDING HEAD! WILL BE SHOWN TO HIS CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2005.

The other had none.

I'm in Omaha, Nebraska

Run...do not bother with either of these "breeders". These are puppy producers...nothing else.

If breeder A does not show...how can she know that her dogs are worthy of being bred? Just because they look like Rottweilers??

Breeder B thinks it's an "achievement" for a dog to have an outstanding head?? That's a good one. Will be shown in 2005? He should have been a champion...it's 2008.

Take a look at the stickies on the Breeding forum...read some of the Breeding Announcements that some of our fellow members that are breeders have made in that forum.
Take a look at the titles and health certs that are on the breeding announcements.

Can you do a google search for the American Rottweiler Club....there may be information on there about breeders or up coming events in your area.

Gina

[Canula2000]

There are so many better breeders out there...don't make distant an issue. I had my current male shipped to me from several states away and I am very happy with him. But before him I was looking at a breeder in Canada and I know I would have been very happy with a pup from that breeder as well. I believe you must feel very comfortable with the breeder and take time to develop a relationship. My first rottweiler I was in a hurry and bought the first available pup...I bought a good pedigree and many champions but 5 years later I put my girl down due to poor temperament. If I had done research I could of saved myself heartache.