How did you find your dog?

[MicheleMarie]

I found Duchess on the internet! We really wanted to adopt a dog and since we didn't want to house train and all that stuff, we thought we'd get an adult dog, but they'd have to get along with our cats. I was searching Petfinder.com one day and forgot to click on "adult", so the puppy listings also came up. I had a friend that had a smart, funny and super sweet Rottweiler, so just out of curiosity I clicked on "The Flintstone Litter" - two female and two male, four month old Rotti puppies. They were all crate trained, house broken, micro chipped, tail docked, back dew claws removed, spayed or neutered, were being fostered by a dog trainer and best of all, they had been raised around declawed cats. Could I have done any better for my $125 adoption fee? I think not! The foster couple brought a male and a female to my house, which was an hour and a half drive (one way). After a long discussion and inspection of my house and yard, they said I could pick the one I wanted...I chose Betty, she was the runt of the litter. I don't know if she's all Rott or not. She's definitely got the markings, nature and jowls of a rott, but there's something about her that reminds me of an Australian Cattle Dog and she's still kinda small compared to the weights I've seen on this site - she's about 21 in tall and weighs 55 pounds. I feel so lucky to have found her!

[livertw]

A co-worker's bitch died of heart failure giving birth. She brought a box with the four surviving newborns to work. They were about twelve hours old. Co-worker and her daughters had managed to get tiny nursing bottles and Esbilac and feed the babies. There were two males and two females. She asked if anyone could "foster" a pup to try to keep them alive. The two boys went home with a nice guy with a big family and a big place in the country. A friend took the larger female. I picked up the smaller female (8 ounces) and just could not put her down. She latched onto my pinkie finger with her tiny mouth. I melted. Took the nursing bottle, wrapped her in a sweater and brought her home. Hubby looked at the tiny scrap of black fur and thought she was a gerbil. When I said she's a Rottweiler, he laughed. That was three years ago (I forgot to give her back) and Daisy is now 27" tall and nearly 90 lbs. I had been looking for a little lap dog. Ha. She does think she's a lap dog, but she sure isn't little!! :D :p

[danyp1]

:)

[danyp1]

Originally posted by danyp1
Once we decieded we where ready to look for another dog. (about 6 years) we decieded on the breed. I was torn between a shepard or other large breed dog. And I wanted to adoped one. My husband wanted a puppy and he really wanted a rottweiler/ So I started looking on the internet and found one. They did the home visit. He was 6 month old mix shep + rott. We liked him a lot and the kids as well. So we wanted to adoped him. Everything was planned purchases where made and we waited for him to come home. All what needed to be done was neutering. I got a call and was told that he had a very bad reaction to the antibiotics and she was not sure if there where not other health problems with the dog. She said she would not give him for adoption for at least another 3 weeks but maybe never if there are underlying medical problems. She suggested that is was not fair to us to wait for him since she is not even sure if he is going to make it or what was wrong with him. We all where very upset and felt so bad for that poor puppy. My husband and I had a long talk and decieded to look for a breeder and purchase a pup. Which we did and thats how we found Sam.

[Jarose]

The way I found Nina is amazing. To make a VERY long story short, 5-6 months before I found her I had been talked into a 6 month old male rottweiler by a breeder who I have since learned has a horrible reputation. Anyway she swindled me and my $ and what I got was a mess of a dog (obviously totally not his fault) who had been crated and not allowed to see the light of day for the first 6 months of his life so he was extremely fearful and aggressively so, would soil his crate to high heaven and couldn't even do stairs. I had named him Rufus and I think may have even posted about him way back then. I kept him for 2 weeks exactly and in that time taught him stairs, housebroke him and took him to 2 trainers who both told me the same thing - he would entail alot of time and money to overcome his issues and even then there would be no guarantees. Because of my inexperience and this being my first dog ever I returned him - crying hysterically the whole way of course. But I knew I wasn't the right owner for him aside from the fact he wasn't what I had thought I was getting. Anyway I have still yet to see a dime from that woman and gave up trying - leaving it in the hands of fate. But I still wonder from time to time what ever happened to him. : Anyway, 3 months later I had a customer who had a litter of mutt puppies for $50 each and they resembled little rotties and she was poor and I felt sorry for her (one of my weaknesses:( ) so I bought one and named him Baxter. He was so tiny and adorable and I only had HIM for 2 weeks. I asked the lady I got him from to watch him for me one day and one of her other dogs got rough with him, broke his little leg and he died in surgery from complications. I was devastated - it was a horrible feeling and at that point I started wondering if these were signs for me NOT to get a dog!! But I was determined and asked the vet who treated Baxter if he knew of any rottie breeders and he led me to Nina's breeder. Ironically Nina (not her name at the time) was sold to someone at 8 weeks old and then bought back because their other dog was nasty to her. The breeder did not want her temperament to be compromised or for her to be traumatized by this so early on so he bought her back. He was holding onto her for a couple of weeks till after Christmas and then was going to place her again. So I come along out of the blue, meet her parents, meet her, interview with him and bingo it was a match made in heaven:) She was like "Take me! Take Me!" the whole time with her big ole puppy paws on my leg. I couldn't resist. She was a lively one but it turns out it seems she was meant for me and now I see that our personalities are well matched. So that is my long saga - and believe me I was sweating it out with her those first 2 weeks!!! But 2 1/2 years later she is still with me and I could not imagine life without her!!!:D

[chivas]

A friend bred a very good quality male with a so-so female and promised us a pup. I went over to look at the males, Chivas hid under the cart and when I pulled her out and picked her up, she put her paws around my neck. I miss her terribly.

[Rott'nKids]

I think I posted this when I first got started with this forum, but here it is. I hadn't even heard of Rottweilers until I met my husband. His family had raised them for about 20 yrs. When I started really wanting a dog, I figured we would just go to the pound and take one home. Most of the dogs I grew up with were give-aways, either because the owner did not want or could not care for them. We often took care of his parents dogs while they were gone and sometimes I went with to see the dogs. I knew they had a litter (I am such a sucker for puppies!!), but I didn't know they had a single-survivor from another litter. (Kiera had had a litter, and 2 1/2 weeks later Greta had a litter. Greta was caught killing her newborns (I think she was tired of being a breeding dog and wanted a way out) and she was put down immediately. Carl, the sole survivor, was put in with Kiera and her pups, but they beat the crap out of him. He ended up in his own pen with Kiera being brought in to feed him. They "hadn't had time" to work with him since they were so busy with the other litter and when I met him at about 2 months, he was very fearful, but he came right up to me and I knew he was mine. He came home in the middle of a very bad snowstorm and has loved the snow ever since. We noticed at about 9 months he was starting to get interested in little dogs (still afraid of big ones), so we decided to get him a companion. Hubby picked Iria out (runt of litter with attitude, also from inlaws). Carl was terrified of her for about 2 to 3 weeks, but now they are great pals. I can't imagine my life without my rotties!!

[SABELLESMOM]

What an interesting thread! Our story might be a bit atypical in that our girl is not a rescue. Let me give you some background.

We had rescued a handsome tri-parti Cocker Spaniel. Apparently he was about 1/2 inch too short for show and has 2 different color eye rims, which isn't a fault. However matching eye rims do better at show.

Being long time Rottie fans we decided to help out some friends by housing theri Rottie girl, Jazmine. She was with us for 1.5+ years.

During the time we had Jazmine, we decided to research breeders. After 6 months, I finally found one (actually 2) I REALLY liked! Happily, I spoke with Peggy and we hit it off. I put in my request for a female.

Then we waited. I knew who her parents would most likely be, and was happy with the choices. We waited for the breeding and the pregnancy and the birth. It was hard, but Peggy kept up communications and updated pics.

She was to fly up, as I'd had some surgery. A 10 hour drive wasn't recommended. Then 9/11 happened! No flights at all much less including ones who'd have a puppy on board.

Peggy arranged to have her meet me 3 hours away by sending her to Philly with another family who'd gotten one of Sable's brothers. So...Sabe and Gabe travelled to their home. I drove down, picked her up and have been overjoyed ever since!

While initially I hadn't really considered showing, I changed my mind when I saw how exquisite she was. Been showing, doing well, and loving every minute!!:D :D

I'd love her every bit as much if we didn't show...it's just icing on the cake!;)

PS: Have loved all these stories, too! Thanks!

[Mary Bouchard]

Our first rottie we got from my brother when he was going through his divorce he needed a home for Lancer so we had him for 3 almost 4 years before my brother remarried and moved home and wanted him back....

So when we moved to New Mexico I began checking breeders and vets and finally found our male Guess?. I was the last litter our breeder was going to produce so we were very lucky we found him.

Then we figured we would adopt an older spayed female from the pound we checked 4 shelters and none had any females. So we answered an ad in the local paper and what a mess she was covered in ticks and fleas her eyes beaten shut she couldn't evan walk and they called her Princess. It broke our heart, and my husband told the guy put her in the car she isn't staying here and we took her to the vet and home and changed her name to What's Up?

Then as What's Up? really wanted to enjoy her life on our couch we looked for a younger rottie and 2 years later found our puppy I don't know!. She fits in very well with the other two and mothers What's Up? and plays fast and hard with Guess? so everyone is happy now.

:D :D :D :D

[Karyn]

I know I have posted this before but for purposes of this thread here goes. My town - a very nice, upscale south Jersey township started have problems. We had no curfew so the rowdies from the surrounding area were coming into our town to hang out and cause havoc. My home was broken into and my daughter assaulted. I decided to get a big, sacry dog to deter any further unwanted visitors. Went to pet shop and bought a German Shepher puppy (5 months old). By 7 months I noticed she was having problems getting up from a down position. X-rays revealed she had no hip sockets on either side. Her femurs were held in place by muscle. We kept the GSD. My daughter wanted a rottie - I didn't. She nagged - I finally said okay. This time I avoided pet shops and went to shelters, looked in newspapers ..all the wrong things. I wanted the rottie for all the wrong reasons. Found one 8 month old rottie in Cape May in March 1996 - went to see him. He lunged at the cage, snarled, groweled, all the things that would make you avoid the dog. I took him - he was just what I thought I wanted. We got home and I checked him over - he had sores, fleas and I went to check his ears and he snapped at me. He could have taken my hand off.. but he didn't. I looked in his eyes.. there was so much pain, hurt and pleading.. I fell in love with him and never again would I allow him to be hurt or mistreated. He had no house manners, did not like men in doorways (still doesn't) and was unpredictible but instantly bonded to me and my daughter - as if he knew he was home. A couple days after we got him, my daughter's boyfriend came in the front door without knocking and the dog was on him like a black streak - no warning - no growel - and the dog was not kidding. I was stunned by the power and strength of this dog and frightened too. We went to Petsmart for training (what did I know!). By being around other dog owners we found other trainers, etc. I eventually found this board where I lurked for a very, very long time - I felt really stupid reading all of these knowledgeable threards. Cromwell was in agility and obedience (until my auto accient in 1999) and has become a wonderful, docile, loving, obedient companion. He still hates cages and will lunge and growel, he does not like men in doorways but tolerates it. Then came Daisy (beagle) - a little 13", four month old beagle who was on her way to the pound. She was very well bred to be a hunting dog but didn't pass muster so she was sold as a pet. She had been a Christmas present to some kids that lived a few houses away. Christmas was over and so was the novelty of the dog. I took her with the intent of finding her a home, two dogs was enough for me. She was adopted twice and was brought back twice. She barked, she ran away, she was hyper were the excuses .. The second time she was returned she jumped on my bed and gave out the biggist sigh of relief you every heard - as if to say "I'm finally home". Roxy Boxer came with Stephanie - so there are four dogs in my home now. I cannot begin to say what Rottie.net has meant to me - an uneducated, first time rottie owner with all the wrong ideas but the best of intentions. Through this net I became educated in nutrition (which I have found is not addressed by vets and most trainers), training techniques, how to find a good trainer, how to find a good vet, behavior, activities, terminology and learned to "understand" my dogs. Thanks Roscoe - you have tremendously enriched our lives and probably save both Cromwell and me. Cromwell is 8 years old now and a far different dog than when he came to me. Neemo (GSD) is also 8 years old and is on aspirin and gloucosamine/condrititin and is doing well, Daisy (bealge) is 4 years old and still a pistol, Roxy is 3 years old and as graceful as a gazelle. I my life is so much better and fuller because of them. Sorry this is so long.

[Ocean]

When I finally convinced my husband to let me get a dog (he had had many, but had a "thing" against Rotts because he knew someone who had 3 of them and they were wild untrained holy terrors who pissed and crapped all over and tore walls down) so the rule was "no Rotts." So the ONE shelter I visited by myself had my sweet little girl sitting waiting quietly for me. I said I would take her after seeing the results of her temperment testing (great w/kids and cats). My husband was MOST annoyed, until he started talking baby talk to her and telling her how wonderful she was...:D

He loves her too, just is not a patient man so I am the trainer and disciplinarian, he just plays and gives treats. Guess who she listens to? He can't figure out why it only takes one command from me to make her obey, but he has to say it 3 times!

Now we are adopting a second Rott (I hope, I can't get in touch with his current caretaker and am getting worried) because Ocean really needs a playmate and also because my husband "really wants a male." But I have warned him that the male won't obey him any better than the female unless he puts the time and effort into him that I do! I think I am going to wind up being the leader to this one too, but I don't mind - my goal is to have 4!

[Wookie'sMom]

I had been browsing petfinder for almost a year, drooling over all of the beautiful doggies when we decided that renting was dumb and we were going to buy a house. So we moved in March 25 and I told my SO we had to wait till we got a fence up and till the roof was done (house came with a new roof, but we had to get it put on, I thought it would freak out a new puppy). So May 4th I was, again, searching petfinder and saw her post, 3 1/2 months, female, Rottweiler, seized due to cruelty. She was trying to give the camera person kisses so the picture was a little off, but I told my SO we had to go look at her.

The shelter was closed for the day so we decided that we were going to go the next day (AFTER I went to class, I thought I was going to explode waiting to go see her). We walked into the puppy room and there she was just sitting there with her back to the glass. We reached over to pet her and she took turns kissing our hands and giving puppy eyes, we were hooked. We got there not more than 5 minutes before the next people who were hooked (and about 10 before the next:D ) so we got to adopt her...but new house and all, we didn't have proof of address so we had to go home, my SO had to go to work and I went to pick her up with proof of address. So much for having the fence built and the roof done although it didn't seem to bother her at all.
That night was filled with diarrhea and vomit, the next day to the vet with visions of parvo in my head, only to find out she had 2 types of worms and a bacterial infection in her intestines. Not great but nothing a little wormer and antibiotic didn't fix.

I wouldn't give her up for the world. Would love to have one or two more someday when I have a bigger house.

[Cassandra]

okay..this is long! Finding my first girl, Jinx, seems like it was fated....my friend asked me if I ever was lonely for a pet. I lived alone at the time and had a pretty big house of my own. She had two dogs I loved to visit. I told her someday I wanted to get a Rottweiler, didn't know why, I just loved the look of the breed and they just seemed so sweet to me. I had helped my dad with his hunting dogs when I was a kid, but the Rotts just fascinated me. She thought I was nuts.

About a month later, she calls me up and tells me that my dreams had come true and she had a Rottweiler for me! Her son's loser friend had lost his apartment, all his belongings, and his kids to his ex. He had been dragging his dog around from anyone's backyard or basement that would take her while he looked for work and a place to live. My friend now had the dog in her basement, but was concerned that her very old male Akita would get hurt as him and the Rott didn't seem to be getting along. They already had one knock out fight. She also didn't like to see the poor Rott in peoples basements and backyards. She said she had convinced the loser to give the dog away because he didn't have anywhere left to go and she wanted the dog off her property.

I told her I would come and take a look at the dog. I walked down the dark stairs and there was this very large, just about three year old, over 100 lb rotten girl. She was gorgeous. The loser was using her for breeding and that was how he was supplementing his income. She was very obedient so at least he had done his work there by giving her a good education. I loved her immediately. We bonded almost instantly.

Then the fun starts, the loser wants $500.00 for the dog. I told him nope, thanks, didn't want a dog in the first place, don't want one now, see ya later. Next day, I get a call, he'll give her to me but he won't give me papers. I say nope, thanks, give me papers and I'll take the dog, didn't want the dog but would give her a good home cuz I feel sorry for her. I planned to have the dog spayed if I got her, I just didn't want to have her registered in his name if he gave her to me. It just didn't feel right, and I was afraid he might come back for her if they were still in his name. So...a few days later...I get a call. Okay..he says, you can have her and the papers. He brings her over, but no papers! He said they were locked up in his storage space and had go get em. I heard from my friend's son that he actually lost them due to his storage area being confiscated. I never got the papars and I'm sure he never got his storage area back either. I just wish I knew what her breeding had been. She was perfect.

I had that beautiful girl till she was 13 years old. She was the most loyal, loving, companion. After I got married, she tolerated my husband, but I still was her number one soulmate. My husband has since thanked me for introducing him to the finest dog he has ever known. We now have our second rotten girl, Maggie. She came to us alot easier. She is a rescue dog. She thinks she is in dog heaven, and my husband and I know we found us a rotten angel!

~ Cas

[MaxiesMom]

What a great thread. When my husband and I decided to get a dog, he decided he wanted a rott & I wanted a black lab. So I started researching rotts and I was swayed. I bought books and read the forum for months (not to mention printing off at least 2 reams of paper). So my admin knew I was interested, but being novices at purchasing a dog (we both grew up with dogs, but we just knew they appeared from our parents), she had told me that her rott just had puppies. I put a deposit down, and 6.5 weeks later came home with Maxie. Now I know, she was a BYB purely in it for the $$$, but I love Maxie and she is the sweetest girl. She is a little over 1.5 years and when she is 3 and we have a house with a yard, I want to get another one. This time, I am going to get a rescue. Though, I told my husband if we can't have children (other than fur kids that is), I want to foster rotts. But I have to wait to have a house first.....:D

[Mavides]

This is a great thread! What interesting stories!!!

First, my original Rottie, Maverick....I hate to say it, but I got him from a byb - I didn't know any better at the time, and for a byb, although they were breeding health problems, they did have great temperments and the breeders taught me a lot about training. In any case, I wouldn't have traded Mav for the world, and I learned a lot in the process.

Destiny, my chow is the next story...I wanted another dog for Mav (I had been fostering rescues for about 6 months and he had gotten used to having playmates, when they all went home, he didn't know what to do with himself!)...I knew I couldn't handle two "velcro" dogs, so I decided to try the opposite end of the breed spectrum - that, and the vets I worked for thought all Chows were horrible...I wanted to see if I could prove them wrong, and I did! I was at a pet store (I know, I know...BAD! But I was still pretty dumb back then!)...I went home to think about the little Chow I had been holding when the phone rang - someone had just dumped two Chows, an 8 month old male and a 7 week old female at a friends house. I went to look at the female and she was my "Destiny"! :)

Panza is my little Basenji mix that I rescued while living in Africa. After I came home, I decided that I missed her and even if I couldn't keep her as my own, she deserved a good home here in the States with people that would appreciate her. My boyfriend was going to bring her with him when he came home to visit his family and I would train her and search for a home. Well, he was killed in a car accident just a week before coming home. At that point I decided that I HAD to have Panza with me, forever, as a memorial to that time in my life. My boss brought her to me on his next trip home and although she's often a pain in the patooty, I love having her here.

Gosh, I didn't mean for this to be so long!! But, I have one left....Legend. After losing Mav last year, I knew that I had to have another male Rottie...but I wanted to make SURE that I got the RIGHT one that was meant for me. I didn't start searching for about a month after losing Mav and then I started calling breeders from the Dog magazines and searching on the internet. I wasn't in a hurry, I just wanted to find the perfect dog for me. I talked to TONS of breeders, some I liked, some not at all. Anyway, there was one breeder that for some reason I kept being drawn too...she didn't say anything more special than the other good ones, but there was something about her. I told my friend that I didn't want to make any decisions on other dogs until I met that particular breeder in person....luckily, she was coming to AZ for a show last November. I met her there and really liked her - but she didn't have any upcoming litters with her females. I fell in love with one of her males and she introduced me to another breeder that was expecting pups in 2 months from that male and their female. I put a deposit on the litter for second pick male and thought my search was finished. Well, I waited and after the pups were born, I was heartbroken to find out that all five of them were females. Back to the drawing board. I contacted my favorite breeder again and got in touch with someone else that had bred to her male. I had first pick of that litter....but it ended up to be only one girl and no boys in that litter. Again, I was heartbroken. I called up Sheri again and asked what else she had. It turned out that the male that I adored's sister had just had a litter with another male that I had also met...I told her that I DEFINITELY wanted one of those two boys....I had second pick, but figured that was fine - whichever one I was supposed to have would end up being mine....and I was RIGHT! In the end, I'm actually thrilled that it went the way it did - I wanted to have her kennel name in my boys name, and if either of the other litters would have gone through, I wouldn't have...and although I don't have a pup from the male I originally wanted, I still have his pedigree in Legend's lines AND I am VERY happy to have the sire's pedigree as well...as the more I spend time with HIM, the more I adore him too! I am convinced that I ended up with the puppy I was "supposed" to have! :)