A Few Questions from a Potential Rottweiler Owner

[Jaycee]

Hello everyone. I was really excited to find this forum; I've spent the past few days just reading over many of the threads and enjoying all of the stories and tips about the breed. I'm strongly considering getting a puppy in the near future and to that end I have quite a few questions. Many thanks in advance to anyone who is able to offer advice and opinions.

A little bit about me.

I'm 24 years old and live in Southern California with my wife. We're both "animal people" and have wanted a dog for some time. We've consciously decided against it for the past few years because our schedules and finances as students had been extremely inconsistent. However, I'm now teaching full time and have steady pay and a regular schedule and thus the topic has reemerged.

I'm generally at work from 7:00AM until about 4:30PM and my wife, who is still a student, is home at various points throughout the day as well as in the evening. I have a similar schedule on Saturdays for my masters classes, but my afternoons and evenings are free there as well. I have grading and other work to do while I'm at home, but it's nothing that can't be stopped for periodic training and exercise throughout the evening (I'd just be watching television anyways).

We have a decent sized house which we rent from my father-in-law with a backyard that's probably a little under a quarter acre in size.

I am not an expert on dogs or training by any means and am completely open to honest criticism of my choice of breeds or my ability to give a dog the time, training, and commitment it deserves.

I would also note that I am not in a rush and want to make sure that everything in my life and home is as ready as possible for a new furry family member.

So why a rottweiler?

When I was a kid, my best friend's parents were professional dog trainers and rottweiler owners. I remember their dogs as being some of the sweetest, most intelligent, and best behaved animals I've ever encountered. Since then I have always had a positive impression of the breed and considered them as one I would be interested in owning at some point.

I have always had a soft-spot for big dogs and the rottweiler, even with my admittedly limited personal experience, is always the first to jump into my mind when I consider adding a puppy to our home.

That said, as I get more serious about this process I have been warned away from the breed by a number of friends and contacts (although I'd say an equal number have met and loved them) and am finding it difficult to find additional information. And that's where my questions come in.

In your opinion, is the breed right for my situation / lifestyle?

Are there any books or other resources I should be using?

Where do I find a puppy?

This one could do with a little elaboration. An acquaintance of my wife from school has told us that she and her family have bred their rottweilers (both of which are family pets, not - as I understand it - show dogs) on occasion and may be considering a new litter some time next year. She would be willing to sell us a pup for a few hundred dollars. I did not get the impression that they were serious breeders - more as a service for their friends and family that were interested in rottweilers. I believe she said they had papers on the female, but were unsure about the male. I do not know what she meant by "papers," though I assume it's related to the pedigree of the animals.

She seems like a very nice person and this was certainly a generous offer, but I want to make certain that an animal that will be spending the next decade plus of its life with my family is of the highest quality in terms of health and temperament. If we were to do this, would we be likely to get a quality dog from this situation? What is the importance of being strictly pure bred (if, for example, the sire is not)?

Would I be better off going with a professional breeder? If so, how do I go about finding one? I've had little luck finding serious breeders on the internet - are there local clubs that might have more useful contacts?

What are the general costs involved?

I'm assuming that after the purchase of the pup, initial medical expenses, and equipment (crate, etc.) that I'll be sitting at around a couple thousand just up front. Is that accurate? How much do puppy training classes cost? Agility / Dog club fees? Regular medical fees (check-ups and the like)?

Training.

When should the initial training classes start (in terms of the dog's age)? I'm also really interested in doing some sort of dog club or agility training throughout the dog's life for fun, is there any additional information about this I should know? How do I go about finding a local group?

Insurance.

I have AAA renter's insurance currently and I'm not sure how a rottweiler would affect that or if there is a difference in level of acceptance between renters and homeowners (my father-in-law owns the house). Does anyone have any experience with AAA in this regard?

Wow, it appears I've written a small book. Anything else I should know?

If you read this far, many thanks, and I appreciate any input you can give me.

[Jaycee]

Oh, and one other question - is there any reason to prefer one sex over the other?

[bleh60]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I will let others dig in and answer some of the other questions but I just wanted to say this is wonderful breed although not always right for everyone. Go through, if you havn't done so already, and read the stickies on the forum about the breed. You can also visit the rottweiler club of america website for more information on whether or not this breed is for you.

When you look for a breeder, you need to look for a good reputable breeder who is breeding only to better the breed. Temperament, health, conformation and SO much more goes into finding a good breeder of ANY breed. The best advice I would give you right now is to read through the stickies at the top the general info section, particularly the one about looking for a puppy. If you decide this is the right breed for you then read the second part of that post, titled I’m Ready To Buy My Puppy. This will help you greatly in getting on a good path to finding a puppy from a reputable breeder.

[Shelby427]

I too am going to suggest reading through the breeding forum here to find good questions to ask ethical breeders. Unless the acquaintance from your wife shows, titles and tests her dogs, she's not a COE breeder. You will need to find a breeder who has done hip, elbow, eye and heart testing on the sire and dam. So I would kindly say "no thanks" to the acquaintance. There is so much more to breeding dogs than just slapping a dog and bitch together. If you don't want to go the breeder route, go visit a rescue or shelter and you'll find that there are SO many good dogs there that need homes. Or you can look up a rottie rescue near to where you are. I can go on forever here, but do a search here first before buying a puppy. I do commend you for coming here BEFORE buying a puppy! That is fabulous and you'll have all the right things in your back pocket when looking for the right puppy for your family.

[warriec]

I got my first rottie 2 weeks ago and trust me she is alot of work, the breed is more advance than most other breeds and you will have to spend alot of time socialising it otherwise you will be in a real mess.

The breed is also huge, so higher cost of maintainace, i think you are living on rent. Note that rotties takes up lots of space.

Given your situation that you are working & your wife is studying i suggest that you adopt an older dog from a shelter, they are much easier as they have passed the difficult puppy phase plus you will be doing a good deed.

[AngelBunny]

Tip of the hat to your for doing your homework beforehand! The more research you do, the happier you and your wife will be because the surprises will be minimizied.

I'm involved with rescue. From the little bit you said about the acquaintance of your wife, more than likely their breeding efforts would be classified as that of the BYB variety. Steer away from them. Reading thru the postings in the Breeding forum will show you what real COE responsible breeders do.

You are wise to be concerned about homeowner's insurance. There are many companies maintaining lists of banned breeds. Sadly for the responsible among us, Rottweilers are on these lists. Call you agent and ask about the company's list of banned breeds.

A good way for you to become familiar with Rottweilers is to volunteer with rescue operating in your area. You'll get hands on experience with the breed.

I have many books about Rotties in my library. One of my favorites is Richard Beauchamp's The Complete Idiot's Guide to Rottweilers. I bought my used online. I also like The Rottweiler Experience by Joan R. Klem & Susan C. Rademacher and The Rottweiler-Centuries of Service by Linda Michels & Catherine Thompson.

It may be your research ultimately shows you the Rottie isn't the dog for you. If that's the case, that's fine. There are many wonderful working breeds. If more people did what you and your wife are doing--asking questions, doing research, taking your time--the breed would be in far better shape than it is.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by warriec

I got my first rottie 2 weeks ago and trust me she is alot of work, the breed is more advance than most other breeds and you will have to spend alot of time socialising it otherwise you will be in a real mess.

The breed is also huge, so higher cost of maintainace, i think you are living on rent. Note that rotties takes up lots of space.

Given your situation that you are working & your wife is studying i suggest that you adopt an older dog from a shelter, they are much easier as they have passed the difficult puppy phase plus you will be doing a good deed.

I disagree...a properly bred rott should not be a huge dog. Also, while they need a LOT of daily exercise with the owner, for the most part they don't take up a lot of space.

[moz205]

Originally Posted by Skip

Also, while they need a LOT of daily exercise with the owner, for the most part they don't take up a lot of space.

So true. My first Rottie lived in a one bedroom apartment for 8 years. We would go for very long walks daily. They take up a lot less room than my son or hubby!

[Jaycee]

Some great comments, thank you, and keep them coming!

I have emailed the local contact for the American Rottweiler Club for additional information about breeders and local clubs and organizations. I also emailed a rescue program to see if they had any, relatively, local groups that might need some assistance so that I can get some first hand experience with the breed.

As for space, I don't think that's too much of a problem. The house is actually a pretty ideal "dog house," at least in my unexperienced opinion. There's some extended space attached to the living room that I think would be a nice area for a crate. It's out of the way enough to be quiet, but still in the line of sight of most of the goings on. The house itself has plenty of room for a dog to move around.

I do worry about my schedule. An eight hour day is a pretty long time to be crated. But my wife has frequent stops at home throughout the day so a dog could have potty breaks and follow her around while she's home. Once I'm home I'm pretty confident that I have the time to spend training and playing. In fact I'm pretty excited at the idea of being involved in agility training on a regular basis. It looks and sounds like lots of fun for the dog and the owner. Here's another question though, does the build of a rottie hold up well for long runs on paved roads / sidewalks? I run a few miles a day, just around the neighborhood, and I'd love to take the dog along as well if it wouldn't pose a health risk to them.

[Calin]

Compared to a lot of people on this forum, I'm no expert. But I'll just go ahead and throw my point of view in there anyway. Just for some added perspective.

In your opinion, is the breed right for my situation / lifestyle?

Actually, between you and your wife, you guys seem like you'd have enough time to train and take care of the dog. If you were a single guy, then I'd probably say 'no.' But, like you said, your wife is a student and has the time during the day. With my dog, we have a little bargain. She either gets exercised or she eats my furniture. So, think exercise every day. Come rain or shine or snow. EXERCISE. Also, with a puppy, you can expect a lot of sleepless nights at first. You might want to wait until summer vacation so it doesn't interfere with your work too much.

Would I be better off going with a professional breeder? If so, how do I go about finding one? I've had little luck finding serious breeders on the internet - are there local clubs that might have more useful contacts?

I would probably pass on your friends offer. She might offer you a cheaper puppy than a COE breeder. But I always say, you can either pay for a puppy upfront....or you can pay later when your pup develops all sorts of health problems. Purebred dogs, in general, are prone to a lot of health problems which is why a breeder has to be much more careful when planning a litter.

What are the general costs involved?

My husband and I both agree our pup is the worst investment we've ever made. She's a freaking money sink. You've got to think initial cost of the pup, crate, bowls, toys (That's she'll probably destroy in a week or so), shots, chewies, wormers, flea medication, dog shampoo, treats, high quality food, training classes, a harness for your car, spay or neuter.

Basically, it never ends. But I will also say the first few months are the worst. It does get better. Also, you can buy a lot of stuff (Like the crate, etc) on craigslist or ebay if you're trying to save a buck. The crate I got off of craigslist retails for 130$. I got it, barely used, for $35.

When should the initial training classes start (in terms of the dog's age)? I'm also really interested in doing some sort of dog club or agility training throughout the dog's life for fun, is there any additional information about this I should know? How do I go about finding a local group?

Maddie was in her first puppy class at 10 weeks old. Basically after her second round of shots. In my area (might be different from yours) classes cost anywhere between 110-75 per 7 week course. I would say you should count on classes for AT LEAST the first 2 years of the pups life. Just to make sure you've got a good handle on her before she reaches sexual maturity.

But honestly? I plan to keep my pup in classes throughout her whole life. They're very addictive and fun. It's so rewarding to see your pup learning new things. They just blossom when they've got a job to do.

I have AAA renter's insurance currently and I'm not sure how a rottweiler would affect that or if there is a difference in level of acceptance between renters and homeowners (my father-in-law owns the house). Does anyone have any experience with AAA in this regard?

Thankfully, my insurance company doesn't have a problem with my pup, so I really have no advice to give you there.

However, you might want to consider the fact that you don't own your own home. Should you and your wife (God forbid) split, are the other places around that would accept you as a tenant when you've got a rottweiler? What if you and your wife have a baby? Are you willing to put forth the extra time and training you'll need to make sure your dog adapts to the new addition in your life? Are you prepared to stick by this dog, through thick and thin, no matter what the extra cost?

Or will this dog end up on craigslist 4 years down the road while you beg someone to take it off of your hands because you're moving, had a baby, got divorced, etc?

If you're not the type to play 'Dump the dog' when the going gets tough, I say keep reading, do your research, and go for it. Honestly, it's commendable to see someone doing research BEFORE grabbing the first pup they see. So kudos on that.

[Calin]

Originally Posted by Jaycee

I do worry about my schedule. An eight hour day is a pretty long time to be crated.

I probably wouldn't crate a dog for 8 hours during the day. You're right, 8 hours during the day plus 10 hours or so during the night is waaaaaaay too long for a puppy to be crated. Instead, I would babygate the pup into a kitchen during the day and make sure someone lets her out to pee and get exercise (Whether it's you, your wife, or a hired pet sitter) every couple of hours.

Which is another good reason to hold off getting your pup until your summer vacation. That way, you have more time to potty train your pup.

[jlaack]

A good way for you to become familiar with Rottweilers is to volunteer with rescue operating in your area. You'll get hands on experience with the breed.

Not only are Rottweiler Rescues a great place to find out more information about the breed they are also a great place to find a dog. Many dogs in rescues make excellent pets for the novice dog owner. So long as the rescue matches your lifestyle with the right dog things will be a lot easier (and probably cheaper) than buying a puppy.

I have two rescues neither of which were a puppy when I adopted them. They both fit perfectly into our home, family and lifestyle. I had the added bonus of not having to potty train or worry about my personal belongings becoming chew toys. While the thought of a cute fuzzy puppy does pull at the heart strings I think I will always skip that phase.

[daaqa]

kudos to you for doing your research!!! you will gain so much more out of the experience by knowing what you are getting into. i would, as other have recommended, check out the "stickies" at the top of the different forums. you will learn lots about choosing a dog, training requirements of a puppy, food and more. i would also recommend checking out some books on dog training. lots of members here could recommend different ones. one that i particularly enjoyed recently was "don't shoot the dog" which has some great insight on why certain forms of training work and others cause more problems.

i think a rottweiler could fit within your lifestyle, but like jlaack, i would consider taking in an adult from a knowledgeable rescue. one, you could get a dog that is already housebroken or at least have a capacity to "hold it" [something puppies don't really have]. two, you will know before getting the dog what kind of personality it has, how dominate/submissive it is, how high energy/mellow it is, etc. you never know with a puppy. if you want a dog with health guarantees, etc - keep in mind that some good professional breeders may have adult dogs available as well as puppies. your area rottweiler club would be able to point you in the right direction for that.

a great read is a famous article called "So you want to buy a Rottweiler" which can be found here: So you want to buy a Rottweiler

[Cheekie]

Aaahhhh beautiful Camarillo CA. I use to walk the hills everyday with my two Rotties. Sure do miss it down there...if you do end up getting a dog (Rottie or other) I can give you some great recommendations on Veterinarians, walking trails, and parks. Ok to be honest from reading your schedules it looks like you guys are busy. 7am to 4:30, papers to grade, homework to complete, tests to take, papers to write????? My experience with Rotties is that they are a LOT of work, especially starting with a pup. They are a working breed, demand attention and time, can be very stubborn and need to be physically and mentally challenged EVERY day. If they don't get the attention they need, well lets just say your father in law will not be too thrilled at his house or yard. On the flip side, I can't imagine owning another breed. So take your time, do your research, I agree that summer may be a better time to start with a pup. If you are really ready and able to make the commitment start looking into COE breeders, visit them, meet their dogs. One more tip in regards to finances....get pet insurance, it's worth it.

[RiggersMum]

I will never tell anyone that puppies (of any breed) are not a substantial amount of work - oh yeah, and say goodbye to your social life for at least a year, especially since you aren't home all day almost every day. When they are tiny, they can't be left for long periods cause they have to pee/poo. And even as they get bigger, the last thing you want to do is stay out all day and then go out at night leaving your pup alone. I can not underestimate how much work puppies are. You need to be prepared for that.

However, my bf and I are about the same age as you, and have a similar lifestyle. Having a puppy has been extremely difficult. It has tested our patience, manipulated our schedules, stretched our wallets, and has required a lot of effort and time for training (which is an ongoing process, by the way). But, it has also been one of the most worthwhile and rewarding experiences of our lives.

If you are truly ready for the committment, then I say go for it. You won't regret the sacrifice!