Looking for a Rottweiler Breeder

[cebullockgordon]

I'm planning to buy a Rottweiler puppy next year. I've done a lot of research for the past few months and I've narrowed the list down to two kennels.

A little about myself. This will be my first Schutzhund dog. I don't have much experience, so I'll end up depending on the breeder a lot to pick the right puppy for me. I know that GSDs and Malinois are better suited for Schutzhund, but I really like Rottweilers so there you go. I also want a puppy because I want to learn to train a dog from puppyhood on up. I know they're a crap shoot and, if my puppy turns out to be crap, I'll probably do some AKC stuff instead. I really just want to learn to train a dog.

[cebullockgordon]

Oops, I didn't know I wasn't supposed to ask about specific kennels. Does anyone have any breeder recommendations for me? Hopefully somewhere in the West (CA, NV, OR or AZ)?

[Mick Trainer]

I can't really help you because I am from Aust but what are you looking for in a SchH dog? Are you happy if it is a sport only dog or do you want something more serious? At what level are you looking to compete with the dog? Give a bit more detail as to what youy are looking for and people may be able to help you find a relivant breeder. Who was the sire and dam of the dogs you are looking at?

Mick.

[lblax]

Originally Posted by cebullockgordon

Does anyone have any breeder recommendations for me? Hopefully somewhere in the West (CA, NV, OR or AZ)?

yes therea are breeder recomendations but as you found out breeders can not be discussed i would look to the east coast and in new jersey there are a few very good schutzhund clubs with world class handlers and trainers i would give them a call and ask them if you were to want a working rott who to go to. most of them you will find are very helpful.

[cebullockgordon]

I'm just looking for a sport dog. I don't need a PPD or anything like that. I want to compete in Schutzhund as hobby. I do want to be as competitive as possible though, so a dog with drives that are high enough to get a Sch 3 on it would be great.

I'm not looking at a specific dam/sire. Mostly, I was trying to get some more opinions about two kennels, but the names were edited out by admin. Can I email you the names and you tell me what you know about them?

[dmoniz]

If you can make it out to training in Newark at the Menlo Park Schutzhund Club, I would be happy to talk rottweilers with you. We train on Sundays from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm. I try to be there only part of the day, but tend to end up there all day.

[Zumie05]

Is this going to be your first puppy, or even first dog in general? If yes I would recommend volunteering maybe at a rottweiler rescue to start getting to know the dogs and how to deal with their temperaments and learning about basic training. Raising a dog from puppyhood is so much work, as I have learned! Gary was my first real young pup that I have raised. My other dogs I had got either as adults or older puppies. We got Gary around 7.5 weeks old. AAH!

Start going to a schutzhund club and getting to know people there. Then you can talk rottweiler and sporting with them and watch and learn more about the sport.

[linedog]

Originally Posted by cebullockgordon

I'm just looking for a sport dog. I don't need a PPD or anything like that. I want to compete in Schutzhund as hobby. I do want to be as competitive as possible though, so a dog with drives that are high enough to get a Sch 3 on it would be great.

I'm not looking at a specific dam/sire. Mostly, I was trying to get some more opinions about two kennels, but the names were edited out by admin. Can I email you the names and you tell me what you know about them?

There are several schutzhund clubs in Cal. and the best way I know to get a decent sch. rott is to talk to as many people training them as possible, go to the clubs if possible, talk to the trainers either in person or get on the phone and do it. A lot of good working litters never are advertised but are sold simply by word of mouth. It would be to your advantage to find a litter close to home, input and help from the breeder is invaluable, as is personal knowledge and contact with the sire and dam. Finding a working pup is a valuable experiance in itself, a lot of useful future information can be learned.

one thing that I've learned is that a reputable and knowledgeable breeder will be very concerned that a good pup will go to a person who has done his homework and knows the time and expense of schutzhund training, above and beyond the proper care of the dog.

[lblax]

Originally Posted by linedog

It would be to your advantage to find a litter close to home, input and help from the breeder is invaluable, as is personal knowledge and contact with the sire and dam. Finding a working pup is a valuable experiance in itself, a lot of useful future information can be learned.

.

yes this would be nice but after 2 years of resurching pedigrees/breeders and kennels (with lots of help from others) there is virtually nothing worth looking at west of the missisipi except 1 place in the north west usa. you will find many big kennels claiming to produce the total dog show/work(which really doesnt exist) at outlandish prices. and all this information is based on if your really wanting a dog you can compete with just not play around with in the sport. if your not set on competing (against other breeds) or if your just going to compete against other rotties then you could probably find something adequate locally.

[linedog]

Originally Posted by lblax

yes this would be nice but after 2 years of resurching pedigrees/breeders and kennels (with lots of help from others) there is virtually nothing worth looking at west of the missisipi except 1 place in the north west usa. you will find many big kennels claiming to produce the total dog show/work(which really doesnt exist) at outlandish prices. and all this information is based on if your really wanting a dog you can compete with just not play around with in the sport. if your not set on competing (against other breeds) or if your just going to compete against other rotties then you could probably find something adequate locally.

I will mostly agree with you on this, the concentration of good working litters is definately in the east.
Lets face it , very few people get to a sch1 with they're first dog ,much less to a national level, the training knowledge, the right club, the right trainer, a lot of variables have to come together to accomplish this, in addition to a capable dog.It's a difficult task, but you have to start somewhere and if thats with a less than great dog at least the learning process and exposure to training, clubs, handlers, is begun. The beginner must be properly trained to train their dog and to know what proper methods are. You can't acquire this expertise without joining a club and getting out there.
I believe I know the NW kennel you mentioned, I have a young bitch out of one of his dogs, not one of their usual studs, pretty much a solid multiple sch3 male rather than another pretty face. I was very lucky to find her litter. it seems if you look hard enough and long enough the right dog finds you.
In my opinion, a good dog paired with a good bitch will produce much better than a great male and a mediocre bitch or vice versa. but in any case good working litters are hard to find.

[laurlitt]

Originally Posted by lblax

yes this would be nice but after 2 years of resurching pedigrees/breeders and kennels (with lots of help from others) there is virtually nothing worth looking at west of the missisipi except 1 place in the north west usa. you will find many big kennels claiming to produce the total dog show/work(which really doesnt exist) at outlandish prices. and all this information is based on if your really wanting a dog you can compete with just not play around with in the sport. if your not set on competing (against other breeds) or if your just going to compete against other rotties then you could probably find something adequate locally.

All three of my current rottweilers that are working in Schutzhund are from the WEST Coast... I don't think a generalization of Coast/Location is fair... you just need to find the breedings and they can be anywhere... but I agree... research is required and just any 'ol breeding isn't going to cut it...

[cebullockgordon]

Thank you for all of the advice. This dog will be my first Schutzhund dog not my first dog. I've owned dogs before.

I started looking in January (going on 4 months now) and I still have a long way to go. I'm trying to do this the right way and get as much information as possible to make a good choice. I have gone to a few Schutzhund Clubs: Menlo Park Schutzhund, Big Valley Dog Training and Pacific Coast Schutzhund Club. I went down to So Cal to see the SW Regional Sieger Show to talk to some of the breeders there. I'm also planning to head out to the South County Schutzhund Club apparently there are some people down there that I could talk to about some breeders. I'm reaching out to as many people as possible, so I can find a reputable breeder.

I doubt I'll end up competing on a national level with my first Schutzhund dog, but I would like a good dog. I want to go as far as I can with this puppy, but I know I have a lot to learn. I'm going into this hoping to find a puppy that can get a SchH3. So I do want a dog that I can really compete with and not just dink around the field.

Mostly, I have narrowed the search down to two kennels that seem to have good working lines. The one I'm really interested in is just north of the Oregon border.

Dmoniz... are you at the Menlo Park Schutzhund Club during the week too?

[dmoniz]

Yep, I go there for Wednesdays training as well, and tonight I am going to Big Valley Dog Training. I am there Fridays and Tuesdays.

[Liz]

I agree with Laurie - I wouldn't limit my search to any specific area. There are very good dogs working on the west coast - they may not be owned by people with huge websites or advertising packages. Many smaller breeders are more likely to place their puppies with people who have come out to club, shown an interest in the work, etc. etc. We don't breed very often, of the dogs we have purchased from other US working breeders, two are from the east coast, one is from north central (my sons dog) and one is from the west coast (my husbands dog). They're all good dogs - we looked at bloodlines and working aptitude in the pedigree when making our choices.

Liz

[s1960]

Also folks with years of experience to help someone.