Dog ownership of any breed should never be entered into thoughtlessly. You will, hopefully and with decent care, have this dog with you for a dozen or so years. Whether those years will be filled with happiness or fraught with frustration depends largely on your having carefully considered the pros and cons of a number of breeds before settling on your final choice.

Do You Want A Rottweiler?

Do you really want the responsibility of owning and training a rottweiler?
You should realise that he is a demanding animal in terms of your time and energy.
Also he is a very smart and intelligent dog who needs your focus to be concentrated on him. A dog such as a Rottweiler contributes loyalty and protection, among other things, to the relationship. In return, he deserves the same from you.

If you feel that a dog is to be patted on the head occasionally, fed and provided with a place to sleep, and otherwise allowed to go free on his own, you should not really own any dog at all, and should not consider owning a Rottie!

If you are a person wishing a dog that you will see only occasionally, do not choose a Rottweiler, for no Rottie can be at his best unless truly appreciated by his master. This is a sociable breed, longing primarily to be with the person or persons he loves. A truly devoted family member, to the extent even of rising and following you from room to room, his greatest wish in life is to be with his owner.

Buying a Rottweiler Pup:

• Decide if you want a pet pup or a show pup and the sex of the pup which would be suitable for you.
• Do your homework. Go to as many shows as possible and observe the rottweilers, talk to many breeders and try to get as much info as possible.
• Avoid buying pups through brokers, always go the breeder directly.
• Avoid puppy mills and backyard breeders. Choose breeders who care for their dogs and are knowledgeable about the breed, its care, bloodlines, breed specific health concerns etc
• Look for healthy, well-bred parents.
• Both Dam and sire should be temperamentally very sound. Never underestimate the importance of the parent's temeprament. Temperament is inherited to the extent that genes determine 80% of temperament and 20% is ddetermined by the environment and the owner's attitude.
• Equip yourself with the knowledge of the breed standard and apply it to the parents of the pup.
  Do not buy a pup without seeing at least one of the parents.
• Do not buy pup just because one or both parents are champions. You look at the parents and see how much they conform to the breed standard.
• look for a puppy that is friendly and outgoing.
• If you want a show dog and have no experience in choosing a prospect, study the breed standard and listen carefully to the breeder on the finer points of show conformation.
• enquire about the vaccinations given and due, also about deworming schedule. a good breeder will provide you with the uptodate vaccination card.
• check the eyes and ears for signs of mites or irritation.
• coat should be jet black with visible tan markings.
• puppy should have sound, deliberate movement with no tendency to stumble or drag the hind feet. but donot mistake puppy awkwardness with physical defect.
  
  Reference: Rottweilers by Anna Katherine Nicholas
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