BUYERS GUIDE

Puppies should be ready to go to their new homes at 6-8 weeks, but must be fully weaned before you get them.   

Request to meet the Dam of the litter;  this should be viewed as reasonable and sensible and will give you the opportunity to assess her behavior/temperament and general condition.  Bear in mind that as she has just reared a litter of puppies she may not be at full fitness, howeverthere should be nothing wrong with her, so view any obvious signs, such as lameless, with suspicion.  Ask to meet the Sire also, but as he is not often owned by the owner of th bitch, this may not be possible.

The Dam will be calm and steady, possibly curious and even friendly towards you.  She may be reserved, but that is acceptable behavior for the breed.  She should never be openly hostile or shrinking, shy and cowardly.  If she shows these negative traits it is advisable to postpone making a decision about having a puppy from her litter and talking to a expert, such as a reputable breeder, the Breed Club or a VET for advice.

Having met the Dam, you will be eager to meet her pups.  If the presence of the mother distracts their attention, it will be wise to excuse her.  After a brief initial survey ASK YOURSELF if th litter appears to be well-fed, healthy and active, and most of all imporant are they well socialised to human contact, noise ect...

Whether they are raised inside the home or outside, if the breeder has done their job properly and you are assessing them in their own envirionment you should expect to find puppies who are bold & confident and who display no signs of nervousness.  The independent, inquisitive pup and the puppies who seeks moreof your attention are both tyical of the character of th breed, although different in their individual outlook.  If when lifted and handled a little rumble is displayed, this can be tolerated for even as puppies the breed has dignity.  Over aggressiveness directed towards human attention should, however, be viewed cautiously.  Sometimes an individual will display a more dominant attitude amidst his littermates, this is acceptable, but this type of dominant puppy will require a more experienced owner.

It i important that you should only buy a puppy from parents who have both been X-Rayed & hip Scored under the British Veterinary Association / Kennel Club Scheme.  Click                 for more information.

BEWARE: Rottweilers are very appealing puppies and unscrupulous breeders often rely on the sentiment and feelings of prospective buyers to sell their puppies.