Where Not to Look for Your Rottweiler and Why
There are other places you could purchase your rottweiler, but these are generally not good places to look. These include backyard breeders, puppy mills, and pet stores. Let's take a look at each of these sources for puppies.
Backyard Breeders
Backyard breeders are usually people who just recently got into breeding dogs. They have a purebred bitch, and they think that breeding their rottweiler will make them money, so they breed with the first available stud. Their rottie may or may not be AKC registered and is most likely a pet-quality dog from a pet shop or another backyard breeder. The owner doesn't know the history of the dog and doesn't have any titles on her.
No matter how cute, don't buy that puppy in the window! Pet shops often purchase dogs from commercial breeders or puppy mills. These puppies often have no certifications against hereditary diseases and many are poorly socialized.
At first, it may seem convenient to buy from a local backyard breeder. After all, you just want a pet, right? The problem is that backyard breeders don't screen for hip dysplasia, cardiac problems, or other genetic ailments. They don't understand the AKC standard and are likely to produce substandard dogs. They won't offer temperament testing, a contract, or a guarantee if something goes wrong. What's more, buying a puppy from backyard breeders only encourages them to breed their dog to make more money. Their dogs often sadly end up in shelters or in rescue. If they can't sell their puppies, they may dump the puppies in the shelter. Do you want to encourage that?
Puppy Mills
Another type of breeder is the puppy mill. The puppy mill, as its name suggests, churns out puppies for sale. Puppies are always available. They may breed several breeds or may breed only one breed.
A puppy mill might seem like a good place to get a rottweiler puppy, especially if you're in a hurry. But, think about where you're buying your puppy from. Like the backyard breeder, the puppy mill is in this to make money. That means no genetic screening, no selective breeding, and no temperament testing. There are no guarantees, or if there are, they are usually fraught with unusual clauses designed to give the puppy mill a way not to honor them. But, it gets worse than that.
Many puppy mills are overcrowded, and the pups are raised in squalid conditions with little or no socializing. The parents of the puppies are kept strictly to breed and are condemned to a terrible existence. Every year, there are raids on puppy mills where dogs are rescued from abominable conditions. Inevitably, many are very sick and have to be euthanized. While not all puppy mills are like this, many are. Do you want to encourage this practice?
Run, don't walk, from anyone who tries to pressure you into buying a rottweiler puppy. The sense of urgency on the breeder's part is definitely not something a responsible breeder would display to a potential buyer. A responsible breeder wants to make sure that the match is a good fit and that her puppy won't come back, or worse, end up in a shelter or rescue.
Pet Shops
What about pet shops? Well, reputable breeders don't sell their dogs to pet shops because they have no control over who is buying their puppies. Reputable breeders want to make certain that the home they sell a puppy to is the right home. How are they able to do this if they never speak to the buyer? Pet shops are in the business of selling a pet. That means the dog goes to whoever hands them the purchase price. If you go into a pet store and ask about health certifications, it is unlikely they'd have any to show you. What's worse is that most pet shops buy from commercial breeders and puppy mills. Do you want to support that industry? The only place to look for your rottweiler besides a shelter or rescue is at the home of a reputable breeder.
