QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

BELOW ARE SOME QUESTIONS WHICH WE HAVE BEEN ASKED - IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE ANSWERED PLEASE E-MAIL info@therottweilerclub.co.uk

Q. Where is the best place to find out where to buy a Rottweiler.

A. The Kennel Club will give names of Breeders who have an Affix, but bear in mind that does not mean that they are all experienced in the breed. The Breed Clubs are the best way forward to give names of reputable Breeders who have a lot of experience in the breed and who follow the guidelines of good breeding, health checks, back-up service and advice after a puppy is sold. Also word of mouth is very important. Go and see a lot of adult rottweilers before even contemplating a puppy. A reputable breeder will ask a lot of questions, and will show all the relevant health certificates. If they don't, walk away.

Q. At what age should a puppy be sold.

A. 8 weeks is the usual age for a puppy to go to his new home, and never less than 7 weeks.

Q. What is the price one would have to pay for a quality K.C.registered puppy.

A. Between £650 and £800 is the current approximate price.

Q. What questions should I ask a Breeder.

A. Whether the puppies are Kennel Club registered, if they are not go no further and leave.

If so what K.C. Health checks the sire and dam have been given, eg. Hip scoring, elbow scoring, heart testing, eye testing. Please note Hips, Elbows and Eyes all have a BVA Scheme, so these forms should be the only ones accepted. Hearts can be tested by a Cardiologist Vet. Who is able to give a Certificate, not just a veterinary surgeon saying 'the heart is alright.'

How much experience they have had in the Breed and whether they would be available after the pup is sold for back-up help, e.g. if problems of behaviour and nutrition occur, do they have the expertise to give advice. How many times have the pups been wormed. All pups have worms, so they must be wormed at least 4 times by the time they go to their new home.

If in any doubt walk away.

Q. Should my puppy have a tail.

A. Rottweiler puppies can no longer be docked. Very occasionally a puppy (any breed) may be born without a tail. If you are offered a puppy without a tail you must ask for a certificate from a Vet. to say puppy was born without a tail.

Q. I have seen Rottweilers in the showring without tails.

A. A ban on docking only came in on April 6th 2007, therefore any Rottweiler born before that date could have been docked legally. Therefore for a number of years we will continue to see both docked and undocked dogs in the ring.

IMPORTANT

For those of you looking for a Rottweiler puppy please take care about buying on-line. There are many so called 'breeders' who do not health check and who are in it for the money, consequently puppies are sold cheaply with no back up or help available if 'things' go wrong.

There is an on-line advertisement from a breeder of another breed, advertising a first time litter of Rottweilers. The puppies are expensive and quoted as being from parents who are hip scored. The parents have in fact very high hip scores and should not have been bred from. There are other puppies being advertised as being docked – THIS IS ILLEGAL. These advertisements are being monitored and complaints sent to the site.

The recommendation is to breed from the lowest hip scores, the Rottweiler Club Code of Ethics for members states that the highest score which can be bred from is 20, with no more than 10 On either hip.i.e. 10/10. The lower the score the better. Where elbow scores are mentioned – there are only 4 grades – 0 – normal, 1 – mild, 2 – moderate and 3 – severe. The BVA recommendation is that only 0 and 1 should be bred from.

If you want a puppy contact a reputable breeder who will do the necessary health checks of breeding stock – take care with matings – rear and socialise the puppies well.

Always ask to see the parents – it may not be possible to see the sire as he may not be owned by the breeder.

Ask to see the health check certificates and the Kennel Club registration names of both parents and copy of puppy’s pedigree – the pedigree may not be available until you collect the puppy.

The Committee of the Rottweiler Club will give all the help and advice it can to help you to find a reputable breeder.