Your Rottweiler Puppy

If you’re the proud new owner of a Rottweiler puppy… congratulations 🙂

Does your Rottweiler puppy require different care from other puppy breeds? Most new Rottie owners have these types of questions and it is not a surprise, after all, your wonderful adventure is just beginning….. and everything you need to make it smooth sailing is right here.

Or perhaps you’re still trying to decide which breed is the best ‘fit’ for you? No problem.

Rottweilers definitely aren’t for everyone, but this page will give you all the information you need to decide if they ARE the breed for you.

Deciding to add a puppy to your family is so exciting that it’s easy to make an impulsive decision and go home with the owner of the first set of ‘puppy-dog eyes’ that you see.

That’s not the best way to start out! A puppy is going to grow up into a dog, and that dog will be part of your life for a long time, so it’s important to make the right choice.

But don’t worry, you’ll find all the information you need to decide whether a Rottweiler puppy is the perfect match for you right here on my site.

The time you spend doing research, and learning all about your chosen breed, is time well spent so take your time and have fun ….

 

Puppy Ownership – Should It Be A Rottweiler?

Becoming a ‘puppy parent’ is a big step, and many a human/dog relationship has broken down because the prospective parent/s didn’t realize the size of the commitment they were making!

Caring for a puppy of any breed is a big responsibility, but when it comes to a Rottweiler puppy it’s even bigger.

Why? Because your adorable little Rottie pup is going to grow into a BIG dog, a dog who has a mind of his own and the strength and intelligence to use it.

Unless you understand the breed, and are prepared to bring him up responsibly, your story could be one that doesn’t have a happy ending.

Now, I LOVE Rotties (duh! the name of my site is a dead giveaway there), and I honestly don’t think there’s a better dog on the planet, BUT I don’t believe everyone should own one.

They’re not the best choice for a first-time dog owner for example, or for someone who is physically weak/frail, or who isn’t confident in their leadership or dog-owning skills…. and they’re definitely not the right choice for someone who just wants a ‘guard dog’ or a big, macho-looking pooch to walk down the street.

Do Your Research About Rottweilers Before Getting One

The Rottweiler breed has been a victim of it’s own popularity (like so many other breeds before it), and due to the huge number of dogs that have been bred indiscriminately, not every Rottweiler puppy today is going to show the characteristics of the true Rottweiler dog – either physically or psychologically. So you need to be extra-careful when choosing your new puppy.

It’s also important to learn enough about the breed to be able to separate fact from fiction. Again, like several other breeds, Rottweilers have been misrepresented and misunderstood to the extent that they now carry around a ‘reputation’, one that twists and warps the true nature of the breed.

Make sure that you know what a REAL Rottweiler should look like, and how it should act. Check out my Rottweiler Dogs and Rottweiler Facts pages to learn all about this breed – its’ origins, history, breed standard and more.

 

Choosing Your Rottweiler Puppy

If you’ve decided that the Rottweiler IS the breed for you, then the next step is to find the perfect puppy. This is the fun part!

But although it’s fun, it’s still vital that you don’t rush out to buy the first pup you see advertised. To be certain that you’re getting a happy, healthy, well-bred Rottweiler there are a few steps that you should follow…..

Choose a breeder carefully

Choosing a responsible breeder is a vital step in getting a Rottweiler puppy. Some Rottweiler breeders do not breed their dogs according to the standards laid down by the official organizations for the breed.

These rules are there for a purpose and refusing to adhere to them can result in a dog with health issues that will cost you a lot of money in the long run.

Not everyone who breeds dogs does it responsibly. That affects the health, temperament, and overall quality of the pups they produce.

In fact, some breeders will try to sell ‘strangely colored’ Rotties to you at an exorbitant rate by claiming that they are rare. Do not fall victim to this except it is absolutely what you want as it is most likely that these breeders did not follow the right breeding protocols. Rottweilers bred in this manner are more prone to having serious health challenges than those bred right.

It’s important to talk with the breeder, see the parent dogs, and make sure that the appropriate health screening and care is in place.

Buying a pup with ‘papers’ guarantees nothing, except that both the Sire and Dam of the litter in question are purebred. I strongly recommend taking a look at the tips and advice on my Choosing A Rottweiler Breeder page as they will help you tell the difference between a good breeder and a ‘backyard breeder’. It’s a very important distinction to make!

Learn how to recognize a healthy puppy
All puppies are irresistible, but if you don’t know how to recognize potential problems you could end up taking home a puppy who is in less than perfect health.

Below are ways to know if a Rottweiler pup is healthy or not:

  • A very good way of determining if you have a healthy pup with a great temperament is to look at the animal’s parents. If they are friendly and allow you to touch them, the chances are that their offspring will be friendly too.
  • Another sign of good health in Rottie pups is a chubby, well-fed look.
  • Choose a friendly puppy that allows you to hold and play with it.
  • Watch out for clean, shiny coats and smooth coats. Dry and dirty coats are not a good sign.
  • The puppy should have clean teeth and healthy-looking pink gums.
  • There should be no discharge from the eyes, nose, or ears of the puppy.

Do you want a puppy for show or pet?
Buying a puppy as a show prospect requires a lot more research and consideration than it does to buy a puppy purely as a pet. That doesn’t mean that a ‘pet’ quality puppy is inferior to one who has been judged to be ‘show quality’. It simply means that the ‘show’ puppy conforms more closely to the Rottweiler Breed Standard (at this point in time).

Be prepared!
Bringing home a new puppy is very much like bringing home a new baby, and you need to have all your preparations taken care of before the ‘Big Day’. Puppies require that you invest a lot of time, energy, patience and money in their care. When it’s a Rottweiler puppy that you’re bringing home, everything you buy needs to be bigger and more durable, plus you need space for that fast-growing little bundle of fur.

Aside from that, considering the fact that your puppy is a large-sized breed, you should be aware that feeding the animal is going to be different from feeding a smaller-sized puppy. Be ready to buy quality puppy foods for large-sized breeds for your puppy to ensure that the animal grows as it is supposed to and is healthy.

Taking Care Of Your Rottie Pup

f you thought that choosing your Rottweiler puppy was the tricky part, just wait until you get that little black bear cub home!

Puppy Care Checklist

Having a house that smells constantly of dog poop and pee is not a desirable thing at all, no matter how much you love your puppy. Therefore, as soon as you get the animal, you should teach it how to defecate or pee in the spot that you have designated for this purpose. Luckily enough, Rotties are intelligent animals, and doing this should not be too difficult.

All puppies would need to eat an adequate amount of quality puppy food if they are to grow strong and healthy. Since the Rottie is a large-sized breed, you should get puppy food for large breeds. You can ask the breeder what type of food to get if you’re confused.

  • Health Care

Taking care of the health requirements of your dog is vital if you want the animal to live a long, healthy life. Rottweilers are prone to some health challenges and so, if you notice anything amiss, it is best to take your pet to your vet immediately.

Obedience training and other training are a must if you want your dog to be well behaved as the animal grows older. Teach the dog basic commands such as sit, stay, heel, down, and the likes right from when it is still young so that you don’t have an unruly dog on your hands.

Groom the animal by brushing its coat and clipping its nails as often as required. Ear cleaning is needed to keep ear wax from building up in the ear and bathing should be done once every six to seven weeks. Do not bathe your dog too often so that the animal’s body is not stripped of its essential oils.

  • Socialization

Socialization is a must for all puppies and Rottweiler pups are not excluded. Socializing involves getting the animal used to other people and animals. You can achieve this by visiting dog parks, visiting relatives and friends, especially those with pets and children, taking your dog for walks, etc.

  • Supplies

You need some basic supplies for taking care of your pup. They include grooming tools, food bowls, water bowls, toys, leashes, treats, foods, crates, and so on.

Final Words on Raising a Rottweiler Puppy

I always say that raising puppies is very much like raising children, and there’s a whole lot of things that you need to do, and do correctly, if you want your puppy to grow up to be a happy, healthy adult.

Your Rottweiler puppy is a very smart little guy (or girl), but he wasn’t born knowing how to live by the rules and standards set by us humans – after all he’s a dog.

Luckily, he wants to please you, and as long as you show him lovingly but clearly what is expected of him, he will do his best to live up to those expectations.

Rottweilers are very loyal and bond closely with their family, often choosing one person in particular and becoming that persons shadow.

They need to be a part of the family and don’t do well, or reach their full potential, if they’re isolated or ignored.

These are very smart dogs, and if you don’t give them guidelines and appropriate supervision, they’ll be inclined to make up their own rules. Not what you want.

Taking care of a puppy involves lots of time, attention, love, patience, money (and then some more patience!), but you’ll be rewarded for your trouble with a healthy, happy, well behaved, and much-loved member of the family.

Conclusion

Rottweiler puppies are adorable animals, but before getting one, you should remember that the animal would soon grow into a large-sized dog. Adult Rotties are loving and loyal animals, but they are not for everyone. 

If you’re the busy type without time to cater to the needs of the animal, a first-time owner, or someone who isn’t strong enough to handle such a dog, you’ll be better off opting for another breed. On the other hand, if you have what it takes to own a Rottie and decide to get the dog, you can be sure that you’ll have a wonderful time with your pet.

 

 

About The Rotty lover 2159 Articles
My name is Dr. Winnie. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Duke University, a Masters of Science in Biology from St Georges University, and graduated from the University of Pretoria Veterinary School in South Africa. I have been an animal lover and owners all my life having owned a Rottweiler named Duke, a Pekingese named Athena and now a Bull Mastiff named George, also known as big G! I'm also an amateur equestrian and love working with horses. I'm a full-time Veterinarian in South Africa specializing in internal medicine for large breed dogs. I enjoy spending time with my husband, 2 kids and Big G in my free time. Author and Contribturor at SeniorTailWaggers, A Love of Rottweilers, DogsCatsPets and TheDogsBone