Possible to over-research a dog?

[FullNelson]

How many of you guys went through the trouble of researching your dog before you baught it?

Ive been looking into getting a Rottie for a while now and I feel now is the right time. That being said I am having a hard enough time finding any puppies at all let alone one that meets my standards. Im looking for a pet, not a show dog or a breeding dog, and as such I dont expect to pay that price tag. However I do still want a pure bred with a long and well to do pedigree.

Problem is I dont want to search through all this to come up short and sacrafice my standards just because I cant find the right one only to settle on a lesser choice and be let down with either an aggresive or shy and agressive dog, OR one with problematic health.

CLIFFS: Did you guys who were picky with the pedigree of the dog feel it was worth the wait and hassel of the search itself?

 

[suprahero]

I'm pretty sure the shy and/ or aggressive is going to depend a lot on how you raise it. You should keep looking until you find the one you want and not settle for anything else. Good luck with the search and I'd hate to know I had to buy dog food for a rotty with this economy going to shit.

 

[MK3Brent]

I and my family are huge dog lovers, and no breeds are discriminated against. In my opinion, the right dog will come to you!

Have you considered a Rottie rescue, or some other adoption place?

I love my husky/shep, but I also have a Rottie/Lab mix who is a lovely dog.

Again, the best dogs are always adopted dogs.

 

[drunk_medic]

IMO, I would never rescue a large breed dog like a Pit or Rot. You never know how poorly they were treated in the past, or if/when they are going to snap. If you get a dog that was mistreated, it would be nice if they were not large or powerful, so you didn't have to really fight it.

 

[DsBetterHalf]

Some of the rescue places will have puppies......people will occasionally drop off a bitch that is pregnant, and the rescue will end up with a litter.

I googled Wyoming Rottweiler Rescue, and got several dozen responses. This one seems to cover a broad area, but it was the first one on the list:

http://www.bigskyrottrescue.org/

Best of luck!

 

[IJ.]

My last dog was a RottiXdoberman and was the best dog I've owned, none of the bad traits of each breed and a fantastic temperament.

Most of the purebreeds I've had anything to do with are a bit "dumb" though inbreeding

 

[wiseco7mgt]

I always pick whatever dog in the litter has the largest testicles..My dogs nut sack looks like a couple of kiwi fruit wrapped in a handkerchief. The reason? i dunno just seemed like a good idea.

 

[Setheroo]

I always pick whatever dog in the litter has the largest testicles..My dogs nut sack looks like a couple of kiwi fruit wrapped in a handkerchief. The reason? i dunno just seemed like a good idea.

Ummmm drink much?

 

[wiseco7mgt]

Ummmm drink much?

I'm having a few right now actually. Cheers big ears

 

[FullNelson]

Ha, Yeah im sticking mainly to rescue before I go straight to a breeder. My biggest concern is just the genetics. Ive read that everything from hip dysplasia down to temperment in some cases can be inherited. (German breeding standards disctate for a dog to get its breeding papers, It must pass a physical exam and a temperment exam)

Im not big on the whole pure bred thing but I dont want a dog prone to giving me more trouble than im looking for. I just need a fun companion, not more bills. As such Im hoping I can weed out some trouble areas by researching the pedigree.

My only concern with adopting an older dog would be not knowing the nature of the beast but knowing whatever it decides at this size will go. Perhaps if I knew the dog or the owner for sometime I could agree to adopt, however with a dog bigger than myself I wouldnt risk it anyother way.

This will be my first Rott (not my families) so I have a bit of scepticisim on trying to not get myself into trouble.

Heres the big question though: Should I just let the girlfriend pick out the dog as long as its within my breed preference and quit worrying>?

 

[wiseco7mgt]

Ha, Yeah im sticking mainly to rescue before I go straight to a breeder. My biggest concern is just the genetics. Ive read that everything from hip dysplasia down to temperment in some cases can be inherited. (German breeding standards disctate for a dog to get its breeding papers, It must pass a physical exam and a temperment exam)

Im not big on the whole pure bred thing but I dont want a dog prone to giving me more trouble than im looking for. I just need a fun companion, not more bills. As such Im hoping I can weed out some trouble areas by researching the pedigree.

My only concern with adopting an older dog would be not knowing the nature of the beast but knowing whatever it decides at this size will go. Perhaps if I knew the dog or the owner for sometime I could agree to adopt, however with a dog bigger than myself I wouldnt risk it anyother way.

This will be my first Rott (not my families) so I have a bit of scepticisim on trying to not get myself into trouble.

Heres the big question though: Should I just let the girlfriend pick out the dog as long as its within my breed preference and quit worrying>?

It's great to see you've thought about this (alot) but just go visit a litter of pups that have great parents and pat both and then just go with your instincts on picking the puppy, the dog will learn from you what is right and wrong just like a small child in most cases so with discipline and training it will work out ok. Very rarely aggression is the dogs fault and not the owners unless a medical problem is occurring or the dog is just plain bloody crazy( i've owned one lol).
Just don't spoil it too much or it will become a burden and nothing more than a pain in the ass.

 

[savannahashlee]

I have adopted all my dogs....All but 2 were mutts

 

[DreamerTheresa]

If it is your first time getting a Rottie, honestly, WAIT. Because it IS such a breed with health and possibly temperament issues, take the time to screen the hell out of Rottweiler breeders. Let them know you'll be a first time owner.

I would recommend a show breeder who, in addition to showing, does obedience and/or schutzhund.

If you have to wait, wait. It gives you time to save for puppy shots, a crate, toys, and the cost to spay/neuter. I highly recommend spay/neuter if this is your first time with a large and/or dominant dog.


Find a Rottweiler message board and talk to the people on it. Let them know what you're looking for. They should recommend a responsible breeder for you.

 

[FullNelson]

Agreed. I wont be breeding or showing the dog so it will be spayed or neutered. Its just everything ive seen says to go to a dedicated breeder no matter what and no back yard breeders. Normally I wouldnt have second thoughts on the breed because I grew up with grandpa and uncles having them, so it feels second nature being around them. Yet now the family seems to be swaying me to another breed. Dunno.

Just weighing the differences in a first time pet dog needing to be from good pedigree or not.

 

[*james*]

Your best bet is finding a puppie from a breeder even though it might be more exspensive its worth it.. You can raise it to your standards. Even though rescuing a dog is nice I hate to see dogs suffer but you never know how they were raised or treated. GL with the find though its all up to what your looking for.