Despite some negative views about the breed, the Rottweiler has been one of the most popular breeds in America, and was once used as military and police dogs.  Even though they can have a bad rap at times, they continue to be popular because they can be a valuable and loving addition to the right family.  Here are some things to remember when buying your first Rottweiler Puppy. 

When setting out to buy your Rottweiler puppy there are always some general tips that you should follow before choosing the right one for your family, especially if you are a first time owner.

1. When it comes time to make a selection out of your chosen litter.  Make sure that the puppy you are interested in does not shy away when you approach.  Instead choose one that is friendly and lets you hold and handle him.

2.  Always ask the breeder if you can meet the parents first.  You want to observe their behavior before getting attached to a puppy.  They must be well behaved, friendly, easy to touch and handle.

3.  Ask your breeder how many times the mom has been bred.  If she has been bred over three times, there could be health, and behavior issues that you want to avoid.

4. Hip Dysplasia-  Check out his or her back legs. The large bred dogs can have problems with Hip Dysplasia  that can be extremely expensive and heartbreaking for you and the dog.

5.  Don't be afraid to ask questions-  Your breeder should answer all of your needed questions about his litter, parents and the Rottweiler breed in general. 

6.  A breeder who care  The breeder you buy from should care who he is selling his dogs to.  So don't be surprised if you have a large set of questions to answer yourself.

7.  Certificate of Health-  All puppies should be Health Certified with papers to prove it.

8.  Well fed and clean-  Make sure puppies look healthy and well fed, their coats should be shiny and clean.  Check teeth and gums to be sure the teeth are white and gums are pink.

Once you have assured yourself the the Rottweiler

A Rottweiler owner should be responsible, and committed to the care, training, and exercise of their dog. He should be knowledgeable of the breeds type and and what he needs to succeed. Since these dogs are a working class, they need lots of exercise, so having a house with a large yard is best.  You must be properly fenced in, keeping your dogs fully contained when not supervised by an adult.  It is said that this breed is best to be spayed or neutered.  Unneutered males are known to have more aggression problems and are harder to manage.  Females can become moody and more difficult to handle while predisposed to uterine problems and cancers.  One of the ways to a successful Rottweiler ownership is ongoing positive obedience training and socialization.  For someone who is dedicated to caring for these wonderful, loving companions, they can be the perfect pets. 

The Rottweiler is a medium to large sized dog. He has a very strong build and is known to be very powerful. On average a male will weigh between 95 and 135 pounds with his height ranging from 24" to 27" at the shoulders. They have a much bigger frame then the female, who will range between 80 to 100 pounds, with a height between 22" to 25" at the shoulder. The Rottweiler is always black, with clear defined tan markings on their cheeks, muzzle, chest, legs and over both eyes. His coat is straight and coarse that is medium length with an undercoat that varies depending on what climate he is living in. 

When it comes to his personality, you may be surprised to know that he is a very calm and confident dog, who has a strong desire to protect his home and family.  He can be affectionate to extremely aloof, while rarely shy or highly excitable.  He is also very intelligent, which makes training more of a natural process than most other breeds. He's also known to be one who want to be with family members all the time, sometimes following you from room to room.

Because they are so big and powerful, it's important to provide them with the necessary obedience and socialization training as soon as possible.   Any dog with kind of size that shows signs of being nervous, shy, hyperactive, excitable or any other undesirable traits should be avoided.

Rottweiler that is untrained can become a problem when he gets to be older. Fortunately, they are highly trainable and quick to learn. One of the best things about a Rottweiler is there desire to please you, but care must be taken into consideration since they do not like to be bullied. So training them with respect and consistency is advisable.

The best way you can teach the desired behaviors in a dog is with lots of positive reinforcements. This includes:

Reward all good behaviors while ignoring all the bad behaviors.If done consistently your dog will soon understand that when he does something good he will get a treat or praise, but if he does something you don't like, he won't get anything. Do you see how powerful this can be? But only if you are consistent? If you slip up even one time, you will have to start the process all over again.

With the Rottweiler's intelligence and strong desire to make you happy, his training can be particularly effective. Whether you like to do the training yourself or call a professional, is all up to you. If you decide to go training classes and do it with a professional the best way to find one that is reputable is to call your local shelter and ask them if they know of any in your local area.

Training Sessions should be kept short (two to five minutes for a puppy) and five to ten minutes for an adult). If you want to train your dog longer each day, that try breaking the time up. You can do 3 training session per day with the recommended time above. This way your dog doesn't get board and lose focus.

Crate Training Your Rottweiler When it comes to house training, the crate is the only way to go. Not only is it a great way to teach your dog to go outside and relieve himself, but it's also a safe, comfortable place for him to sleep each night. Knowing he's safe and out of trouble can be a big comfort to you as well. If you start crate training the first night you bring your puppy home, it can be very easy. Crate training your Rottie will:

• Make House Training your puppy easier.
  
• give a comfortable place for your pet to stay when you have company over.
  
• make going on vacations easier as well

Remember- A puppy can "hold it" it for only a few hours, and when he becomes an adult he will be able to hold it up to 6 hours or so.

Basic Commands- There are 5 basic commands that your Rottie should be able to follow that will make life easier for both you and your dog. He should:

Come-

Sit-

Lay down-

Stay-

Heal-

Teaching Your Rottweiler Tricks- Teaching tricks can be fun for you and your dog. He will love to please you, and you will love to see him perform for you. This keeps his mind stimulated and out of trouble.

Shack hands-

Roll Over-

Speak-

Rottweilers tend to have a serious nature. They should be quiet, even tempered, obedient, easy to train,faithful and brave. They should show a strong understanding of what is right and wrong when provided with proper training. Do not underestimate his desire to protect his family, he will leap to the defense if he has to. For this reason proper training is of the essence if you want him to succeed in life. The Rottie is a working dog that needs to be at work at all times so he doesn't become bored and get into trouble. Each Rottie has his own personality and activity levels will vary from dog to dog.

Sad but True The Rottweiler is found in shelters a lot. Typically you will find them in these places because they we either:

• Mistreated
• Lack of Socialization
• Lack of training
  
• bad breeding
• Owners abuse
• Owners neglect
• Guarding tendencies
• Owner moving

How a Rottweiler is raised plays an important roll in how he adjust in life as an adult.  If he is lucky enough to be loved with lots of socialization and training he will often be able to succeed in life as a well adjusted dog.  Even vary good dogs are sometimes shy or reserved in shelter facilities.  However, they should never exhibit aggression. 

Many Rottweilers tend to love children, even so, children should never be left alone and unattended, without proper supervision. Children do not understand dog etiquette, and all dogs do not understand the the child's behavior. Because of this, caution must be taken.  Rottweilers can be very patient and loving, but each dogs energy and patient levels are different, just as they are in children.  So, each dog and child relationship should be considered individually.