If you’re on the lookout for good Rottweiler breeders around you, it’s time to prepare yourself for an extensive search. Finding a good breeder for this big dog breed can be quite a challenge.
If you want to become a Rottweiler owner, you first need to get familiar with the breed. The next important thing is to find a good Rottweiler breeder who will be able to give you a top quality puppy for a good price.
The biggest issue is that searching for a breeder can be tiring. It’s not as fun and interesting as learning about a specific dog breed. Still, it’s something that has to be done.
To help you out, we have created a list of several best-rated Rottweiler breeders both in the US and outside of it. We will also explain what you need to look for in a good dog breeder and how to recognize a good one.
Let’s begin.
Rottweiler Breed Information
If you are familiar with the Rottweiler breed, you’ll know why it is important to know a good breeder from a bad one. With such a large breed, the background is important.
Rottweilers were originally bred for herding cattle in Germany. Thanks to their large size and strong build, they quickly became dogs used to pull butcher’s carts. Over time, they became police dogs and were used in the military.
Their ancestry can be seen in the way Rottweilers look and behave. They are large and muscular dogs that don’t fear anything.
If a Rottweiler comes from a good bloodline, he’ll be calm and confident. While these pups aren’t overly fond of strangers, they are never timid. They usually sit and wait to see how a new person around them will behave and whether they pose a danger to their owners. This makes them excellent guard dogs.
Rottweilers are protective and loyal, and they will try to take care of their owners as much as possible. However, this also means you have to provide them with early socialization. Otherwise, they might become aggressive.
These doggies like to be working constantly. The moment they get bored, they will become destructive. Consistent dog training is the best way to ensure you end up with a well-behaved dog that is never bored and always gets enough mental stimulation.
Rotties require leadership. They need to know that you are the pack leader and that this isn’t a disputable position. Because of this, they aren’t the best dogs for everyone. They require dog owners who know how to deal with strong and intelligent dogs.
Still, with proper training and early socialization, Rottweilers make amazing pets. They can be gentle and loving, and they’ll love playing with all of their family members.
Why Should You Pick A Reputable Breeder?
If you don’t think that finding a good Rottweiler breeder is important, think again. Rotts are dogs that can easily become too much to handle for someone who doesn’t know how to deal with them.
While you might think that it’s all about how you train them, you are not entirely wrong. Training and a good environment are crucial for having a well-behaved dog that isn’t aggressive.
Still, good breeding is essential in making sure your dog is much more friendly and that there are fewer chances of unexpected accidents happening. We’ll give you several reasons why good Rottweiler breeders are important.
1. They Give You Expert Breed Guidance
If this is your first time owning a Rottweiler, then it is always a good idea to make contact with someone who knows how to deal with this specific breed.
A responsible Rott breeder who has a lot of experience will be able to tell you exactly what you need to know about owning this large dog. They will help you determine whether this breed is right or wrong for your lifestyle.
Reputable Rottweiler breeders aren’t in it just for the money. They care about their Rottweiler puppies and want them to go to good homes. This is why they’ll never pressure you to buy one if a Rottweiler isn’t the right dog for you.
2. They Sell Puppies That Are Up To The Breed Standard
Reputable Rottweiler breeders sell puppies according to the breed standard. This is the set of rules for how all dogs of a certain breed should look and behave. This includes things such as the Rottweiler’s coat color, coat length, height, weight, eye and muzzle shape, and so on.
The breed standard is usually determined by major kennel clubs in the area. For example, you have the American Kennel Club (AKC) in the US, the United Kennel Club (UKC) in the UK, and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in most of the EU.
These characteristics aren’t there just for the breed’s good looks. They enable dogs to do the job they were meant to do. For example, if the Rottweiler is too small, or if he isn’t strong enough, he wouldn’t be able to pull carts or do other jobs that working dogs do.
There are even some Rottweiler kennel clubs with their own standards. However, most usually follow the rules set by larger national kennel clubs in the area.
3. You’ll Know The Puppy’s Background
Almost all responsible breeders have pedigrees of the puppies they’re selling. This allows them (and their buyers) to see the family tree of the dog in question.
This way, you can always be certain that your pooch is the best possible match for you and that he’ll be up to the breed standard.
4. You Can Meet The Parents
Meeting the parents of your future Rottweiler puppy is important as this is the best possible way for you to know how your puppy will turn out. All reputable breeders will allow you to meet at least the mother of your pup.
If the male Rottweiler – also known as the sire or Rottweiler stud – is still in the breeder’s possession, you will likely get to meet him too. If not, most responsible breeders will provide you with high-quality photos or videos and share the father’s pedigree.
The more relatives of your future puppy you meet, the more likely you will be to know how your Rottweiler will turn out once he’s grown. This includes not just the way he looks but the way he behaves, as well.
5. You’ll Know Your Dog’s Health Background
Photo from: @crazy_rottweilerlovers
Reputable Rottweiler breeders will know of all the genetic diseases and conditions your pup might suffer from. For example, Rottweiler dogs are prone to conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cardiomyopathy, subaortic stenosis, and cataracts.
To prevent these health conditions from spreading, reputable Rottweiler breeders will ensure they pay for several expensive genetic tests. For example, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) can help them check if their dog is at higher risk of hip dysplasia.
They won’t reproduce dogs with health conditions, and they’ll inform you of every problem they find.
This is why puppies born at reputable breeders have a higher chance of reaching their full life span – which, in the case of the Rottweiler breed, is 8 to 10 years.
6. Your Rottweiler Puppy Will Have A Health Guarantee
Reputable breeders offer health guarantees for their puppies. In other words, they will guarantee that purebred puppies from their litter won’t get specific health problems until they are at least of a certain age.
Keep in mind that the terms of each health guarantee can vary, so make sure you talk about this with your Rottweiler breeder.
Most of the time, if your pup gets a condition covered by this guarantee, you’ll either get a refund, a replacement puppy, or the breeder might be the one to cover a large portion of the medical treatment.
7. A Good Breeder Will Help You Pick The Right Puppy
Dogs who fall under the same breed standard still have their own personalities. A responsible Rottweiler breeder will know how to recognize this, and they’ll be able to point you in the direction of the right puppy for you.
For example, if you aren’t overly active, they’ll choose a calmer puppy. If you enjoy having guests, they’ll find a pup that is more friendly than most. This will ensure the best match.
8. You’ll Always Have Expert Help
Good breeders care about their puppies even after they’ve left their homes. They will encourage you to keep in touch, so they can always offer you free advice.
This is especially useful for first-time Rottweiler owners. By staying in touch with your breeder, you’ll know who to talk to if you run into any problems, whether medical or behavioral.
9. They’ll Train Your Puppy
The most important time in a puppy’s life when it comes to dog training is the first few weeks of its life. However, this is quite a bit before you can take your puppy home.
A reputable breeder will conduct the necessary training and socialization of all their puppies. When you have a potentially aggressive breed like the Rottweiler, this is extremely important.
While the puppy’s behavior will mostly depend on how well you, as the owner, train him, these early steps will greatly help you with your future training.
10. Your Puppy Will Always Have Somewhere To Go
Unfortunately, for one reason or another, we all might end up having to abandon our four-legged family members. If this does happen to you, you can rest assured knowing that your Rottweiler puppy will always have a home.
Almost all reputable breeders will take a puppy back at any point in the dog’s life. If you end up with dog allergies or find yourself in a dire situation such as job loss, move, divorce, or a health crisis, your breeder will be there to take your puppy or help you find him a new home.
What Other Options Are There?
Some people don’t think that getting a dog from a breeder is necessary. This is because there are several other, more affordable options out there.
Before we go any further, you need to know this: Reputable breeders aren’t expensive just because they can. They need to pay for all the necessary tests and high-quality dog food and equipment. This is the reason behind their seemingly high price. The truth is that you’re only paying for the additional services.
Not to mention that if you decide to go cheap on the initial price, you might end up paying a lot more later on medical costs.
Still, here are some other options you have:
Backyard Breeders
Backyard breeders don’t literally breed puppies in their backyard. Instead, they are dog owners (usually, they own the mother dog and not the stud dog) who ended up with an unwanted litter of puppies.
While these people mean well – most only want to find homes for the puppies they cannot keep – they don’t have any experience breeding dogs. This means they don’t know how to properly take care of their Rottie puppies, and they will likely miss out on proper training and socialization.
Not just that, but they certainly won’t pay for expensive genetic tests, and they won’t issue any health guarantees. In other words, you have no way of knowing whether your puppy is at risk of getting a debilitating health problem later on.
Still, most of these people do the best they can to keep their puppies healthy, despite their lack of expertise. They will also sell them at a discounted price, as earning money isn’t usually their primary goal.
Of course, exceptions exist, and some backyard breeders will try to pretend they are registered and even try to sell at a fairly high price.
One of the good ways to know whether your Rottweiler breeder is legitimate is to check with a local Rottweiler kennel. For example, most American Rottweiler breeders will be a part of the American Rottweiler Club.
Puppy Mills
Puppy mills are places that do just what their name suggests: They ‘produce’ and sell puppies.
Unlike reputable breeders, puppy mills see Rottweiler breeding as a means of turning a profit. These places don’t care about the well-being of their puppies. They only want to produce as many puppies as possible so they can sell them.
Puppy mills don’t really care about the parent dogs either. They’ll usually mate a female Rott with a stud dog as soon as her puppies have stopped nursing, so they can have a new litter fast.
These practices are dangerous for dogs, as they tend to live unhappy and unhealthy lives. Just like backyard breeders, they don’t conduct any health tests, so you can never know what you’re getting.
The worst part of it all, due to potential neglect, many Rottweilers from puppy mills end with plenty of behavioral issues.
Pet Shops
Pet shops are stores that sell pet supplies. Many will also sell pets they get from puppy mills and similar locations. Because of this, buying from pet shops isn’t recommended.
Many pets that come from pet stores are in a bad condition. This can be a problem when you have a breed that can be dangerous, like Rottweilers. Chances are you’ll buy a traumatized puppy that will need lots of work, not to mention the possible health problems.
Adoption
Finally, you can try looking at local shelters and humane societies to try to find a Rottweiler that’s been put up for adoption. While this is the most ethical thing to do, with Rottweilers, this can be tricky.
As mentioned several times before, Rottweilers can be dangerous. They are powerful dogs with a strong prey drive, and if they come from a bad background, they can be aggressive. An adult Rottweiler can cause serious harm to humans.
At the same time, there is no way of knowing the medical history of the dog in question. While adoptions only cost a small fee of $50–$500, you might end up with a dog that needs constant vet visits or one that won’t live for very long.
On the other hand, you are doing a wonderful thing by adopting a dog in need of a home. Still, these are the dangers you need to understand.
Best Rottweiler Breeders
Rottweilers are a common breed in the US. There is no doubt you’ll have plenty of places to look at. In fact, you might even see ads of your neighbors selling Rottweiler puppies!
Still, some breeders are considered better than others – at least according to their reputation and the number of great testimonials they have.
Without further ado, here are 10 of the best Rottweiler breeders in the US:
1. Von Evman Rottweilers – Florida
This is a code of ethics breeder and one of the first Rottweiler breeders in that region of Florida. All of Von Evman Rottweilers are certified by the OFA, so hip dysplasia is a thing of the past.
They sell show-quality dogs that can perform excellently if you want to take your dogs to conformation shows. In fact, this quality breeder has many accolades that prove its reputation.
They have earned the AKC’s Silver Breeder of Merit, and they have held a place within the American Rottweiler Club for several decades. Von Evman Rottweilers are also associated with the American Rottweiler Verein, United States Rottweiler Club, and the Association of Professional Dog Trainers.
This is an excellent place for all looking for top-quality Rottweiler puppies and a breeder who cares about all of their puppies.
Related: Top 17 Rottweiler Breeders In Florida (2022)
2. Carrabba Haus – New York
Carrabba Haus was founded by a Rottweiler enthusiast who decided to take their breeding program to a higher league. They claim that breeding Rottweilers isn’t a job but a form of art that they approach with a scientific method.
If you’re looking for Rottweiler breeders that sell only the best bloodlines, look no further, as Carrabba Haus has you covered.
They claim that many other breeders make two mistakes: They don’t use the right females, and they add too many bloodlines. Carrabba Haus tries to eliminate this.
The dogs that come from their bloodlines have won several confirmation shows. They are a near-perfect match of good genetics, health, looks, and temperament.
3. King Rottweilers – Washington
King Rottweilers is a family-run breeding kennel from Spokane Valley, Washington. They look for dogs from quality Rottweiler bloodlines to create Rottweiler puppies that stand head and shoulders above the rest.
The main focus of King Rottweilers is their puppies’ health and behavior, but they also care about being up to the breed’s standard.
They have produced many sires, including World Sieger Champions from 2001 to 2016. If you purchase one of their puppies, you’ll know that you’re getting a dog that comes from a pedigree of winners.
King Rottweilers also come with a health guarantee, according to which you’ll have a two-year free replacement and a lifetime guarantee that your puppy won’t have any hereditary defects.
4. Firehouse Rottweilers – Arizona
This is a family-owned kennel run by Jim and Heather Laubmeier. The duo has been breeding Rotties for three decades, perfecting their breeding and training program.
They keep up to the German ADRK System, a strict method that only allows the breeding of high-quality Rottweilers. In other words, their Rotties are considered to be the best of the best.
Firehouse Rottweilers works closely with the Phoenix Rottweiler Club, and they train and socialize their puppies to make sure they are the best pups possible. Whether you’re looking for a show dog or a family pet, Firehouse Rottweilers can give you what you need.
5. Von Ruelmann Rottweilers – California
Von Ruelmann Rottweilers use their world-class personal breeding program created in 1980 to produce champion dogs globally. They work in the US, as well as Russia, Bermuda, Germany, Canada, and Romania.
They are the only US-based kennel that competes with two Sieger-Class champions at the famous ADRK Klubsieger Show.
If you want to get a world-class Rottweiler, Von Ruelmann Rottweilers are certainly a good place to go.
6. Ballardhaus Rottweilers – Missouri
This is a small kennel located outside of St. Louis. They produce Rotties with European bloodlines that stick to the strict breed standard.
The true passion of these breeders lies in shows and competitions. Although they will breed family dogs, they will mostly try to create dogs from winning bloodlines that will be the best show dogs possible.
All of their parent dogs are tested and approved by the OFA and licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), so they are as healthy as possible.
7. PrinceHaus Rottweilers – Illinois
Veterinary technologist Peter Prince owns this kennel located on the outskirts of Chicago. PrinceHaus Rottweilers have been breeding Rotties for over three decades, producing nothing but the best puppies possible.
What sets these breeders apart is that they spend more time with potential buyers than many breeders do. They do their best to pick the best puppy possible for all of their clients. If you opt to buy from them, you can be certain you’ll get the best Rottweiler for you.
German Rottweiler Breeders
Another thing you need to consider is whether you’re looking for German Rottweiler breeders or American Rottweiler ones. While the American Rottweiler is fairly common in the US, the German one is quite rare. Most German Rotties are imported from the EU, so we won’t talk much about them now – although we will mention breeders who also sell them.
Also, take notice that you won’t find Rottweilers with cropped ears if you’re looking at these breeders. Ear cropping is not a standard practice according to European kennel clubs.
8. Von Ous Rottweilers – Georgia
Von Ous Rottweilers have been breeding dogs for a quarter of a century, but they started with a single puppy back in ’92. Today, they offer German Rottweiler bloodlines imported from the EU.
They are very selective when it comes to breeding their dogs, so they don’t have many litters. Their waiting lists are long, so if you plan on adopting from them, you need to be fast and plan ahead.
They sell all of their puppies with AKC registration papers, as well as a veterinarian’s stamp of approval.
9. Von Warterr Rottweilers – Texas
Von Warterr Rottweilers were founded by Warren and Terri Jonson in Quinlan, Texas. However, they are currently managed by Jerry Scott.
They opened in 1991, and ever since then, they have been doing the best they can to produce show-quality Rottweilers through selective breeding. In fact, they are among the few German Rottweiler breeders you can find in the US.
They adhere to the FCI standard, which still allows the docking of pups’ tails. Because of this, they tend to cater to customers and adapt their puppies according to the buyer’s needs. Whether you need a family pet, working dog, or show dog, they will have it.
10. Jenecks – Washington
Another kennel club from Washington, Jenecks is also the oldest Rottweiler kennel on our list. It was founded back in the early 1970s!
Just like Von Warterrs, they produce German Rottweilers, and they give you a promise that their puppies can compete worldwide. In fact, they are among the few German Rottweiler breeders that don’t go to Europe to get a new female dog if one of their females retires. They will simply take a female from their own bloodlines.
If you prefer American Rotties, don’t worry. Jenecks breeds them as well.
Final Thoughts
Rottweilers can be gentle giants or big bullies. It all comes down to how you train them and what you expect of them. Still, choosing the right Rottweiler breeder can help you to get the best dog possible.
While the place you get your Rottie from might seem unimportant, it’s actually essential for getting the right puppy for you. A good breeder can ensure you end up with a healthy, well-behaved pup that will be with you for a long time.
Sure, money is an important factor. However, we urge you not to skimp on your Rottweiler puppy. What you don’t pay today, you might pay double tomorrow if your pooch ends up with severe health issues.
In the end, the choice is up to you. We assure you that you won’t go wrong with any of the Rottweiler breeders we’ve listed above.
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