Breeding is a full time venture and should not be taken lightly. You are responsible for these pups for life. If you are considering breeding your Rottweiler, please answer the following questions?

• Why do you want to breed your bitch or dog?

• Can they offer anything to the breed?

• Is your bitch or dog free from any health problems?

• What genetic faults are in your bloodlines?

• Will you do pre-testing on your bitch or dog to ensure their health?

• Are you willing to supplement your bitch to ensure a healthy pregnancy?

• Are you willing to provide her with adequate exercise?

• Are you willing to provide her with a safe place to whelp and raise her litter?

  • This means a whelping box with whelp rails and a nice even temperature environment.

  • The whelping area should be kept clean and dry and the pups should be kept at about 85 degrees for the first 10 days as they can not regulate their body temperatures.

  • This means artificial means of heat and an increased electric or gas bill.

• Is your whelping box in a place where you can monitor it 24/7?

• Can you afford to lose 2 to 3 days from work and sleep and sometimes alot more.

  • My family usually doesn't see much of me for the first 2 weeks until eyes are open and pups are walking.

• Are you prepared for a C-Section both emotionally and financially?

• Can you deal with the heartbreak of losing the pups either one at a time or maybe even the whole litter?

• Have you ever seen a bitch kill her offspring?

• Can you deal with a mournful bitch if she loses her litter?

• What if mom has no milk?  Do you have the time and money to raise this litter by hand?

• What if the bitch dies and leaves you with orphaned pups? Are you willing to be mom?

  • This means everything from feeding to cleaning and teaching the lessons the bitch would have taught.

• Can you afford to have dewclaws and tails done on a litter of 12?

  • Dew Claws usually run $3 to $4 each pup and tails are usually anywhere from $4 to $8 a piece.

• Will you vaccinate and worm your pups?

  • Shots usually start at 5 weeks and last until they are all placed at which time it is still your responsibility)

  • Worming usually starts at 4 weeks and continues again until they go to their new homes.

  • Depending on where you get your vaccines they are usually $10 a piece, and it is usually at least $2 or $3 to worm each pup.

  • Some people are fortunate enough to be able to do this themselves but most first time breeders are not equipped for this.

  • I would guestimate that the average cost for a litter, with no complications, is about $1000.00 if done properly.

• Do you already have good homes lined up for your pups?

  • Out of these homes how many will really take the spoken for pup?

  • Have they found a cheaper one in the meantime?

• Will these people live up to your contract?

  • Limited registration with spay/neuter contracts so we don't keep over populating.

  • On the average I get probably 200 calls a year and out of that 200 there might be 15 that are really suitable homes. "I want a junk yard dog or a Rock-waller" are your usual prospects. Or "I want something I can breed her first heat" or "I have a great German Pedigree on my male and just have to breed him". I had a guy tell me once he couldn't buy a gun and a Rottweiler was the next best thing. Needless to say I went off on him.

• Are you willing to take back any dog you bred at any age because of either:

  • personal problems on the owners part,

  • moving on the owners part,

  • health problems etc?

  • What about a dog with temperament problems when you may already have 4 or 5 dogs at home and maybe children?

• Do you warn people that their home insurance may be cancelled because of owning a Rottweiler and all the other liabilities involved?

  • You never know what can and will arise and believe me always expect the unexpected.

If you have good solid answers to all the above questions you may be prepared to have a litter. However, before doing so you should talk to those who have experience in the field.

by JoRett Redman