Let's Talk... About Rottweiler Breeders

Before you go out shopping for Rottweiler breeders, you really need to arm yourself with knowledge and information.

As they say, "Knowledge is Power" - especially when it comes to making a commitment to a dog for it's entire life.

The more knowledge you have, the better for everyone!

There are numerous things you should be aware of.  You'll need to be prepared to both ask and answer questions at the breeders.

Information to be aware of

  1. AKC registered litters doesn’t really mean squat when it comes to the quality of Rottweiler breeders or their pups. Litters that are AKC registered simply means that each puppy is eligible for AKC registration.The AKC doesn’t control breeding programs, or guarantee quality in any way. If you will want to participate in certain kinds of shows with your dog then you will need to have them registered, but it shouldn’t be a selling point as to quality. Any reputable Rottweiler breeder will provide you with everything you need for that.

  2. To help determine quality, you’ll want to look at the parent’s pedigree and health records. Some things to look for in a pedigree are codes after the dogs name such as:
    CH – When these two letters follow a particular discipline, it means the dog is a "Champion" CD – In the "Obedience" discipline this means "companion dog" CDX - The X after CD indicates "Excellent" UD – Obedience / utility dog
    Breeders that care about bettering the breed, will work very hard to earn their dogs titles, and continue to breed for those specific traits -- This betters the breed one litter at a time.

  3. Rottweiler breeders in the U.S. will likely belong to one of the two major clubs. The American Rottweiler Club is an AKC member club, and officially recognized as the national breed club. The ARC is dedicated to promoting quality breeding that bring the Rottweilers natural qualities and abilities as close to perfection as possible, and also makes public education a top priority.The United States Rottweiler Club is an international organization, and has similar goals to the ADRK (Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub) in Germany. The USRC is dedicated to administering breeding regulations that ensure the Rottweilers conformation and working abilities continue to improve through excellent breeding.

  4. You should be familiar with the AKC breed standard, as well as the Rotties natural traits and temperament. When you’re armed with knowledge prior to visiting Rottweiler breeders, it will be much easier for you to discern between reputable ones, and the fly-by-nighters that are just in it for the money.

Note:  Breeding alone doesn't make a great dog, because the way you raise and train your Rottie carries a lot of weight. But this information will help you determine if the Rottweiler breeders you’re looking at are highly reputable and care about bettering the breed.

What should be expected of breeders

Speaking of knowledge, reputable and ethical breeders that are in it because they love these dogs and want to continue making the breed even better are going to be very knowledgeable!

  1. They should know the history of the Rottweiler and what they were originally bred to do.

  2. They should be able to tell you what specific traits, qualities and abilities they breed for. Things like champion conformation, working ability, or extremely good temperament, etc.

  3. They should be able to show you their dogs pedigree’s, and any championship titles their dogs hold such as conformation or obedience.

  4. They should welcome and expect questions from you and have no hesitation in answering them, or showing you their facility and dogs.

Note:  You may not be able to get too close or handle very young pups out of concern for their health, which is a good thing!

Questions to ask breeders

Here are some questions that you should ask, and the answers will give you an idea of a breeder's ethics, their commitment to bettering the breed, and if the qualities they breed for are what you're looking for in a dog (i.e. great companion dog, conformation or obedience showing, etc.)

  1. How long have you been breeding Rottweilers? Breeders that have been in business less than 5 years should be scrutinized a little more.

  2. What clubs and associations are you affiliated with and what titles do your dogs hold? If they claim to breed for certain qualities then their dogs should participate in that type of showing, and hold titles in their pedigrees etc.

  3. Do you participate in Rottweiler rescue? If they truly care about the breed, then they care what happens to unwanted or unloved dogs and should do what they can to help.

  4. How many times per year do you breed each female? As a general rule, females should only be bred every other season to protect their health.

  5. Do you give a health guarantee and what is your return policy? If they stand behind their breeding program, meaning their dogs have been cleared of certain hereditary health issues, they will be able to provide you with documentation, and their policy of return should you have any problems with your puppy.

Questions you'll be expected to answer

Rottweiler breeders that care about their dogs and the breed, are going to care about where their puppies end up. Don't be surprised or offended if you are slightly interrogated by breeders, as it just means that they truly care!

Here are some questions that you might be asked:

  1. Why do you want a puppy? Puppies are a big responsibility, and commitment for their entire life. They are not disposable if you change your mind later.

  2. Why do you want a Rottweiler in particular? Rotties are unique dogs and require a strong leader and lifetime training. If you're unwilling to commit to the breeds needs, then a different breed of dog may be a better choice.

  3. Are you prepared for the costs of caring for a large breed dog? You can expect to buy the extra-large size of just about everything for a Rottie, and you need to make a commitment to care for them for their entire life.

  4. Are you prepared to make training and socializing your puppy your #1 priority? Rottweilers are not dogs that can just be thrown into the backyard as a status symbol. They are smart, strong-willed, and protective, which means they also require extensive socialization and training. If you are unwilling or unable to spend time training and working with your dog, then the Rottie is definitely not the dog for you.

Locating Rottweiler breeders in your area

There really is no one place to find an exhaustive listing of Rottweiler breeders. . . .  But I've managed to find a few resources, and given you the link below.

Please remember that none of these listing resources means any kind of recommendation or guarantee of the breeder's quality.

You will have to do your own "Due Diligence" in selecting the right breeder.

  • The USRC maintains a short list of kennels that are registered with them.

  • Breeders.net has a search functions using your zip-code, but it not an exhaustive list, and breeders must pay to be listed.

  • breedersdirectory.com has a few listings, but they are not categorized in any way such as location, etc.

  • nextdaypets has a little larger database, but not categorized very well, and breeders must pay for a listing.

Common Spelling errors & Synonyms


Site Navigation

› Rottweiler Breeders

Share this page:


  1. Click on the HTML link code below.

This site made possible by