Rottweilers are loyal, affectionate, and intelligent dogs. Most people prefer a purebred Rottie so they can have all these qualities in their dog.
However, it can be difficult for a first-time rottweiler parent to distinguish the purity of the puppy. So how to identify a purebred Rottweiler puppy?
You can identify a pure-bred Rottweiler by looking at their folded ears and short coat. Pure Rottweilers are mostly black in colors and have tan or rust-colored markings on their chest, face and paws.
Further in this article, we will go through more features of purebred Rotties and understand how to identify a healthy pup from the litter.
Identifying a Purebred Rottweiler Puppy
Pet shops and profit-oriented breeders are infamous for selling mixed-bred rottweiler puppies to meet the demands or increase their profit margin.
A year ago, my cousin bought a Rottweiler puppy from a nearby pet store. He was assured that the puppy was 100% pure-bred rottweiler. Six months later, he realized that the pup is a Rottweiler and German Shepherd mix.
Mix bred dogs are as adorable as any other pure breeds. However, if you are specifically looking for a Pure-bred Rottweiler, you can do a few things to judge the purity of the pup.
Physical Indicators
Ears: A pure-bred Rottweiler will always have short, folded ears. If you notice that the puppy’s ears stand upright, then it’s a mixed breed.
Coat: Rottweilers have a short but dense coat which lay flat on their body. Puppies with a long coat are probably mixed breed.
Color: Pure Rotties commonly come in 3 color variations: Black & Mahogany, Black & Rust, Black & Tan. The other two less common variations are solid red and solid blue. However, they are rare.
Markings: Most Rotties have a tan or rust color markings on their black coat. These color markings can be found on their paw, chest, and face. Having these markings is a positive indicator that the pup is a pure rottweiler.
Note: Rottweilers can be solid black and still be pure-bred.
Nose: Rottweilers have a medium-length nose. It’s neither extended like German Shepherds nor small like pugs.
Body structure: If your rottweiler is an adult, then observe its body form. Rotties have a boxed face and a muscular body.
Behavior Indicators
Rottweilers are a working breed. They are calm and confident dogs. They are a courageous breed and don’t shy away.
Usually, they are not super friendly. They take some time to get along with people. But once they do, they won’t stop showing affection to them. They are truly loving and loyal dogs to their family.
Apart from that, being guard dogs, they can get protective of their things or space. They are great at protecting your house as well as you.
These are some general personality trains of Rottweilers. However, every individual dog has a different personality. So identifying the purity of the breed by their personality can be inaccurate.
Registration Paper
You should ask for a puppy registration paper from the breeder. When the breeders have pure-bred puppies, they don’t usually hold back on registering them in a Kennel Club. By registering the puppies, a breeder can ask for a much higher price.
So if you want to be sure of the Rotties’ purity, ask for kennel documents from the breeder before getting the puppy.
Prefer puppies registered under reputed kennel clubs like American Kennel Club (AKC) or the United Kennel Club (UKC).
DNA Test
The best way to be 100% sure regarding the purity of your Rottweiler is a DNA test. You get a Dog DNA Test kit at home, follow the instruction and send it to the company, and you will get the results within a couple of days.
How to identify if the Rottweiler puppy is healthy?
Selecting a puppy can be exciting. However, you must select the healthiest pup from the litter so that you bring home the utmost joy in your family.
Puppy’s Age
Rottweiler puppies should be with their mother and siblings until they are at least eight weeks old. During this time, they learn basic social skills from their mother.
Puppy’s Hygiene
Observe how clean all the puppies are. At such a young age, they are more likely to catch an infection.
So when you meet a puppy, check for:
Clean Ears: Look inside the ears of the rottweiler puppy. Check for any signs of infection like redness, excessive wax, and foul odor. Also, look for any signs of mites on the ears.
Clear Nose: Observe the puppy and see if he sneezes or coughs excessively. This could be a sign of illness.
Clean and Bright Eyes: The pup’s eyes should be clean and bright. A little discharge is fine. However, if you notice a heavy discharge all around the eyes, it’s not a good sign.
Examine where puppies live
Request the breeder to show where the entire litter lives. See if the breeder has kept the place clean. Look whether the breeder has been cleaning the potty and pee of the puppies.
Coat of the Puppy
The coat of the Rottweiler puppy should be clean, smooth, and shiny. Run your fingers on its fur to check it.
Avoid a puppy with a bald spot, redness, or scratches on its coat. A bald spot can be an early symptom of skin disease. Redness can be due to infection. And scratches are a sign of mites and fleas.
Gently part the hair of the puppy’s coat and look at the skin underneath. Check for redness, fleas, and mites.
Body Structure
Rottweiler puppies are bulky and slightly chubby. Avoid selecting a thin and skinny pup from the litter. This doesn’t mean you should choose the bulkiest pup. Look for a puppy that seems healthy and fit.
Puppy’s Energy Level
Select a puppy who is active, playful, and isn’t dominating other pups. Generally, healthy rott puppies are active and playful than puppies who are ill.
But this doesn’t mean that calm puppies are not healthy. Every puppy in the litter will have a different personality. You need to find the one that suits your lifestyle.
Ask for Veterinarian Records
Before getting a puppy, ask the breeder to share vet records, vaccination charts, and deworming records of the puppy. You will need these records when you take your pup to your vet for the first time.
This also ensures that the breeder has taken good care of the puppies by taking them to the vet.
Stay Away from Puppy Mills
Puppy mills are awful places where dogs are kept in terrible conditions and are used only for breeding. The main goal of such market places is to maximize their profits. They do not care about the health of the puppies and the dogs.
Puppies bought from such mills are far more likely to be unhealthy. You can watch this video revealing the terrible side of puppy mills:
So select a reputed breeder. It may cost you more, but it will surely save you from the high cost of raising an unhealthy puppy.
Final Thoughts
While I don’t think the purity of the breed matters, it comes down the personal preferences. The thing that matters the most is how well-bred the rottweiler is.
Professional breeders understand that the nature and temperament of the puppies matter more than the costs. They selectively breed two well-mannered and evenly tempered Rottweiler, so the puppies get these qualities too.
