Recently we put our Rottweiler down, due to age. We were looking for another Rott puppy before we had to put her down, but were not successful in finding one that is affordable.
I have looked everywhere, but cannot find a puppy under $1,000.00. The problem is I want a puppy, due to the nature of the dog, training, and having a small child in the house. So far, I have responded to 2 scams, found a $1,000.00 puppy who is 7 months old who has not been socialized and is just over 4 hours away, and found plenty of $1800 - $2000.00 puppies 200 miles away, and a rescue that is 18 months old and 65 miles away. We are looking for a pet not a show dog, which I am sure that is all the majority of pet owners want.
Of course, every ad states that the puppies are registered AKC, champion bloodlines, straight out of Germany...BS!
How did you find your puppy that you had to have? My husband really wants a Rott because of the protection, but I have always wanted a Boxer. I am thinking I am going to just go get a boxer and if we are lucky enough for a Rott to come our way, we'll take it.
I don't mind driving, but really don't want to drive more than 2 - 3 hours.
I continued to find leads I wasn't comfortable with and had given up. A friend gave me a lead the other day and I have our Rottie. She is wonderful. We don't know if she is 4 or 5 years old, but she is very well mannered. It has taken a little time (1 week), but she is really opening up and is now playing ball with us and makes us laugh every day. We have a photo session every day. She is very tolerant of us.
Try Petfinder.com. It's a website that allows you to search local animal shelters based on what type of dog you're seeking. It's been a while since I've been on there, but you may be able to search for puppies that way, too.
We adopted our dog through petfinder. He is a boxer-Shepard-lab mix. We couldn't have asked for a better dog! Have you thought about mixed breeds?
I agree with PB&J. You may have better luck if you expand your criteria. Mixed breeds, puppy age. Especially if your primary need is protection and a kid friendly pet, there are lots of good options.
I'm a fan of adult mixed breed rescues, as long as you have ample time to get to know the dog before adopting her.
If you're set on a pure breed puppy, there's a good chance you will have to pay and/or travel.
And yes, Petfinder is wonderful.
As a former Boxer owner (and yes, ours actually were champion bloodlines, and one was a national champion show dog himself), I would really, really caution you about Boxers. They have a LOT of very expensive health problems that will make the purchase price pale in comparison. (Cardiomyopathy, cancer, allergies that required a special diet, the list goes on and on.) If you're used to the energy level of a Rott, please make sure that you understand that Boxers are VERY high energy, and will be their whole lives. They act like puppies (and destroy things with glee and abandon if left unattended) until the end of their lives. And, sorry to say it, they are not as intelligent as Rotts. Boxers are beautiful, happy dogs, but they're about as smart as a box of rocks. (We loved our Boxers, but I'm just saying this to let you know that it really takes dedication, patience, and deep pockets to be a good Boxer owner!)
That being said, I would encourage you to attend dog shows in your area to meet breeders. I would really NOT go to a backyard breeder/puppy mill, or a breeder who is not registered with the AKC. A good puppy does cost around $2000; the puppy will have a health guarantee and will have been started on its shots, and will have started the socialization process. You really don't want to go bargain basement on a purebred puppy where you can't be sure of the dog's parentage or health history. You will also want to speak to the breeder about any health problems they have encountered - all breeds have health issues of one kind or another, and the breeder should be honest with you about that, as well as assure you that they have bred away from any major health problems. You should meet the mother (and if the father is available, meet him, too), and just ensure that they have the personality that you would want in your dog.
Check out petfinder.com. They are a network of rescue organizations and shelters. They have puppies and older dogs. You can search by location, breed, age and gender. There is usually a fee for the animals but not as much as you would pay a breeder. You can also search for Rottweiler rescue groups in your area. I got both my cats (as kittens) from petfinder.com. I adopted them from 2 different rescue groups and it cost only a couple of hundred dollars for fees. I just looked and they have a few Rottweiler puppies listed in Las Vegas. Hope this helps.
We just adopted a 5 year old Rottie who is SOOOOO well trained, it's unbelievable....and we have her bloodline papers.
My parents adopted her from a friend, who was sick and had 4 Rotties. My parents had her for 3 years and are not animal people, so I was shocked that they agreed to take her. After 3 years and their busy schedule, she was getting NO attention and we couldn't stand it anymore. I have 4 kids we homeschool AND I run a corporation. I couldn't imagine taking on one more thing, but she is an amazing protector (like my last Rottie - 20 years ago) and wants to be part of the family...so as of 3 weeks ago, we agreed to keep her and the kids/husband are thrilled. Had you posted this 3 weeks ago, I would have driven out to you, so she could've had a good home!
1. Put an ad on Craigslist under "want".
2. If you have a FB page, maybe a friend of a friend knows of one.
3. Call the shelters, etc and request one if one comes in. Sadly, they get put down if not adopted quickly.
A good quality purebred dog whose parents have had necessary health checks is going to be around that price. Health checks and stud fees are not cheap.Akc.org will list breeders and look for a parent club for references. If a mix is ok then petfinder, rescue groups, spca.
I will second boxers can have a lot of expensive health issues. Both breeds can be great, but should also have health checks, etc. Cheap puppies can come back and bite you. Not always, but sometimes.hope you find the perfect puppy soon and sorry for the loss of your rottie.
Call your local Humane Society, Animal Control, ASPCA, etc, and let them know what you are looking for. When we wanted a puppy, I talked to a friend who worked for our Humane Society. I gave him some specifications and he let me know when a puppy came in. Puppies tend to go fast, so it is a good idea to get on a "waiting list" if you can. We got a six month old Neapolitan Mastiff that way (normally $1500 and up) and two eight week old pit bulls. You can also look into fostering a pregnant mom dog, then you can keep a puppy from the litter. Tell them you would like a large, smooth coated dog, preferably a rottweiler but would consider a boxer. I bet you get one in a few months at most.
Petfinder.com.
You might also consider opening yourself up to mixed breed puppies. They tend to have fewer health problems, and are certainly cheaper. If you want a purebred puppy, you'll probably have to pay for it.
ETA: Oh, and in response to another poster, rescues require applications and home visits because there are sick people out there who adopt animals and then bring them into hoarder or abusive situations. Really, you want to adopt a new family member, but you don't want the people who have been caring for that animal and loving it knowing where it's going to live? Makes me wonder what you're hiding.
We have a Boxer puppy (4 months old) and I am literallty crazy about her!!! I am so in love and I bought her for my husband for Christmas. I have 2 chihuahuas of my own (10 yr old) and we all get along. My parents had a Boxer for my brother when I was younger but I was out of the house...I know we all were crazy about Toby too. This little girl came into my world and tunred my heart upside down. Yesterday she learned how to open the door from the outside into the house and of course like the crazy puppy mom I am, I had to put her back out and video the entire thing!! She is smart, wonderful, amazing and baby like. I am a huge fan although look into their breed. They are very playful but oh my gosh, anyone who has had a Boxer will tell you, Once a Boxer lover/owner always a Boxer lover!
*** Amen Ina G!!! I've got nothing to hide but Plenty to Protect! Thanks for your repsonse to Liv
Well of course no rot with a kid for me but I wont judge on that. I would say though the rescue that is 65 miles away maybe you could find a day and go check it out and see how socialized the animals are and how young some are. Have them send over the vet info first on the pet like where they got it, does it have its shot, did it get a clear bill of health. Life your not going to find out a month from now it has a hip issue etc.
I was surfing through Craigslist and saw this post.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pet/3636607614.html
I think that w/any breed of dogs you are going to hear all sorts of horror stories, but the best thing to do is to go online & research the breed. I would have loved a boxer, but we had a boxer in the past & not only do they dig, but they jump as well. When we were looking for a family dog, we didn't have the money to invest in 6' high stockade fencing as well. But it all depends on the dog too, we ended up w/a very mellow shih tzu who was offered at half price b/c he was not show quality and he's been the best dog we could've gotten at the time, as we had a 2 yr old as well. Have you considered the possibility of speaking w/a local breeder, they may be able to guide you a little better. Best of luck to you and your family.
We got our Soringer Spamiel through a breeder many many friends used. She was so wonderful. Miss her. I would go with the boxer. Rotties are a good guard dog, and can be good family dogs. However I was pinned against a wall by my sisters Rottie! A friend had on and was just to skittish.
But OMG boxers are the best. I mean kids can dress them up and they would smile lol!
