"Emily Carroll" wrote in message ...
Hi

We've decided that our next dog will be a Rottweiler. BF says that I can
have as many dogs of whatever kinds (so long as they aren't poodles or
anything his mind lumps together with poodles) if he can always have a
Rottweiler.

As I'm assuming that at some point we'll be getting engaged, I did want to
get him a puppy as a wedding gift, though he has been promised that the rott
will come before any other dog, so if we move somewhere we can have one
first, well, then we'll get it then so I can have my other dogs This
will be at least 1-2 yrs. down the road.

I've been thumbing through the "informative" articles about responsible
breeders and all that good stuff, but I already know all that...just
wondering if anyone has any good, interesting Rottweiler links, or
experience with what tests are actually STANDARD in the breed. By this I
mean, in Labs, many breeders will tell you that the only "standard" tests
are OFA hips and CERF eyes. However, I wouldn't buy a lab that didn't have
OFA elbows & heart as well on the parents. But I know this through the
circle of Lab friends that I have, and I don't know any Rottie people yet.

So...any suggestions/advice/links?


Sorry if this reply appears more than once. I had trouble posting it.
And this post is more on-topic for rec.pets.dogs.breeds


Hi Emily. I am not going to judge your choice of breed. I am sure you
are capable of that yourself. However, regardless of the breed, please
consider the long-term care of the animal. You mentioned that the dog
would belong to both you and your current boyfriend. I have seen
horror stories of unmarried couples purchasing a dog together and then
the dog suffers if they couple breaks up. You said that he may propose
to you, and that would be wonderful! Good luck if that happens and if
you two are right for each other. However, maybe you should wait until
that does happen before you adopt an animal together. Even better,
wait until you are married and living together.

Would you adopt a child together unmarried? Probably not. Same thing
with a dog in the sense that the dog will be a family member. Besides,
you are both better off getting the pup after you 2 are married so the
dog bonds to both of you as a pup. Unless you plan on living together
before marriage. If you did that (or currently are) then the dog would
bond to you both and then be heart-broken if you 2 split up. In
addition, that would be a sin (and not very lady-like or respectable)
to cohabitate before marriage.

-Marco

(Sorry if this reply appears more than once. I had trouble posting it.
And this post is more on-topic for rec.pets.dogs.breeds)