Adoption Process

We believe that bringing a Rottweiler puppy into your home requires a serious commitment. Please take the time to thoroughly evaluate your lifestyle before purchasing any puppy.

What is the first step if we are interested in purchasing a puppy from Von Wertz Rottweilers?
The first step in the adoption process would be to fill out our online Puppy Questionnaire. The questionnaire helps us to determine whether the dogs that we will be breeding might be well suited to your needs. We make every effort to respond to every inquiry so if you receive no response, please contact us again.

In the event that we do not believe that we will produce what you are looking for in a Rottweiler, or we simply do not have puppies available in the foreseeable future, we will send you a list of reputable breeders so that you can continue your search. Should one of those breeders work out for you, we will be happy to forward your application to them. We will only refer breeders who we personally know or have done business with, so please understand if the list we send does not contain a breeder in your area.

Could there be a puppy for us from the next available litter?
Possibly. We only breed when we are hoping to keep a pup for ourselves. We believe that it is irresponsible to bring puppies into this world unless we are sure that they will end up in their perfect forever home. For this reason, we never plan a litter until we are fairly certain that we will have ideal homes waiting for each and every potential puppy. To determine this, we screen homes well in advance to ensure that planned breedings and prospective homes are well matched.

Should we send a deposit to ensure we’re on your waiting list?
No – we normally do not require deposits. If we determine that yours is the type of home that we are looking for, then we will put you on our waiting list. In the case of a proposed litter that has received overwhelming response, we may ask for a deposit once the litter is on the ground. 

If it appears that you may have a dog for us in the future, what is the next step?
Should it appear that we might be breeding the type of dog that you are looking for, the next step would be to speak via telephone. During this conversation, if we don’t already know you, we will get to know you better as well as answer any questions you may have about our dogs and the Rottweiler in particular.

At what age can the puppy go home?
We will normally allow a puppy to go home between seven and nine weeks. We prefer the eight week mark or later, however some of the puppies that travel home via the airlines need to meet certain height and weight specifications and therefore need to go home closer to the seven week mark. Occasionally a puppy will need more time with us in order to fully assess where he/she should be placed. No pup ever leaves our home until we are completely comfortable with the match we have made.

Are all of your puppies placed as Show Dogs?
No. First and foremost, every puppy we produce is someone’s companion. We are careful to make matches based on compatibility rather than the pup’s potential to win in the rings. That said, a large percentage of our pups end up well suited for various areas of competition and their owners find they usually excel at whatever they try. Rottweilers are active, smart dogs and do best in homes that will keep both their minds and their bodies exercised. For this reason, we require that all of our pups attend obedience classes. Where you go from there is up to you. Many owners find that showing their pup is a natural extension of their training and an enjoyable way to spend time with their best friend. There are many types of competition…from traditional dog shows to obedience, agility, tracking, rally, herding or schutzhund as well as other rewarding outlets such as search and rescue or pet therapy. We can help you find the venue that best suits your pup.

Do I have to co-own my puppy with you?
No owner is required to co-own, but some decide that co-ownership is an advantage when it comes to helping their dog reach its full potential in the show or working venues or when it is time to breed their dog. In these cases, we will write up a separate co-ownership contract which will outline the terms of our additional agreements. In our co-ownerships, the owner remains in control of all decisions made for the dog. We are simply there for additional support.

We are a great distance from you, will you ship a puppy to us?
Yes, with particular provisions. We take great care in raising pups so that their early experiences are beneficial to their long-term development. When a puppy is shipped alone, it must go in the cargo hold of the airplane. There are many risks involved which we are not willing to take.

If you are such a distance from us that air travel is the most convenient way to reach us, we suggest that you fly to us and carry your puppy back in cabin in a “Sherpa” type pet carrier. This ensures that you are in control of what happens to your pup throughout your trip. We have found that pups travel very well this way and that it is much more stress free for both ourselves and the puppy.

After I take my pup home, can I contact you with questions?
Absolutely! We will expect you to keep in touch and are always available to answer your questions throughout the lifetime of your dog. In fact, if you are hoping to simply buy a Rottweiler and are not looking for a relationship with the breeder, we are not the right choice for you.

What is the difference between a Show/Working or Companion Only prospect?
A Show or Working prospect is a puppy that has the potential to compete in either the conformation ring or various working venues. A Companion Only puppy is one that has a fault which precludes him from being exhibited for one reason or another. Often, these faults are small ones…incorrect dentition or a cosmetic fault which is undesirable in the show rings…and will not adversely affect your pup’s life.

What important points am I agreeing to when I sign your contract?
Some of the important items that you will be agreeing to are that you will give the dog proper care…feeding/housing/veterinary as well as socialization and training; that you will keep in touch with us throughout your dog’s lifetime and alert us to any health or temperament issues; that you agree to do certain health screenings when your dog is an adult and that you agree to either prove your dog worthy prior to breeding or spay/neuter if it is not breeding quality. You are also agreeing to remain in good standing with the AKC and CKC. Most importantly, you agree to never sell or give away your dog…it must come back to us should your circumstances ever change.

What guarantees are you making to me?
We are guaranteeing that you are purchasing a registered purebred dog with the parents that we have stated have produced him. We are guaranteeing that the pup arrives to you healthy and well socialized and that we have done everything in our power to determine that he is the right match for you. We are stipulating that, in the event that your dog develops a heritable health or temperament disorder, we will refund a portion of your purchase price or offer you another puppy at no cost. Most importantly, we are guaranteeing that we will be there for you, whatever your needs may be, and that, if something happens to you, we will take care of your dog.