Thank you for considering adopting or purchasing an older dog. Adding an adult dog to your family can be a great opportunity and has many advantages. First, you will know what they look like, how large (or small) they are or will be. You will be able to tell the dog’s basic temperament, how much training they already have and how much they will need, and how they will behave around children and strangers. Depending on the circumstances they have come from, an adult you adopt or purchase may need basic housebreaking lessons, but adult dogs can hold their bladder much longer than puppies, and they generally want to be clean and relieve themselves outside.
Adult dogs generally fit into two categories: RESCUE or REHOME.
ARC members rescue!
RESCUED! Chaos
Chaos
CHAOS was rescued in Alaska by ARC member Anneliese Tschannen. In Anneliese’s words:
In Feb 2018 I worked with my local shelter to provide a “medical foster” for an 11-year-old turned over by owners because “he could no longer navigate stairs.” My vet diagnosed arthritis, possible torn CCL, and a toenail injury – which turned out to be osteosarcoma (bone cancer). The toe was amputated, he was placed on appropriate medications and I set about adopting him out. But… in a very short time, I fell hard for him. He stayed with me until osteosarcoma took him in April 2019.
RESCUED! Mercury
Mercury Sacksteder CDX, RAE, CGC, CAT, TDIA, FDC, RATN
MERCURY was one of the “Texas 200” and was transported to Minnesota for fostering and placement. There, he met his forever person, ARC member Diane Sacksteder. In Diane’s words:
On paper, I probably was not the best owner for a crazy, high drive rescue Rottweiler, but I was the ONLY owner for this dog. We were a match made in Doggie Heaven. We both had so much untapped potential, with a little bit of crazy mixed in for entertainment value. He made me a better dog owner and handler, for which I am forever grateful. He was the Love of my Life. My Teacher. My Mischief Maker. My Funny Boy. My Diamond in the Ruff. My Mercury of the Texas 200.
RESCUED! Zeus
Zeus
Zeus (previously known as Boss) was rescued in Alaska by ARC member Anneliese Tschannen. In Anneliese’s words:In May 2015 my local shelter contacted me to serve as “medical foster” for an emaciated 18-month-old neutered male surrendered by his owners. My vet found that other than being emaciated, he did not seem to have any medical problems. I took on his fostering, putting him on high-quality food and supplements and working on basic manners. It did not take long at all before he started filling out. Once he was at a good weight and had some solid manners, I found an amazing lady who lives just a few miles from me. She fell in love with him, and he with her and they are living happily ever after. I get regular pictures and updates about Zeus and what a great dog he is!
RESCUE your next best friend!
The American Rottweiler Club supports the non-profit Rottweiler Rescue Foundation by providing the opportunity for our members to donate to RRF when they pay their annual ARC membership dues. Please visit the RRF on the web for more information about that organization.
There may be an active Rottweiler rescue group in your region. Some groups are listed on RRF’s site. You can also consult this list of local and area Rottweiler clubs for a club in your region, and reach out to that club for their advice on local or regional rescue groups.
If you can’t locate resources near you to help, scan your local humane society websites and contact them to let them know you are seeking a new Rottweiler companion to rescue. Often the key to finding a rescue is to “work the phones” (or email!).
Rescue dogs will typically have no known pedigree, no registration papers, and often no history. They are almost always neutered/spayed and up to date on shots prior to going into a new home. Sometimes you can get them directly from a Humane Society and other times they can be adopted through a rescue organization or even an individual foster. Many of these organizations use resources like PETFINDER to advertise what is available. Often the organizations will prefer the rescue be adopted within the same state or region, and some organizations require you to meet the dog in person, but this isn’t always the case.
RESCUED! Meena
Meena, the Wolf Dog
Meena was rescued in New Jersey by ARC members Karen and Bill Carroll. In Karen’s words:
Meena and her nine littermates were found, abandoned for dead, at about seven days old. We fostered three of the girls, bottle-feeding and raising them until they were nine weeks old. Two girls were adopted to great families, but Bill, my husband, grew very attached to Miss Meena, and “The Great Wolf Dog” is with us still. She has turned into an amazing ambassador for our breed and is a regular blood donor for a veterinary emergency hospital’s blood bank.
ARC breeders are always responsible for the puppies they produce!
Is your next best friend looking for you? REHOMED puppies and young adults.
REHOMED! Beckham
HC Lakina's Bend It Like Beckham CD RE HSAds HSBds HIAs HXAds HXBd AXP AJP NFP
Beckham was rehomed by her breeder as an adult with ARC member Ellen Calnan. In Ellen’s words:
Beckham came to me after I lost her litter sister Bradaigh to a sudden illness. Beck had come back to her breeder from her first home, as she simply did not get along with her female Rottweiler housemates. In her breeder’s home, she thrived in herding training and competition, but again, did not get along with her housemates. The sudden loss of Bradaigh left me devastated and without a competition partner. Beck and I needed each other, and she was with me until she passed away and 14 years and 4 months of age.
A breeder or owner will occasionally have available for purchase a puppy or young adult. In these cases, the dog’s previous circumstances are known and their pedigree and registration papers are usually available. Different than a rescue, a rehomed dog’s breeder will be involved in the rehoming process. This is because reputable breeders are always responsible for every puppy they produce and sell, for the life of the dog. Many breeders require in their written sales contract that if the puppy they sold cannot stay in the home, the puppy is returned to the breeder.
Dogs may come back to their breeder for any number of reasons, such as the owner losing a job or housing appropriate for a large dog, family illness or death, dogs that are not compatible with one another, or simply lack of time or resources required for proper exercise and training. Most dogs returned to breeders have been loved, well-cared for and have been house and family dogs. Some are very well-trained and ready to fit into a new family.
The purchase or rehoming price of well-bred dogs could be equal to that of adopting a rescue, and up to as much as purchasing a puppy. Breeders with active breeding programs will occasionally sell or place a dog they love when it is in the best interests of the dog — so that the dog can have a house and family of its own.
If the thought of rehomed older puppy or young adult interests you, let the breeders you contact know and ask them to network on your behalf. The dogs described here may be listed on a breeder’s website.