Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How old will my Blackcombe puppy be when it comes home?

• In accordance with the Dogs SA code of ethics, my puppies leave for their new homes at 8 weeks of age. 

Q. Does my new Blackcombe puppy come with papers?

• Yes, all my puppies come with Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) papers. All pets are sold on limited register, that is, not for breeding or showing.

Q. How many litters do we breed per year?

• I generally only breed when I are looking to keep a puppy for myself. I do not breed puppies to satisfy the pet market.

Q. How much does a ‘Blackcombe Rottweiler’ cost?

• Typically, puppies are priced at $3,500.00 with limited ANKC registration papers.
  If you are looking for a rottweiler for conformation showing or breeding, then these puppies do cost more and I’d be happy to discuss these options with you. 

Q. Will my Rottweiler puppy have a tail?

• Yes, your puppy will have a tail. Tail docking is now illegal in Australia. 

Q.  Are Rottweilers reliable with children?

• Provided they are trained and socialised correctly, and very importantly, children are encouraged to treat the Rottweiler with kindness and respect – then, yes, they can be very reliable around children.  But, however reliable you may think any dog is (even your own), we believe that no dog should ever be left unsupervised with children or babies.

Q.  How much exercise does an adult Rottweiler require?

• The Rottweiler is a working dog and they require lots of exercise. Running loose in the backyard is not considered exercise. Do not consider getting a Rottweiler if you cannot provide this basic requirement.

Q. How much exercise does our Rottweiler puppy need?

• Young puppies under twelve months of age should not have ‘forced’ exercise, such as jogging or very long walks on the leash. The mechanical movement of a puppy being forced to maintain the same pace on a leash before it is fully developed can cause damage to loose ligaments and immature joints. Free exercise, where the puppy can change from walk, to romp to trot, are fine, as well as shorter periods on leash, for training, etc. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia are joint diseases which can be induced by improper exercise. Joint and ligament problems can also result from allowing your rottweiler puppy to jump in and out of cars and trucks and continually using stairs.
  

Q. Can my new puppy run free with other dogs?

• Just like having forced exercise or jumping down and up from the ground and high places, having your puppy run free with dogs that are bigger and older and stronger is highly likely to result in injuries to your puppy. Hence, whilst I do provide a guarantee on my puppies for hip and elbow dysplasia – this guarantee will be voided if you allow your puppy to run with older, bigger dogs before they are mature themselves (at least 12 months).

Q. Are your dogs ‘German’ Rotweilers?

• Essentially all Rottweilers have a German heritage, their name being derived from the town in which they originated, Rottweil.
  The sales pitch of ‘German Rottweiler Puppies’ is just that, a sale pitch! All Rotweilers born in Australia are Australian. Go back far enough in any pedigree and the dogs will likely originate from Germany or other regions of Europe. Indeed, many of the quality dogs bred in this country can boast dogs from many different countries in their pedigrees.  This does not imply that dogs born from Australian bred stock are inferior, actually, the rottweilers being bred in Australia are generally of a high standard. I work hard to breed to the internationally accepted FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale) breed standard for the Rottweiler – this provides for a universal benchmark that all dedicated breeders aspire to meet with their rottweilers.

Please do not consider getting a Rottweiler if:

• you are unwilling to train and educate your dog.
• you  struggle to be assertive and show leadership.
• you dislike regular exercise.
• you don’t value constant canine companionship and abundant rottweiler affection!
• you don’t own a good vacuum cleaner! (if your rottweiler will be in the house with you – which is exactly where they want to be..).
• you cannot afford high quality dog food and veterinary care.

Contact Blackcombe

I’d love to hear from you.

Professor Roberta Crouch, Adelaide South Australia, Australia Phone: (61) 404833924