Rottweiler Puppy is Limping on His Front Legs 

Conclusion

When raising a Rottweiler puppy, be on high alert for any leg deformity or problems with the dog’s walk, which may be an indication of elbow dysplasia, so you can get a good early diagnosis and treatment. In other words, think your puppy has elbow problem until proven otherwise. Because of the incomplete data available from the OFA (stating 39%), the true reality is that the rate of Degenerative Joint Disease in Rottweilers is much higher, it is closer to Grondalen report of 77%, with about 32% of all Rottweilers will become lame at some point. So up to at least a year of age, avoid activities that produce a hard impact on front legs (jumping to a ball, jumping off a car, running down hill, et cetera). You will have plenty of time after a year for muscles to build up. Simple walking is a great tool for safely releasing the puppy’s high energy and will decrease the urge for all the jumping.

After talking to breeders, veterinarians, OFA, AKC, (American Kennel Club), people from Rottweiler clubs and others, and after researching, reading and learning, I now realize how extensive the problem is (mainly in the sense that despite all the evidence, there is a lack of motivation or incentive to admit of the problem and to adopt breeding practices that will reduce the incidence of elbow dysplasia in breeding practices) and that, of course, the money to be made by ignoring the problem plays a significant role. 

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is making an attempt to provide a meaningful database, their database is far from reflecting the true incidence of the disease or even acknowledging the disease. No real active steps are being taken to raise public awareness. The  OFA and the AKC will not even publicly say and make it widely known that this breed has a front leg problem. The OFA is not in a position to do any more than what they are currently doing (collecting incomplete data and releasing suspect data in its open database); otherwise breeders will stop submitting any data. The AKC is in a much better position to be active (or at least put a warning for this breed), but, for reasons we can only guess at, AKC is not willing to get involved. 

Since there are many free puppies on the street and at shelters, people who go to breeders do so because they expect a higher chance of a getting a puppy with a good character, health and overall quality. That is what the breeder is getting paid for, but sadly, that is not always what is delivered. So yes, do your own research on how to choose a good breeder, talk to the breeder about the potential problems, visually inspect leg posture (and gait) of the puppy’s parents and check the OFA records. Remember! The open OFA database (where you see the actual dogs’ records) is very misleading. You can read the home page and see why misleading.

Therefore, you will maximize your chances of a good outcome if:

a.    You have done the research of the puppy’s history and the breeder. I suggest you read – “How To Choose Your Rottweiler Breeder”  by Bob Flynn as one source. Even ethical breeders may not be fully educated on the genetic impacts (or may simply have determined that genetics are of no consequence).

b.    You have an agreement with the breeder that states that at least 50% of your purchase price is refundable for any major problem (disability) within the first year or 18 months (50% if you keep the puppy. 100% otherwise). This refund policy should be without any convoluted conditions (like the diet you maintained and the requirement that you produce empty food bags to show what you fed the puppy).  

c.   Deposit should be fully refundable if puppy is not available and reasonably acceptable to you. Run away from a breeder who has non refundable deposit.

It is certainly possible that, once a few years, a breeder will have some bad luck, but still the breeder should stand behind his deal. If the breeder claims that there are just too many possible issues or that the frequency of a problem is too high, then he should not be a breeder! 

As far as guarantees go:

1. I don’t consider the offer of a replacement puppy a meaningful guarantee (unless the puppy dies), because in reality, it is unlikely that anyone will return the puppy they have grown to love for a replacement--and breeders know that.

2. When money is not refundable in this type of purchase, it means the breeder may not be confident he is able to produce healthy dogs. It leaves the buyer with the risk of genetics and the risk of the breeder being incompetent or making a mistake. And the breeder already knows the money is his, even if he delivers a sick dog which gives the breeder little incentive to do the right thing; he knows that few people are going to do intensive research on his reputation.

3. Just having a refund agreement is likely to cause the breeder to be more careful than he would otherwise be in providing you with choices among puppies.  There is very little hope if the breeder is dishonest (certainly, they won’t sign an air-tight agreement, but there are honest breeders who won’t do it either).  Pushing for such agreements to become the norm will, I believe, ultimately benefit the entire breed and the breeders.

But understand that even if you do all your homework, there are genetic issues (and not just elbow or hip dysplasia) that can be missed.  That fact is not a reason not to do everything in your power to assure you get a healthy dog.

Here is a list of what to look for in a Rottweiler by CHIC (Canine Health Information Center). You can look up other breeds too.

So far, I could only find 3 active breeders that will warrant the puppy for at least the first year and offer partial money back if you keep the sick puppy. You can check by clicking here for Breeder’s List.   (but their presence on this list is not a recommendation—I have done no research on any breeder other than Redwood Krest which for obvious reasons is not on the attached list).  If there are more out there, please contact me with this information.