Show quality vs. pet quality… do you really know the difference? I get calls every day from people who say they are “ONLY” looking for a pet quality puppy. They tell me they have no interest in showing or breeding and simply want a pet quality. When I ask them what “pet quality” means to them, they say a lower quality Rottweiler puppy that is not required to be shown. So why come to a professional breeder? Because they are looking for a high-quality Rottweiler puppy that is healthy. Of course, duh!

There seems to be a contradiction in all the terms being used. Sometimes I will also hear the added line, “I don’t need the papers either,” as if that will somehow make the puppy pet quality. After hearing this over and over again, I realized that many people really do not understand the actual meaning of these labels. Believe me, sometimes I hang up so confused, and I am the one who understands all this stuff. As a result, I want to explain a little information about Rottweiler puppy quality, since this topic seems to be very misunderstood. I hope this helps bring some clarity.

As explained in my introduction, many people believe a “show quality” Rottweiler puppy is a puppy from the litter that is of higher quality and therefore required to be shown. Adding to that theory, many people then believe that a “pet quality” puppy is from the same litter but is either of lower quality or simply sold without papers, and therefore labeled pet only. This could not be more wrong.

First and foremost, people need to understand that every Rottweiler puppy from the same litter has the same mother and the same father and is therefore the same in terms of overall quality, health, beauty, and structure. Yes, there are slight variations in appearance, just as there are with human siblings. As soon as I say this, I am usually cut off with, “Yes, but I am only looking for a family companion.” Please understand that every puppy ever produced by our kennel is intended to be a family companion. That is our number one wish for each and every puppy. We want every Rottweiler puppy we produce to have a loving, forever home and to be part of the family.

“Show and/or working quality” simply means the Rottweiler puppy is free of any disqualifying faults at the time of sale, meaning correct according to the AKC Rottweiler breed standard and therefore capable of being shown, if desired. After all, is that not what everyone is looking for when purchasing a Rottweiler puppy from a professional breeder? You want a correct Rottweiler.

When a Rottweiler puppy is born correct and has no disqualifying faults, he or she is labeled “show quality.” So why use the word “show” in the label? Because this puppy would be capable of going to a Rottweiler dog show and would not be disqualified for being incorrect to the breed standard. No puppy of mine is ever required to be shown. Our puppies are a large investment, and we believe the owner should have full authority to decide what they wish to do with their Rottweiler. To summarize, a “show quality” puppy is a puppy that is correct to the Rottweiler breed standard. A show quality Rottweiler puppy may be purchased for showing, working, breeding, or simply family companionship. That is it. Show quality equals a correct Rottweiler.

Now that you understand that, what exactly is a “pet quality”? Pet quality means the Rottweiler puppy was born with a disqualifying fault, something that is incorrect according to the AKC Rottweiler breed standard. This can be something you may or may not notice. Examples include missing teeth, an incorrect bite, or incorrect color markings. Keep in mind, these faults are cosmetic. The majority of disqualifying faults are not even visible to the untrained eye.

To be honest, many backyard breeders do not even know if their Rottweiler puppies have faults because they are not educated on the breed standard themselves. Not to mention, most backyard breeders have never even attended a dog show to know what to look for. It is very important to understand that a cosmetic fault does not affect a Rottweiler’s health. If any puppy in a litter is ever unhealthy, he or she will not be sold, period. Being unhealthy is not a fault but a medical condition that needs to be addressed.

DKV Rottweilers will never intentionally sell an unhealthy puppy. All of our Rottweiler puppies are taken to the veterinarian for routine checkups and are transferred to their new owners only after passing all health exams and receiving an official health certificate from a licensed veterinarian.

Now back to the confusion mentioned earlier. This issue is further complicated when people say they want a “pet quality” puppy at a lower price but still want to buy from a professional breeder to ensure health. Again, health has nothing to do with quality. To help guarantee you are purchasing a puppy from a healthy bloodline, you must ensure the breeder health certifies their breeding stock. You should also make sure your puppy is sold with a health certificate, meaning the puppy was examined head to toe by a licensed veterinarian and deemed healthy.

Are you understanding the difference now? When someone says they are “ONLY” interested in a pet quality puppy, they are actually saying they are specifically looking for an incorrect Rottweiler. If that is the case, they will likely find one more easily from a backyard breeder who is breeding incorrect dogs. And if a backyard breeder is breeding incorrect Rottweilers, chances are they are not doing proper health certifications either. Do you see the snowball effect here and how that statement, as common as it is, sounds a bit silly?

So why do I not reserve pet quality puppies? A professional breeder breeds to better the breed. My breeding stock is correct to the breed standard and free of disqualifying faults. As a result, it is rare that we produce a puppy born with a disqualifying fault. Occasionally, a puppy may be born with something minor, but again, it is uncommon. Because of this, I cannot accept a deposit for a future pet quality puppy since there is no way to know when one will be produced. It could be in the next litter or three years down the road. Any pet quality puppy produced by our kennel is required to be spayed or neutered to prevent the fault from being passed on to future generations.

I believe the main reason people immediately ask for a pet quality puppy is because they are hoping for a lower price. However, price is a direct reflection of the quality of the parents, breeding investment, health clearances, and overall kennel experience. Puppies should never be compared by price alone. My pet quality price may still be higher than another breeder’s show quality price.

What matters most is where the puppy is coming from. Is the kennel experienced? Do they have strong reviews and customer testimonials? Do you like the puppy’s parents? Are the parents health certified? Do you like the look of dogs previously produced by the kennel? Is the breeder willing to provide references? Is the breeder willing to talk and answer your questions? That is what truly matters, and that is the real difference in quality.

Come experience the DKV difference.