Meet the Breeder: Tranquil Peak Rottweilers
Ethical breeding is so important for producing healthy puppies! We wanted to gather facts and details for what makes a breeder 'ethical', so we spoke with Tiffany from Tranquil Peak Rottweilers who works hard on her Rottweiler Breeding Program. We were able to ask her many educational questions as well as sneak some adorable photos of her Rottweilers!
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your dogs and what you do.
I started my love for Rottweilers when my father decided he wanted to adopt one from a shelter when I was a teenager. Sam was the best dog I had ever been around. I knew one day I would have another one once I was living in a place that would allow the breed. In 2001 I came across a stray Rottweiler. I had him for 5 months until I was able to find a rescue to help me place him. The rescue was impressed at what I was able to do with this dog's training that they asked me to contact them when I was able to foster in the future. By 2006, I started fostering for a local Rottweiler rescue. As time went on I got more and more involved and then ended up taking it over. During that time I also learned about responsible breeding and was able to met some amazing show, competitive obedience, herding, tracking, nose-work, and carting Rottweilers.
In 2014 I decided to explore purchasing my first puppy, and along came Maasen. With him my world opened up to so many new things. He didn’t turn out for the show ring, but we have competed and explored several dog sports. In 2017 a local Rottweiler enthusiast who I was friends with had their first litter and I ended up with one of their girls: Mona. We have shown in the ring as well as competed in several different dog sports. She has the most amazing temperament and passed all of her health clearances with flying colors.
I never in a million years thought that I would breed a litter of puppies. The reason why I decided to become a breeder was because of all of my years in rescue I saw all of the poorly bred dogs out there that good people purchased without the support of their breeder and/or terribly bred dogs with health and temperament issues.
There are so many good people with their hearts broken who felt like failures because the puppy they tried so hard to raise right was broken. We need more responsible breeders out there as there is always going to be a demand for pure bred puppies. Responsible breeders do not allow their dogs to end up in shelters! We are there for our babies until they make their journey over the rainbow bridge. There needs to more education on the value of responsible breeders so people won’t be so quick to judge and try to push us out with legislation, etc.
How do you ensure that your puppies are healthy and what does the health process entail before choosing to breed?
Responsible breeders will follow their parent clubs guidelines before hey breed. Each breed has a different list of requirements. We follow the American Rottweiler Club guidelines. I did some extra testing that is not required. I have also learned from this experience that there are more tests that I will do before any future breeding’s that are not required by ARC. For me, being a good breeder is to better the breed and try to produce healthy, well-socialized puppies that come from healthy parents with good temperaments. Rottweilers should not be bred until they have had their health clearances done and these can not be done until they are 2 years of age.
What made you get started breeding Rottweilers and what makes the breed so special?
For me there is no other breed like a Rottweiler. They are smart, loyal, and clowns. They love their family and live to work to make you happy. Once you have a Rottie you will always have one and maybe more. They are kinda like potato chips. Rottweilers need a strong leader, or they will not do well. They have to respect you as a leader and handler. They need to be worked not only physically, but even more importantly they need to work their minds.
People need to know that having AKC papers does NOT MEAN they are a good breeder, or that they healthy and have good temperaments. You should always ask for their AKC number of both sire and dam. That way you can look them up on the OFA website. This is where the health clearances will be listed, as well as the pedigree so you can do your research. Good breeders will also only breed their bitches (females) once or twice. A red flag is someone who seems to have puppies every few months, or is breeding their bitch over and over again. Don’t get lured in with a fancy website. Contact your local breed club and ask for breeder referrals. They can generally lead you to the right people, and also warn you of potentially known bad breeders in the area to stay away from. Some of the questions to ask would be, how long to they stay with the mother, ie: 8-10 weeks. How do you socialize and expose your pups to new textures, noises, and people. Do you work on potty training, offer vaccines, microchipping. Is there a contract and do they support their puppy buyers for the dog’s lifetime?
Play, play, and play! I had multiple puppy helpers and we took shifts with puppy care. We had all kinds of boxes, packing paper, balance objects, wobble boards, tubes, puppy mobile for them to play with. We made noises and used a shop vacuum to help desensitize them. We also did temperament testing on each puppy to help place them in the right homes.
Hip and elbow dysplasia. First and foremost make sure that the parents have been tested. What you can do is make sure that they are kept lean, not fat. Feed the pups no more that 28% protein as feeding them too much protein can effect how their joints develop.
My dogs LOVE their Big Barker bed. Maasen will be 8 in April and he usually follows me everywhere. Now in the mornings he doesn’t even raise his head when I get up. He and Mona can share a bed and not even touch, which he prefers (ewww girl germs!). It has also helped with Mona wanting to sneak up on my bed. She is perfectly happy to stay on her bed now. Heck, I have even hung out with them on their bed.
If you could ask your dogs one question, what would it be?
Could you please find a paying job to help pull your weight? LOL.
Maasen is the thinker, Mona is the lovebug. Baby Madison is a rollie pollie.
What is it like to show your dogs to breed standard and why is that important?
Although I am newer to the show world, I think what is behind the dog is more important than what is in front of their name. There are dogs that are shown that don’t have the best health clearances, but are still winning in the ring and are sought after to breed to. The titles behind their name are working titles and Rotties are working dogs. A local vet that is also in the show world shared with me that she is sad to see that to show our breed they are over weight. They are a working breed and should be kept lean and in working shape.
My most proud moment is every time we go out in public together. We go on hikes and go any where dogs are allowed. We have changed the perspective of the breed to so many people and that is my most proud moment.
