Glendalong Kennels is owned and operated by Suzanne Ryan and Glenn Martin and was established in Melbourne Victoria in 1968. In 1989 the Kennel relocated from its suburban location to an 88 acre property in the foothills of the picturesque Tallarook Ranges, a pleasant 40 minute drive from the Melbourne CBD. This has enabled the kennel to significantly expand its breeding program.
Glendalong Kennels has been a member of “ Dogs Victoria “ (previously the Victorian Canine Association) since 1968.
Glendalong Kennels has been breeding Rottweilers for the past 35 years
Glendalong Kennels strives to match each purchaser with an appropriate puppy.
Glendalong Kennels believes that a happy and trouble free Rottweiler is one in harmony with its family and environment.
Rottweilers are large, strong willed dogs that require training, socialisation and an owner prepared to put time and effort into their dog.
The information contained in this website will ensure that your puppy is raised in a healthy and socially aware environment. If followed, the information should make your life with your puppy enjoyable and rewarding. These notes are by no means fool proof and should not be used as the only means of information.
Owning a puppy especially a rottweiler does entail responsibility. Dogs can provide companionship, loyalty and love and in return we have a serious responsibility for the next ten or so years.
Bringing your puppy home is an exciting time for you and a stressful time for your puppy.
When you get your puppy home, he will need time to explore his new surroundings, so give him this time, lots of affection and try not to reprimand him harshly for the first couple of days. Try to ensure that movements towards him are controlled and not rushed. If his first experiences are happy it will have a lasting effect on him throughout his life.
Give your puppy a “safe place” usually where his bed is. Make sure it is secure and sheltered and easy for you to clean and access. For the first couple of nights it is best that he sleeps somewhere near to you so that when your house gets cold and dark he feels a sense of security. Once he has settled in you can then start to get him use to where you want him to sleep permanently.
Be Advised – Rottweilers are companion dogs – they like to be near you and do everything with you that means sleeping as well. It is much easier to control natural instinct than to try to overpower it. If you put your puppy in a strange place away from you on the first night, he will howl and you will spend all night trying to comfort him. If you comfort him by patting him you will only reinforce this behaviour.
THE LAW:
The Victorian “ Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act” legislates the following offences which owners must be aware of:
Failure to report a motor accident involving a dog to local police is a breach of the Road Safety Act.
The Victoria “Domestic Animals Act” legislates the following offences which owners must be aware of:
Some Councils have local laws and owners must ensure that they are aware and understand the Council regulations regarding the ownership of the dog.
SOCIALISATION:
It is very important with Rottweilers to ensure that they are socialised at an early age. This advice must take into account the fact that young puppies are susceptible to parvo virus which can be fatal to some puppies.
As puppies grow they pass through several development stages. If puppies are exposed to a large variety of stimuli in a non frightening and supportive way, they are less likely to be fearful in later life.
Puppies should be introduced to children of all ages as soon as possible. This should always be conducted under supervision and dogs should never be left alone with children.
Do not allow your puppy to do something which as he gets older you do not want him to do. Always start your training and socialisation from the time you take your puppy home.
Socialisation with other dogs and animals is also advised and should again be carried out in a supervised and supportive way.
Do not leave your puppy unsupervised with any older dogs and they has be hurt and that injury could remain for the rest of their lives.
VACCINATIONS:
Vaccinations are required at 6 weeks, 10 weeks and 16 weeks and at six months. A booster injection should be given once a year. If you have children it is advisable but not mandatory to have your booster injections on a more regular basis than once per year.
Ensure that you speak to your vet regarding Corona virus, which has similar symptoms to parvo virus but which is not fatal but will make your puppy sick for many days. A vaccination for this virus will protect your puppy against it.
WORMING:
A yearly re-worming is all that is needed unless otherwise advised by your Vet. If you have children then worming on a more regular basis say six months would be advised.
HOUSE TRAINING:
Puppies will need to relieve themselves frequently and young puppies cannot hold on much longer than 1 – 2 hours. Puppies will want to relieve themselves after sleeping, drinking and eating.
Always take them outside first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Usually puppies become agitated, sniff the ground or become generally restless prior to wanting to relieve themselves.
If your puppy does have an accident in the house, DO NOT rub his nose in it but give a firm “NO” and immediately take him outside. If you do not catch him at it do not reprimand him. Puppies and dogs have a very short attention span so you have approximately 30 seconds to make the punishment fit the crime – otherwise your punishment will appear for no reason.
DIET:
The primary objective of your puppy’s diet is to give him everything he needs to grow and develop in a strong, and healthy way. A balanced diet will promote a glossy coat, strong bones and teeth, and help in disease resistance.
The BARF diet (Bones and Raw Food is that you feed everything in its raw state – that is raw meat, raw bones, raw offal, raw fruit and vegetable. Studies have shown that by feeding commercially produced diets that we actually increase the incidence of orthopaedic joint disease.
If you wish to use the BARF diet, the Kennel recommends that you purchase Dr. Ian Billinghurst’s Books in relation to the diet. You can either purchase the food already made up from the recommended distributor or prepare the food yourself following the information in Dr. Billinghurst’s Book.
If you wish to change the diet please do so over seven days gradually reducing the original food and increasing the introduced food. Do not swap the diet within twenty four hours or your puppy may develop diarrhoea and it will take some time for this to settle.
Your puppy will eat approximately the size of its head. This is a good rule of thumb to use when feeding and it will need at least two meals per day. Smaller more frequent meals for puppies are the best option. The secret of a good dog diet is variety. Puppies only become fussy eaters if you allow it.
Be Advised – do not allow your puppy to become fat. Keep your puppy lean. It is far better to have a puppy lean and have a friend until he is ten or so then to have a fat puppy and see him die when he is much younger.
There is also no reason why you cannot fast your dog at least once per week but always ensuring that there is plenty of fresh water available. You may also find that when feeding bones that your dog does not always want extra food for a day or so.
VETERINARY CARE:
It is advisable that puppies only be allowed to exercise with animals which are of the same size and age. This will ensure that your puppy is not over exercised. Restriction of exercise while the puppy is young will help develop strong bones and may be less like to suffer any skeletal problem.
The main rule to remember with Rottweilers is that they are a large framed dog and if injured either to the front or back legs, they must be rested. No activity at all. If the injury is still apparent after 24 to 48 hours see your Vet. If you are unhappy with the veterinary advice, obtain a second opinion – feel comfortable with your Vet or find a new one.
GROOMING:
Wash your dog in any good dog shampoo. If your dog has a problem with fleas use one of the prepared flea shampoos such as Excelpet and a prepared flea rinse or whatever your Veterinarian advises. Make sure that the dog’s bedding and any areas where the dog likes to lay are also treated either with a powder or a spray.
IDENTIFICATION:
Councils now have a regulation that prior to registration with the Council, the puppy needs to be microchipped. All puppies sold by the kennel have already been microchipped.
DESEXING:
There is no reasonable medical reason why a female dog needs to have a litter before she is desexed. However, you need to make the decision on whether she will be desexed at an early age or whether you will wait until she matures a little. The sooner you have her done the less likely you will have problems with her coming into season as she matures. Decisions on de-sexing are entirely up to the owner however the kennel advises that you talk this matter over with your Vet and ensure you understand the consequences of de-sexing as well as the benefits.
If you are thinking of having your puppy desexed you may need to keep a vigilant eye on your dog’s diet. Desexing can often lead to very overweight dogs. With the vegetables and raw meat you will have better control over the amount the dog consumes and consequently on the dog’s weight.
Be Advised – it is very easily for your dog to become overweight it is exceedingly difficult to reduce the dog’s weight. You will not be able to reduce the dog’s weight just by exercise alone so strict control of the dog’s diet is essential.
REGISTRATION PAPERS:
Registration Papers will be supplied to the new owner, only if the puppy has been registered with Vic Dogs.