The best training decision you'll ever make happens before you bring the puppy home. I bred Rottweilers to the German standard for years — here's what actually matters.
By Tommy Stark, The Dog Director · June 5, 2026 · 7 min read
People hire me to fix problems, but my favorite calls are the ones that come before the puppy — because so much of a dog's future is set by genetics and the first few months. I spent years as a breeder under von der Stark Rottweilers, importing semen and traveling to Europe to get a pairing right. You don't need to go that deep, but you should know what separates a dog that's easy to live with from one that's an uphill climb.
That was my breeding rule and it's a great buyer's checklist too. A responsible breeder tests for health (hips, elbows, heart, eyes — ask for the clearances, don't take "they're healthy" on faith). They breed for stable temperament — confident, recoverable, neither shy nor sharp. Looks come last. If a breeder leads with color or "rare" anything and can't talk to you about temperament or show you health testing, walk away.
The dam's temperament is your best preview of the puppies, and how she's raised tells you everything. You want pups raised in the home, handled daily, exposed to normal sounds and surfaces — not isolated in a barn. A good breeder interviews you as hard as you interview them, and takes the dog back for life if things ever go sideways. That's the sign of someone breeding for dogs, not dollars.
Plenty of my favorite clients have rescues, and I'll never talk anyone out of saving a dog. Just go in with clear eyes: ask about history, watch how the dog handles handling and new spaces, and meet it more than once if you can. With an unknown background you're committing to a little detective work — that's fine, you just want to know what you're signing up for.
There's a window early on where a puppy's brain is wide open to the world. Use it. Calm, positive exposure to people, dogs, sounds, surfaces and handling now prevents the fear and reactivity I get called for later. Not a chaotic free-for-all — thoughtful, confidence-building experiences. And start the boring basics immediately: name, focus, potty, crate, handling. Puppies are learning every second whether you're teaching or not.
This is exactly why I offer puppy packages and will happily help you choose a breeder or pick the right pup from a litter before you commit. Get the foundation right and the next fifteen years are easy. Get it wrong and we're playing catch-up — doable, but harder than it needed to be.
Thinking about a puppy? Start with private training, or text me at 949-343-0000 before you pick — I'm glad to help.
From choosing the pup to the first commands — I'll set you both up to win.