ROTTWEILER INFORMATION

So You Think You Want A Rottweiler Puppy

WITH PROPER training and socializing, the Rottweiler can be a great family pet, companion, herding dog, tracking dog, obedience dog, etc.

They are very loyal, dedicated, loving, beautiful and intelligent.

As a rule they do not bark a lot unnecessarily and they are generally good watch dogs who will let you know when something's up.

With proper training and socializing they will enjoy and participate in nearly any outdoor activity you desire. At the same time, WHEN MATURE, a WELL EXERCISED Rottweiler is a very sedate house dog that wants nothing more than to sleep on the bed or chew on a Nylabone.

However, they are not perfect and do have their down sides.

They are not mature until after 2 years of age and the average life expectancy is only 8 - 10 years.

They are very susceptible to a wide range of cancers and they have a poor immune system (particularly when young) and need a more specialized vaccination schedule as a puppy in order to develop proper immunity. They are also prone to contracting more viruses than the average dog, especially when fed improperly.

They are susceptible to hip dysplasia, tearing cruciate ligaments and heart problems as well as cancer.

They are strong willed and need LOTS of PROPER training and socializing when young. IF you fail in your duties to select, train and socialize them properly, they can be dangerous (sometimes inadvertently) as adults. They are mouthy as puppies until properly taught bite inhibition. Puppies also tend to have temper tantrums. Similar to baby Grizzly bears!

Young dogs require a lot of very good food (poor quality food can cause health problems) SOME young males CAN require as much as 8 - 10 cups of excellent quality food per day, that's 2 - 2 1/2 lbs!

When shedding they leave black "mouse balls" everywhere.

Young dogs require a lot of exercise and need some form of work (obedience, agility, herding, etc). They can be destructive if bored or improperly housed.

They CAN be very dog aggressive especially if not spayed/neutered or if not properly socialized.

They play hard and can easily injure someone unintentionally. They also herd children and other animals and can bump, or nip them while doing so without meaning harm.

It CAN be difficult to obtain homeowner's or renters insurance if you own a Rottweiler.

If you are still interested in owning a Rottweiler, please read some of these excellent books:

The Rottweiler by: Jim Pettengell
The Complete Rottweiler by: Muriel Freeman
Rottweilers by: Les Price
Dr. Ackerman's Book of the Rottweiler
Proper care of Rottweilers by: Joan Klem and Susan Rademacher
Pet Owner's Guide to the Rottweiler by: Mary MacPhail

So You Think You Want a Rottweiler Puppy

Rottweiler puppies are adorable little black bear look alikes! They are fuzzy, clumsy and just so cute!

However Rottweiler puppies are not for everyone, and just because you've had a puppy of another breed or mix breed does not mean you are cut out for a Rottweiler puppy. This does not mean you are a failure as a puppy parent, it just means you are smart enough to admit that perhaps you should choose a young adult or an adult rottweiler as your companion.

I have spoken to A LOT of people who desire a puppy for their home. Some of the problems that have become major issues for new Rottweiler puppy owners (and things you SHOULD give serious thought to) are:

1) Eight to sixteen week old puppies have very little bowel and bladder control. What this means is that the new baby will most likely have to be taken outside to potty at least once in the night, 2 am seems to be a popular time. (If your pup is not used to being crated then it will likely howl for 20 minutes to 2 hours before falling asleep!) These pups also cannot "hold it" while you are gone all day at work (there are exceptions but we are speaking in general terms here). Ideally a human is home at least part of the day to take the little one out every 2 to 3 hours. If this is not possible then a room should be made puppy proof and a crate with the door off in one corner and newspapers on the floor. Baby pups need to potty after waking up, before being put in the crate, after coming out of the crate, drinking, eating and playing. What usually causes the most problems is the playing because they are distracted and then all of a sudden HAVE to go now! When playing with a baby you must take them out every 30 to 45 minutes to avoid accidents. ANY TIME you take the puppy out to potty You MUST wait for them to go both pee and poop even if it takes 30 minutes for them to find just the right spot. They have to go out even during a thunder storm or in bitter winter wind..

2) Biting. Rottweiler puppies are VERY mouthy! They are very bitey and growly until they learn otherwise. They can act very aggressive with certain toys and things like rawhide and pigs ears should be avoided because they just cause unnecessary problems. They also chase down kids and bite their hands and legs and toes, they grab the cats, they bite the older dogs face, they bite your hands etc... Many pups can learn to inhibit their biting by you hollering OWW! really loud every time they bite. Other pups need to be lightly clipped under the chin with an open hand while you say "no bite". REMEMBER if what you are doing does not seem to be sinking in after 4 or 5 times then stop! It just is not working and you need to try something else. Some of them are good all day and become biting monsters after 7 pm. Some of them become little sharks if they don't get enough exercise or people time. Some just need to be taken out to potty and then calmly put in their crate for a nap. This is a perfectly normal stage for a Rottweiler puppy and if handled properly will be mastered by 6 months of age. (then they move on to jumping on people and chewing on your furniture!) It is a VERY frustrating and annoying time and this is one of the things that turn perfectly normal people and even some not very rottweiler knowledgable trainers totally off of rottweilers or to label them as aggressive/dominant etc.. which is certainly not the case! This stage requires TONS of persistence and patience.

3) Rottweiler pups are very smart and this gets them into lots of trouble! They are into anything and everything not tied down. Average puppy proofing of your home will not be sufficient! Anything your puppy should not be into should be protected or placed above 3 feet. Remember if anything gets broke or chewed it IS NOT the puppies fault! It is yours because you did not pick it up or protect it enough. Pups should never be left alone in a room, ever! You can not use the phrase "he should have known better" until he is OVER 2 YEARS OLD!!

4) Rottweilers mature VERY slowly! The housebreaking, crate training and chewing may be over with by 12 months old. But the rottweiler is a puppy til it is 2 years of age! They require AT LEAST every other day training sessions from puppyhood on. They also require alot of exercise. Though rottweilers under 2 should never be jogged or biked they should get lots of play time every day and walking is fine as long as you know the distance your pup can easily walk without getting exhausted. Over tired pups easily injure their joints and ligaments. If your young rottweiler is being especially wild and naughty then it needs more exercise and training sessions. Boredom and underplaying are the two biggest causes of bad behavior!!

5) Rottweilers also mature very slowly physically. This means that they should be kept lean. If they don't have a visible waist or you cannot easily feel their ribs the dog is way too fat! Rottweilers do not finish filling out width wise til 3 or 5 years old! Overfeeding WILL NOT make them fill out faster but will make them more susceptible to hip dysplasia, shoulder ailments and torn knee ligaments.

IF after reading all of the above you still want a puppy then by all means get one. But remember the commitment you are making to this dog. You are promising to properly care, train , feed and exercise it while keeping in mind all the above things that make this dog a Rottweiler!

Teenage Rottweilers

Being a breeder, owner, trainer and a boarding kennel manager I get to see or hear about all the problems teenage Rottweilers can bring to a home and all the love and joy as well.

Before adding a teenage or preteen (6 months to 2 years of age) rottweiler to your home Please do alot of research. Not only on the Rottweiler as a breed but also into your own lifestyle and expectations for a dog.

Teenage and preteen Rottweilers are full of themselves and then some! At about 6 months of age they stop being bitey little fuzz balls and start to really get into trouble! This is the age when they start jumping up on people, getting into the trash and chewing on your furniture. If not trained , played with and exercised enough and if not confined properly when unsupervised they can destroy a home or apt in one day!!

I generally recommend that Rottweilers up to 2 years of age (and sometimes beyond) be crated when not supervised to keep them out of mischief. Some of the naughty things teenage rottweilers have done to other people's homes when left loose and unsupervised are: Chewed the corners off 100 phonographs; Chewed up not one but 2 new pairs of shoes; Chewed up every single pair of dirty underwear in the laundry basket; torn the linoleum up from the entire kitchen floor; chewed the legs off the dining room table; dug up and chewed in half the satellite dish cable; taken the vinyl siding off the back side of the house and chewed the wood molding off several places in the home. Amazing isn't it? EVERY SINGLE one of these incidences could have been avoided by simply crating or supervising the young rottweiler.

Teenage rottweilers are very intelligent. So much so that it is sometimes a huge burden for the owner! These pups can and do get bored very easily and bored dogs are destructive dogs. The more intelligent the dog (of any breed) the more easily bored and then destructive they become. So if you want a dog that will just patiently lie around your home or yard until you invite it to do something; then perhaps an older well trained rottweiler or a dog of another breed is for you!

Teenage rottweilers also like to see just how far they can push the rules and still get away with the behavior! If one day they experiment with a tiny growl when they are eating and people back away, then this encourages them to greater extremes. If they shove you out of the way to get out of the car and you say nothing then they will continue to do that! They learn bad things way quicker than the things you want them to learn!! Going to obedience classes or training the dog yourself consistently and often keeps life in order. Rules are not made for your dog to break. Rules must be set and enforced. Physical force is not required as a rule BUT consistency, fairness and firmness are musts! If you are a really laid back, non confrontational or soft natured person then a Rottweiler ESPECIALLY a teenager is NOT the dog for you!

Rottweilers mature mentally very slowly! The housebreaking, crate training and chewing may be over with by 12 months old. But the rottweiler is a puppy til it is 2 years of age! They require AT LEAST every other day training sessions. They also require alot of exercise and mental stimulation. Though rottweilers under 2 should never be jogged or biked they should get lots of play time every day and walking or swimming is fine as long as you know the distance your teenager can easily walk or amount of swimming he can do without getting exhausted. Over tired pups and teenagers can easily injure their joints and ligaments. If your young rottweiler is being especially wild and naughty then it needs more exercise and training sessions. Boredom and underplaying and lack of mental stimulation are the three biggest causes of bad behavior!!

Rottweilers also mature very slowly physically. This means that they should be kept lean. If they don't have a visible waist or you cannot easily feel their ribs the dog is way too fat! Rottweilers do not finish filling out width wise til 3 or 5 years old! Overfeeding WILL NOT make them fill out faster but will make them more susceptible to hip dysplasia, shoulder ailments and torn knee ligaments.

IF after reading all of the above you still want a teenage or preteen rottweiler then by all means get one. But remember the commitment you are making to this dog. You are promising to properly care, train, feed and exercise it for it's entire life (8 to 12 years) while keeping in mind all the above things that make this dog a Rottweiler!

If you have a Rottweiler and find that you can not keep it for whatever reason, DO NOT take it to the animal shelter except as a last resort. FIRST call the dog's breeder, ethical breeders will take back dogs that they have bred. If the breeder for some reason can not or will not take back the dog- call a Rottweiler Rescue.

See Rottweiler Links for more information sites.

Book Recommendations

Rottweiler books:

The Rottweiler Experience by Joan Klem & Susan Rademacher
Training your Rottweiler by Barbara McNinch
The Essential Rottweiler by Ian Dunbar
The New Rottweiler by Jim Pettegell
The Complete Idiots Guide to Owning, Raising and Training a Rottweiler by Richard Beauchamp and Catherine Thompson
Dr Ackerman's Book of the Rottweiler By Lowell Ackerman

Training, Raising, Behavior and Fun:

Before You Get Your Puppy by Ian Dunbar
After You Get Your Puppy by Ian Dunbar
Puppies! Why They Do What They Do by Penelope Milne
Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson
Mine:A Practical Guide To Resource Guarding In Dogs by Jean Donaldson
Clicking With Your Dog By Peggy Tillman
Clicker Training Your Dog by Karen Pryor
Train Your Dog, Change Your Life by Maureen & Gary Ross
Enjoying Dog Agility by Julie Daniels
Guide to Backpacking With Your Dog by Charlene Labelle
Simple Guide to Getting Active With Your Dog by Margaret Bonham
Aggression In Dogs,Practical Management, Prevention & Behavior Modification by Brenda Aloff (a bit pricey but thorough)
Tracking From The Ground Up by Sandy Ganz & Susan Boyd