Dog Community

About the ROTTWEILER for SARALOU

Posted : 9/12/2006 2:20:25 PM

Rottweilers can make excellent companion dogs if they are properly bred, socialized, trained and confined. They are very good house dogs, and friendly in friendly situations if properly socialized as puppies.

Breeders should be doing screening of hips, elbows, eyes, and hearts before breeding, and many people also screen thyroid function and patellas. RUN from any breeder who tells you their lines don't have these issues. THEY ALL DO. Good breeders will offer you the PROOF of the health testing they have done on their dogs, and also the findings on ancestors in the pedigree.

Rottweilers generally live to ages 10, and sometimes 12 years old. Some die younger. Cancer is a fairly big issue in this breed, with a significant incidence of Osteo Sarcoma (bone cancer) and Lymphoma.

Rottweilers are inherently territorial dogs, and for this reason, good fencing and intensive early training and socialization are NOT OPTIONAL. It is the rare Rottweiler that will welcome those who do not live in the home if you are away, no matter how well they know them. Escape proof fencing and locked gates are MANDATORY for the safety not only of people passing by or visiting if you are not at home, but for the safety of the dog as well.

DO NOT get a Rottweiler if you are not prepared for this territorial guardy behavior. It is a hallmark of this breed. Rottweilers need intensive early training and socialization. Have you noticed that I've mentioned this several times? [

] If you are not into dog training, or you want an outdoor dog, please don't get a Rottweiler. These dogs LIVE to be at your feet and with you, and they are miserable when they can't be. DO NOT get a Rottweiler if you don't approve of crate training. They will dismantle your home if you do not judiciously use crates and good confinement.

Rottweilers in a nutshell are LOYAL, loving, confident, outgoing, bold, territorial, defensive, COURAGEOUS, sometimes stubborn, extremely intelligent dogs.

The last thing I shall mention is boy do these dogs shed. I mean a lot. Year round. DO NOT GET A ROTTWEILER IF DOG HAIR BOTHERS YOU. You will be investing in an expensive vacuum too.

If you have any other questions, or if you would like some recomendations of good people in your area to look at for your puppy, please let me know, I will be happy to help in any way I can.

RedyreRottweilers

Posted : 9/12/2006 2:24:10 PM

[linkhttp://www.amrottclub.org]http://www.amrottclub.org[/link] [linkhttp://www.der-rottweiler.com/]http://www.der-rottweiler.com/[/link] [linkhttp://www.geocities.com/rescuerottca/procon.html]http://www.geocities.com/rescuerottca/procon.html[/link] [linkhttp://www.resteddoginn.ca/buyarott.php]http://www.resteddoginn.ca/buyarott.php[/link]

Firestorm

Posted : 9/12/2006 2:44:01 PM

I know this is not a message for me.
Here is my experience with my Rott.

Let's see...I personally socialized my Rott and trained him. i only crated him for till 5 months old. After that he was given the run of the kitchen which was gated while we were gone and he was NOt destructive. We didn't have a fenced in yard but tied him when he went out for potty. I also would let him run loose in my yard playing with the kids and supervise. He was a very well mannered dog and would come even when off leash. While out with the kids he would herd them so they would not go to far. He was great meeting other people and other dogs. he also was walked 2-3 times a day plus play time with fetching. I had no issues with him at all. As with any other dog they need socialization, training, and exercise and of course love.

RedyreRottweilers

Posted : 9/12/2006 2:53:29 PM

Firestorm, your dog sounds like he was a wonderful pet.

May I ask what happened to him? (Sorry, I"m assuming from your post that he is no longer with you)

I'm very glad you had such an easy time of raising your puppy, however, your experiences with him are not typical of the breed in general.

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sooner

Posted : 9/12/2006 2:55:23 PM

The only thing I can add to that excellent advice, and I honestly don't know if this is my rott or a breed thing, but my Rotten has an extremely high prey drive. She IS NOT cat, small animal, or small dog safe. She was well socialized with cats, and even lived with two for the first few years of her life, but it is her instinct to catch, and kill, any small thing that runs.

Other than that I can't say enough good things about the breed. They're wonderful companions when trained properly. They're loving, and smart, and a little goofy. My girl is 9 and still luckily in wonderful health.

Firestorm

Posted : 9/12/2006 2:57:07 PM

True but it took until age two to really have a trustworthy and extremely well trained dog. The whole road was not easy. I knew that going in. When you own a Rott you really need to make your dog an ambassador of the breed and prove that they can be great dogs. I couldn't have an ify dog when I had kids. I worked long and hard and was rewarded with an awesome dog. Anyone who thinks that owning a breed like the Rott will be cake walk is mistaken more time and care needs to be given to these larger guard type dogs. My Rott didn't have the PREY drive either. But he would scare the hell out of anyone pulling in my yard if he was out for potty he had one heck of a bark that would scare people. He also had a growl that would scare ya too but he only did this when he saw turkeys or deer in the yard. LOL! Here is my Rott who went to rainbow bridge January 2006.

RedyreRottweilers

Posted : 9/12/2006 2:58:02 PM

Ah, you add an EXCELLENT point, Sooner, and many Rotties DO have powerful prey drives, especially if they are from working or imported stock.

I have a dedicated kitty eradicator living here too. She got one last year, why the poor thing came inside my fencing I will never know, but I cried my eyes out when she killed the poor thing.

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sallya

Posted : 9/12/2006 3:06:12 PM

As I have said in another post, my poodle and I were almost killed by a "SWEET" "FAMILY" Rott. If the owner didn't beat it off of us, we would both be dead.

I held onto my poodle hard as the attack took place. All we did was take a walk. We were even TWO blocks away, on the other side of the street. I looked back and it looked like a HORSE was galloping toward us. All at once, my poodle was in his mouth and he was killing her. I held her and I would do anything do keep us alive. The owner finally came. He had two kids. An infant and a two year old.

A family Rott. is not to be trusted any more than a reg. Rott. This was a nightmare I will not forget. My Poodle was close to death and had a long surgery. Ripped up inside. Horrible.

meilani

Posted : 9/12/2006 3:09:20 PM

I've had great experiences with my Rottie. He was crate trained and house broken rather quickly, not destructive, great with children and extremely tolerant of the "ankle biters". He's 9 years old and he's starting to slow down. [

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meilani

Posted : 9/12/2006 3:11:16 PM

ORIGINAL: sallya
A family Rott. is not to be trusted any more than a reg. Rott.

What is the difference between a "family" Rottie and a "regular" Rottie. I am sorry for what happened to you and your Poodle but this could've happened with any breed.

RedyreRottweilers

Posted : 9/12/2006 3:21:03 PM

ORIGINAL: sallya

As I have said in another post, my poodle and I were almost killed by a "SWEET" "FAMILY" Rott. If the owner didn't beat it off of us, we would both be dead.

I held onto my poodle hard as the attack took place. All we did was take a walk. We were even TWO blocks away, on the other side of the street. I looked back and it looked like a HORSE was galloping toward us. All at once, my poodle was in his mouth and he was killing her. I held her and I would do anything do keep us alive. The owner finally came. He had two kids. An infant and a two year old.

A family Rott. is not to be trusted any more than a reg. Rott. This was a nightmare I will not forget. My Poodle was close to death and had a long surgery. Ripped up inside. Horrible.

Please do not condemn an entire breed MANY of whom have an exemplary history of service to humans because of your experience with one dog who clearly belonged to an irresponsble owner.

I am SO SORRY for your experience, the person who owns or owned that dog should be criminally liable to you for damages.

Dogs should NOT run loose, particularly large territorial breeds such as the Rottweiler. This is in NO WAY a reflection upon the breed in general, only on IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP.

I have owned these dogs for nearly 20 years with NEVER an incident such as you describe, because I train my dogs, and I keep them confined unless they are under my DIRECT supervision.

RedyreRottweilers

Posted : 9/12/2006 3:24:10 PM

Firestorm, I'm so sorry for your loss. He was a lovely sweet faced looking boy. Gosh it's so hard when they leave. MEILANI, your boy is sweet faced too, how could you not smile at that shot of him with the Bostons. (frenchies?) Cute either way.

Firestorm

Posted : 9/12/2006 4:51:29 PM

ORIGINAL: sallya

As I have said in another post, my poodle and I were almost killed by a "SWEET" "FAMILY" Rott. If the owner didn't beat it off of us, we would both be dead.

I held onto my poodle hard as the attack took place. All we did was take a walk. We were even TWO blocks away, on the other side of the street. I looked back and it looked like a HORSE was galloping toward us. All at once, my poodle was in his mouth and he was killing her. I held her and I would do anything do keep us alive. The owner finally came. He had two kids. An infant and a two year old.

A family Rott. is not to be trusted any more than a reg. Rott. This was a nightmare I will not forget. My Poodle was close to death and had a long surgery. Ripped up inside. Horrible.

Sallya: It is extremely wrong of you to condemn the breed for one dog's actions and also for those of the irresponsible person who owned it. If raised properly and socialized with people, kids and dogs and other critters. Rotts are great. I had a dwarf rabbit I would turn loose in my kitchen with my Rott and he would just watch it and he never chased it nor harmed it. He was good with cats and other dogs as well.
I am sorry for your loss....but you saying all Rotts are bad is a blanket statement condeming all Rotts is unfair. BTW the two meanisest dogs I evere came into contact with were a lhaso and a Miniature poodle. Those dogs would bite anyone human or dog. I don't hate those breeds but the owners of those dogs were irresponsibly.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 9/12/2006 7:22:29 PM

As I have said in another post, my poodle and I were almost killed by a "SWEET" "FAMILY" Rott. If the owner didn't beat it off of us, we would both be dead.

I held onto my poodle hard as the attack took place. All we did was take a walk. We were even TWO blocks away, on the other side of the street. I looked back and it looked like a HORSE was galloping toward us. All at once, my poodle was in his mouth and he was killing her. I held her and I would do anything do keep us alive. The owner finally came. He had two kids. An infant and a two year old.

A family Rott. is not to be trusted any more than a reg. Rott. This was a nightmare I will not forget. My Poodle was close to death and had a long surgery. Ripped up inside. Horrible.

Something similar happened to Emma, but it involved laborador retreivers. Three of them, at once. Fortunately, they backed down at my hitting and yelling. She came away with bad bruising and some toothmarks, and scratches. Beat up, but ok.

ANY large dog that is uncontained could attack a small dog. Heck, a small dog could attack you, too. He just wouldn't do as much damage.

Most of the Rotties I've met have been outstandingly good dogs. I've met a few that I wouldn't care to visit with, again. Most every breed is like that, though.I know Shih Tzus and Poodles who are little sharks. I know Dobermans and Pit Bulls who are fantastic lap dogs, and complete baby dolls.

agilebasenji

Posted : 9/12/2006 9:50:28 PM

Sadly, I also have a dog-attack story. A breeder freind of mine placed a basenji (20-25 poundish dog) with a wonderful home. As they were getting out of their car with their basenji on leash at the training center, a Golden Retriever, off lead, ran up to them and attacked their basenji. The basenji never even made it to the vet's office.