Rottweiler Owners

G

GinaB

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 July 2006
Messages
22,592
Location
Northern Ireland
Visit site
For as long as I've known him, my OH has wanted a rottweiler. We're hoping to get our own house next year and up until now I have always said no as I don't feel I have the confidence to train one. I have owned and trained dogs before, including a lab gundog (show her food, she'll do anything
wink.gif
)

Don't get me wrong, I love rottweilers I think they're fantastic dogs. My OH also wants a male, whereas I'm a bitch person as I find them easier to work with.

Can anyone give me more info on working with rotties? As I would love for my OH to be happy and get one, but don't want anything to go wrong! We'll hopefully be getting two dogs to keep each other company, but depending on house size the second one might be a wee small one. Does this make a difference if they are brught up together from puppies?

Sorry for so many questions!
 
My parents had a rotty when i was in my teens and when they divorced, she came to live with myself and my OH.

She's now about 12 years old.

They werent a breed that I was ever remotely interested in but she's been a fabulous dog.

We went for a bitch as they're obviously less challenging but I will hold my hands up and say she went through a very difficult and awkward stage at between 1 year and 18 months old (and with this kind of dog, that can be quite bad).

Sally has shared "her" territory with a king charles spaniel (arrived when she was about 6 months iirc) and then when she came to live with us she had to integrate in with our 2 year old husky bitch. We've since moved country and are staying with my OH's parents so now she's also learned to live with a 10 year old daschund.

I can hand on heart say that i'd trust her with other dogs more than I would ever trust my husky. When we first moved here my rabbit escaped and was running round in the same room as the rotty (who was laid down watching her doing laps round the room).

She's 100% with just about everyone but there have been instances where shes not taken to someone (for god knows what reason) and then she just wont tolerate them in her space. She's incredibly loving and gentle.

One thing i will say though is that the attitude to these dogs has changed drastically recently. We were always used to little old women scooping up their westies and moving them out of her way and the like... and we've always kept her on a leash in public areas but people are becoming much more hostile to them now (particularly in the last year with the publicised attacks). Ive had people in the street tell me that my dog should be muzzled, Ive had people in the village we lived in complain because i let her loose on walks (the minute i saw someone, she'd be back on a lead) and Ive had people tell me that the breed is dangerous and unsuitable for a pet.

While this IS just people sticking their nose in, its something you may have to deal with and it's not pleasant.... particularly when you see parents collect their children together and bundle them to the opposite side of the road and the like.

I'd probably have another... Sally makes me feel safe. She doesnt have an agressive bone in her body but she has a very big bark and she most definitly looks the part.
 
Ditto Tierra

My OH was desperate for one but I gave in last year and we bought a 8 week old rottie man - he is called Diego but I call him teddy romper - he is so sweet and gentle. He gets on really well with our cat - and they play like mad - he can annoy the cat sometimes but cat can get out of way or scraggs him!!!

I would always have a rottie now - and I was brought up with whippets and greyhounds so its a big change! :-)

He does make me feel safe but is is fab to walk on the lead and needed little training.

However - we were VERY strict with him as a pup and still are to some extend - he is very aware that he is right at the bottom of our pack as he is a very big and powerful dog. They are super confident and clever so need to be kept in check.

He is a very obedient dog - exellent off the lead but we are aware that people are wary off rotties which is a shame but we try and protect them and there are plenty of walks round me to take him on away from others.

Mine does not have his tail docked - which make them look friendlier - but its illegal now anyway so all of them will have tails!!

They are great dogs - and you should be A ok if you have had gundogs in the past!!!

Best bet is to try and meet one and spend an hour or two chatting to a breeder!

:-)
 
yes agree with above.difficult teenagers (up to about 18 months) but mine changed overnight(used to hurtle about,chew stuff,in the bin etc)
she is so chilled out now and loves children.wouldn`t be without one.
 
Yep

Mine never chewed a thing but ..... He had a phase of stealing food - off you plate - not snatching it just calmly taking it!!! He got that knocked right out of it straight away. And he did go through a bit of a cocky stage - just looking at you whe you wanted him to do something - that got sorted and Quick!!

I have just taught him to pogo - Its great (not on stick I might add!!)
 
Ours once stole a huge lamb roast that was defrosting on the kitchen sideboard (was to feed 16 people)...

She ate it while it was still rather frozen :|

Cant remember her being a chewer and she was very very fast to house train.

She went through a stage of "guarding the stairs". Our stairs had a small landing part way up and she'd just sit there and growl at anyone trying to get up. If you kept going towards her, she'd just leap at you. Needless to say we had fewer visitors after she joined the family
 
I love the breed although my husband was the one who wanted one to begin with. Holly was quite a light rottie and that's the way I like them. She was a star but selectively deaf to recall which meant always on a lead when walked. Sadly she died last July when she was only 8. Now we have Sage who is a babe, 14 months old and her babay brother Dexter 5 months old. They live quite happily with Matty our ridgeback Gaby the cat and several horses. Training wise you start the day you get them and never stop!!! They are a delight to have around, devote their lives to you are affectionate and loving. Very good guard dogs and ,despite their reputation, not aggressive unless trained to be like that. Make sure you buy from a reputable breeder and that the parents are hip scored as they can have hip displacia problems.
 
R4.jpg


Yep..........I have one.....although not by choice, she came into our rescue very nervous and scatty.
She has really grown on me I love her to bits.......I am very firm with my large breed dogs, ans so they are very well behaved.........I think it all depends on the way you handle/socialise and train them.
All in all as protective as she is she is a fantastic and extremley loving dog.
 
My friend breeds Rotties and they have all been lovely dogs and brilliant around her children. However, she does find the main problem is other people's attitude towards the dogs
crazy.gif
.
 
we have had males and bitch and i would have to say bitchs all the way coz i males we have had have been narky and thik they are boss all the time.
we have showed the dogs to and find bitchs more willing to work and will do anything for you dont get me wround some bitchs are not that this same with males.
here is my tilli
Picture005.jpg

Picture003.jpg

she the best dog eva love her to bits.
she was a x mas gift ( only because we found out 3 days before xmas we had been lookinf for a bit after our other dog die so quick and was only 6. Got to say we have had our up and down but now they thing couldnt be better could never give her up.
 
[ QUOTE ]
My friend breeds Rotties and they have all been lovely dogs and brilliant around her children. However, she does find the main problem is other people's attitude towards the dogs
crazy.gif
.

[/ QUOTE ]
yes i agree 100% had lots of dogs runing at ours with teeth but would be a different tale if it was a rootie wouldnt it.
 
your bitch is lovely
grin.gif


I am totally not a rotti person...more a GSD person...but she just happened to come into me mams rescue.....and I work lone night shift and had just lost my shepherd....she has proved to be a very loving bitch
grin.gif
 
i have grown up with rottie and love them to death.
my granddad was the first person were he lived to get one dont thing me saw one by him for about 8 years lol. only when he went to shows and there wasnt many there then .
That was like in the 1970s.
 
Fabulous dogs. Daisy is 5 now, lives with our 4 other dogs, a Springer spaniel, a Lab, a yorkie terrier and a lurcher, Daisy is placid with all, gentle and easy and good to have around, she can get a bit possesive over her cuddly toys " that's my hoop!" ( long story!)
Daisy came from a horse fair in appalling condition at just 3 weeks old being touted for sale. We were monitoring the fair that day. Unfortunately she has a twisted jaw and one eye missing but is as beautiful as any other in our eyes.
She is devoted and good natured and so loving.
emw.
DSCF0023.jpg
 
That's one hell of a tongue she's got!! She looks gorgeous. I can never get ovet how people can be so bad to any animal. I even recue flies from my water buckets. Kill horse flies though!!
 
Rotties are wonderful doggies - I was wary of getting one, due to what I had read about them in the papers. But Boo has been wonderful and he loves kids. I'm a convert now and wouldn't have any other breed! A local breeder has some pups and the picture of a girlie with a pink collar on is sooo gorgeous I want one. However, as I've only had new horsey for a week I think I will have to wait for a new rottie baby.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top