Well, I got him!!! Plus piccie. Sorry, novel length post...

catembi

catembi

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It's been a loooong day...up at 5.30, started off at 6.05 for 150 mile drive to Dorset... If I give a condensed version of the day's proceedings, perhaps you lovely experienced people could point out any red flags or hints & tips? Hope I don't sound too muppety to be a dog owner...
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Anyway, the people running the rescue were really lovely. They also had 5 cats & rescue birds & were so kind & knowledgeable. They do a checklist on all the dogs they have in, seeing if the dogs will let you take their toys & touch them while they're eating etc & he was fine with all their tests. There was a parrot in a cage & he ignored it. Took him out for a walk & he did pull quite hard. Off the lead, he didn't wander far & came when called. He saw a lady with 2 dogs & was having a good look, but came when called. He has been taught to go thru doors last & wait for his dinner til the rest of the family has eaten.

I was told that he is okay with being left, doesn't chew & doesn't bark. He is being rehomed cos his owner is having a baby. Apparently he was fine with the first child, but she is having a 2nd child with a different partner who won't have the dog near the baby. He has been with the rehoming place for a month & in that time has been neutered, & I've got records of vaccination, worming, defleaing.

On our walk, I had to walk him & the person was assessing whether I'd be firm with him.

I was told that he loves going in the car & lies down on the back seat. It was an eventful ride home to start with... he doesn't stay on the back seat & tried to climb in my lap, which wasn’t very convenient in the outside lane of the dual carriageway. I stopped at the services, got him some water & put the seatbelt in the back seat through his lead handle, so the rest of the journey was easier!

I've read the dogs in cars post below & know to make sure he's properly restrained as he doesn't stay on the back seat.

I got him home & he was v boisterous. Introduced him to Peter the tame cockatiel (bird was in his cage) & he was trying to grab him.
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Tried to keep him at a safe distance so he could look but not touch, but he's very strong. Not sure if he was excited because Peter was flapping his wings? Peter has been shut out of reach for now - hoping it's just first day excitement.

Introduced him to Adrian while A was standing at the gate (had Kane on a lunge rein) & he really lunged at him. Then tied him to the lorry so he could watch but not get near & he was barking at him.
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He was barking quite a lot, sometimes not at anything in partic & sometimes cos I'd gone out of sight. I know not to reward him for barking i.e. not to go over cos he's making a noise but I'm not sure what to do to make him stop???

Also I got him a toy which is a miniature tyre with a rope handle so we can play pulling games - will this make him aggressive? I seem to rem someone telling me that if you play a pulling game with a dog, you've got to make sure you win? Might be hard with him...

I've only had him 5 minutes & I love him already. Really hope this works out. Atm I'm split between omg omg what have I done; complete lifestyle change etc, & yay! I've got a doggie!

He is currently playing the world's longest game of ball & I’ve got a towel in my lap as I’m getting covered in slobber each time he brings it back.

I think I might find an obedience class to take him to asap as that will also give me another bank of brains to pick!

Thanks for reading. Sorry if disjointed...I'm sooooo tired!

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s258/catembi/IMAGE_053.jpg
 
Well he gets my vote cos he looks like a Rottie from your pic and I have two!! You don't say how old he is but he looks quite young. Give him time to settle in and, hard though it is, try not to get him too excited to begin with. It's strange for him too so relax and enjoy him. He 'll settle.
 
As Matilda suggests, it's all new and exciting, he has alot to take in, if you saw him in the sorroundings of birds and cats, in the rescue, he should eventually calm down into your sorroundings the same way.
I would leave birds locked in cages for now, the calmer he seems the birds the more he will relax around them, seeing them fly and flap will excite him.

Re the toy, I personally would not rag with him, instead use it to throw for him and always, ask him to leave and give, when he returns to u, swaping him for a treat, as a positive reward for giving it up, it's always best to use toys as stimulating game play IMO.
Re the tying to the van, this type of scenario, will cause a more boisterous reaction, as he is unable to get to said object, which will cause over selous excitement and reinforce the want to get at it, It also makes it hard for u to reprimand, if u have to walk towards him to do so, if the ignoring him tactic, does not work.
I would personally, keep him close and reprimand with a stern check, using check chain and lead, it's esp effective if he has never been reprimanded in this way, and gets his attention pretty quick, a quick hard stern, NO, or LEAVE it, will do and a good hard check, he is a big dog, u wont hurt him, and u need to be firm, your horses are your number 1 priority.

Also if he is pulling you will need a good aid to help with that, I would reccommend a halti (I dont like them) but they can be effective, or check chain, with a medium, not humungus link
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that would be my choice for a big dog, esp as u need full control asap, and a good leather lead, or nylon which will not burn your hands, not a chain lead, they are crap
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He looks stunning hun, hope is everything u want in a big doggi, get yourself a dog guard if he is a pain in the car.
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Was I right? Was I right?

Does he have a 5 meter slobber radius?
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Take it easy, it's his first day! This is a dog in his best years, he's full of energy, and you take him to a new place, new people, everything is exciting... You don't want to over"boil" his brain with all the new things/make him think he's arrived to a place with constant amusement only for him, or something like that.

I'm not one of those that believes all pulling games makes dogs aggressive, but it's not for everyone. I like it because the dog is within my reach and I use it to train relaxing, how ever odd that might sound.
I tug and pull a little while, then I take the toy away, and when the dog starts to calm down, I reward with taking up the toy again and play some more, then I take it away again, when calm, play again and so on. When I don't want to play any more, I say "Finished" before taking the toy away, and mine always quickly learn that "Finished" means no more playing. They might do one check, so that I really mean the fun is over, but thats all.
Instead of throwing a toy, you could always hide it, and let him use is nose to find it.

Considering his breed I would be much more worried, if he had arrived and acted subdued or timid. A well bred Rottweiler should handle new situations with at least some confidence, even if having been through a thing or two.

Good luck from Sweden.
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Just to add, the trainer we use is fine with tug games, with a few caveats: you instigate the game, you "win" (getting them to drop it is fine, not actually getting it from their mouth), and you get them to sit beforehand. I've played tug with Stella for years, and have actually been encouraged to keep going by a trainer/vet, as it seems to be a great way of releasing stress for her. I can walk her for miles, play ball forever, but tug is definitely the best thing for taking the edge off.

Excess shaking of an object can lead to lens luxation, but I think that's more of a JRT thing.

Look forward to seeing more pictures. He looks like a lovely boy.
 
I am so glad you got home safely. I would absolutely not recommend tug and play games with him. In his first few days home with you he will try it on as to who is pack leader. You only have to lose out once (and you will not win against the power of him) and he will have gone up one rung of the ladder already. Their memories know no bounds!
As someone else said on your previous post, your manner around him is more important than your voice. You must act like you are in control, head up, no turning your back or walking away from him. Always be aware of what you are doing and how it will be read by him. You won't always have to do this but for now you need to just keep on your toes.
I would try chatting to as many rottie breeders and owners as you possibly can - get Rottweilers for Dummies too, I did and it is very readable.
I have to say the biggest shock I had when I got my male was the slobber! My female does not slobber and I just (stupidly) assumed Rottweilers did not as a breed..ha...wrong - Bailey is like shoelace central when food is around
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Good luck, I look forward to your posts
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