i am interested in getting a rottie puppy- how easy/hard are they to socialize and train?

Question

i have done some research and basically everybody has said they are the best dog they have ever had. i understand the personality is pretty dominant but loyal. can anybody that HAS one throw some info out? i am not sure i want to get one but i am looking into it. i have looked at a staffie and pretty much fell in love with it. what about german shepherds? i am looking for a FFA and 4-h project. i already have a Golden and am looking for a partner for him. please whoever answer please talk from experience not by just researching.

Answer 1

If it is a well bred Rottie, he will be easily trained..The ill bred ones are a nightmare..
socializing is simple, but requires dedication..to get him out and around very often, meeting new people and new dogs, and new surroundings....From the time he has completed his puppy shots..

Rotties do very well in obedience trials..
Be sure to choose one from a breeder that allows you to meet both parents, or one that both parents have shown or have obedience titles...this would assure you of manageability..
Also, Parvo strikes Rotts..be very careful until your pup is fully immunized...
Be certain that parents are OFA certified for good hips..

Answer 2

Since you have a male, get a female so you'll have fewer problems. If you get a Rottie pup from a breeder who really cares about temperament, and start training her young and don't spoil her, she'll be a great dog. Socialization is easy - just invite lots of different people over to play with her (uncluding the mailman!) and take her for walks to meet people and experience new things (after she's had her shots!)

These are the books that I recommend to my students; you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know – Volhard http://www.volhard.com/
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan
Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/

Find a good breeder referral by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. This is a breed that can have hip and aggression problems - you should get the best one you can!
http://www.akc.org/breeds/rottweiler/index.cfm
http://www.akc.org/breederinfo/breeder_search.cfm

You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money.
http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm

The best breeders will be members of their breed club, promoting healthy dogs with great temperaments. They should ask you a bunch of questions to make sure their puppy will be getting a good home. If all a "breeder" seems to care about is whether your check will clear, you can be sure he won't care a week later when the pup is dying from distemper or parvo and you want your money back.

Whatever you do, DON'T go to a pet shop, a flea market or buy one sight-unseen off the Internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog that is often sick and may have falsified registration papers. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cruelty_puppymills

Answer 3

I have rescued a couple of rotty pups and they were pretty easy to work with. The rotty breed is just like any other breed, you get your really smart ones, and your really dumb ones that don't want to learn, it all depends on the breeding, and the up bringing.

As for Shepard's, they are great dogs also, very easy to work with and train, but again you get your smart ones, and your dumb ones in that breed as well.

As for a staffie, I don't know. Ive never had to rescue one.

When I rescue dogs I work them to see if they can go into a dog org. IE. leader dogs for the blind, paws with a cause, U.S. customs, search and rescue, K-9, etc. The dogs that don't work out of any of those we place in a good home. Good luck.

Answer 4

First, I've never heard of using a dog as an FFA project, and I was in the FFA for four years. Second, my family owned a rottweiler for several years, and found him to be an excellent pet, though you might want to be careful about keeping one around other dogs, especially those of a similar size and disposition; I remember a few fights we had to break up.

Answer 5

I have a shepherd! He's the sweetest. Well anyway rotties are good dogs. My neighbor has four rotties, a wolf hybrid, a german, and a dachsund, and that doxie owns that house. Rotties are really easy going but they are very strong. They can easily pull you on walks and are dominant. Good lucK!

Answer 6

I have had two ROttweilers,.. I just love them.

"Lexus" has been trained in Agility and Obedience, and went on to pass her temperament test for therapy work. (ie. visiting elderly in nursing homes)
As the standard suggests they are calm and confident in almost all situations, this is what makes Lexus so great with everyone she encounters, including children, elderly, drunk people, handicap poeple or who cant control thier movements. SHe goes right in to say hello once she gets the signal and leans on them, or she does circles at thier feet making it obvious she appreciates the attention.

They are very, very cuddly, it is not suggested to share your bed with your dog because they may become confused about who is the leader, however before my boyfriend came along Lexus and I "spooned" every night.
They call them "clowns and soldiers" for good reason. That is the most accurate way to describe them. THey can act so silly, but thier playing sometimes sounds frightening to people becuase it is so vocal! Especially when there are two rotties together.
They are very dominant dogs, the professionals now like to refer to them as "strong willed" You will have to stay the leader and keep on top of them for the rest of thier lives. THis article is perfect for a passive way to do that.
http://www.joycefay.com/articles/dominantdogs.shtml
They say that Rottwielers are for experienced handlers, this is because they were bred to work-and think independantly. This will keep you on your toes.
Sometimes with a working dog if you do not train them and give them a "job" or in my case when they finish training (which was 5 years) they give themselves a job.
Lexus' decided she was the new food guarder of the house. I know how to deal with this, however with her it is management. We still have to play the "mind games" I call it. Other people have found possession aggresion an issue with thier rottwielers which is why a trainer that knows rottweilers will teach you to prevent that issue early.

Something else to deal with, is her dominance with other dogs, with training again, we have "managed" the problem. She can be attacked by smaller dogs without even noticing, but sometimes she wont play with another dog freely (usually a young dog) until the dog knows how to play with her and that she is the boss. For these reasons as a responsible dog owner you must watch the interaction with your dog to a new playmate.

They need to be taken to a training class for socialization and training early on. I would do no less than 6 months of classes. Some books and magazines would suggest finding a trainer that has worked with them before, they need discipline, only positive reinforcement may not work on your rottwieler.

The last thing to deal with is the ignorant people, there will always be rude comments from strangers with a rotti, even when you have the most well trained, sweetest dog surrounded by children. People will always cross the street, although they show absolutely no fear with my mothers (really friendly) great danes??
I dont get it! We have been turned away from a patio because all other dogs except for Rottis and pit bulls are allowed on this patio, and they are a target for BSL. (breed banning).

Every dog is different, and you will experience your own problems and joys with whichever breed you choose.
The important thing to remember is finding the right breeder, one who will be available for questions for the rest of thier life. Meet the parents, look up "how to find a good breeder" this will give you all the information you need,...
Good luck on your decision!

Answer 7

I have a rottweiler and she is the sweetest dog ever and super smart, she teaches herself tricks. She can catch amyhting in her mouth, play soccer better than alot of people lol, and catch a basketball with her paws and throw it back to you, I didn't teach her any of it she did it on her own. She is really easy going, great around kids and other animals, but she doesn't let anyone push her around either. It depends on the dog and the time and patience you are willing to give it.

Answer 8

I got my first Rott 6 years ago and he was the best dog I have ever had. A Rott will be the best friend you will ever have. They are strong willed dogs and will walk all over you if you let them. As long as you train them and get them fixed you will be fine. They are very willing to please there masters so they are easy to train. My Rott was potty trained in a couple of days. I would recommend crate training for any dog.

Answer 9

They are very strong willed dogs. Your best bet is to contact the AKC and ask them for info on them. I had 1 female and she was the most loyal dog and great with kids, but very set in her ways. If they feel that you aren't strong enough to handle them they will walk all over you. They need lery good training. Good Luck in your search.

Answer 10

I have never had a rottweiler but I have had a German Shepherd before.They are very protective.I now have a German Shepherd/Collie mix and she is sooooooooooo sweet.Go to dogbreedinfo.com