how can i stop my rott from killing?

Question

he is in a fenced in area that is approx 1 acre. he comes in any time he wants through a dog door. but every morning there is a carcass out there. he has killed racoons, posssums, beavers, fox, bobcat and cats. we have 2 cats that he lives with and he loves them. when i take him to a park, he gets along with every dog. he is fixed. why does he keep killing them in his yard and how can i stop him? pls help..

Answer 1

This is a serious issue. You may need to start to accompany him outside when he is outdoors.

Find a professional trainer that has worked with rotts or bully breeds.

He needs to learn this behavior is not ok.

Rottweilers were originally bred as cattle drivers and guardians of the herd and the shepards. They drove cattle and shepards kept their money purse around the dogs neck. They are true pack dogs and can be very territorial. Your dog sees these animals as intruders and is doing what he was bred to do,protect your home. I called my dad and asked what he suggested, he said we had a rott when I was a baby that would do this, he would only let the dog out when he was present and reprimanded him when he attempted to chase any animal in the yard, he also suggested putting a bell or multiple dogs tags (so they jingle) in his collar so animals have a warning the dog is coming.

Answer 2

Rottweilers are awesome dogs. But they essentially need to be trained. Unlike other dogs, rottweilers go 'mad' when they are not trained. Which is why some even turn on to their masters or family members sometimes. Whenever they get bored or when they are neglected by their owners, they try to stimulate themselves (mentally) some other way. And also to get their masters attention. They are really smart dogs and easy to train (provided you do have some experience in training big dogs).

I suggest you do some negative reinforcements the next time he brings back a carcass. (He might be a little confused now since you didnt do anything about it when he first started killing the animals). Smack him ONCE (but hard since they're big dogs) when he brings back an animal next. He might scamper off and sulk. Let him. After awhile, give him a toy (preferably a Kong toy with some treats or peanut butter inside so that will keep him mentally stimulated) and praise him and pat his HEAD (to show you're his superior). Then he will know that bringing a killed animal is wrong, and that chewing on his toy is right.

Also don't neglect your rott. He's probably missing you. And a bit of warning - a neglected / isolated rott WILL become violent. (This is one of the training for them to become true police or guard dogs) Encourage more socializations.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Rottweilers are "family"-oriented animals. Those people and other pets that they consider part of the family will be defended with their life.

However, unless taught young, a Rottweiler's first instinct is to defend the family - sometimes with nothing more than just barking and posturing, but if they learn to kill an animal, and that there is no negative behavior (which is sounds like there wasn't when this first happened), then they'll continue to do so.

If your dog has been doing this for some time, then it will be quite the challenge to re-educate it not to keep killing any animals which trespass into its domain. I'd suggest seeing a qualified animal trainer to help you with this.

Answer 4

I actually had this same issue, We have a Chahuahua. The Chahuahua killed a baby kitten that came into our yard, She knows cats, and was raised with them so we think it was the pray drive, she had been hunting gophers and this was a really small kitten. Broke our hearts, all we could do was scold her and try to prevent it from happening again but not much you can do if your not seeing it happen.

Answer 5

Dont let him out without a muzzle. or at all, really. in my state, that dog would have been taken from you and put to sleep, along w/some major fines.how did you let it get so viscious in the first place? If it was raised and trained properly, this wouldnt be an issue.

Answer 6

i don't think there is a way of making him stop killing now that he's started doing it. he now has the taste of the kill and he likes it. to him he is killing what comes into his territory. that's why he doesn't bother your cats, they belong there. the coons and stuff are not suppose to live there. i wish i had your dog here to help my black lab kill the squirrels that keep eating all my pecans.

Answer 7

I sorry but rotts are killers from birth there fighting dogs and killers that does not mean that there not nice dogs i have one but it`s in there gene`s it`s all about how you bring them up my rott is very nice although i would never allow them to be with my children alone.
Sorry i could not answer your question ????

Answer 8

We have a Rottweiler. We used to have a cat that she grew up with and she turned on it, maybe because of her protective nature. We just opted to give the cat away because she might hurt it. I really think it has to do with the territorial issue in the yard. It is to him, HIS yard and maybe he thinks that he is protecting you.

Answer 9

Try tying a small cowbell to his collar. This will help to alert the wild critters that your dog is nearby.

Answer 10

I had a border collie that did the same thing, i think once they get that taste for blood its all over. Its instinct in some animals. All I can say is deal with it or get rid of him.