I am going to buy a male Rottweiler pup and raise him as a guard dog. Help me in selecting the "right" pup.

Question

I want to buy a male Rottweiler pup and raise him as a guard dog. What characteristics do I look for when choosing him from the litter?

Answer 1

Strong, powerful and brave, the rottweiler is a formidable presence and is believed to be a descendent of the drover dogs of ancient Rome. Behind the rottweiler's impressive stature lies an intelligent, calm and somewhat reserved dog with a strong instinct to protect. Early socialization and training with people, children and pets is important; this breed can become aggressive when improperly trained.
Instructions

* STEP 1: Keep in mind that a rottweiler is not for everyone. This breed can be difficult to manage because of its large size, powerful body and territorial instinct. Rottweilers are vigilant watchdogs and are not always able to discern who is a friend and who is a stranger.
* STEP 2: Reconsider getting a rottweiler if you have small children in the house. Although rottweilers can be friendly with children if socialized early on, this breed has strong prey and herding instincts. They are likely to chase moving objects, which can include running children.
* STEP 3: Avoid this breed if you are unwilling to spend time socializing and training your dog to ensure that she does not become aggressive. Expect to take your rottweiler to obedience training once a week for 6 to 12 months.
* STEP 4: Know that if you decide to own a rottweiler she will need vigorous walks at least twice a day, and she will need your consistent companionship. Rottweilers love to swim, run and chase balls. When they do not get enough exercise, rottweilers can become destructive.
* STEP 5: Check out a rottweiler's features when choosing yours. Her overall appearance should be strong and unyielding with an attentive gaze. Her neck should be built and muscular. She should have a deep, expansive chest, and her coloring should be black with rust and mahogany markings.
* STEP 6: Understand that a rottweiler is prone to certain health problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia (a malformation of the joints), osteochondrosis dissecans (a bone disease that causes lameness and arthritis), paneosteitis (a rotating lameness), Von Willebrand's disease (a bleeding disorder), bloat, heart disease and allergies. Talk to a breeder or whomever you get yours from to find out what type of screening they have done for some of these health problems.
* STEP 7: Look at potential breeders very carefully, being sure to ask whether they are members of breed clubs, specialty clubs or obedience clubs. Affiliation with a club means you can check their references to make sure they are not a puppy mill (a place where puppies are constantly bred for financial gain without consideration of the integrity of the breed).
* STEP 8: Expect to pay between $800 and $1,500 for a purebred rottweiler.
* STEP 9: Be prepared to enjoy 10 to 12 years with your rottweiler, as that is the rottweiler's average life expectancy.

Tips & Warnings

* Rottweilers do not bark unless there is just cause.
* Consider purchasing a female rottweiler rather than a male. Females are smaller and easier to control.
* Expect an adult male rottweiler to grow to 24 to 27 inches and weigh between 95 and 130 pounds. Females will grow to 22 to 25 inches and will weigh between 85 and 115 pounds.
* Rottweilers can be aggressive with other dogs and need to be kept on a leash when around them.

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Answer 2

A rot will naturally protect the family that it loves when and if it is needed, it is their natural instinct. Keep in mind that you are ONLY going to have a loyal protector and companion if you treat this dog well! By "raising it to be a guard dog" I fear that you have a distorted view of what a guard dog is. NEVER hit your dog!!! This will only teach the dog to be vicious, not protective there is a very big difference. Get the puppy in obedience classes right away and once you have learned how to be a good handler if you desire you can contact a reputable trainer and start the dog with bite work but make sure the trainer knows what he is doing! Bite work is taught as a sport that is a fun activity for your dog and will come into play if a threat is made and the dog needs to protect. You will NOT have a loyal protector if YOU do not get the proper training as a handler!

Answer 3

I have always chosen (and suggest choosing) the puppy that comes to you. Rotties are very protective of their owners, so there are really no characteristics you need to look for. I'D STAY AWAY FROM THE ONE WHO SHYS!!! I only say this, because the shy puppy could become a fear biter, then you would be in for a lawsuit, or he will not bond with you and this would defeat the purpose of getting him. I also suggest obedience training, but no "guard dog" training. These dogs don't need to be taught how to guard. This is a beautiful breed, and have a bad reputation for being aggressive. They are not...they are very loving and make great family dogs. Rotties don't like being left in the back yard. They don't make good back yard pets.

When getting a Rotti puppy, look into the parents pedigree (if they are not reg. or don't have a pedigree on hand, don't get a puppy)! If they have the pedigrees, see if any of there are any matching dogs (was the same dog on both pedigrees?) in the last 2 yrs?..if so, don't get a puppy. Ask if the parents are OFAed (hips and elbows x-rayed). If not, don't get a puppy! Rotties are being bred by EVERY ONE to make a quick buck. Well bred dogs will cost a lot of money...poorly bred dogs will be cheap and may be unregistered (AKC or UKC only please). With a well bred dog, you are also less likely to have hip and joint problems. I would contact AKC and get several breeder referrals...still ask for pedigrees and OFA certificates.

Good Luck! Rotties are Great Dogs!!!

Answer 4

Okay, to be honest Rottweillers are like Akita's in many ways. Both of these dogs are natural guard dogs and do not require any training. Your Rottweiller will know how and when to defend you when the time is right. I strongly suggest if you have children to not train a dog of any breed to be aggressive. Trust me, I know a lot about this breed and I can promise you it will protect you and your family or property.
To answer your question though: Don't get the one at the back of the pack, get the puppy that comes to you. Ensure you get proof that the parents don't have problems with there hips. Oh, and look at the size of the dogs paws.. General rule bigger the paw bigger the dog.

Answer 5

Do not pick a puppy for a working dog candidate. Go with a young adult instead. You want to be able to see and test your dogs abilities before you invest the time money and effort into one. With a puppy, you never know what you will get, regardless of what anybody tells you. No breeder can absolutely guarantee you that the puppy you choose today, will have the right drives and temperament for a guard dog, tomorrow. Puppies from a good breeder, cost good money and while I cannot sit here and tell you that the puppy you pick, will NOT become the best guard dog ever, you cannot sit there and tell me that it WILL. Experience has taught me that when it comes to working dogs, you depend on what you see, NOT on what you WOULD LIKE to see. Good luck to you.

Answer 6

When you're up to your knees in fluffy, wiggly, sloppy little puppys, saying yes to one is a lot easier than saying no to all the rest. If you are choosing from a litter of pups there are a few simple tests you can try to help choose the best pup for you.

1) take a squeaky toy with you, check each puppys enthusiasm to see if he will be playful, if he will fetch, will the squeak scare him?

2) Roll him over on his back, a good pup won't struggle much and you surely don't want one that will pee on himself when handled like this.

3) Look him in the eye, Puppies who stare intensly are likely to be dominant and hard to handle but may be good guard-dog material. One who is shy and avoids eye contact may be very hard to establish a relationship with. Ideally you want a dog who will look you in the eye but will look away if you keep staring.

4) Watch how he treats his littermates. There are two puppies you don't wand to choose from any litter. The one who seems to be the leader, who is usually the most rambunctious of the bunch, and the shy one who hangs back from the group.

5) A puppy who came from a family ,rather than one who was raised in a puppy mill (breeding operation designed to churn out lots of pups without much personal attention) has a lot better chance at becoming a good dog.

Answer 7

There aren't any "specific characteristics" to look for in any dog as a guard dog. ANY dog - whether rottie or tea cup poodle will risk it's life to defend it's home, it's human(s) and itself.

I used to train dogs and have many stories from all sorts of people who own all sorts of dogs claiming they are the sweetest etc etc. BUT when in an altercation it shocked them because their sweetie bit the person who was acting out towards their human.

If you're doing security work you want to look for a dog w/ a high play drive. A high play drive means the dog will work harder and is more focused. Everything is a game a dog - security training, search and rescue, obedience training. You just have to focus the energy.

Good Luck

BTW in most states if you have a dog that attacks anyone (including an intruder) you can be liable. It's like having a loaded weapon cocked and ready to go off w/o control.

Check the laws in your area, just to make sure.

Answer 8

so u"r getting a rottweller pup and u want to raise him as a guard dog
first u should know how to choose a pup. take the first pup particularly male pup choose a pup like moving friendly with u and u"r
family and mainly check that your pup can hear and see properly like
clap u"r hands by the side of his years and move away from the pup
and call it from a distances.As soon as u get the pup take it to the doctor and check the health.

Answer 9

I just got a Rottweiler and have been doing what it says on this site and trust me if you want a guard dog you got the right dog, read what it says on this site and your dog will be a better guard dog

Go to were it says “If you want your dog to properly watch you and your property, you should keep the following rules:”

http://dog-training.bluehost.cz/degeneration/defense.htm

and they have a lot of information on Rottweilers.

Answer 10

If you haven't had a big dog like that before, do some research first and maybe professional advice. Too many people get a big dog then realize what all it entails. Then the poor dog gets shuffled from one home to another or taken to the pound or just neglected. A big dog is a lot of work.