| Brianbat*
I think you should read my thread that is titled something along the lines of "really BAD Bodhi morning" in which I describe how my dog, who was wearing a prong collar at the time, saw another dog and chased it causing me to turn into kite at end of leash and then crash to ground and then be dragged for a ways. This is with a difficult rescue dog, but I think that if your pup is not getting the training etc. he needs when he is there with wife and not you, that when you get back, even though you can start with him where he is as if he were a puppy and take it from the start, housetraining, everything, that will be essentially same as what I had to do with a rescue--and it does get more difficult when they get bigger and stronger.
I have relatives who are in military, United States State Department, US Labor attache, etc, and while it did not require quite the same level of comportment etc. that those required for my cousins, I travelled as child to foreign countries on an official US passport since my father was a United States Public Health Officer. I know very well that the level of manners etc. required of me and my cousins was higher than for a child in an ordinary family stateside. I think I understand quite well what you meant by the dog needing to behave "perfectly". Even if you are now trying to back pedal from that statement.
I cannot imagine that for your wife to be trying to handle the dog on base and have what happened to me with mine when I went flying the other day would be a good move for career advancement. Nor would you needing to look like you have the dog in control, but only via a method that looks like you need to be strongarming him etc. It may be that a head halter by age of 7 mos once in Japan would work for you, if used very carefully to not injure the dog, to keep dog with enough appearance of appropriate manners and control in public. But I see a serious problem here that goes much deeper than anything likely to be solved by a device like that.
I also can tell that you want and deeply care for this dog. But I agree with JeanT that it does not sound like your wife does. And that is a very serious problem.
I wrote to someone else on these forums that I thought rottie was inappropriate breed in their circumstances and mentioned that my State Department relatives have had a series of labrador retrievers, because they are a much easier dog to deal with, unlikely to present the many problems that a rottie is not only likely to present in the future, but is already presenting for you and your wife at present.
Even if you have had other dogs that is not itself sufficient to be considered a sufficiently experienced owner to handle and train a rottie. And while there are no doubt trainers in Japan, the reality is that you would probably end up needing to train the dog on your own, and from what you have written thus far, it appears abundantly clear to me that you do not have the experience and skills to do that. You should have had a track record of being able to train well and fully such other dogs before starting on a large difficult breed that should be for experienced owners only. But beyond that it appears clear to me that your wife is both a novice in her abilities, even if she too has had some other dog in her life, but also that can be overcome by someone who is eager and willing to jump in and learn and do what it takes to become good with dogs--and clearly that is not the case for your wife. Truly Brianbat* this is not a goood situation for anyone, most especially not for the dog.
In what you have described of your circumstances, however much you love this pup--and even because sometimes loving someone or something means doing what is best for the loved one, not for ourselves, I recommend that you consider rehoming him now while he is young, and while he has not yet developed too many terrible habits and when someone who does have the consistent time available to with him, and the interest in doing so can do so.
If you want to have a dog, and if you can get agreement from your wife that a dog is a good and desired not thing, object, furniture, but sentient living creature with many complex needs almost like having a child, then, for you in your circumstances I would seriously suggest buying an adult dog that is already fully trained.
And perhaps one from a somewhat smaller breed would indeed be wise. And perhaps one that is less apt to worry you about biting likelihood--like, for example, a labrador retriever. A nicely behaved professionally trained yellow labrador trotting smartly at your, or your wife's, side would no doubt be quite as delightful if not more so in your life as an untrained already starting to develop problems even at the young age of 14 weeks pup--and would no doubt do much more to enhance your career as well.
But don't get a dog at all unless you and your wife truly agree, both truly want one. Or unless you are at stage in life where you can be there all the time to take care of the dog. Or better yet, since it seems only you have the inclination to put in the effort a dog takes, would be both.
I might have also suggested the possibility of an adult, older, already trained rescued rottweiler--perhaps female which would be smaller--but I am concerned that your circumstances what with moves, changes in handler etc. sound far too unstable for a dog that has already had a significant amount of instability in its life.
i don't think I am going to have any more to say about this situation, because I don't think the problem is how do you train the dog to do or understand this or that, the problem is that it is the wrong dog, wrong age dog, wrong breed, wrong time in your life.
Wishing you the best truly,
Kate  |