[FranMan]

Well I have had dogs when I was a kid and have had a beagle for about 4 months but I don't think that counts. I was given a 6 month old rotty pup last weekend by a Marine that got deployed to Iraq. It has papers from the AKC also. So I have some questions on how to handle this dog, the right way.

First off I have a family with four girls The youngest being 6 and the oldest 11. The dog is friendly and playful with kids. I would like to know what is the right way to tell the kids how to handle the dog. As of now the dog plays tug of war with them at the end of the dog’s leash, which is a 20’ cable with one of those big dog spikes from wallyworld.

Which brings me to my next question. How high can these small horses jump? I should have a 4’ high cattle fence installed this weekend in the back 1/3 of my acre of land. This area is partly wooded and has a storage area / shed I would like protected. I also have an electric collar invisible fence around my whole backyard. This will run along the three sides of the fenced in area. My beagle roams in this area for the most part (outside of the fence). I do want to be able to have the rotty in this area for play time or when I have people over for cook outs and what not. I have a fair amount of people coming and going at the house. They dog has already meet about 10 different people not counting the family since he has been here. If 4’ isn’t high enough what is? I can put barb wire up also easily making it 5’ high. That will also keep people from reaching over to pet him in his area. I don’t want him to hurt anyone by getting out or someone being dumb sticking their hands at him.

Next is, what is the best way to make sure he knows I am the boss? Right now the worst thing he does is pull me when walking. I pull the choke chain up higher to his head and he chills out but he busted the ring off it yesterday. I can’t seem to find one that is for big dogs. I guess I’ll just have to make one myself? So I when he really starts to pull I make him stop, sit down and tell him no. How wrong is that? I am a pretty strong guy at 220lbs and this dog could prolly wear me out if he really wanted to take off after a cat (not that has tried). They said he was 70lbs and that his dad was 160lbs (isn’t that a bit too big for a rotty?). Right now he stays on the cable in the backyard during the day and in a kennel in the garage at night. When I get home from work and go out to greet him looks at me like he doesn’t know who I am and he is about to attack me. I’ve heard these dogs don’t give a warning bark before they attack, just a look. Then as I get closer he will start jumping around wanting to play. Which I play tug of war with him and end up rubbing his belly which he seems to like. He seems to be a very happy puppy.


What should my next steps be to making this dog in to a great pet for the family or am I crazy and should just sell him for the money he is worth?

Sabot is his name and here are some pictures of him. The cat his letting him know who is the boss.