Hey, welcome aboard! First of all I'd like to say that I agree with Bruniesmom that you sound like you'll be a good dog owner. You're asking all the right questions, and at the right time......BEFORE getting a dog!! If only everyone would do that...............
Secondly, I think you're getting all the right advice so far, so all I can do is offer is my own personal experience.
You sound a lot like myself when I was first considering getting my girl. They're my favorite dogs, but are they right for
me, what about the liability, what about puppy hood, I live alone & work full-time, do I get two, and so on.
Well, after a lot of research, (4-books & LOTS of internet reading!!) I found out that a Rottweiler was actually well-suited for a guy like myself. (Great news!!) I'm also a big, confident, authoritative, & active guy, yet fair & consistant. These dogs need love AND guidance. If you can give both, I think you'll do well.
As far as housebreaking the puppy, I found that to be fairly easy. (I don't know, I may have gotten lucky!) I trained her to go in only one place in the yard (A small wooded area I have on my property), and after 2-weeks of consistant reminders & encouragement, she had that 100% licked. She has not gone 'potty' in my grass since she was 3 1/2 months old!! (She's 7 now!!) As far as being at home alone while I was at work, she was always able to hold herself without a problem. (?)
She spent the first month in her crate while I was at work and at night. Then she was confined to the gated kitchen for the next couple of months during the day, but remained crated at night. She was granted the freedom to sleep with Daddy instead of the crate at 6-months of age, and was worthy of total freedom in the house at all times by 8-months. I lost very little during that time. (1 pair of cheap shoes, 2 books, a Christmas ornament......oh, and a Playstation game) She learned quickly that I don't like it when she eats my things, so that was nipped in the bud. Oh yeah, she did take a 'lick' at my food once........ONCE!! LOL..........anyway,
I began her training early on with puppy kindergarten for basic sit/stay commands & socialization. After that, we continued her training w/ general obiedience. I wanted to do more advanced training with her, but the truth is I'm kind of a busy guy, and she learned so much so quickly that it didn't really seem necessary. (I had no plans of showing her or doing agility........although I thought about it!) She's been a great dog ever since. She's so in tune with me, (And I with her) she hangs on my every word, does NOT touch my stuff, waits to see (from me) if she can do something or not.....BEFORE she does it! She's always looking to me for approval, a real gem. (They ARE the best dogs!)
Also, I took her EVERYWHERE with me, so although she was at home alone a lot of the time waiting for me to get off of work, once I got there we always found somewhere to go. Even now, she runs over to the door everytime I grab my keys just to see if she's coming on this trip. If not, she calmly strolls over to the middle of the living room & lays down like a good girl. She's always there to greet me at the door when I come home & acts like it's been a week since she's last seen me!
And as far as cats go, her best friend growing up was my Mom's cat! They would play together for hours on end, without a single aggression incident or injury. My girl happens to be a very happy, friendly dog who never really has a problem with anybody. And my Mom's cat was also a 10-year old, non-prey moving creature, so I think that helped a bit.
Well, I wish you the best of luck on your research & hope you come to a comfortable decision! Please post if you decide to adopt......and include some pictures!!
Regards,
MK