adding a male

[babydungeon]

i wasn't sure where to start this, breed or behavior. i have a 6 month old male and a female cat. i want another male rottweiler. i have looked around at shelters and didn't have much luck, just one female. i decided i wanted a puppy and from a reputable breeder. i have been looking around and think i found one. the problem is that 2 out of 4 breeders responded that adding a male to my home would be a bad idea. one breeder said that male rotts don't get along with males of any breed. sooner or later a conflict may arise causing a fight and it would be hard to keep them from having problems with each other after that. i want another one and don't want to believe that this is true. Help! is this a myth or should i not add another male? -kevin

[RottiMomCT]

I have two males in the house. One lives upstairs with my in-laws (another story...), and mine is down with me. They have been together since Nov 2000, yet in the past 6 months, they have started to posture to each other and I've heard low grumbles out of both of 'em. Christmas Eve the 'upstairs male' went after my boy, over a pie on the dining room table (neither of them was EVER gonna get any!!). My boy got a bite on his chin and a scratch that barely missed his eye.

So, I'll say that from my own personal experience, you might be better off with a female rottie (by the way, I've got three of those, and they all get along great!)

Good luck! It's all in how YOU assert yourself as Alpha and how you supervise the 'kids'.

[brunie's mom]

Please listen to the advise given to you by the breeders. I volunteer in rescue and we would never adopt same sex dogs, it may be possible but it could be disasterous. Would you be prepared to keep both of them seperated for the rest of their lives?
Your male is still a pup... give him a chance to grow, train him and enjoy him and when he is about 2 years of age, then start thinking of getting a female... either from a good breeder or a rescue.:)
Two dogs are harder to have and more expensive... let your pup grow and then decide.

Gina

[96ecss]

Hello,

My brother had two males at the same time on two seperate occasions. On the first occasion, they got along fine after we spent an incredible amount of time with them together. Until then, they were kept apart. Unless you're willing to spend an incredible amount of time to get them adjusted to each other, I wouldn't recomend it. I think it's always a good idea to listen to the advice of a good breeder, and the replies you've gotten here already seem to agree with your breeder. I've known alot of people who have had a male and female together with good results. I agree with RottieMomCT and brunie's mom, I would consider a female before I got another male. Good luck in whatever you decide on.

Dave

[Sansano]

I would definately consider a female first since you have a male already. If you insist on a male then please insure you build a kennel run which will allow you to keep the dogs seperated if you need to. Also, why do you want to add another dog so soon? 6 months is way too quick for adding another. I would suggest to wait until the first pup is at least 2 years old. Rottweillers need loads of time spent on them in their early formative years and adding another dog this quick will take a lot of that away from both dogs. Taske your time. Fully train and bond with your current dog. Then add another. Good Luck.

[spoteet]

I use to have 3 males in the house at the same time and they got along great. I never had a single problem out of them. The female I had caused more trouble than any of the males. She wanted to dominate all of them.

[codglvr]

My brother has three males. a 5 yr neutered neurotic, a 3 yr submissive unneutered, and a 1 yr dominant unneutered. Things have been good in the past, but as the 1yr old is gaining confidence, he is starting to have issues. So while things may work out to start, dynamics can and will change. You have to be prepared to handle them for the life of the dog.

[babydungeon]

thanks for the advice. i love the one i have now so much that i wanted him to have a buddy, plus i wanted another. i prefer a male as well as my wife. i guess he'll have to settle with our cat for now!

[Judy Chrusch]

Why would you even consider another dog right now with your one being only 6 months? Now is not the time to want another, when you have years of training and conditioning with the one you have, he's just a baby and needs all of your attention right now. What is your reason for wanting one NOW??? Overall it's true about males not getting along, with that in mind, I wouldn't look for a male, why not a female when the time is right? I had 2 males at the same time but the first one was 6 when I got the other, plus they BOTH were neutered and my first was very easy going so it wasen't a problem but if it were reversed the second would never tolerate another male bc he had to be the alpha. IMO it's too much of a risk therefore would NOT consider the same sex and NO dog at this particular time. Please re- think the idea of getting another right now, like I said there's plenty to do with your present 6 month old , take the time to get him properly trained and perhaps some titles behind his name :D.

O.K. I just read over the posts again and did see your last response for your reason why you wanted another, I certainly understand your reasoning and you want a playmate for your pup but that's where you come in, you be the one to exercise and play with him and most inportantly teach. I see you still prefer a male, I'd rethink that again when the time comes. Have fun with your pup and enjoy just him for now. Was just wondering if this is your first rottie?

Judy:D

[babydungeon]

judy, yes this is my first rottweiler. i am inexperienced to all of you but am educating myself on the breed every day. i have only read two books so far, but read up as much of these forums as i can. tonight will be his first real class, tuesday was orientation, of obedience. yes, i am training him. at first i didn't want to have him neutered but am thinking of it now for different reasons. (1): if i was to let him breed it would not be bettering the breed because he is not of solid bloodlines. (2): health reasons, i.e. cancers. (3): the dog park in our area will not allow intact dogs. at what age should i have him neutered if i decide to? i still want him to enjoy being himself as a puppy. a friend of mine has a male rottweiler that has been neutered and is very lazy and overweight. i don't know if it's the dog or the owner. thank you very much for your expertise! -kevin

[Judy Chrusch]

kevin you sure do sound like a very responsible owner and are doing all the right things:D. As far as neutering, it's best if you discuss that with your vet as far as when, but they do it as early as 6 months. There's alot of benefits to neutering as you probably already know and as for the gaining weight and becoming lazy, yes that's partly the owners fault;). It's very important to keep your dog active and continue daily exercise and not over feed. They only get fat if they eat and get no exercise. It's up to us to keep our dogs conditioned and most importantly fit. With neutering and spaying you have hormonal changes therefore the lifestyle will change a bit one being the activity level, that's where we come in:D. It's our job to see that they don't get fat and don't become lazy. You sound like a very determined owner and are taking responsibility as far as if you can't better the breed then why breed so the sure way to not have an accident occur is to neuter, so discuss the pros and cons with your vet and take it from their:D. Enjoy your pup!

Judy

[babydungeon]

judy, thanks for your encouraging compliments, i really appreciate it. if it wasn't for this site and people like you i would be just another uneducated rott owner with my dog tied to a tree. i only sound like a responsible dog owner because i'm learning how to be one. thanks everyone for your advice, someday i will know enough to give it back! -kevin

[Chiclid]

I have a male rott. 2years 4 months and a male shepard, 1 year 4 months. I was worried at first about the dominance issue with having to males. but I spoke with some rescue groups and they told me it is all in the introduction. The original dog should always be number 1 and the 2nd dog should always be number 2. Always. I have had both dogs for about a year. The rott since he was a pup and I adopted the shepard. I introduced them off premises. I had the rott. Mommies boy and my boyfriend had the shepard. We met up the street and went for a walk together. All was great and everytime the Rott went to sniff the new dog he got a piece of hotdog. He associated the new dog with treats. He does something good with the new dog he gets a treat. Then we went to the back yard. The Rott went first. and then brought in the shepard. WE took the collars off and boy did they have some fun. Then the nervous part.... Into the house they went. Rottie first. He accepted the shepard. Low and behold came the toy and bone challenge. To my amazement, Rock shared his toys. He must have decided the shepard was a good thing. The Rott did his humping on the new dog to show the dominance and the shepard went with it. Every once in a while the Shepard will try the hump and Rock puts him in his place. They are best buds and there has never been a dispute between them. not even over food bowls. However they are fed on separate sides of the room and the rott always gets his first. Same with going outside. Rotty comes First. The 2 dogs now there pecking order in the home and it isnt mean cause the 2nd dog doesnt know any difference. He is just happy to have a mommy and big brother.:D

[babydungeon]

does the humping indicate dominance? my rott tries to hump my female cat and sometimes tries to get on my arm. is he trying to show dominance over me? i thought that was just a puppy phase.

[WorkinDogz]

Kevin,

I'm glad to hear you've reconsidered bringing in another dog right now. :)

The "fun"....with your current dog is just beginning! His attempts at humping is merely the beginning of him showing you that he's moving into adolecents.

Is is dominance when he tries to hump your arm? Sometimes it's their way to show their "maleness" and dominance.....but 100% of the time...it's rude behavior.

Firm reprimands for this behavior is not out of line. No that doesn't mean "beat the dog".....but it does me a firm grasp on his collar and no-grey-area verbal correction.

Be offended when he does this!

Your obedience courses will give you tools to help you in more ways than you can count.