irritated!!

[lela]

Our rotti just turned 1. She is a good girl most of the time. Like when she is sleeping...

When I decided to get a rotti I thought I did tons of research. I talked to breeders, to a vet, read tons of books, visited people with rotti's and my husband had one before and loved them. so I thought I was ready!! haha...
That cute little 10lbs. girl we feel in love with is now 100lbs. and completely irritates me! It is all selfish I know. And I realize a lot of people here have serious problems! So I feel a little selfish about even posting!!
She has to have breakfast ever day at 6:30 am or she will pretend to puke (yes we took her to the vet and he said it was impossible for her to do that... well come to my house every morning doc!)
she follows me EVERYWERE. She steps on my feet... runs around the house like an idiot.. hits the door consantly until I let her inside... DROOLS... brings tons of dirt inside and sheds everywhere. I come home and she is all over me. I can not have 2 seconds of peace with her. When people come over she constantly wants love and attention from them. I think the only time I enjoy her is when I take her to the park every morning and watch her run. Or when she sleeps and isnt moving or drooling... although she farts all night!!!

She is a good girl and the trainer from obiedence class always comments on how smart she is and uses her for demonstrating. She listens when I tell her stuff, she comes to me even in the park with other dogs. She is so lovable and wants to be with me ALLL THE TIME . I have a great dog! It is my selfishness that is driving me INSANE!!!!!!! SHE REALLY IS DRIVING ME NUTS!!!!!! I don't know what to do about it. I feel like a new mom who is completely going nuts! I wish there was a doggie camp that I could send her to to give me a break...

[spidey]

I think you need to take a step back and reassess this situation. She's not "pretending to puke", many dogs do vomit if their stomachs are empty for too long - just give her a snack last thing before bed and that should clear it up. You are really not being fair to your dog by assuming that she can be anything other than a dog (and by assuming that she's "pretending to puke" because she's some kind of spoiled princess instead of because of a physical reason, she's not hitting the door to bother you, she does it because it works, unless you TRAIN her to behave differently, why would she change a behaviour that gets her what she wants?). I know this may sound harsh but DOGS DO NOT DO THINGS LIKE THAT - they are NOT people, they are NOT moral creatures, they are NOT capable of spite. They repeat behaviours that work (i.e. have some positive benefit for them) and they stop behaviors that don't work (i.e. that have no positive benefit). I know that some behaviours are annoying in part because we ascribe human motives to them, but dogs are not people.

Frankly, I don't think you could have done too much research into Rottweilers before you got her if you're surprised that she's a big dog who drools and follows you around - if you wanted a small, dry-mouthed, independent dog, you shouldn't have chosen a big, drooly, very people-oriented dog. She sounds like she needs some more training - it's good that you're taking obedience classes, keep it up. This isn't your dog's fault. If you need a break, board her for a few days. But if you're going to keep blaming her for being who and what she is, I suggest you rehome her and get a pet which requires less of a time and emotional investment from you - it's not fair to a dog to expect it not to be a dog.

[Rott'nKids]

Hey, I know how you feel, Carl was my baby until we got Iria. I felt the same way about her most of the time until one day she escaped while I was home alone, as in bullied her way past me as I went out the back door. She was only a few months old and was testing all the time, but still very lovable, yes and drooling and shedding, etc. For the two minutes I couldn't find her, my heart almost broke and I was crying. But, she was in the neighbor's front yard and she let me carry her home (I would have held her collar or leashed her, but her neck is bigger than her head and the only way her collar won't slip off is if you are just about choking her with it. She has chewed off a harness before, in about 1 min flat, so we never left one on her). I realized then what she meant to me and if something had happened to her, I don't know what I would have done. She is now four and very well behaved (for the most part) and my heart just warms when she wags her tail just for me.

[Carina43]

Oh, I do know how you feel. I think any "parent" of a teenager will understand. I agree with everything spidey said - she is being a hyper young dog who just needs a bit more direction.

My second Rottweiler was allowed (by me) to develop some undesireable habits, and he was 115lbs of HYPER Rottweiler until he hit 3-4 years old. I adored him, and he mellowed into the most fabulous take-anywhere dog anyone could want. But he sorely tried my patience at times...looking back of course I realise that with a bit more knowlege and structured training. I could have alleviated some of his hyperness, I walked this dog 2-4 miles a DAY, took him on long weekend hikes, took him to work when I could, had lots of play dates with doggie friends to wear him out...I even had his thyroid checked because I thought he might be hyper thyroid! And you know what? I totally miss that big lug still, and he has been gone for over 5 years.

Your comment:
"I have a great dog! It is my selfishness that is driving me INSANE!!!!!!! SHE REALLY IS DRIVING ME NUTS!!!!!! I don't know what to do about it."

There's your inight. :) Vent. Train more - give her jobs. (Bosco fetched the mail, fetched the paper, was trained to find the remote, carried things from point A to point B for me...I should have worked him more than I did, even.) Identify specific behaviours of hers that you can change, and work on those.

Funny Bosco story (he was a driven dog with one he!! of a work ethic.)
Every morning he went into the back yard, did his business, and brought in the paper. One Sunday morning he didn't reappear as promptly as usual so I looked out into the yard to see where he was. THE BACK GATE WAS WIDE OPEN!! In a minor panic, I rushed out the front door. Only to see Bosco proudly coming up the front path with a Sunday paper in his mouth. There were already SIX Sunday papers on the front porch. He had gone up and down the street collecting neighbors' papers to bring me.
See why I adored that dog? :)

Your girl isn't doing anything to spite you...she just has lots of spirit and energy. be patient. :) And give her more jobs. :)

[Carol Burke]

Ya know, some people have real problems with biting and aggressiveness and so on and you are complaining because this dog adores you, wants to be with you and would like to eat on time? Get a life!!! Shedding is the way it is, drooling is the way it is, some more then others. But, if you want the most loyal, loving companion you can ever have then put up with the rest of it. Nothing in life is perfect!!!

[lela]

Yes I realize that this is a silly post. But I really needed to vent my frustration!! I thought it was better to vent it here then to take it out on my silly 100lbs. drooling, slobbery, puppy...

[Miabella]

With this breed, you reap what you sow. Every moment you spend working with your Rottweiler will come back to reward you threefold with devoted companionship.

At our training club meeting last night, we were talking about making up some club t-shirts. The slogan we settled on for the back of the shirts was, "Train Your Dog, He's Begging for It!" ;) Sounds like your girl is begging for some time working with you, too.

[Carina43]

Originally posted by lela
Yes I realize that this is a silly post. But I really needed to vent my frustration!! I thought it was better to vent it here then to take it out on my silly 100lbs. drooling, slobbery, puppy...

I think venting is acceptable. :D
I also think your girl sounds great, just remember - the more challenging a dog is, the more you will LEARN FROM YOUR DOG! I have learned tons from all the challenges (canine or non canine) in life. You don't learn much with the easy stuff!

[Karnac]

Sounds to me like you need to accentuate the positive. Most people get a dog for companionship and from what you said you got that beyond your wildest dreams. Maybe you can't stand prosperity. You have a loyal friend who would protect you at the cost of her life, will listen to any sad story you feel like telling her, including your grievances with her, without interrupting or disagreeing. Is ready to go with you anywhere on earth without question and puts up with all of your idiocyncracies without so much as a whine. As for the other items:
1. Drooling= get a few rolls of paper towels
2. Bumps the door=needs a little training
3. Sheds=your reading warned you about this. get a brush and use it.

If you are unable to do this you might consider getting rid of the dog. Believe it or not you have to dog most people are looking for and are willing to devote time and effort when they find.

[rottnkidd]

I'm sorry if I sound like a jerk, but I have to vent! This dog is only a year old and you need a break from owning her?? What are your plans for the next 10-12 yrs? There are people who've lost their Rottweiler to old age, disease, or even an accident. Some have lost a young pup to parvo. These people would give anything to have their Rottie back, drool, shedding and all. Go to the Rainbow Bridge Forums and rethink your attitude. Be thankful for a healthy young dog that thinks the world of you, and count your blessings. How heartbreaking for this dog if it knew what you were thinking...
kathy

[LavenderRott]

I, like Carina, think that venting is a fine thing.

If Chase isn't laying (in the dark) where I want to walk at least once a night, I have to go through the house looking for her. She can usually be found in a child's bed.

She sheds something awful, had to get one of those bagless vacuums because bags were starting to cost too much.

This dog's farts smell so bad, she chases herself out of the room!

She is my best friend and my soulmate and I don't know what I would do without her.

[Beckysmom]

Suggestions:

[quote]Originally posted by lela
She has to have breakfast ever day at 6:30 am or she will pretend to puke (yes we took her to the vet and he said it was impossible for her to do that... well come to my house every morning doc!)

Have a cannister with some snacks appropriate to the bedroom and her food needs in it by your bedside. Or feed later at night. Or both. I am assuming she is eating twice per day already. Breakfast and dinner. If not, start feeding her twice per day.

she follows me EVERYWERE. She steps on my feet... runs around the house like an idiot.. hits the door consantly until I let her inside...

normal behaviour but requires learning some house manners which is not same as obedience exactly. Teaching dog to calm itself is important. Give her something to occupy herself with. Same as you'd give a little kid a coloring book if you wanted not to be pestered.

DROOLS...
normal. live with it. Or get a fish...they may drool too, but it will mix with the aquarium water so who cares.

brings tons of dirt inside and sheds everywhere.
this seems to be a bad year for shedding in general. wipe paws etc. outside of door, brush (a latex rubber glove also picks up lots of loose fur) before entering. vacuum a lot. Or, exchange dog for a fish.

I come home and she is all over me. I can not have 2 seconds of peace with her. When people come over she constantly wants love and attention from them.

needs house manners, calming practice, and maybe a lot more exercise than she is getting.

I think the only time I enjoy her is when I take her to the park every morning and watch her run.
double or triple her exercise--esp in several or at least two sessions per day. You will enjoy her more while you watch, and at other times when she is less full of unexpended energy too probably.

Or when she sleeps and isnt moving or drooling... although she farts all night!!!
farting all night is not especially normal. she may need a food change. could also be there is hyper activity from food problems. and remotely possible it could be causing more shedding than need be. But for sure you can improve (decrease) the farting. suggest you post about the farting problem on Nutrition and Grooming! What is she eating?



She is a good girl and the trainer from obiedence class always comments on how smart she is and uses her for demonstrating. She listens when I tell her stuff, she comes to me even in the park with other dogs. She is so lovable and wants to be with me ALLL THE TIME . I have a great dog! It is my selfishness that is driving me INSANE!!!!!!! SHE REALLY IS DRIVING ME NUTS!!!!!! I don't know what to do about it. I feel like a new mom who is completely going nuts! I wish there was a doggie camp that I could send her to to give me a break... /QUOTE]

Okay she is sweet and smart...she will probably catch on fast to a new set of house rules etc. Figure out what specifics you want and try to ask for specific ideas from trainer and or over on training. eg calm in the house etc.


But I think different food and much more exercise on a twice a day schedule will likely help you out a lot.

[POPPYHONEY]

My human mommy loves to disturb my nap, she calls me to come and sit beside her then cleans my ears with the white itchy balls!!!
She always asks me to walk right next to her, even there are lots of interesting stuffs to explore at the park..
She kept the nice treats in her hand, let me drolling and said something I didn't understand with her happy face, but not giving me the treats.. it was really frustrating.
She never lets me catch the nut cats that passing our garden although I have tried to bark her that the cats are really mean ..

:D :D :D

[moondog]

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life,his love, his leader. He is yours, faithful and true, to the last beat ofhis heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

-Anonymous

Sounds to me like your dog is holding up her end of the bargain....and you better get to work on yours.

[Mary Bouchard]

I loved hearing how and why you were irritated sorry it made me smile as I have three drooling, farting rotties sleeping and snoring at my feet as I write this.

And if I go get a cup of coffee all three will follow me just in case their might be a cookie hanging around for them.