Puppy Question

[jerick]

I have to say this is a great forum!

One of my co-workers gave me a rottweiler puppy that she rescued from an abusive previous owner. I took her home because I have a soft heart for abused animals. Missy (the Puppy) is cute as can be and my family loves her a ton after only 3 days with us. She does have some not so cute tendencies when playing and eating though. When playing she play-bites a lot. I have read some posts on this forum and am aware of how to curb the play-biteing. Also the first night we brought her home she growled and bit me when she was eating a milkbone on my lap and I went to pet her. She also growles (and I am sure she would bite if we put our hands toward her bowl) while eating.

The questions I have is do you think I made a mistake bringing this puppy home? I have three children at 2, 5 and 7 years old. I have owned many dogs through the years but never a rottweiler. I am willing to spend a lot of time with the dog and take her to handling and obedience classes. What I am worried about is that I don't know what she will turn out like due to the abusive relationship she had previously. Also, I don't think that she had a lot of socialization as a young puppy, I think she is only 5 - 7 weeks old (the previous owner had her for about 3 weeks before me) so the breeder would have taken her from her mother earlier than they should have. Am I playing with fire? Or do you think Missy has a good chance of becoming a great family member.

Thanks for your help

Jeff

[Carina43]

What she is doing (nipping, growling around food, etc) is completely normal puppy behaviour. She's terribly young! As to growling when she's got food and you pet her - also completely normal.

One - don't pet her or bother her while she eats, and tell your children not to either. She's used to having to "defend" her food, and this is natural. If she is pestered while she eats, she'll get even more defensive. This doesn't mean you have to keep your distance whenever she's got food in front of her though. Just that you need to get her confident about being around her food, so she doesn't feel she has to guard it.

While she's eating, go drop some more food in her bowl. You can also hand feed her some meals. If you want, drop something REALLY good in there, like a little hot dog piece or some cooked meat or something. You can sit by her, call her name while she's eating, and hand her a bit of food. Then let her go back to her meal.

You are in no way making a mistake bringing a puppy in with small children, you just have to all train her kindly and consistently. She needs to be socialised, trained, and puppy kindergarden would be practically mandatory. She needs to learn dog-manners (since she hasn't learned much if she was taken from her litter very early.) Try to find a patient older dog, if you know someone with one, to help her realise boundaries.

Here's a good thread on Rottweilers and children:
http://rottweiler.net/forums/showthr...threadid=28759

You can use the search button to search for various keywords, theres a ton of discussions about everything under the sun!

Oh - and buy "Rottweilers For Dummies." It is excellent, and not really just for dummies. ;)

[jerick]

Thank you so much for your reply and your encouraging comments!!!! I have had a beagle for some time and I am not used to this sort behavior due to the extemely different temperments of the two breeds. I am starting to really love rottweilers. They seem to be such a challenge that is going to end up being very rewarding in the end. As I read all the posts in this forum and spent a lot of time with Missy, I wish I would have started out with a rottweiler instead of a beagle!!!! I was so swayed by the stigma that rotties have that this was the last dog I wanted to have in my home. I can tell just from the 4 days that I have been with Missy that these animals are attuned to their masters feelings, wants and needs and do all they can to meet them. And to top it all off they are great watch dogs. Well I look forward to posting more to this forum and becoming a part of this rottweiler community.

Sincerly

Jeff

[Carina43]

Funny - a forum member (also a personal friend) has beagle named Missy, and a lovely old Rottweiler named Chase - who she got at a shelter when she was pregnant with her youngest. Chase is a wonderful and gentle dog.

I've owned five Rottweilers - since 1985 - and the only one who is perhaps not suitable around small fast moving children was a fully adult intact rescued male. (Dutch.) The others are all unbelievably patient and sweet with even little kids. The German standard even has something in the standard about them being very good with children. The popular image of this breed is unfortunate, and sadly somewhat deserved, owing to the plethora of back yard breeders and ignorant owners.

They are wonderful dogs - you are correct, they can be challenging. That's what makes them so cool. :) Just keep up with the ongoing training - in your home as part of family life as well as some classes - because many can go through a pretty snotty phase as they become adolescents. Hey, just like human kids. Consider it practice for when your children reach their teens, haha.

And welcome to rottdotnet, this is a great community and you'll learn a lot. (I have!)

[LavenderRott]

Chase is the love of my life and Missy, well, she is a beagle.

I have no idea what Chase's background is before I got her but I will say, she is excellent with children.

Training is a necessity, as Carina pointed out. I think that you should crate train her if you haven't already started. It will give her a safe place to go if the kids are getting on her nerves. Young children can be rough on a puppy.

Welcome to the forum. There are a lot of very knowledgable people here. And remember, the only dumb question is the one you didn't ask.

[jerick]

Thank you for the friendly introduction to this forum and the great advice! :)

Hello LavenderRott. That is pretty cool that you have a rottweiler and a beagle. how do they get along? Missy and Mickey have gotten along pretty well. Except for the humping that Mickey gets in trouble for. It scares Missy "to the crap" as my two year old daughter would say.

Yes I have started crate training Missy. The first two things that I do with my new puppys is house break and crate train.

I know what you mean about beagles..... You can love them or leave them. They are such a handful..... to point of insanity on my part. ;) We love our Mickey though. The introduction of Missy to the formula has calmed Mickey down a bit (if you discount the humping).

I feel like I have found the holy grail in my dog endeavors in rotties. I think I am going to buy an AKC puppy in the next few months and join my local AKC rottweiler club.

Well I am off to find a good trainer for Missy.

Thanks Again.

Jeff

[LavenderRott]

Make sure that both your vet and your trainer are rottweiler friendly. They don't need to be beaten or choked to death to receive medical attention or obedience corrections. You will find instances where this has happened to members of the forum.

If you haven't had her to the vet yet, might I suggest that she go soon. Like this week. Your vet should be able to guess her age and give her any shots she is old enough to get.

Rottweilers for Dummies is an excellent book, recommended by many.

Good luck and stick around. By the way, if you have a digital camera, there is an unwritten rule that you have to post pictures!

[RottiMomCT]

I'd wait a while before adding a second dog to the home...

Missy is only 7-8 weeks old, right, and you've got quite the road ahead of you before she'll be trained enough to behave around a second dog in the home. You want to make sure you've got a solid foundation set up with Missy before adding another dog to the home. Get her into training, get a set schedule up, have her spayed, and when she's about 10-14 months old, I'd think of adding another dog to the home.

I have four dogs here...and having four dogs is sometimes like having an entire circus troupe in your living room. Two dogs are often 4 times more work than one.

Keep up the good work with Missy - you'll have some fun with her, and she might test your patience more than any human child will ever do...hang in there. The end result is magical!

[jerick]

Sound advice. I get overzealous when I find something great.

LavenderRott, I have a vet appointment on Friday.

I know this a little off the subject, but do you know of any good trainers in the Salt Lake City Area that are rottweiler friendly? My vet is great so no need for a new vet.

[LavenderRott]

About 20 years ago, I lived right outside of Ogden, when I was stationed at Hill AFB. I was busy being a single girl then though. I believe there are a couple of members on the forum in Utah though. Your vet may be able to recommend someone.

[LavenderRott]

I did a quick search and came up with this web site which may be able to help.

www.k9trainers.com/utah.htm

[jerick]

How long were you in the Air Force? My Dad is a retired squid and I served in the Army Reserve in Logan. I just got out a little over a year ago. Just missed going to Iraq.

[Judi W]

Just one little hint. The Rottweiler is not a lap dog breed, so unless you intend to have an 80 pound dog running the show, keep her off your lap and off the furniture. (you'll thank me for this later).

[jerick]

Thank You. I will look into these trainers.

[LavenderRott]

I was active duty for 3 years and a military wife for 11.