prospective dog, what to think of these behaviors(long)

[mars817]

Okay so it's still about two weeks from when my house is going to close so I can't even really get a dog yet, but I was in town and bored so I decided to run by the shelter. They aren't usually there and keep the dogs in outside/inside runs during the day so you can just drive by. Well they have a 4 month old (I think she might be older) female rot. I got out to look at her and while I was the shelter person got there. I decided to take her for a walk. She was pretty hyper when she got out of the cage, but calmed down quite a bit. She doesn't have any manners and no training but I taught her sit in about 2 minutes and she was starting to learn heal/don't pull in about 5 minutes. She's really smart. She corrects well, will let me take things out her mouth and let me move her bowl while eating. I went in and told the animal control officer that I liked her and about my situation (can't have dogs at my rental right now) but she still offered to let me take her for the afternoon/night to see how she would be with my cats. So long story to get to the questions:

In the car she barks very aggressively at passing cars/people/dogs etc, is this a behaviour that I can work on or is it an indication of something else? She gets herself really worked up, can this be worked on? I plan to take her pretty much everywhere so a well behaved dog in the car is important. I can crate her, but don't yet have a crate.

At home she wasn't really intersted in the cats till one of them came up and gave her a face full of claws, she wanted to chase and was barking at them, but the tail was wagging. I snapped the lead and said no and pulled her away and she stopped and wasn't too intent on them. I went back into the room with the cats later and she looked like she wanted to go after them but then walked back to me and sat in front of me. I don't think she was too aggressive, more interested but I definately think that given the chance should would chase and I'm not sure how she would act if she caught one. Does this sound like a bad dog to have around cats? She does listen to NO and I understand some work would be involved but I don't want a dead/injured cat.

My real concerns are that she doesn't seem well socialized. She took coaxing to come in the house the first time and barks at unfamilar things, but I say no then she sniffs them and is okay. I took her on a walk on my street and she barks and tries to go after cars? I tried to put her in a sit, but it's so new she doesn't know stay and so that isn't working? Also she would growl at dogs that were barking at her from behind fences. She didn't display this behaviour at the shelter with dogs next to her or walking by the dogs in thier kennels though. I can't have a dog aggressive dog though as too many people around here let thier dogs run free.

Right now she's under the desk sleeping, she also kinda breathes heavy when she first goes to sleep is that a sign of something?

I know any rescue is going to have issues, she isn't housetrained, but I'm not worried about that. She is a bit dominant but not too much, I was brushing her and without thinking moved her on her back between my legs and she just layed there. She jumps up, but I know this is just manners, I'm just not sure about the aggression toward cars/other dogs. I don't want a dog that I'm going to have aggression issues with.

Do these behaviours sound workable or is better to just keep looking?

[Judi W]

She sounds like a remarkably good dog! No training and yet she has tried very hard to get along and to please you.

[thezookeeper]

Sounds like a great dog. I would not be worried about the behaviors... Sounds like she needs better manners and training. Kodi was very much like this when we got him and thru alot of work he learned to ignore the cats, ride in the car (was scared to death of it at first) take walks with out barking/ pulling. I could go on but I think if there is a way to get her now I would do it.

Kris

[ArwensMom]

She's young . . . and these things are new! It sounds like the two of you took to each other right away. It might be a bit of work to get her over these minor issues but I think it would be well worth the effort. She sounds like a neat pup. Good luck!

[debbiej]

4 months is young. she sounds like a dog with a very level head. yep, just a puppy, I hope you can get her.

[mars817]

I really want to get her, my bf said I could keep her at his place but our views of keeping dogs are different( rots not good pets, dogs should be outside, blah blah). Somebody from Montana came and looked at her but if he doesn't take her I'm going to see if they can hold her for me. They are only about half full so I think it might be okay since it won't mean putting another dog to sleep to keep her around. Not ideal, but I'm still working on ideas.

I posted a few pics in the photo section:)

[Judi W]

If they can hold her, make sure to visit her at least a couple of times a week and spend some time with her.

One other thing that is very very important. Please do not take her but let her if you are going to be living with your BF and life is going to be miserable for her and she is going to have to follow his ideas of how a dog should be raised. It would be very unfair to her to jerk her around like that. This is something you need to be very clear on before you take her and remove her opportunity for another home.

[JeanT]

Originally Posted by mars817

I really want to get her, my bf said I could keep her at his place but our views of keeping dogs are different( rots not good pets, dogs should be outside, blah blah).

I really hope that you make a decision between the dog and your BF now, before you get the dog. With such discordant views, you cannot have both. I'm not saying that if you chose the dog that your BF definitely will not change his beliefs, but it is folly to anticipate that he will change once he sees what a wonderful dog you've gotten. It is much more likely that his view will not change no matter how great the dog is, and there will be constant criticism and jealousy from him over the dog because he does not believe a dog should live inside, a rott isn't a good pet, etc. It doesn't sound as if he's a "dog person" and certainly not a Rottweiler dog person.

Your BF has been honest about how he feels. Believe it. If the two of you mutually want a future together, then don't get the dog. I'm not trying to sound mean, and I'm not saying this as a judgment against your BF. I think it is unfair to him to expect him to change his beliefs, and I think it would be most unfair to the dog who has no choice in the matter. If you don't make the choice today, you will have to make it in the future when it is much more difficult for all three of you.

[brendarl]

With your questions and concerns, I am wondering if you are a new dog owner, and if you've had a Rott before? I am a new Rott owner, but have had prvious dogs, including ones with challenging behavior. I find the Rott the most challenging dog I've owned, despite the fact that he is also the most sweet & loyal & eager to please, because he needs very clear, strong & consistant limits- and if I don't provide them, someone could be seriously hurt. From what I am learning & experiencing, Rotts need strong, experienced owners-I'm hoping that I can provide this for my dog so that we can learn how to manage him safely in public. The pup could be great, and you could be a great owner, but I would encourage you to honestly look at whether you an the pup are a good match- can you hang in there with the pup if things don't go as you hope, or if you do not have the support of loved ones? If you have doubts, it would be a kindness to allow the pup to be adopted by someone fully confident of her ability to manage this breed. There are many good dogs in search of a good home: maybe focus on whether this is a good match, instead of is this a good dog.