aggression

[gucci350]

this is my first rottweiler and I got her when she was a pup but now I have to put her down due to her aggression towards my family and the vet. She won't let the vet touch her she has to take pills before she can go to the vet.
if im around she can go into full attack. I have no choice but to put her down.
since she has a record with the vet. I got her from a breeder and they had
parents and grandparents on site. I don't understand were the aggression is coming from since we didn't teach her to be aggrssive we had since she was
10 weeks old and in the last year is when it all started If anybody has this
same problem let me know cause my cousin has a rottweiler and she is not
aggresive. thanks

gucci350

[BrandiJ]

It's pretty hard to say from what information we can get online. But it could be for all kinds of reasons. You mentioned the breeder had her parents on site, but didn't say what their temperament was like. It could be partly due to poor breeding, some could've been a lack of socialization on your part(not trying to be rude or blame you), all kinds of factors can come into play. I'm very sorry you're having this problem, and others with more experience can help more than I can, but they'll probably need more information on how old she is, the breeder, how you have raised her, etc.

[Mavides]

Have you ever done any training with her? Have you consulted with a trainer and/or with your breeder about this? Euthanizing should be a last resort - have her evaluated by an experienced trainer and/or behaviorist first please.

[rottnkidd]

You stated you've had her since she was 10 wks old. How old is she now?
How has she shown aggression towards family members? Is it guarding issues with food or toys? Has she bitten anyone? I'm also interested in knowing how much socialization she's had, as well as formal training.
kathy

[mymaggie]

well hope you have spoke to your trainer or breeder and have come to a better outcome than euthanizing i see that you are in woodbridge can you tell if that is canada or the u s a im in canada and have a great dog trainer that could help please reply give the pup a chance

[dogsbydoug]

How old is the dog? Is she healthy? Have medical problems been ruled out? How much training has she had? How much socialization has she had?

You mention this has started within the last year - what changed in that time?

There are alot of factors that can contribute to this.

Rule out health problems and then, if you are willing to work on it and are not afraid of her, get in touch with a qualified trainer who has experience with aggression/fearful dogs.

It will NOT be easy or a quick process, but if you are willing to put the time into it, you can do it.

[BostonRott]

Aggression has many aspects.

1.) Temperament is heritable, meaning it passes down the bloodline from one generation to the next. If a dog's parents are aggressive, or there is a history of aggressive dogs in the bloodline, you have a high likelihood of having a problematic dog.

2.) Behaviour is influenced by both temperament and training. Part of training is socialization. Socialization means exposing the puppy to as many new people and as many new situations and places as possible, before the age of 12 weeks. At that point, a very valuable window slams shut forever. After that point, a dog can no longer be socialized, but instead one is now working on desensitization (teaching the dog that certain things are ok). In socialization, the dog discovers for itself that things (fire hydrants, umbrellas, people in large hats) are ok and are not something to be worried about. In desensitization, you are telling the dog "this is ok" and they must take your word for it. However, this is not as strong as deciding for themselves that fire hydrants are not monsters.

If a dog has genetically poor temperament, it is my feeling that you can never truly over come that. You can train the dog, and socialize it and build a good relationship with the dog, such that the dog trusts you. But there will always be something that is just below the surface, waiting to boil over and you can never be exactly sure what the trigger will be. You must live a life of managing the dog and it's surroudings for the entire life of the dog. This is very exhausting for an owner.

If a dog has a genetically sound temperament, but is poorly socialized or poorly trained, you again can create a real mess which may well never be over-come, and you end up in the same situation as above: you must manage the dogs' environment and encounters for all of its life.

If a dog has a genetically sound temperament, is well socialized and trained and then starts to show aggression, one must start to consider physical problems (chemical imbalances, injuries, lesions in the brain).

One caveat to all of this: a genetically sound temperament is often guessed at, but not truly determinable, in puppies. Many puppies start out seeming to be sweet, but the little signs are there. It takes an experienced eye to find these signs, read them correctly and understand their significance. Thus, no one can give you an absolute list of what to look for, and how to react to what you see. You need to have a trainer and classes, so that an experienced eye is seeing things and is able to then offer you guidance and specific advice.

In searching online, I found this article and it seems to be well-written, clear and covers most of the bases: Aggression

In your case, from the minimal information you have given, I would agree with the decision to put the dog down. Such a dog is not happy in life, does not trust and lives a life of fear and anger. That is not a life for any animal to need to live.

I hope this helps some.

[tangelo53]

Originally Posted by gucci350

this is my first rottweiler and I got her when she was a pup but now I have to put her down due to her aggression towards my family and the vet. She won't let the vet touch her she has to take pills before she can go to the vet.
if im around she can go into full attack. I have no choice but to put her down.
since she has a record with the vet. I got her from a breeder and they had
parents and grandparents on site. I don't understand were the aggression is coming from since we didn't teach her to be aggrssive we had since she was
10 weeks old and in the last year is when it all started If anybody has this
same problem let me know cause my cousin has a rottweiler and she is not
aggresive. thanks

gucci350

Hello. I am hoping that you are in Woodbridge, VA...is that correct? If so, I know someone who trains these types of dogs and can help. Before putting the dog down, you really should give this a try! My Rott started showing aggression/dominance towards us when she was 18 months, so our vet recommended this guy. He has been training Rotts for over 18 years, and works with K9 and FBI dogs. He is great. When my vet gets dogs that are uncontrollable, they contact this guy to assist and they said he does wonders!!! I hope you are in Woodbridge, VA and will be able to contact him. If so, his name is Ricky Gallaway from Sassafras K9 (540) 286-2785. He is in Stafford, so it will not be too far for you if in VA and his prices are 50% cheaper than others I contacted. He doesn't do this for money, he said he does it because he loves dogs (especially Rots) and to save dogs' lives. His bootcamp consists of 3 weeks (more if needed) at his residence, and he guarantees the training 100%. He told us that if we get Abby back and she shows any type of aggression, we can bring her back and he will work it again.

[BostonRott]

Sending a dog away for training is not going to solve aggression problems. A dog responds to commands from those with which it has a relationship (be it a respectful one, or one of fear). The dog is going to mind the trainer (Rick) but will never be as solid with you, as you have not put in the time.

You must earn a dog's respect and teach it to work with you. While the dog may mind you better than it did, if the initial problem is not solved (i.e. what are YOU doing to cause these behaviour problems), the solution is not going to be permanent.

Dogs who suddenly start showing aggression problems at 18mos are most likely dogs who have been given poor leadership and decided to set their own rules. When the dog returns to the same situation, the problems will resurface. Unless you've made some drastic changes in how you react to and around the dog, I wouldn't expect miracles.

Final note: most training takes place over months and years, not in a matter of 3 weeks. Anything fixed in 3 weeks is going to involve a lot of harsh, nasty corrections. That's not exactly how I'd want to start building a relationship of trust with my dog (shipping it out to arse-whipping camp).

I am VERY strongly against this type of solution and I hope it does not come back to bite you in the butt (literally).

[tangelo53]

It worked great for Abby. I guess I should have also told you that once this 3 week residence period is up, you bring your dog to Ricky and he trains you both for a couple of sessions--really as long as it takes, which is dependant on what he had to do with the dog. He then teaches you what he has taught your dog so you can work with the dog at home. hey- if the vets and law enforcement back him up on the training received...I am there!! It is a lot better than putting the dog down, in my opinion.

[tangelo53]

"Anything fixed in 3 weeks is going to involve a lot of harsh, nasty corrections. That's not exactly how I'd want to start building a relationship of trust with my dog (shipping it out to arse-whipping camp)."

There was no "arse whipping". (I just saw that part of the post.) You can watch him train others dogs anytime you want. I have heard that there are some whackos out there that offers this nasty type of training...that is why referrals are so good.

[rottielover2004]

I have been in the scenerio on leaving the dog for training, well it lasted a week out of the four. I could not bare to think what would happen. When I picked him up, my gut was right, I found them using a taser. After many training classes, and behaviourists I did what I should have done in the begining. I Put him to rest. Sometimes you can not fix the causing problems. I really hope the OP thinks this through. We do not know much on this dog, and actually nothing at all. The OP will know best. If you chose the route of PTS, I am sorry, I have been there, if you chose working this through, remember both you and your beloved dog will be living a life of constant fear.

[poohbearsmom]

Having more experience with aggressive dogs than I'd like to at this point in my dog life, owning an aggressive dog is a liability of enormous proportions.

While there are trainers who will deal with aggressive dogs, and have done so quite successfully, one must truly pay attention to what Gretchen has posted. (excellent link, BTW gret, haven't seen that one before!)

Whether or not this is hard wiring, lack of socialization, or a relationship gone completely askew, (likely a combination of all 3) one can pour 1000's of dollars (that's the kind of money it costs to have experienced people deal with YOUR aggressive dog, because it's a dangerous animal) into rehabilitating the dog.

I have seen successful board and trains - however, the dog still must be managed, and managed consistantly, FOREVER. One slip up on the owner's behalf, and at the very least, the owner can lose everything they have - at the very worst, an innocent human is maimed or killed. This is a very serious, and very real issue.

It is a rare trainer that truly understands what's going on with these dogs. It is a common trainer that makes tons of money doing board and trains, works with the dogs to a decent level of obedience, and sends the dogs packing with owners incapable of the upkeep and perserverence an aggressive dog demands.

It is human nature to become complacent when things get comfortable. There is no room for complacency, or errors with an aggressive dog, especially an aggressive dog the size and power of a rottweiler.

I can only think of a handful of people, out of the skads I've met in the dog world that I would trust with an aggressive dog. Myself, I had a fear aggressive mix, and living that hell for 7 years was a life changing experience for me. No thanks.

If you have a dog that is actively aggressive, I concur with Gret, the best thing to do is to put the dog to rest, and learn a lesson from it. How and where you get your next dog from will be researched more carefully, I'm sure.

If you have any doubts about what a working dog can do to human flesh, go my pictures in the gallery, and take a look at what happened to me last year. It's pretty sobering. I was lucky.

I'm so sorry you're going through this, but I suggest you look long and hard at the harsh reality of your situation.

Best of luck.

[spoiledbabies3]

How old is your rottie now? I agree with Abby's owner. I ran a Rottweiler Rescue group for many years and in most cases the biggest issue was lack of firmness from the "get-go". I have all of my rotties either neutered or spayed and you will be amazed at the difference in behavior, especially with the males. Please try to save her...she's worth it. And perhaps you might consider adopting her to someone that trains rotties and understands them. I hope that you don't have to put her to sleep...that's a rough decision...and right now I am vulnerable to that train of thought because we learned yesterday that our baby girl of 8 years has lymphoma and will eventually have to be euthanized. Good luck with whatever your decision is...but the rottie breed is stubborn and strong-willed...and all owners must remember that when they acquire them. If you are persistent, they will respect you and learn from you. You have to obtain Alpha...no other way with them. But once you do, they are the most loyal, dependable and loving animal out there. They give you back three times the unconditional love you give them.

[BostonRott]

Originally Posted by spoiledbabies3

And perhaps you might consider adopting her to someone that trains rotties and understands them.

Who in their right mind would want to adopt a dog that tries to eat vets, and can "go into attack mode" at any point????? Please!!!!! If you're still unsure, check out this thread Who Wants a Problem Dog?? I think you'll see that this entirely absurd idea that "those who know Rottweilers" would love to have a problematic attack dog is as real as the Tooth Fairy.

People need to stop dancing around issues and stop trying to save every dog. If a dog has bad temperament and is a loose cannon, it needs to be put down. The dog is not happy, the people are not safe and the breed doesn't need the bad PR!!!!!