new to the breed and i have a question.

[Uncle Shepherd]

hey y'all i am new to the forum and new to this breed also and i have a question.just a little while ago i was given a little rottweiler puppy by my son after my redbone coonhound passed,all was going great and he house broke real quick and he walks real good on a leash.he just turned 4 months old and just the other day he started growling at me and made a run at my foot,and took hold of the leg of my overalls and then went into a full bite and got my calf i was wearing boots so i wasnt hurt but he is a fair sized pup and i am kind of worried about this because he is now starting to growl at me from his crate wich is in my bedroom across from my bed.i have owned many dogs throughout my lifetime but they were mostly hunting dogs or livestock dogs like blue heelers and such,so my question is how would i go about correcting this safely with out making him worse.because i was told by a fella in town that i have to handle this breed of dog diffrent than say a bloodhound or a border collie,or i can end up making things worse.so any suggestions from y'all would be greatly appreciated.

[sophie's-mom]

It sounds like you have a very ACTIVE pup but, there is no reason why you can not train this dog the way you have trained others in the past. However, you need to redirect this biting to something that he is ALLOWED to bite.

Take it slowly and find out what MOTIVATES this dog.

A heeler is much different than a rottweiler....but training a dog in GENERAL MANNERS should be the same.

How old is this dog and where did he come from? Where in Texas are you? I have some friends in and around Austin that might be able to help.

Question, no offense intended, why did your son buy you a Rottweiler???

[BostonRott]

I must admit, I know nothing of raising hunting dogs, or their temperaments (except that I have the general impression that hounds are a real beast to train).

A Rottweiler needs guidance and consistancy in training. Like a young child, they need a set of rules, and they need those rules to be clearly defined and enforced.

I teach using food rewards, and then later switch to toys/fetch as the reward. I use corrections minimally, except if something is really out of line.

I can't tell from your post how your leadership is with this pup, but the fact that you're working with a crate is a good thing.

It could be an issue of needing more exercise (needing to be more mentally worn out). Could be an issue of temperament. Could be an issue of incorrect or lack of leadership. I'm not accusing, just throwing out the possiblities.

I would suggest that you find a good training class near you (not a Petco or other chain store) and work with a trainer who can see you and see what the pup is doing and interpret it correctly.

Where in Texas are you, perhaps we can help locate a good facility?

[Uncle Shepherd]

Originally Posted by sophie's-mom

It sounds like you have a very ACTIVE pup but, there is no reason why you can not train this dog the way you have trained others in the past. However, you need to redirect this biting to something that he is ALLOWED to bite.

Take it slowly and find out what MOTIVATES this dog.

A heeler is much different than a rottweiler....but training a dog in GENERAL MANNERS should be the same.

How old is this dog and where did he come from? Where in Texas are you? I have some friends in and around Austin that might be able to help.

Question, no offense intended, why did your son buy you a Rottweiler???

thanks for the input sophie,well i am gonna start with the most obvious question that you want to know and thats why did my sone buy me a rottweiler,well like i said my coonhound passed on of just old age and he knows that i am a dog person and have experince with dogs.he has a rottweiler himself and has never had a problem with it so he thought since i am kind of up in years and live alone on a 50 acre farm i could use a dog that could watch out for me and be a good friend and up till this point everything was going great i couldnt have asked for a better dog he was always laid back and quiet he would follow me around the farm while i did my daily chores i mean he never showed a aggressive bone in his body till just the other day and it came from nowheres.i talked to my son and he doesnt know what to do because he has never encountered this problem before just like myself.i live outside of a small town called pecos texas it is still considered pecos but just outside the limits.my son bought the dog from a newspaper for me is what he told me,so basically from what i gather it came from a back yard breeder much to my disgust since i always taught him diffrent.he said that it didnt come with papers or anything like that so i dont know exactley what the breeding is on the dog,the basic training is or i should say was going good and it is a very smart little dog weighing in at 31 pounds already so you can see my concern as to why it has bit me and is turning aggressive.to be honest i dont know what to do with him,i know if it was a stock dog or a game bred bulldog wich i have also owned in the past it would already be in it's grave,but i dont know if this is common in these dogs and it is something that it will grow out of,or is it something that i need to be majorly concerned about.

[smileygirl]

I am realitively new to this breed as well, mine are 2 & 3 years old. I have had a dog all my life, many different breeds. This breed is quite a bit different. They need to be mentally tired, as well as physically worked out. They never seem to stop trying to figure there surroundings out. They want do know everyones schedule, everyones "jobs" and how they fit in. They also need to learn early EVERYTHING they need comes from YOU. Do a search on NILIF...nothing in life is free, its works well with these guys. Formal training is not optional with these guys. You will both benefit in so many ways and the bonding time to build trust and respect will make for the best dog you will ever live with. Take some of the others offers to help with resources near you. The people here really know this breed and have a great deal of commitment to making responsible rottie ownership happen. Good Luck...Tina

[sophie's-mom]

Originally Posted by Uncle Shepherd

but i dont know if this is common in these dogs and it is something that it will grow out of,or is it something that i need to be majorly concerned about.

He'll only outgrow it if you teach him that it isn't allowed.

You can't blame a puppy for being a puppy.....as with a child.....you have to teach him what you want.

You'll get there.......check out a petsmart puppy class.

At this point in his life please don't think this is AGGRESSION, it probably isn't. But it also isn't acceptable.

Good luck and get some outside help from someone that can see your dog.


What's your pups name?

[llwaxan]

Every pup is different. I have had 3 Rottie pups and all 3 were mouthy. One in particular was a terror and bit like crazy. He is terrific now and not mouthy at all---thank goodness since he is 7 months and close to 90lbs (all legs and ears at this point!). Here is what I did when I thought he was going to eat me alive.

I read alot of older threads here-use the search option-, asked a lot of questions, and was consistant with my redirection. Find a chew that your pup likes alot and keep that sort of chew with you all the time. When your boy bites or goes for your ankle, boot, whatever, firmly say "no bite" or something like that, and immediately place the chew in his mouth and give him some postive reinforcement that the CHEW is the thing to ---well--chew.

Your pup --from what you have described--sounds perfectly normal. He will thrive on a farm as your companion. Get him into some training and let him excercise menatlly and physically everyday and don't worry that his biting now, is a sign of things to come. Just be fair, kind, and consistant.

Enjoy your pup and welcome to the breed and this board.

[Uncle Shepherd]

ok here is the new happenings with the pup,whos name is duke by the way sorry i left that out,guess i had a old man moment.ok duke was still acting up even in his crate at night wich is where i put him to sleep in at night when we go to bed at 9:30.he was not happy about going in the crate and tried to bite me yet again,but i got out of the way pretty fast and he didnt connect,so through the night he threw a temper tantrum and went ahead and flipped his crate over with himself inside.so i got up and went to take him out and he boared right into my leg and got a mouth full of my leg,sending me to the hospital in the process to get some sticthes and get it cleaned up.so got that taken care of and come back to the farm when i go to open my door he is right there growling at me again,but i get inside and he didnt try to bite me again.now like i said i have had many types of dogs including american pitbull terriers and those dogs are about as head strong as they come but this pup i decided isnt head strong he is just plain mean and doesnt like anybody,because he does it to any friends who stop by and say hello or have supper with me.so for the moment he is outside and angy as ever awaiting his fate because i have no tolerance for a mean dog.i come from the era where a dog who bites the hand that feeds it gets shot and i think thats what he is gonna get if he doesnt shape up.i know that sounds cruel but i dont want to have a dog that when it grows up will either harm myself serioulsy or someone else over at the next farm,because if he ever got away from me i could never catch him because i am to old to run.so thats the new story on duke,i am trying all diffrent training methods to try and redirect his aggression and biting but none of it is working.so if there are any more suggestions before i decide if he should be put down or not let me know because i will be more than happy to try em.

[hokisteph5]

Okay, a couple of observations...

What kind of crate are you using that would flip over with a four month old puppy inside?

I would not have rewarded Duke's temper tantrum by getting up and trying to let him out.

Duke's wiring may be off, but your first post was just done a few days. I mention this because you said you're trying different training methods, but I don't see anywhere where you've contacted a professional trainer and gotten Duke and you into formal training. At four months old, at the very least Duke should be in Puppy Kindergarten.

[SaranBear]

Sorry if I missed this somewhere in your posts. What have you been trying with him? What have you been doing to correct the behavior? Have you talked to a trainer? What have your methods been so far?

[spoiledbabies3]

UncleShepherd....Pecos is in West Texas...what is your nearest large city? Is it within driving distance to take the pup to classes 1x per week?

[Uncle Shepherd]

Originally Posted by hokisteph5

Okay, a couple of observations...

What kind of crate are you using that would flip over with a four month old puppy inside?

I would not have rewarded Duke's temper tantrum by getting up and trying to let him out.

Duke's wiring may be off, but your first post was just done a few days. I mention this because you said you're trying different training methods, but I don't see anywhere where you've contacted a professional trainer and gotten Duke and you into formal training. At four months old, at the very least Duke should be in Puppy Kindergarten.

ok i am using a plastic airline type crate that you buy in walmart,large size so he wont go to the bathroom in it.duke flipped it over in about 6 hours of steady rocking back and forth and flipping around while screaming, barking,crying,whining,and growling.i didnt get up to let him out untill he flipped it over and the only reason i did let him out was to see if he was all right.and thats when he bit me.i did call a trainer in midland texas and she was a wacko humaneiac who told me duke was just expressing his feelings and as a companion he is allowed to do this just as i am,so i figured i might do better on my own since i am not really the new age type who thinks animals are people.as far as training methods i have tried redirecting his bite into a kong toy,i have smacked him on the but and told him no in a stern voice,i have held his mouth shut and looked him in the eye and said no in a stern voice,i have rolled him over and stared him down,i have rolled him over and kind of growled at him and pinched the skin on the neck like a dominate dog would do.and nothing works.this is just a recent thing he was fine as could be just a few weeks ago.he is housebroken,knows his name,can come when called,knows down,heel,and sit. and i taught this to him very quickly.i just dont know whats going on with him.

[Uncle Shepherd]

Originally Posted by spoiledbabies3

UncleShepherd....Pecos is in West Texas...what is your nearest large city? Is it within driving distance to take the pup to classes 1x per week?

my nearest city is the midland/odessa area it is within driving distance but all they really have there as far as classes is petsmart in midland.i havent gotten the price yet but i am fixing to and if i can fit it into my social security check i will go ahead and do it.

[spoiledbabies3]

One of my sisters used to live in the Odessa area...check with New Found Friends Animal Rescue and Adoption Shelter in Odessa and/or Noah's Ark Animal Rescue and Refuge in Midland. One (if not both) should be able to direct you to a reputable trainer in the area. I'm not familiar with the PetSmart training program, so I can't help you there. But if you can get your boy into some good puppy kindergarten classes, I think you will see a noticable improvement. He's still a puppy...he basically needs lots of patience and guidance. Good luck!

[debbiej]

It seems unlikely that a pup his age would be truly mean. could be he is fiesty, or could he be scared and defensive? Hope you can find someone to see him 'in action' and offer some advice.