New Rott - Timid...is this ok?

[rhammond]

I just got a female rottweiler, 1 yr old from a dog training school who was supposed to be obedience and protection trained. I got her Friday night and its now Sunday night and she is really timid. Not playful at all. When I walk up to her, she shrinks and backs away until i show her affection. She loves water but has been slow to eat her food (the good stuff.) She just began taking snacks earlier today. When friends come by, she is timid at first but eventually go over and lick them once they give her affection. She is afraid of stairs (i have to force her to take them). We did play earlier today some. She follows the command the trainer taught me sometimes. I don't scream at her as I'm aware rotts mostly only respond to affirmation and praise. To this point I have not heard a bark, a growl or seen any aggression.

I'm really worried I have a dog with behavioral challenges. Is this to be expected from a rott that is in its first days in a new home? She's a sweet dog, but I need a rott! I live in a neighborhood that if she doesnt bark at unwanted visitors, they will break in and take her.


Reggie

[Weltterr]

You are expecting too much too soon. She needs to get adjusted to her new environment and her new family. Give her that time. It can take 1 - 2 months. She is a thinking animal with emotions. She has just been removed from a situation she is familar with and put into a completely new situation. She knows she is totally dependent upon you, but she doesn't know anything about you, she doesn't even know if she can trust you. Look at it from her viewpoint to understand what she is going through.

[Mick Trainer]

Reggie,

Whilst there is little doubt that there will indeed be an adjustment period this is not a normal nor desired reaction from any dog and certain not a Rottweiler. Whilst the change in environment will indeed cause her some stress if the Rott is truly sound this should be small and at times difficult to notice, for her to have such a reaction shows poor nerve development and a reduced ability to deal with stress. I often tell the story of taking a rescue Rott from a home where he had not been out of the run since eight weeks of age. No vets, walks, socialisation etc. Yet I picked him up and put him in the back of my car and took him straight to training where he met a huge numbers of people and dogs and never batted an eye lid. He dealt with the situation as though he had been there his whole life. This is a dog with sound nerve and I can give you many other examples of a similar thing. A dog showing such reaction as you describe shows a pronounced lack of nerve development and whilst with some work you may be able to get improvement out of the dog making excuses for what it is doing only fools yourself. Now all this can probably be over come with training (building confidence etc), you will need to do a fair degree of work to get her to the point of being a sound dog.

Further no dogs that acts like this would ever truly be considered a protection trained dog. Now I am sure others will jump in here and ask why you need such a dog etc and you will need to truly ask yourself if indeed you do but if you do having a dog behave in such a fashion almost certainly rules such ability out. WHilst there are many temperament qualites that a protection capable dog must have confidence is without question the most important and a dog behaving in such a fashion as a true lack of confidence and alsot certain rules out the dogs ability to handle the level of pressure seen in a real life threatening scenario.

Mick.

[rottcrazed]

I had a very timid Rottweiler who I eventually returned to the breeder because despite all of my work training and socializing, she was EXTREMELY timid with strangers, to the point she could not be shown.

It was very hard as I expect certain things of my dogs and she just could not seem to beat it, which I most definitely considered a temperament flaw and thus would not have ever bred her (she was to be my show/foundation bitch).

Can a 1 year old be considered 'protection' trained?

Isn't that a little young? I know the amount of training I put into my dogs in their first year is foundational, and police and other service dogs don't really begin their intensive training until after a year of age? Was this a selling tactic is what I am wondering?

Kristi

[Mavides]

Originally Posted by rottcrazed

Can a 1 year old be considered 'protection' trained?

Isn't that a little young? I know the amount of training I put into my dogs in their first year is foundational, and police and other service dogs don't really begin their intensive training until after a year of age? Was this a selling tactic is what I am wondering?

That was the RED FLAG I saw too....a good protection trainer (I'm talking about real life protection, not sport work) would NEVER begin a dog before close to 18 months old. Unfortunately, if you purchased her as a "fully-trained protection dog", I'm afraid you've been had. Get her signed up for some obedience classes with YOU as her handler and keep going on her socialization...she's still just a puppy. Good luck.

[fostermom]

That this "trainer" is promoting such a young dog as protection trained makes me question the methods he was using to train this dog....I'm wondering if he subjected this pup to severe treatment. It really sounds as if she's expecting people to hurt her. My boy behaved the same way as your pup when I adopted him...he's now my "alpha" male and is a great dog. I'd give her some time. And you're absolutely right...they DO respond best to positive reinforcement.

[Mick Trainer]

Should of mentioned it earlier but a one year old dog is usually way to young to be considered protection trained unless the dog is super powerful which clearly she is not.

Mick.

[Pmajor73]

Rotts take longer than most to truly mature and develop their personalities. I agree with the others this dog was probably abused in an attempt to protection train. I am just beginning protection work with my Rott and he is 20 months and we are starting with prey drive control thru play. But to help you now I would suggest you take your dog on a long walk( at least 2 hrs) thru your neighborhood. But I stress you need to lead this walk, dog at your side, not in front. This will bring your dog a sense of security that she has a leader and also provide fro a true bonding expierence with you( No words just a calm-assertive walk). I also would share treats and force the dog to come out of its shell. Just be there with her, she can smell you from about 15ft away so she has a sense of who you are. Just let her come to you. By the way the walks should continue everyday for a least an 1hr dog walking on the side. Good Luck!