Will he guard ?

[seval]

Hi, I'm Moses, living in India and a new member of this forum. Well, I have a rottweiler, male, 11 months old. He is big and healthy, and very confident. He is very friendly with our 9 year old Doberman. The doberman is very watchful and protective of our home, and has been so since he was 6 months old. But the rottweiler still shows no inclination to guard. He is indifferent or at times outright friendly to strangers. Will his temperament change as he gets older? We need him to be protective.

[SABELLESMOM]

If there is no real threat percieved, a well bred Rottweiler will be relaxed and confident.

The breed standard states he should respond quietly and have a "wait and see" attutude. He should be calm, confident, courageous and self assured.

There should be an inherant desire to protect his home and family, yes. But he will not act like a Dobermann.

If you need more than that, a "protection trained dog," then you will have to get him trained. They are intellegent and adaptable...but they do not come pretrained. For that matter, neither does any other breed.

Dobermann's have Rottweiler's in their heritage, as well as Shorthaired Shepherd, Black and Tan Terrier, and the German Pinscher. So they will not act or respond to environmental stimulus in the same way. The Dobermann standard says the breed should be energetic, watchful, determined, alert, fearless, loyal and obedient. It says very little else.

An 11 month old Rottweiler is still a puppy. I, personally, see many advantages to having a calm, confident dog, with a wait and see attitude. I used that wait and see attitude in training my dogs NOT to bark at folks on the sidewalk. They "belong" on the sidewalk and are simply walking. It's normal activity...nothing to be alarmed about, at all. They "got the picture" and I am pleased. I do not appreciate dogs who bark their fool heads off at everything without any descrimination. Rottweiler's are smart enough to wait until a threat is posed. What more could you want?

[seval]

Thankyou Sabellesmom.
I take my dobe for walks (irregularly!) and he is never aggressive in the least towards people, but once he is home, he guards beautifully. Actually he does not bite without reason, but he does not allow the intruder to leave either. He thus held a person captive for an hour without harming him. He has bitten one person who thought he could scare away any dog by raising his hand and shouting at it. He's perfect with my two small children and has never shown aggression towards the rottweiler. He won at the two shows (conformation) he was entered in and has sired around 200 fantastic pups. SORRY ! I know this is not a doberman forum. I got a bit carried away when I thought of all the love and protection BOSS has given me and my family all these years.
Thankyou for reminding me that "An 11 month old Rottweiler is still a puppy."

[SABELLESMOM]

Well of course you knew this wasn't a Doberman forum. I understood that you were asking about the Rottweiler pup. Which is why I mentioned the personality differences between a well bred Rottweiler and a well bred Doberman.

I've owned both. Highly enjoyable breeds! Their response to environmental stimuli is different. One a bit more soldierlike, and the other tho still watchful, but less obvious.

You are truly proud of the Dobie, and rightfully so. Let us know how he comes along as he matures, will you? Have you posted any pics of them, yet? I'd love to see!

[seval]

Thanks.
I have not, but will post pics of my dogs.

[seval]

Thanks
I have not, but will post pics of my dogs

[ZoesMomma]

Originally Posted by seval

Hi, I'm Moses, living in India and a new member of this forum. Well, I have a rottweiler, male, 11 months old. He is big and healthy, and very confident. He is very friendly with our 9 year old Doberman. The doberman is very watchful and protective of our home, and has been so since he was 6 months old. But the rottweiler still shows no inclination to guard. He is indifferent or at times outright friendly to strangers. Will his temperament change as he gets older? We need him to be protective.

I've had Dobes and Rotties for a long time and all of the Rotties have been more outgoing than the Dobes. The Dobes have always seemed more obviously watchful. The Rotties were always the first to approach and investigate anything out of the ordinary though. I have always wondered if it was a matter of confidence. All have been rescues up until Zoe and Vesta. Both girls have been well socialized from 8 weeks on and gone to many obedience and agility classes. Vesta, the Dobe, is reserved with most strangers. It seems like she takes some time to make up her mind about each person. She has no reservations about taking a treat from them though. Zoe, the Rott'n Pup, on the other hand, greets everyone as a friend.

[abbiesdogs]

Hi seval, I have a dobie boy 8 years old and a rottie girl 5, when someone visits, our dobe is always at the gate first while lottie waits to see who it is, if she knows them she will greet them with wagging butt and sloppy kisses, however if it is a stranger she will bark (still butt wagging) untill they are welcomed by us.
Abbie

[seval]

Hi Abbie, Nice to hear about your dogs. I think the situation is vastly different in my town in India from that of developed countries. If my dobe is kennelled and our gate is unlocked for instance, I can guarantee that his food and water bowls would be stolen by gypsies or petty thieves within an hour to be sold for scrap. Burglaries for jewels and money are very common. But, nobody carries guns and a ferocious dog would be a guarantee against burglary.
So for me a dog has to be be a good watchdog as well as a reliable family pet (play with the children etc.).
Moses

[Janus'sMom]

Sabellesmom... The breed standard states he should respond quietly and have a "wait and see" attutude.

In that discription, I'm wondering if my dog is displaying the propper responce when he sees someone walking by the propperty and just stands there and watches with his tail going up. We live in the country so it's a good 70 feet to the road. Same as to when someone just walks up to the door and comes in (someone we know). But when someone new comes to the door and knocks it's a different story. Should he not be barking or is this the propper reaction for the breed?

[SABELLESMOM]

Ask yourself the question, "Is the person knocking posing a threat? Or, is it normal activity?" I'd say if the individual acted suspicious/sneaky/devious in ANY way, he'd respond.

Some Rottweilers may be more vocal than others. They are still individuals, therefore display a bit of a range of responses. Your dog seems to be relaxed, unafraid, and comfortable.

Mine often perk and alert, if someone does more than just walk by. But, they generally don't go crazy.

Recently, we've had errant and mischievious teens out in the early hours of the morning. Two weeks ago, I heard a low growl from both my girls. They woke me first as is their habit. Then I heard a loud POP! Followed by significant, dangerous sounding barking, and jumping up to the window sill in the bathroom. V-E-R-Y scary!

My neighbor (recent knee surgery...awake) heard the same POP, and since the windows were open, heard the dogs going bananas. He came out to check his vehicles. The sound of the dogs, had scared them away.

A police report was filed. Though I didn't know of the damage until the next day...my driver's side window was cracked, and 2 screwdriver-like dings on the door by the lock, from trying to get in. The POP was my window.

So will you know for sure if your dog will respond? Unknown, until you have a real situation. Trying to "set the dog up" won't work. Negative results and failure to have things completely thought out, happen. Don't do it.

As to the question, did he display a proper reaction? Yes, he did. He perked, without the alert. The alert was unecessary, as there was no threat.

Another Rottweiler may have perked, and alerted. Still another may have perked, alerted, and stood stiffly. The next one may have added raised hackles. The next, movement toward the door, etc. All are appropriate responses.

If there was a percieved threat, ie:devious, suspicious, unusual, furtive, unusual behavior? A stronger response.

[debbiej]

your dog is still very young. I believe that just the presence of a rottie and/or doberman is a good deterrent.

my dogs are really friendly to anyone who comes to our house. but they bark at cars coming in our driveway. UPS, meter readers, etc, all are seriously barked at.

I live in the desert foothills. our neighborhood is not typical, the houses are set back from the road, lots of bushes and vegetation. no streetlights and 1 1/2 acre lots. neighbors on all three sides of me have had break-ins and recently the police have notified residents of a rash of robberies. we have never had a break-in, and I'm sure it is because of the dogs. even though crated inside while we are not home, they sound like the hounds of hell when they get going. the old dog on the porch usually starts the "alarm" then the rotties join in. they don't bark at just anything though.

I am glad that my dogs are friendly, but most people don't need to know that. the other day someone was coming into our yard to haul off a non working hot tub and I had put Boris in his outdoor kennel. He was barking in a totally friendly "let me out to visit" excitement, but I saw how nervous the people were about him. I'm sure his presence is enough to keep away people who would be up to no good.

[Janus'sMom]

Sabbellesmom... I know for a fact that Janus is afraid of alot of things and people he is unfamiliar with. For example... yesterday I crossed the street with Janus to go visit an elderly couple whom my bf and I know, but Janus doesn't. He was a good boy sitting at my feet while I was stroking his ears outside while I was having a conversation with Maxine. Her husband (not trying to be sneaky or surprising) walked up behind me. Janus turned around like he was startled, HACKLES RAISED, barking and growling at him and trying to back away from him for 10 seconds. Once he stopped his fearfulness Maxine invited us in and her husband stayed outside doing yard work... Again Janus surprisingly being such a well behaved little gentleman layed at my feet while we conversed. When he heard Maxine's husband walking up the path to the door he stood up on his hind legs without placing a front paw on the door (which I thought was adorable) and looked out the window and then sat down and faced the door with his ears perked. The husband came in, Janus wagged his tail and attempted to give kisses to his hands. Then layed back down (my insistance since Janus still has little accidents when excited or in new surroundings so I didn't want him wandering into the livingroom with his sudden new friend) at my feet. And that was it. I know Janus's hearing isn't something for me to wonder about since he heard Maxine's husband come up the gravel path with the door and screen door closed. But why was he so startled when the husband walked up behind us outside? Was his different reaction because he finally wasn't afraid of Maxine's husband by the time we went inside? (I can't believe it, but his name slips my mind, I'm so embarrassed.)

This I know for a fact it's my fault he's fearful of strangers due to my lack of propper socialization of him when he was younger :( I am trying to make up for the lack of socialization now (taking him twice a week to the 3 pet stores that I like and like him alot) and even more so once we move to Florida (moving from a country setting to a suburb setting). As well as getting him into classes ASAP.

What strikes me as curious though is that he seems fine with women, but fearful of SOME men. He's never shied away from a woman, but sometimes pulls away and barks when it comes to men. He's never been hit by any man, so I don't understand this. Granted my bf's total lack of wanting anything to do with him and constant posturing and growling at him when he was younger ("to establish my dominancy over him before he gets bigger" his reasoning dispite my telling him not to) is the only possible explenation I can come up with.

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by Janus'sMom

Sabellesmom... The breed standard states he should respond quietly and have a "wait and see" attutude.

In that discription, I'm wondering if my dog is displaying the propper responce when he sees someone walking by the propperty and just stands there and watches with his tail going up. We live in the country so it's a good 70 feet to the road. Same as to when someone just walks up to the door and comes in (someone we know). But when someone new comes to the door and knocks it's a different story. Should he not be barking or is this the propper reaction for the breed?

Standing, watching with tail up is an alert behavior - perfect display of "wait and see". Good boy.

A knock on the door is a stimulus that tells the dog that someone who doesn't "normally" come to the house is present. (Do family and close friends knock?) Good boy.

Wait and see attitude = doesn't overreact to situations, doesn't "see" danger where there is none, or take more measures than are necessary to get the job done.