rott - single owner dog ?

[robotnix]

Hi,
I've done a lot of reading about rotts... why? because I want to get one but not yet.

Everything and everywhere I read, they say that the rott is mostly a single owner dog.

meaning that this dog "likes" or "respects" or "prefers" to have 1 master "LORD", "GOD".

I also _KNOW_ by what people have said on this forum that some or most of you guys have a dog that does not respect your wife or husban all the time. What I'm saying here is that if you're the master, the other is not! the dog will listen when you're present but won't when you're not present.

my question: is it true that a rott is a 1 master dog. because FACTS tell me it is!!
- dog won't listen to me but will listen housband
- dog growls on wife
- dog bits children !?
- dog listens only when I'm presend but does not when at work..
and the list goes on...

I don't have kids but having a dog means that I'll have to deal with him for at least ... 8-10 years. so will it be possible or can a rott actually have ... 100% respect for _ALL_ family members withoug hesitation?

I know that all this is related to training but if the dog can't accept more than 1 master what good is the training for ...

again, most of you leaving with your dog are happy owners but most of you with family and a rott are having... concerns to say the least... that's what I've noticed by hanging around for the past 5 or 6 months and reading about the breed.

so again, is this a 1 master breed?
(yes/no) not maybe or can be trained etc... just (Yes/No) :)

thanks.

[Deborah Reid]

Not in my opinion. All of my rottweilers have respected, listened to and loved all family members. I am not saying exactly equally, but I have never had any problems with the dogs not listening to or respecting the other family members.
I will say that I think they can be more attached to a specific family member, but I do not consider them "one man dogs".

[moondog]

Yes, a Rottie needs a leader. No, it is not a one master dog.

[Lindsay and Lyn]

Hi Robotnix
No. Not one master. A Rottie will respond most to usually the one who takes responsibility for food and walks and pats and cuddles. Wouldn't you?
A Rottie will respect Alpha (Husband and Wife) as the leader and breeding pair. Children are equal or lower depending on their ages. (Pack ranking...)
Never assume kids will be OK with a Rottie. All family members will be able to enjoy the dog and control it. Establish your routine as a family and never alter it. Be consistent and you will be very happy. Maybe you should visit a person who has one and spend some time just watching. There are many different personalities.
I am 200lb, kind but firm. My wife is 100lb, very petite & soft hearted - totally different to me. Our boy (aged 1yr) is 92lb and attached to me, but a big softie with her too, and absolutely no problem when I am not there. We have agreed to rules, commands and treatment. No confusion.
He's a neat dog with a great nature.
Good on you for doing your homework. Rotties need people like you.

[Judy Chrusch]

I agree with the others, though SOME woman seem to have a problem and it seems like they're not respected, it all comes down to day one and how he or she was trained;). That is the key word here IMO. A well trained dog will respect who ever company he or she is in. In our household my 16 month old male isn't a one man dog either, I'm home all the time and my hubby of course works and comes home at 5:00 and when he comes through that door he worships his daddy but never looses respect for me, in fact, I'd never tell hubby this but sometimes I think he listens better to me and my husband is the one who gets tested, though wouldn't get far with him being 6'3 and 220 pounds, so if you ask me it's all in how you train and how consistent you are in doing so. I'm with the others they don't seem to be a one man dog but could be more attached to one or the other. They ultimately will respect and protect your entire family :D. Best of luck to you.

Judy

[rottie597]

My girl respects me and my two elderly parents equally although I am the one who trained her. She sticks very close to me but will obey commands from any of us and is affectionate with all of us( including my little mutt who also outranks her rottie sister;)

[cinde33]

If you have a family member or sig. other who does not committ to training and consistency in commands 100% as you do, then yeah you will have a dog who will not respect the other person.

Simple as that.

[MybabyZeus]

We had a little trouble with our older male b/c for the first year of his life I was living as a single woman with two children. He didn't take to kindly to the fact that my fiance and I merged homes. As a matter of fact he fought it all the way. He did everything he could just to tick my fiance off. Chewed his things, Kept bringing him his shoes(that was too funny!), tried to get in between us ALL the time, peed on his clothes. He still barks at him sometimes when we hug or kiss. Depends on what kind of day Zeus is having. But he does respect him and he does listen to him. It really does depend on the dog and the other people in your life. I mean if your single now and you meet/marry someone who does not like dogs, chances are the dog will not ever really care for your significant other. If you are getting a dog and plan to have children one day/socialize this dog with children as much as you possibly can. A rottweiler, IMO, does pick one "favorite human" but they do respect others who treat them fairly and are consistant with them. As said before the other person must take part in rienforcing training methods as well.

[Rottnlove]

IMO, I believe most dogs get attached to the one that gives them the most attention, training, food, and love. They will most likely look to them as their Alpha. They may follow them everywhere!! (especially a rottie) But just because they do this, doesn't mean they are a one man dog! As long as the dog has proper training from the start and everyone in the family participates in the care and discipline or training, it will learn to respect the family. I have owned many dogs and every dog thought I was the Alpha in the family!! But every dog did very well with my kids and husband, regardless of breed. I had a Pomeranian that followed me EVERYWHERE!!! She would wait patiently by the door when I was gone, although my hubby and kids were home!! :) But she loved and respected all of us. I think for a Rottie it will be a similar situation, only approx. 100 lbs of it! :D

[Lindsay and Lyn]

Hi Robotnix
I forgot to add that the Forum is to get help when you aren't sure. It is good that many people ask many questions, expose their uncertainties and ask for help. It is not because Rotties are devil dogs, just that we are unable to speak the dog language.
Many of our friends have wonderful insights that help us understand, and make our world more certain. It is a very great comfort to have this fund of knowledge so close, when such a powerful dog is involved. I send you a big hug from New Zealand.:)

[PAWZ]

ROTTIES CAN BE A SINGLE PERSON'S DOG OR FAMILY DOG TOO. I HAVE A 6YR OLD FEMALE AND SHE LOVES MY WIFE AND TWO BOYS. WE HAVE A YORKIE TOO WHO GETS ALONG SO WELL WITH MY ROTTIE THEY ARE LIKE SISTERS. EVER SINCE MY ROTTIE WAS BORN , I HAD BOTH OF MY BOYS FEED HER, TAKE HER OUT AND EVEN BATHE HER ALSO. SHE SLEEPS WITH MY OLDEST ONE AT NIGHT IN HIS BED. I MIGHT ADD, THEY ARE VERY PROTECTIVE OF THEIR HOME AND WHO LIVES IN IT TOO. SO ALL THE BAD THINGS YOU HERE ABOUT ROTTS ARE FROM THE MEDIA, BAD TRAINING AND ESPECIALLY MISEDUCATED( TO PUT IT NICELY) OWNERS!!!!

TAKE CARE AND GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

[Rajah'sMom]

My almost 5 month old will play bite my husband all the time, but never does it to me. My husband likes to test Rajah by telling me to hold her so she can't bite him to see if she will bite me instead and she never does. Weird. She will listen to him most of the time, but she always listens to me. She must associate him with playing and me with food.:)
Yes, I have posted that Rajah bit my son. She has not shown any aggression toward either child other than that one time. We have already enrolled her in training, although it will have to wait until after she gets spayed on March 8th. I think this trainer is good because she encourages children to come. Rajah already takes commands from both of my children so I think that's good.

[DixieGrl113]

I think the others have pretty much covered it. My dogs listen to any and all immediate family members (those living in our house) and it is not an option. There are times when I'm not home or must go somewhere with out them and someone has to be there with them, this means they must respect all commands and obey immediately if not sooner. (Like during play time when a stray wonders up on our property) But as far as strangers, the most you'll get out of them is a good sit or down when not on leash. I will never board my dogs so I don't worry about strangers having to handle them off leash. If I'm gonna be gone for that long, its in the truck with them because they all go. I don't think that makes them a one master dog, just a 1 pack kinda dog. ;) I think that if someone in the immediate family is having problems with the dog(s) attention and/or respect, that person needs to work with the dog more or in the case of children, the dog needs to be reminded or perhaps even taught where his/her true place in the family is and that is below the children and all immediate human family. And the adult(s) should never not be supervising any interactions with young children and dogs. Just MHO :)

[RSQRottweiler]

Originally posted by cinde33
If you have a family member or sig. other who does not committ to training and consistency in commands 100% as you do, then yeah you will have a dog who will not respect the other person.

Simple as that.

Cinde -- that's an excellent point. If everyone in the house has different standards for what's "acceptable" behavior, it will make things difficult for everyone (including the dog).

Audrey

[sshankar]

I had the same question too. I prefer one man dogs, atleast for now since I am single. Maybe it's just me, but I definitely would like a dog taking commands only from me and no one else. I would like to have that kind of bonding between me and the dog. What's the point of a dog being everybody's best friend rather when it's should be perhaps "one man's best friend"? Golden Retrievers for that matter, I believe, are friendly and kind. Well that's a different dog altogether.

Any thoughts on this?
-Sid