Advice on new baby

[METAL]

Hi there!
This is my very first posting here. I'm from Brazil and I've always had dogs since I was born. Most of them were of "undefined breeds", I had a spanish cocker and a pointer as well.
Now my girlfriend game me this little Rottweiler (I always dreamed to have one), we call him "Homer" and I'm worried 'cos I don't wanna mess things up. Here's the deal:
We have another 2 "undefined" dogs (mom and son, Suzy and Bobby), and they're kind and delicate, but they're pretty coward as well with people (I mean the'll bark at strangers but if the person shows any reaction they'll stop or even run away, or run and bark from a distance). Since we first showed them Homer on last sunday, they seem to be running away from him all the time, I just can't put them together. And yesterday Homer started to follow the older one (the "mom", Suzy) and she gave him a hard time, we had to run for him. I can't understand why 2 "adult" dogs would be afraid of a little puppy! I think it's something like "let's give the freshman a hard time" or "I don't want new friends, put that puppy away". I've had dozens of puppies and never had this kind of problem, the babies were always welcome by the older ones.
Homer cries a lot and he seems to love people. But he won't sleep if he's alone, there must be someone around to look over him. I don't know if that's because he misses his mom and brothers or he's scarred or something... Last night he was crying so loud outside that I had to bring him in to my bedroom and stay with him. He slept like a child then. Is that normal?
Another thing... He'll wake up and play like crazy for about an hour and then sleep for another hour. I that normal also?
And a last question... Someone told me if I play with a Rottweiler the way I do (making he chew on toys) would make him aggressive... is that true?

Well as you see I need a lot of advice, so any would be appreciated. Mostly about how to make the 3 of them get along and how to play with Homer and educate hime without spoiling him or making he grow up as a coward (as the other 2 older ones). I'm not asking for advice for his whole life, but what to do now that he's still a baby, what would be right and wrong, etc.
Thanks!

[METAL]

ok, no replies, I'll try to be more specific.

What's the best way to make my new puppy get along with the 2 older ones that already lived here? They're running away from the baby.

[brunie's mom]

Your other two dogs sound like they are unsocialized... they are not use to people or strange dogs. You could try to get everyone to play together or go for a short walk.
How old is your puppy?? Has he had his first vaccinations??
If you want your rottie pup not to be afraid of things he has to be socialized.. take him everywhere with you, let him meet and see other people and other dogs.
Get him signed up for puppy kindergarden... training and socialization start right away.
Read through the "archives" there is so much information there.

Good-luck,
Gina

[Soapie&Buddy'sMom]

HOw old is Homer? If he's really young, like 6 - 7 weeks, he may have been taken from the litter too soon and needs lots of socialization.
And when you say outside, do you mean outdoors? Or outside your bedroom? Where does Homer live during the day?

[METAL]

Homer is 5 weeks old, and by "outside" I meant in the backyard.
This pup is completely crazy! If I let him free in the backyard, he'll go straight for the other dogs, they're staying at the frontyard now. Besides, if he goes to the frontyard, he could easily be stealed. So I built a "barricade" in the backyard... And of course the little crazy thing found a way to jump over it.
I don't like this, but I had to live him locked up in a very small storage house we have at the backyard. He keeps crying out loud but there's no other way

In response to brunnie's mom, I tried to get everyone to play together, but as I said, the older ones keep getting away from him like they're afraid or something.

Anyway thanks for your attention.

[K9-man]

02/27/2002 4:04 PM CST

Originally posted by METAL
I'm worried 'cos I don't wanna mess things up.

Originally posted by METAL
I had to live him locked up in a very small storage house we have at the backyard. He keeps crying out loud but there's no other way

Hate to say this but you already are messing things up.

That last thing you want to do with a 5-week-old Rottweiler puppy is to isolate him in a storage shed.

[METAL]

ok K9-man, then tell me what am I supposed to do, because I think crates are really cruel. Besides, I only leave him there in the shed during the night. He's completely free all day long. That's something I think I'm doing wrong also, 'cos I don't want him to get used to get indoors whenever he feels like. I mean can you imagine you having dinner with friends and then this huge black beast comes inside? :D

[brunie's mom]

First of all your puppy is way too young:( .... he should still be with his mother and litter mates at least till he is 8 weeks old.
If the other dogs are aggressive to him you have to protect him.
A crate is not cruel... go buy or borrow one and bring that poor young pup into the house . He needs to be with you.
Most of us on this board all have our big black Rottweilers in the house with us,,, they live with us and have learned manners and rules... I acually have 2 Rottweilers... they are much better behaved then my children were:)
I know you live in another country and there is a cultural difference... most North Americans and Europeans get their dogs for companionship.... we want the dogs in the house with us.
Do you have access to books??
See if you can find some with information about raising a puppy.
Someone else on this forum may have book suggestions.

Gina

[Gatsby]

Wow. I have so many things to say, I hardly know where to start.

First, Rottweilers are strong, loyal, protective animals. They love their families and want to spend time with them. The best recipe for creating a frustrated, aggressive, unweildy Rottweiler is to leave him in the yard all the time and, especially, to isolate him from both people and other dogs. In other words, the worst thing you can do for this dog's character is to lock him in a shed away from you and the other dogs.

The more positive experience your dog has with people and other dogs, the better able he will be to respond well to those things. If you don't allow him to interact with your family while he is young, he'll never learn manners and you will be even less likely to let him into the house. If you start now, teaching him things like to go lay down while you eat at the table, you will raise a dog who will be welcomed by many guests.

About his age: Puppies learn new things every week that they are with their mother and siblings. Weeks 5-7 are a very crucial period of socialization that your puppy didn't get. At 5 weeks, puppies are very bold, willing to rush over to anybody and investigate. This is probably what he is doing to your two dogs, which unnerves them. He hasn't learned how to approach cautiously. But from 5 weeks to 7 weeks, he learns to be more cautious. He didn't have that opportunity with his mother and siblings. That's unfortunate, but it could be helped by not just leaving him to his own devices in the yard.

I wouldnt worry that your three dogs aren't best friends right away. Your dogs will get used to the puppy in time and they will develop a relationship that works for them.

Get a crate and use it. A crate will be his private den and home inside your home. It's not cruel; what's cruel is isolating him in a shed in the yard.

I wrote this in another thread, but I'll put it here too: Crates are the best thing ever for most dogs! I have two Rottweilers that I got when they were 1 1/2 years old. Neither had ever been in a crate. But now, if I took away their crates, they'd be so upset! To teach them that their crates were their own space where good things happened:

I fed them in their crates with the door open.
When they were in their crates, they got special chew toys that they didn't get outside their crates.
I made their crates very comfortable.

Dogs love cozy den-like spaces. That's why dogs often lay under a table, under a desk, or in a tight corner. They like to feel safe and sheltered, to know that someone can only approach them from one direction. I leave the crates open most of the time now and my dogs spend the majority of their time in there napping. In fact, Bonnie (my female) won't let any other dog in her crate but Ronan (my male). When a visiting dog gets close to her crate, she rushes over and blocks the door with her body!

In short, a dog should be a member of your family, not a yard ornament. My dogs are extremely well-behaved. To get that, you have to do more than just feed them and provide a yard.

[moondog]

Originally posted by METAL
I mean can you imagine you having dinner with friends and then this huge black beast comes inside? :D

Hi Metal! :) I'll bet every single person on this board can imagine this.....because our dogs do it all the time! Our dogs can lay by us while we're eating, even with friends over! I wouldn't have it any other way, and neither would my friends. Life is better with a Rottie in it! ;)

Rottweilers need human companionship. Your puppy cries because he's a little, lonely puppy, and he has left his littermates way too soon. He needs someone to touch and someone to love and someone to be his leader as he grows up.

It would help you a lot if you had a few books on raising a Rottweiler to help you understand them better. Here are a few that have been recommended by other members. There's more titles, too, if you're interested, just say the word! :D

"The Rottweiler Handbook" by Joan Hustace Walker published by Barron's

"The Rottweiler. Centuries of Service" by Linda Michels & Catherine Thompson published by Howell Book House

"Dr. Ackerman's Book of Rottweilers" by Dr. Lowell Ackerman DVM published by T.F.H.

I wish you the best with your little guy! :)

[Darseeuh]

#1 rule of owning a Rottweiler. You cannot treat them the same way you do other dogs. They are way to sensitive & intelligent. A Rottweiler requires special attention and socialization. The biggest mistake people make is thinking because of their size/reputation ect. they are not people dogs, that is the exact opposite of what they are. I personally keep my dog in with the family 24/7's but I am not against keeping a dog outside as long of the same amount of attention is being given. I have a couple ?'s why do you keep them seperate? Just because they run or is there fighting going on or something? And by making him chew at play, do you mean tug-of-war? Its realy good for your dog to chew(as long as its on toys/bones & not people) As far as tug-of-war I wouldn't recommend it esp. to someone who is new to Rottweilers. It sounds like you really love your pup, :) I agree with moondog in that you might aquire some books on the breed to help you. And by all means keep asking ?'s here, we all just want to help you raise/keep a well balanced dog.

[ILoveRotts]

Metal,

You are getting great advice! Please listen. Rotts are companion dogs. They need to be with people as much as possible.

I have 4 big Rotts and they are trained to lie quietly by us while we eat. They are extremely friendly and our friends love them too.

I can't believe you think that an outside shed is less cruel than a crate. I do not crate my dogs but....
Please buy a crate and put it in your bedroom at night. Atleast your puppy can see, hear, and smell you.

[joquendo]

Please please please Metal - do not fall into the same trap as many many people do who own rotties. They ARE companion animals - do you fully understand th history of dogs??? dogs are pack animals - that means they roam around together in groups NOT solitary. When they leave their litter mates - you and your family then become its "pack" and everyone lives together - yes there is a "pecking" order but regardless they NEED and MUST have company. I have 4 dogs and they keep each other company while I am out at work - they play (I can tell because they usually have ripped up dog beds and tree limbs etc...) but regardless they keep themselves occupied...

To have a little young pup - stuck in a shed on its own is the height of cruetly - I am sorry if I am not being too sensitive, but I am really getting sad just imagining this poor little guy whining and crying because he is lonely, and scared....

The other dogs will get use to the puppy eventually - When I rescued my last pup - at 7 weeks old - my others male 5 years, femals 4 and 2.5 years kept out of her way because they were trying to figure out who is this thing that has come into our house and is "terrorizing" us... it took 2 days for one of my females to bond - and they bonded wonderfully - it took 2 months for my older male to interact with her at all (now they play all the time) - it has taken 8 months for my other female to allow the pup to go anywhere near her... but everything is gradual and its up to yo to ensure that all the existing dogs are not jealous and are not "irritated" by the pup - try leaving one dog and the pup out at a time together, take the pup to socialization classes... but what ever you do, please please remember that a dog - feels, they have all the same senses a human has, they feel pain, they feel happiness, they feel saddness and lonliness, they feel joy, they feel fear... as humans we know how those feels affect us, please do not treat your dog any different - take care of it as though it was a child to be loved, cared for and enjoyed as a companion... if you wish to PM me please feel free.. ;)

[rottlove]

If you isolate that baby, it will have lasting psychological damage and you will not end up with a pleasant, happy dog. Please take the very good advice of the people who have written so far. In your bedroom in a crate at night, and with you or the other dogs as they get used to him (and they will) as MUCH as possible. Sounds like he is just crazy to be with your other dogs, and for good reason--he's lonely. Please--we are all dog lovers and it is heartbreaking to think about the mental damage on such a tiny baby dog. This is the most important time in his whole life to get a good start.

[joquendo]

I am so anxious reading about this situation - I want to rush over there and take the little guy.... my heart is sad:( - I have seen so much psychological destruction to dogs because of how they are treated during thier formative years.... remember this... you have a "window" in any dogs life - that window is between the age of 7 weeks to 4 months to begin to formualate it into a well adjusted dog... often times if you miss that window - you have a lot of work to do to try and correct any mental scars - sometimes those mental scars cannot be corrected....

I am glad Metal that you have taken this opportunity to seek advice from this forum, that shows that you are anxious too about this and obviously a little "green" to say the least about how to raise a well adjusted rottie... but please take all the advice on board - everything on here is 100% acurate - because we have all experienced something one way or another with our own pups... ;) Good luck