I know we all heard this 1000 times but....

[rompinrottie]

please I need to tell a so called friend or maybe I shall say a aquaintance NOT to buy a rottwiler puppy for a present for his boyfriend! I have been telling this guy I know steve NOT to buy his boyfriend a puppy for a gift it is stupid, I know his boyfriend and they are not home enough to take care of the puppy, :( I have talked to steve until I am blue in the face, :o
I explained about socializing, excersing , obedience training, the
size of a rottweiler, how big this rottie will get. I dont know what else to tell him. I am so angry right now.
I know his b/f does now want a dog, his b/f is not the dog type of person, and the worse thing is housebreaking the puppy steves b/f will not allow any animal to doo doo in his house! the puppy will be out then... and were will the puppy go then? :(
steve will proboly give the puppy to me! but what Im asking is what would you say to someone that you know should NOT have a dog and you really want to talk them out of it??? I really need help with this. I even said I would call the aspca.. I cant sit by and watch this little dog be unwanted.. they know absolutly nothing about dogs or how to take care of them...
thank you in advance for any advice..


rompinrottie

[babydungeon]

i would tell your "friend" the same thing you just told us. i'm sure you already have. try inviting them both to your house and let them see what it's like to own a full grown rottie, discourage them and tell them stories of how hard it was, and still is. if you know in your heart that they won't take proper care of the puppy i would say ANYTHING to them to discourage them. it may contribute to the bad rep but the puppy will never know, it'll be snug in a better home. wish i could help!

[Bucky's Mom]

I have been telling this guy I know steve NOT to buy his boyfriend a puppy

(sorry - that line cracks me up:))
This is my suggestion: Do you care if you make Steve angry? - If not - ask the "boyfriend" if he WANTS a dog (in other words-ruin the surprise) - if HE does want a puppy perhaps he IS willling to change their lifestyle and stay home more. If not he will tell Steve himself that he DOESN'T want a puppy - just an idea - Lisa (Bucky's Mom)

[TrishB]

Originally posted by babydungeon
...try inviting them both to your house and let them see what it's like to own a full grown rottie....

I think this is your best bet. Have them over. Make NO effort to clean up before they come over (leave lots of hair and little kibble bits on the floor to step on). Let your dog misbehave a bit if he wants to. ;) Ignore the head butting, crawling into laps, paws in the lab and pleading eyes at the table. Encourage him if you need to!

Be one of those owners who constantly go on about how much "a member of the family" the dog is and how you "couldn't possibly tell him what to do". When he drools on them, laugh and say "Oh how cute! He's marked you as his now." ;) Then strategically ask "Wouldn't you just die to have one of them??" With big, wide, blinking eyes and a smile. Make the b/f answer the question.

I think once he's been pushed around and drooled on a bit, he'll make his feelings very well known. If he's as straight-laced and slightly up tight like you mention - I don't think he'll be anything but blunt with his answer.

Best of luck!

[RottiMomCT]

Take your friend to the local overstuffed animal shelter and explain WHY those dogs are there. YES, many are strays, many are there due to quarantines for bites, but so many more are there because people got cute little fluffy puppies and didn't do the required research prior to acquiring the pup. And tell him/her that many will be dead soon because there are simply not enough homes for them...

If he really wants a dog, tell him to help out at a shelter and adopt a dog from the shelter. Better yet, tell them to get a plant. If in 6 months the plant is still alive, they can get a fish. If in 6 more months, both plant & fish are still alive...THEN they can get a dog.

People are dumping dogs in record numbers because they didn't do research into that is required to properly care for the dog.

Most of the time, a reality check will open their eyes into what is required before they make the mistake...

[Skip]

Originally posted by TrishB

I think this is your best bet. Have them over. Make NO effort to clean up before they come over (leave lots of hair and little kibble bits on the floor to step on). Let your dog misbehave a bit if he wants to. ;) Ignore the head butting, crawling into laps, paws in the lab and pleading eyes at the table. Encourage him if you need to!

Even though NONE of us (hopefully) would want a puppy to be given like this, I think demonstrating "fake" irresponsible ownership is wrong. I feel we should always strive in ANY situation to demonstrate responsible ownership. I think there's much better ways suggested in other posts to convey a truthful way to nix having the puppy given as a gift.

[Loki's Mom]

Trish is right IMO. Anyone who has a dog knows that there is always kibble on the floor, hair everywhere, strings of drool at the dinner table, etc. Yes, we also clean it up every night too. And especially if company is coming. But Steve's b/f may not be "IN TO" that kind of thing, cleaning up after an animal and alway having to be home to "TEND" to the dog. Animals of any kind are huge responsibilities and it wouldn't be irresponsible of her to have them over to see what life with a big dog is "REALLY" like....

[TrishB]

My point was more to drive home the point that this person would not enjoy having a dog. Obviously this poster has tried telling her friend that a puppy should not be given as a gift. He's not listening!! So I suggested that a demonstration of "a day in the life of" is in order. :p

Heck, I have little kibble bits and hair bunnies rolling on the floor with my 2 cats! If you don't like cats (and mine are particularly friendly to those who don't ;)), my home will convince you that you're right!! ;) hehehe

If her friend can't convince him to change his mind, maybe his boyfriend's reaction to a real dog situation will. ;)

Some people will do whatever they want, regardless of how much wonderful and correct advice they are given. Sometimes it takes an 'in your face' or 'this is reality' approach to bring it home for them.

[Rottnlove]

Sadly, in a situation such as this, you can only do so much to discourage him.

Did you mention all the health problems Rotties can get and all the expenses? Dogs aren't cheap, especially a Rottweiler. Please mention all the expenses that goes along with the ownership.

Please let us know how it goes. Let's hope he changes his mind. Maybe you could mention getting another type of pet for him if he has his mind set on a pet. I like the plant and fish idea! Or even a hampster or guinea pig? Something other than a dog as a gift!!!! :(

Lisa

[Rott-Girl]

Originally posted by TrishB

I think this is your best bet. Have them over. Make NO effort to clean up before they come over (leave lots of hair and little kibble bits on the floor to step on). Let your dog misbehave a bit if he wants to. ;) Ignore the head butting, crawling into laps, paws in the lab and pleading eyes at the table. Encourage him if you need to!

Be one of those owners who constantly go on about how much "a member of the family" the dog is and how you "couldn't possibly tell him what to do". When he drools on them, laugh and say "Oh how cute! He's marked you as his now." ;) Then strategically ask "Wouldn't you just die to have one of them??" With big, wide, blinking eyes and a smile. Make the b/f answer the question.

I think once he's been pushed around and drooled on a bit, he'll make his feelings very well known. If he's as straight-laced and slightly up tight like you mention - I don't think he'll be anything but blunt with his answer.

Best of luck!

I am surprised to read such an irresponsible post and it scares me to actually think that you are waiting on your own rottie puppy :( It is hard enough for us responsible owners to show the rottie in a positive light due to the media but to actually advise someone to portray our wonderful breed like this .......

[tilerspop]

Trish is right. It sure sounds like these guys need a reality check. We know what reality is, we already own big dogs, and most people here have owned them for so long that the reality has become second nature. I don't know that letting the kids intentionally misbehave is such a good idea, but a demonstration of the reality of a big dog household is definitely in the ball park. Kibble on the floor, drooling. slopping the water bowl etc., can all be distasteful things to someone who is rather; fastidious, shall we say. Over time these initially "cute" items would likely cause the new owners to want to "get rid" of the animal. I would rather see them have a good idea of the life changes necessary when you take on a four legged life partner, than have them think of the animal as disposable.

[whitney greenway]

rompin,

Maybe you can talk some sense into the boy's.

Are they cut out to handle such a strong dog?

Let them know how much hard work one of these dogs is, and that they will just wreck the house.

That might work.

Good luck.
Whitney

[TrishB]

Originally posted by Rott-Girl

I am surprised to read such an irresponsible post and it scares me to actually think that you are waiting on your own rottie puppy :( It is hard enough for us responsible owners to show the rottie in a positive light due to the media but to actually advise someone to portray our wonderful breed like this .......

Please note that at no point did I say have the dogs bark, threaten, hurt or misbehave in a horrible manner. I simply meant that when the dogs greeted them that they let them. ;) Simply, to let the dogs behave as they do in their daily routines. Where you see the dogs pleading eyes and drool strings when you have your morning toast, you tend to shelter your guests from such behaviour and sights. If they had no idea of how a 'day in the life' is, I simply suggested that they give them a look.

Showing Rotties in a positive light is something completely different. The only mannerisms I suggested were friendly, social ones. This had nothing to do with Rottie behaviour - it was about DOG behaviour.

I love our breed and support them every chance I get. I volunteer with a rescue group and do my best to educate the public about our wonderful breed. I think this was simply taking my comments a little out of context. ;)

Anyway Rompin, I'm SO happy that you were able to get the b/f to say no. It doesn't sound like Steve would have listened to anyone but him. Thank you so much for protecting their potential puppy and giving him / her a chance at a better home. :)

Great work!!

[rompinrottie]

you had wrote to me .


I am surprised to read such an irresponsible post and it scares me to actually think that you are waiting on your own rottie puppy It is hard enough for us responsible owners to show the rottie in a positive light due to the media but to actually advise someone to portray our wonderful breed like this .......



you should go back and read again my post of what it had said and what I had written, I am a very good and a very responsible owner in every single way that is why I was very concerned and was minding someone elses business (steves) when he was interested in buying a rottie puppy, I was very upset that there was someone else out there that was going to buy a rottie puppy that had no Idea of the responsiblity of taken care of a rott or ready for a rott, with no idea about the breed or even wanted a dog for that matter.... and yes I am waiting for my new baby so before you past judgement on me I suggest you re-read my post before you even know my devotion to the breed.
thank you.

rompinrottie

[rottnkidd]

Please got to this site http://www.amrottclub.org/ownershp.htm

Scroll about half-way down the page to "Thinking about Buying a
Rottweiler?/Some Questions You should ask Yourself"

Print this out in its entirety and give it to your friend.
I think more people should read this BEFORE even considering bringing home a Rottie, and perhaps the Rescue and Foster groups wouldn't be so overwhelmed.
kathy