New and need some Rottie advice please!!

[tdark1]

Ok here is a little background on me, I love Rotties, and have owned a couple dogs before, but smaller dogs, I've worked with larger dogs though. I am 20 year old male, and attend college, but I am home most of the day, only have class for usually 3-4 hours out of my day. I would love to get a rottie. I live in a condo, its around 1100sq ft. Also have a couple huge parks real close to me, but I have no backyard, but would be willing to take the dog to romp in the park a few times a day, and walk him/her. Do you think with this current setup, a rottie would do ok with me?? Also my condos don't allow dogs that are over 20 inches in hight at the shoulders. I read Rottie's were somewhere between 22-27 inches, but I think that is at the head?? Also what sex would you reccomend for me, male or female?? I live alone, and dont have any small childern running around!! Thanks for all the help, looking forward to advice, im just researching before I buy!!

Rob

[Carina43]

Hi Rob, kudos for doing research first! Rottweilers are absolutely wonderful dogs, but they do require more responsibility and care in raising than many other breeds.

But - I first have to tell you, a Rottie is 20" at the shoulder (that's where heights for ddogs are always measured), quite often by the time they are about 5-6 months old. There is no way even a very small Rottweiler is going to be allowed in your condo building.

For one thing, many insurance companies will not cover property owners with Rottweilers - it is not always just breed prejudice that makes landpersons turn down renters with certain breeds.

If you think it is difficult renting with a pet in general, try finding rental housing with a Rottweiler! I used to rent. If one is limited to perhaps 5% of the rental market with a dog, it goes down to about 1% with a Rottweiler. Even people who say they "allow large dogs" will often turn you down if you have a Rottweiler.

Also, without a yard, you MUST be home (or pay someone) to exercise, walk, train & just be with your dog when you can't - this applies with any dog that isn't small enough to sneak into coffee shops etc! I have a friend with a Jack Russel, but he is quiet and well mannered. She has a giant shoulder bag she puts him in & most places won't kick her out when she has him. Try THAT with a Rottweiler. :p So if you want to study late, or go away overnight or for the weekend, you always need to remember the dog.

Think you can take your dog places when you're driving errands etc? You can, but remember when it's warm at all, you cannot leave a dog in a vehicle AT ALL. When it's hot & I have a dog with me (one comes to work with me a lot) I leave it running with the AC on even just to run in & pay for gas. You can't just leave windows open, especially with a big scary looking dog.

You know all the stories you read about Rottweilers mauling children, small dogs, biting people, etc? I gurantee you in every case this will be a Rottweiler that has not been trained and socialised. Doing this takes time, it's quite a commitment! Speaking of commitments, the dog will live an average of 9 years or so. In the next nine years you are going to go through many changes in your living situation etc (I've been a student, twice - again speaking from experience.) Again, a large dog will hamper future choices you will be required to make. When you are faced with a decision to take an excellent job or forgo the job & keep your dog, can you honestly say you'll keep your dog? Most people wouldn't.

So - in short, I would strongly advise against a Rottweiler at this point in your life. Don't feel bad - I was all excited about getting a parrot about a year ago. I have wanted one since I was a little kid. I did research much as you are doing now - read books & bird magazines, posted questions to a couple of bird fancier online groups, and talked to some parrot rescue people. I sadly decided I would not be able to give a really good home to a large intelligent bird, so abandoned the idea.

I have an idea though - how about providing a foster home for a rescue organisation? Perhaps not Rotties, unless your condos will waive their restrictions, but there are thousands of great "nottweilers" that desperately need foster homes! I fostered smaller dogs while I was running a business during the day and going to grad school at night. I "requested" smaller, low maintenance dogs, and it was very rewarding. :)

As to your other questions like male v female, do a search on these terms here, there have been several recent good discussions. Also, for future reference ;) do a search on "back yard breeders" "BYB" and "puppy mills." Just so you'll know...

Sorry to write such a legnthy response, I just want to make sure that you don't make a really bad decision! And thank you for doing research first, I wish more people did. (Parrot folks said that to me too.) :)

[Birdie'sMom]

Hi, Rob! I'd like to congratulate you, too, on researching before you act! I totally agree with everything that Carina said. But, just because now is not the right time for you to get one doesn't mean that you will never be in the position to get one! Just wait until you own your own place - it makes things so much easier. Not that it can't be done when you are renting, some of the members here rent and own a rottweiler, but you never know what's going to happen and it's so hard to find places that will rent to rottweiler owners. I've seen so many people giving there rotts away because the landlord won't let them keep it and that's just not fair to the dog. Also, I don't know if you are like me, but when I was in college I liked to party. When you have a dog there isn't much time for parties! Even now that I am working full time, I can't go to happy hour with my co-workers after work because I have to get home to the dog. It's a lot of work for anyone, but I'd say not a good idea for a college student! Enjoy your freedom now, and when you get your own place and are done partying, then get a dog!