New (to us) Rottie family member

[Wacky]

Tomorrow night we will be getting our newest family member. We are all very excited! Max is two years old, neutered, and has some basic obedience training (Sit, Down, Stay, is all I know he has for sure), and is crate trained.

Here is our only concern (and I'm not as concerned as everybody else is). We have 4 cats who up til now have not ben around a dog. Max has not been around cats (though he has barked at them through a window). How can I best help everybody adjust?

My plan to start is to lock the cats in our bedroom (their safe room) when Max first comes into the house, and spend some time getting acquainted (the kids have never had a dog before). Then walk him again, and come in and crate him. Once he is settled in his crate, then I'd let the cats out of the room (thus keeping them all safe, since they can't attack this way) and see what kind of reactions we get from everybody.

I was figuring with some time, and some patience, they would all be able to find a truce setting that works. Since at least one of us is almost *always* home, for the first few days we'll keep them seperated, then introdiuce them with Max on a leash, and take it slowly. Does this sound reasonable?

I've always had good luck in the past, since all the cats I had eventually ended up with a dog too, and accepted them after spending several days hiding on top of things and hissing. None of the dogs I've had ever had problems with cats.

I can hardly wait for my very own drooly, gassy, snoring, velcro dog! :D

Oh hey, as long as I'm here, what would be a good way to teach Max to Heel. I've always managed to teach my dogs most everything else, including loose leash walking, but I've never tried Heel before. We won't be able to go to obedience classes for at least several months due to distance (darn it), so I'll be on my own. And how far should he be able to walk without tiring too much? I figured a minimum of half an hour twice a day, and two other 15 minute walks (for a total of 4) would be a good start, how does that sound?

Whooo, off to the feeding area to ask more questions. I've been reading up on everything I can, and this place rocks!

[LavenderRott]

I agree with you, this place rocks!

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new boy!

I would keep Max on a leash for a couple of days and see how badly he wants to catch the cats. Let him get used to you and his surroundings before letting him be in a position to go after the cats.

I wouldn't lock the cats up if it is not something you already to on occasion now. I know there are plenty of places in my house that my cats can get to that my dogs can't.

If your boy is interested, he can be taught not to chase them. If he wants them for dinner, you will probably never be able to trust them alone together.

Good Luck and let us know how the homecoming goes.

[Wacky]

Well, the foster owners decided they just couldn't give Max up ;(, so we're headed to the shelter this afternoon to see what we can find instead. I'm sure there is somebody there who desperately needs a new home, so I want to be that home. I wish I could get two!

[LavenderRott]

My only advice is don't rush. Make sure you find the right dog for you.

Also, check petfinder. They have a lot of rottweilers listed and many of them are being held in kill shelters. You might have to drive a bit to find the "perfect" match for your family.

[Carina43]

Hi Wacky, glad you made it here! :)

And how disappointing about that dog; at least he's loved where he is now. Keep looking! There's thousands of lovely Rotties needing homes - one of them will be yours!

Let us know how it goes. :)

[Beckysmom]

I am sorry that Max didn't work out, but I know there are tons of dogs needing homes and that if you want one you will find one, so I'll address the cats question. with replies interspersed below--and while making assumption that next dog would be similar. If not able to be crated like Max, I think you should be prepared to have a secure baby gate to do a similar thing as the crate. This comes from having had two cats with three different dogs, and ran into a problem with one cat and the last dog. I therefore know that even if cats are used to dogs and dogs are prechecked to be okay with cats, a problem can occur between particular individuals.

[quote]Originally posted by Wacky
Here is our only concern (and I'm not as concerned as everybody else is). We have 4 cats who up til now have not ben around a dog. Max has not been around cats (though he has barked at them through a window). How can I best help everybody adjust?
can you get a recording of barking dog (or make one when checking out dogs at shelter... and get the cats used to taht in advance?

My plan to start is to lock the cats in our bedroom (their safe room) when Max first comes into the house,
Personally I think this is an excellent idea!!!! Don't ever let a first chase lunge etc. happen if you can possibly help it. It will cause lots of problems. slow and steady is best. And too much new stuff to deal with is likely to be hard on you to manage quite aside from the kids, dog, and cats.

and spend some time getting acquainted (the kids have never had a dog before).
Not exactly the question, but I would be very careful about the choice of individual dog in regard to children and do a whole bunch of preparatory work teaching the children how to behave around dogs. Be careful about shelter dogs with unknown histories. You may be better off getting one from a person where you know what happened with the dog and reason for giving it up--and that it did not have to do with bites etc.-- than an unknown entity. Huge numbers of dogs find themselves in needs of homes for no fault of their own (divorce, finances, time constraints, landlords etc.), unfortunately. You should find one of those dogs, not a problem dog who needs a lot of work.

Then walk him again, and come in and crate him. Once he is settled in his crate, then I'd let the cats out of the room (thus keeping them all safe, since they can't attack this way) and see what kind of reactions we get from everybody.
Basically I agree except that it would be better to be able to control the reactions that you get. For that reason a baby gate separation that kept dog in one room where he also had leash on, and could be let know that it is not okay to chase etc. would perhaps be better. If you have a cat who is dog aggressive it would also be best to protect the dog rather than let things go too far in that direction.

I was figuring with some time, and some patience, they would all be able to find a truce setting that works. Since at least one of us is almost *always* home, for the first few days we'll keep them seperated, then introdiuce them with Max on a leash, and take it slowly. Does this sound reasonable?
Yes

I've always had good luck in the past, since all the cats I had eventually ended up with a dog too, and accepted them after spending several days hiding on top of things and hissing. None of the dogs I've had ever had problems with cats.
as I said in opening, I never had a problem until the current dog and one of the two preexisting cats. Eventually they would have been okay too, but it was pretty horrible at start. The problem began because the cat was out when the dog got dropped off here and the dog was unleashed and got in a chase right off the bat.

I can hardly wait for my very own drooly, gassy, snoring, velcro dog! :D Good!!!

Oh hey, as long as I'm here, what would be a good way to teach Max to Heel. I've always managed to teach my dogs most everything else, including loose leash walking, but I've never tried Heel before. We won't be able to go to obedience classes for at least several months due to distance (darn it), so I'll be on my own.
Well, you will get a whole bunch of opinions. Search on training forum. I like using a lure (toy or treat or hand) right in front of the dog at first and starting on very short distance very straight before adding any turns. I also like to start off leash in a fenced area if possible.

And how far should he be able to walk without tiring too much? I figured a minimum of half an hour twice a day, and two other 15 minute walks (for a total of 4) would be a good start, how does that sound?
It'll depend on the dog. The dog that you find's age etc. For a young dog some running time in addition to walking may be needed. What you suggest sound like a good place to start for a two year old and adjust according to the dog. It should be pretty obvious if the dog wants to go and go and go... or is starting to tire. A dog that has been kooped up in a shelter kennel for a while may need a gradual adjustment into greater exercise just like a sedentary person. OTOH a dog that has been running around wild may need a lot of work /exercise to settle down...


Whooo, off to the feeding area to ask more questions. I've been reading up on everything I can, and this place rocks!

[/QUOTE

At least you have a little more time to prepare now!!!!

[LavenderRott]

I hear that there are a couple of young ladies avaliable in PA if you don't mind the drive.

[Carina43]

Hey! Here's a Yahoo group for Rottweiler rescue, looks pretty active.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/majestyrescue/

[SABELLESMOM]

Aw, sorry you didn't get to take Max. Keep looking, though. I'm sure the right dog will turn up for you.

www.netpets.com/dogs/dogresc/breeds/dogrott.html

Good luck! :D Let us know how you make out, please!

[Karnac]

Since the deal for Max crashed you might want to consider getting a puppy. If you have been reading these boards you will see that a lot of the problems would have been solved by getting a puppy. The cats and the puppy will adjust before he is old enough to do them any damage. You also will avoid the problems folks have been complaining about like being threatened. Saving dogs is a noble endeaver but not all dogs are abandoned because the owner didn't give a damn. Sometimes the dog had problems that the owner couldn't handle. Besides, there is nothing cuter than a puppy and for all the effort you will have memories that will last a lifetime. SAR will wait a few months for him to grow up.