Are Rottweilers Protective?

[spidey]

It's been my experience that the vast majority of people, dog owners included, have a very unrealistic and romanticized view of dogs in most areas, and the whole "protection" area is about the biggest area of myth and misconception. It's "common knowledge" that a dog will protect its owner...common knowledge that's mostly WRONG! ;)

Now this can work in your favour, because people think an untrained (in PP) and untested dog will die to protect its owner, they tend not to bother you when you're walking a big dog, and most burglars are scared off by a barking dog of ANY size, either because of the alert factor, or because they believe a dog will fight to protect its territory (IMO, a burglar who'll enter a house with a barking dog is prepared to deal with any dog, whether you have a Rottweiler or a Yorkie). But those dogs who truly have what it takes to override their natural self-preservation instincts and physically defend their handlers are few and far between. Many dogs will bite if cornered and threatened, and many dogs will do a "bite'n'run", but very few dogs will actually stand their ground and physically defend their owner from a threat. I've been known to suggest to people who get a dog for "protection" that they move somewhere safer, get better home security, or consider purchasing Mace or something, so that they can do their job and protect their dog from danger. :D

[samanthac]

Originally posted by tcrott
I told ya it's out there. Is it reputable? I have NO clue.

Exactly. :) Which is why you have to believe half of what you see, hear and read when it comes to the Internet! ;)

And back to the present subject at hand...RIGHT ON SPIDEY! :)

[Patty1231]

Thanks for all your input, guys. I really was just curious about this and what you say makes a lot of sense. I can't give you any actual books that quote this information because, honestly, I got my information from the internet when doing my research on dogs. Even the AKC website states in their Rottweiler breed info "an inherent desire to protect home and family". In hindsight, especially after finding this forum (which I didn't find until well after I had purchased a Rottie - there are a lot of rottweiler-related web sites out there!), reading up on a book or two wouldn't have been a bad idea. But there are also a lot of books out there on Rottweilers, too - so how do you know which ones are reputable there?? I'm not so sure how valid information needs to be just to get a book published, either. I'm glad a found this website - better late than never. In any case, the breed/appearance alone is certainly a deterrent - if that doesn't stop someone, they don't wanna be stopped!:)

[TrishB]

Okay - the understanding of 'protection' must be made here.

Rottweilers have a 'wait and see' attitude. 99% of people will NOT confront a Rottweiler, or any other dog for that matter.

Scenario: A robber is checking out your house. The peer through a window. Your Rottweiler hears them and runs to the window and looks at them. He may or may not bark.

Do you think that robber is going to enter your house? Of course not.

I took Parker to a Temperament Test. One task of the test is the stranger. Strange person -> moving loud person -> threatening person. He acknowledged the strange person coming out of the bushes. He simply watched the loud moving person ahead of us. When the person became threatening, he simply moved forward, between the person and myself and watched.

He passed his test with flying colours! :D Quote: "He is a friendly, confident and alert dog - exactly what we want to see in a Rottweiler."

Is he 'protective' - to the point where his presence makes people question if they should confront him. So yes, I guess he is.

To the death? The only thing Parker does to the death is love me, and me back to him. ;)

[ILoveRotts]

My 3 Rotts & now my Shar-pie puppy all come to me for protection:D (I'm 5'5" & 120 lbs)


But as others have said - no burglar or child stealer is going to attempt breaking into my house - they'll be scared just by the Rotts looks and sounds.

[samanthac]

Originally posted by Patty1231
Even the AKC website states in their Rottweiler breed info "an inherent desire to protect home and family".

Yes, that is acurate, but you could say that of most dogs...its a territorial thing. :) And it sure has a whole different connotation that 'defending to the death'. ;)

But there are also a lot of books out there on Rottweilers, too - so how do you know which ones are reputable there??

Well here you go maam...ask and ye shall receive. ANy of these books are reputable (written by expereinced Rottweiler people) and I highly recommend all of them! :)

The Complete Rottweiler - Muriel Freeman
The Proper Care of Rottweilers - By Joan Klem
The Ultimate Rottweiler, 2nd Edition - Andrew Brace
Training Your Rottweiler - Barb McNinch
The Rottweiler Experience by Joan R. Klem & Susan Rademacher
Rottweilers for Dummies - Richard Beauchamp

These two are also must haves and written by experts in their fields.

Dog Training for Dummies - Jack and Wendy Volhard
The Culture Clash - Jean Donaldson ***This should be required reading for every person who buys/adopts a dog

Hope that helps

[marisa]

and here's my opinion, for all it's worth. I am NOT a rottweiler "expert", that's why I read this forum nearly every day so I can learn and try to improve as a rottie owner. I can only speak for german shepherd dogs, a breed that I grew up with since I was a toddler. At a certain point during my teenage years (many eons ago) my parents had a total of four GSD at a time, all of them shutzhund trained. The GSD that preceded and followed were not. One of the trained dogs severely attacked an intruder who was brave or stupid enough to climb the 8 ft. iron fence and happened to confront my father with knife in hand. The dog let go only after the right command. (I should point out that the dog attacked on command). There is no doubt whatsoever that the dog could have easily killed this person.
And my old faithful 13 yr. old GSD who is sitting right here next to me, bit the finger right off a thief who had entered the house. We called the police, and he was arrested and sent to jail for several years (without passing go and collecting $200) for various crimes, including rape charges. In this case, she was really pi--ed, her tail twirling like a windmill, but she did stop when given the order. My GSD was 4 yrs. old at that time, not shutzhund trained but again I do not doubt that she could have caused even more harm. Even at 13 she still THINKS she's a bad ass, half crippled up with arthritis. The "bad ass" right now is Baby, our 3 yr. old rottenweiler, the child I have to keep my eyes on constantly, train every single day and redirect so often. But I do love her in spite of all her quirks (she digs enormous holes, she snorts, rolls in the dirt, thinks she's little and want to sit on my lap, she's got big time doggie breath, and shoots killer farts.... and the list goes on)

[fbkeays]

I have three rottweilers right now. My choice for going down a dark alley with is my old girl. She has done the get out in front and growl at weird strangers thing. She has a look that can intimidate. But if someone is really going to do me harm and doesn't care if my rottweiler is posturing, I don't know what she would do. I don't know if she would just try to keep her body between me and the bad guy or if she would bite. I would like to think she wouldn't run off.
My older male, Duncan, is MY last choice, but my old obedience instructor's first choice. She was taking care of my dogs a few years ago and was walking Duncan down a narrow path near the local high school. Some high school boys were ditching class and ran into her and Duncan. She told the boys to pause while she got herself and Duncan over so they could pass. The boys said no, and went a head, with the lead boy shoving his shoulder into my friend. Duncan was fine with everything until body contact. He body slammed the kid against a fence and wouldn't let him move. He tried to leave and got chest butted by Duncan. The kid started to be verbably abusive and Duncan stepped forward and growled. The kid got quiet real fast. The other kids started to addressing my friend with yes and no ma'am and they got out of her way.
My 2 1/2 year old male would be my second choice, but I don't think he is mature enough mentally to be confident enough in a real confontation.
None of my dogs have ever been trained in protection. I am real happy with just the image they project.

[Patty1231]

Thank you, samantha, for the literary referrals. I will certainly pick up a few - it's never too late to get educated! I hope this thread will be a good resource for others looking for reliable information on rotties.:)

[Carina43]

Brian - you're right about these descriptions being "machoed" (or whatever) up. And I honestly don't blame people for taking much of this at face value - I'm sure I did, a long time ago.

A SMART dog is going to take to the hills if its life is threatened. ;)

That said, I have no clue how any of mine would react. Dutch may well take someone on in deadly earnest. Daphne would run yelping from the scene at the first opportunity. Cooper's so darned friendly, he'd probably just take a nap until the dust settled. :D

[Judi W]

Don't forget to add Linda Michaels and Cathy Thompson's

"The Rottweiler, Centuries of Service"

[Carina43]

I just re-read this piece of tripe (posted earlier):
http://www.acacanines.com/breeds/Rottweiler.htm

Among other things - did you know that shoulder height should be 31" for dogs, 28" max for bitches? Wow.

Not only will your fight-to-the-end Rottweiler welcome friends and family - it won't let strangers get any closer than the sidewalk! Oh cool.

Oh - and don't forget those "special lotions" to make the coat shine.


And don't assume everyone will be deterred by a Rottweiler. I was followed through a deserted park for some time by a guy, while I was walking a 115lb Rottweiler. As I got back to my car, the man approached and exposed himself and talked some trash. He was about 6' from me and Bosco. The dog? He just stood their wagging his butt looking friendly. It was up to momma to tell the guy what she was going to do with his family jewels if he got any closer! (He left. HAHAHAHA.)

[LavenderRott]

When I got Chase, I lived in a not-so-good neighborhood. I work a lot and don't have a lot of company, so when someone knocked on my door at midnight one night, I wanted to have my big imposing rottweiler by my side. I tried to wake her up, drug her to the door, and propped her against my knee. If I remember right, she did open her eye when I opened the door.

Guard dog? Not hardly.

[jbach]

Originally posted by Carina43
I just re-read this piece of tripe (posted earlier):
http://www.acacanines.com/breeds/Rottweiler.htm

Among other things - did you know that shoulder height should be 31" for dogs, 28" max for bitches? Wow.

Not only will your fight-to-the-end Rottweiler welcome friends and family - it won't let strangers get any closer than the sidewalk! Oh cool.

Oh - and don't forget those "special lotions" to make the coat shine.

UMMMMM...... Do I have an Italian Rottweiler?

[Carina43]

Originally posted by jbach
UMMMMM...... Do I have an Italian Rottweiler?

Oh - yeah, I forgot to mention that little gem.