Advice for a novice

[Rancid]

I know a lot of the questions I may ask may be suited to one forum or another in seoparate threads, and some have been duiscussed, but they didn't seem to hit right on the mark with my questions. I hope you don't mind if I post a couple of issues here.

I just bought an 11 week old pure-bred male pup without papers. His parents had these certificates about their hips and eyes, and the owners were getting rid of him reluctantly due to restriction by the council limiting dog ownership to two per property. We have called him Conan (I know, this is probably tacky). He was the last left of the litter for sale and I was told he was a "runt", which prompted his naming as a joke. His brother was still there and he was a lot bigger, had grown a proper coat, and was running and jumping everywhere. This bloke still has a full coat of puppy fur, was about 3/4 of his brother's size, looked more like an 8 week old pup (from photos of other pups I have seen), was quite timid, and very placid. My two year old and three year old daughters have been all over him since he got home and he hasn't protested at all. He has all his vaccinations up to date.

My questions are as follows:

1. Being a "runt", is he likely to grow up smaller, or could he reach normal size? I don't care either way as he looks like he will have a great temperament for the kids.

2. I was talked into buying this bag of Science Diet by the pet store. He refuses to touch it. We have tried other dry puppy foods and he refuses them also. This refusal went for two days. He eventually ate this meat pet sausage containing chicken and rice - he can't get enough of it. Is there any way to convince him to eat dry food just once a day maybe? Brandnames probably won't be much help as I live in Australia and we either won't have it, or it would go under a different name.

3. I have read a lot about discipline for Rottweilers and it appears to be stated as being important everywhere. Is formal training necessary, or is merely the sit, stay, and heel enough in this regard? He is a family pet, not a guard dog, although it is hoped his appearance will ward off intruders on the acreage where we live.

4. The vet tells us he is healthy. He is very lethargic. He sleeps all the time and only shows any life when food is around - he likes table scraps and is a bottomless pit when it come to food he likes. He doesn't play much. Doesn't tear up shoes or clothes - isn't he supposed to be naughty? He has barked twice, and growled once, but that's it. He chased and killed an ant the other night. He wags his tail a little bit when he sees you. He gets upset if you don't let him sleep on your bed at night or on your lap when watching tv. Is it normal for a puppy to be what seems almost like a cat?

This is my first dog, so I am clueless. Its about as scary as when I had kids and did not know the first thing about parenting.

Thanks kindly for any help.

[Bucky's Mom]

Welcome to the forums!! - You will find LOTS of information here :)

At the top of the page on the right is a button labled "search" - you can type in ANY topic and get directed to the threads that match your search.

I would like to suggest that you purchase the book "Rottweilers for Dummies" - bad title - good book - and "The Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson - (GREAT book)

I am sure you will get advice from many others here as well.

Again - welcome to the forum - and happy reading :)

[flyballmom]

Hi there..you say you "just" got him? There's usually a "honeymoon period" where the little tyke is figuring out the new environment. Then when they have a comfort level all hell breaks loose. In a good, puppy-like sort of way. When I brought my puppy (who's now 7 years old) home as a 9 week old, I thought for the first week that she was sick, had no drive and hated me. No.......the "real" puppy came out soon enough.

Science Diet isn't the best. Go up to the Search button and type in "dog food list" Canidae, Innova, Wellness...I think those are all there. We have other members in Australia...if you start a tread that says "Any Aussie members" that will catch their eye.

Formal obedience is a must...

Happy reading!

[Skye]

Originally Posted by Rancid

He chased and killed an ant the other night.

HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! Looks like your dog is out of control :p :p

[Greg_1111]

HI,, mine was the runt also,, she turned out to be very stable in terms of temperament. I attribute that to the lack of assering herself aggresively when she was a pup, although as she gets older, her confidence continues to develop, but she is still inherently good natured.

It's possible she will remain fairly small (relatively) 80 to 90 Lbs. but that's a good size for them, and " Big" is not neccesarily good. Many large rotties suffer from painful joint related problems.

Flyballmom has suggested some excellent foods to feed her. Science diet is not a great food, and many vets get kick bakcs for promoting certain commercial dog foods. it's all about marketing

Training is mandatory, it's not optional with this breed. These dogs are not like a beagle that you can put on auto pilot. I would encourage you to get into formal training classes, always a good way to socialize your dog ( very important) But you have to personally educate yourself about important issues such as dominance, and dog issues in general.. Also, you have to recognize some of the unique personality traits of this breed. They can be extremely strong willed , and they are very intelligent. They aren't inherently aggressive, nor are they natural born guard dogs. Any questions similar to these, can be answered by some of the more experienced members on this forum.

I wouldn't worry about him being lethargic, he is 11 weeks old,, a baby, and growing like a weed. Sleep is a big part of his program right now. Don't rush anything,, let it all happen in it's own time. Be sure to learn about what to expect. There are a multitude of misconceptions regarding Rottweilers,

Good luck !

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by Rancid

I know a lot of the questions I may ask may be suited to one forum or another in seoparate threads, and some have been duiscussed, but they didn't seem to hit right on the mark with my questions. I hope you don't mind if I post a couple of issues here.

I just bought an 11 week old pure-bred male pup without papers. His parents had these certificates about their hips and eyes, and the owners were getting rid of him reluctantly due to restriction by the council limiting dog ownership to two per property. We have called him Conan (I know, this is probably tacky). He was the last left of the litter for sale and I was told he was a "runt", which prompted his naming as a joke. His brother was still there and he was a lot bigger, had grown a proper coat, and was running and jumping everywhere. This bloke still has a full coat of puppy fur, was about 3/4 of his brother's size, looked more like an 8 week old pup (from photos of other pups I have seen), was quite timid, and very placid. My two year old and three year old daughters have been all over him since he got home and he hasn't protested at all. He has all his vaccinations up to date.

My questions are as follows:

1. Being a "runt", is he likely to grow up smaller, or could he reach normal size? I don't care either way as he looks like he will have a great temperament for the kids.

2. I was talked into buying this bag of Science Diet by the pet store. He refuses to touch it. We have tried other dry puppy foods and he refuses them also. This refusal went for two days. He eventually ate this meat pet sausage containing chicken and rice - he can't get enough of it. Is there any way to convince him to eat dry food just once a day maybe? Brandnames probably won't be much help as I live in Australia and we either won't have it, or it would go under a different name.

3. I have read a lot about discipline for Rottweilers and it appears to be stated as being important everywhere. Is formal training necessary, or is merely the sit, stay, and heel enough in this regard? He is a family pet, not a guard dog, although it is hoped his appearance will ward off intruders on the acreage where we live.

4. The vet tells us he is healthy. He is very lethargic. He sleeps all the time and only shows any life when food is around - he likes table scraps and is a bottomless pit when it come to food he likes. He doesn't play much. Doesn't tear up shoes or clothes - isn't he supposed to be naughty? He has barked twice, and growled once, but that's it. He chased and killed an ant the other night. He wags his tail a little bit when he sees you. He gets upset if you don't let him sleep on your bed at night or on your lap when watching tv. Is it normal for a puppy to be what seems almost like a cat?

This is my first dog, so I am clueless. Its about as scary as when I had kids and did not know the first thing about parenting.

Thanks kindly for any help.

1. He will grow to be whatever his genetics allow. Being small with the litter does not necessarily mean he'll end up small. Time will tell.

2. Science Diet is not the best of foods. Look for a food which has minimal ingredients of high quality, meat source being listed first. A high quality chicken/rice or lamb/rice should do well.

3. Contact your vet about puppy socialization classes. The "formative years" (the first 6-9 months) are very important in regards to socialization, desensitization, and molding good and proper behavior. This can be done, for the most part with very positive reinforcement, with rewards and play. Teaching him manners in the home, and with people is important. Raising a puppy is very similar to raising children. ;) PLEASE be careful with such young children and dog, and NEVER leave dog and small children unattended. EVER.
Your kids should learn age appropriate rules regarding respect for the pup. Enforce them.

4. Puppies sleep A LOT. They play in short spurts, then nap. They eat, then nap. They are busy growing. IF you feel he is TOO lethargic, have him checked out for problems, but a normal pup sleeps a lot.
In regards to sleeping on your bed. There are better places for him to sleep. Establishing his place in your "pack dynamic", and enforcing that all humans are above him (including kids) is important. He'll likely not end his life over not sleeping on your bed. Perserverence and consistancy are tantamount in rearing a stable dog that respects you and your family.

I'm sure others will add some more, this is all I can offer after only one cup of coffee. ;) Good luck with your new beastie.

Do searches on "Dominance", "Toilet training", and "puppy socialisation" on the forums here... you're sure to find some excellent advice as well.

Welcome.

[Laura]

Welcome to the forums. I don't know if you are using a crate but it will be helpful to have one. Do a search on crate training.

[Rancid]

Thanks very much to everyone. Some great advice here. He has perked up yesterday and today. He runs around the yard and has torn up my wife's slipper which did not impress her, but it made me happy that he was being like a puppy - I'm sure that will wear off when he starts tearing up my stuff. Looks like he was like your Flyballmum with settling in. He's a handful now. We really don't want him to be a guard dog. We just wanted a dog that would make intruders think twice by appearance or reputation. The plan is to love him to death so he doesn't have an agressive bone in his body. We initially set out to buy a doberman, but the offer for the rotty was too good to refuse. I'm now glad we didn't get the doberman, and think rottweilers are absolutely beautiful. The more I find out about them, the more certain I become that we lucked out.

We have enrolled him in "puppy pre-school" for the next four weeks, and will continue with obedience after that. The kids are quickly learning respect through our chastisement when they behave inappropriately, and it is good advice not to leave them alone with him - pretty much some common sense I would have thought, but worth stating as some have a deficiency in that :) .
Its good to hear that being a runt isn't all bad :p. I'll do the search on crate training (and the others suggested). It sounds evil lol.

[JD102175]

Originally Posted by Rancid

I'll do the search on crate training (and the others suggested). It sounds evil lol.

I know it sounds evil, and not a common thing in Australia, but crate training was a life-saver(or should I say house-saver :D) for us when we got Brodie. He had no housemanners at all and was not potty trained. We adopted him at about 8-10 months old, before us we believe he was a backyard "lawn ornament" tied up 24/7. Getting your pup used to a crate helps with potty training and it is a safe place for your pup to be when you are not home. If he's crated then he can't get into anything that could be harmful to him and same goes for your things, they are safe from him :D :D.

Have fun with Conan!!!


Jaime

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by Rancid

Thanks very much to everyone. Some great advice here. He has perked up yesterday and today. He runs around the yard and has torn up my wife's slipper which did not impress her, but it made me happy that he was being like a puppy - I'm sure that will wear off when he starts tearing up my stuff. Looks like he was like your Flyballmum with settling in. He's a handful now. We really don't want him to be a guard dog. We just wanted a dog that would make intruders think twice by appearance or reputation. The plan is to love him to death so he doesn't have an agressive bone in his body. We initially set out to buy a doberman, but the offer for the rotty was too good to refuse. I'm now glad we didn't get the doberman, and think rottweilers are absolutely beautiful. The more I find out about them, the more certain I become that we lucked out.

We have enrolled him in "puppy pre-school" for the next four weeks, and will continue with obedience after that. The kids are quickly learning respect through our chastisement when they behave inappropriately, and it is good advice not to leave them alone with him - pretty much some common sense I would have thought, but worth stating as some have a deficiency in that :) .
Its good to hear that being a runt isn't all bad :p. I'll do the search on crate training (and the others suggested). It sounds evil lol.

Sounds like you're on the right track, so far - Remember - Love him to death, but respect him for who and what he is - a dog! Losing sight of that can be detrimental in regards to everyone's happines. ;)

Crate training is a wonderful thing. You can do a search on the forums for advice, and ideas on introduction. I often come home to find the loose dog asleep in his/her open crate. A crate can be quite the sanctuary for a dog. I urge you to look into it.. :)

[rottnshepard04]

You can not understand the importance of a crate until you use one. I hear people all the time saying that crates are inhumane. but that could not be further fromt he truth. I have had my rottie for 3 years now and he has loved his crate since the day we got him. It is his sanctuary from the baby (almost 2 years old). At night he is begging us to go to bed. When we say "bed" or "crate" he flys down the hall and can not get there fast enough. Does that sound like a dog who is miserable? The key is to never use the crate as punishment. We always reward Franco when he goes in, and now the reward really is not necessary, but we use it when he will be there for a long period (when we go out). Good luck when your pup!

[flyballmom]

Ah yes..crate training...the means to a peaceful co-existance to those things that may come! :D my dogs LOVE their crates!

[Crate training is a wonderful thing. You can do a search on the forums for advice, and ideas on introduction. I often come home to find the loose dog asleep in his/her open crate. A crate can be quite the sanctuary for a dog. I urge you to look into it.. :)[/quote]

[SABELLESMOM]

Sounds like you've found a pretty special boy in your Conan. :D He sounds so very much loved and a part of your family already. That's the way Rottweilers like it too.

They can get a bit pushy, as they have a mind of their own. But if you keep watch and use your head about what behaviors are tolerable and those that aren't, you can keep ahead of them. They're very bright.

So get prepared for someone who'll accompany you to the bathroom, make wierd sounds like "Aroo-woo!", and succomb to a hysterically funny...case of the ZOOMIES! They bring more love to your home than you ever thought possible. Welcome to Rottie world!

[RottiMomCT]

I was one who never crated a dog until I adopted Ben - what a life saver! My brother in law never bothered to do much of anything with his girl and she had to be crated at the vet after a surgery - not a kennel run, a post operative crate. She FREAKED out and ripped out her sutures twice being in a crate sized space. Her recuperation took three times as long because she could not be confined safely. She's OK now but hates the vet (gee, wonder why?!?!)...

Ben loves his crate - I point and say 'crate' and in he goes. I know he'll be safe in the crate and if he ever needs to be kenneled or crated at the vet he'll be fine there as well. It is peace of mind for you and your dog when you both cannot keep an eye on each other!

Welcome to the forums and have fun!!

[Luvs]

Welcome to the forum! Congrats on your new puppy.

I agree with the others about crate training. Crates are wonderful for helping to prevent damage to both your house and puppy.

I think it is great that you have Conan signed up for Puppy K classes. I am sure that the two of you will have a great time and learn alot in the process ;)

Good luck with your boy! Be sure and take ALOT of pictures, so you can share them with us once you gain full member status. We LOVE puppy pictures! :D