A 5 year-old, 2 cats, and a weiner dog....HELP!!

[skywkr01]

I am an owner of a 2 year-old rott named Sabo. Right now, it's just him and I,...and has been for awhile. Because of work and other things, I haven't been able to work with him as much as I needed to this last year. I guess you can say that he didn't turn out very well,...behavior wise. I did my best, and tried many things, including trainning,....but he just doesn't listen. He never learned the word no, and that he's not the boss. Regardless, I'm faced with a decision......

Right now I have a house, where Sabo has his own room, a fenced in yard, etc. He's mostly an outside dog due to my time at home, and his behavior,...so he's used to that. However, he does sleep inside at night and is in the house as much as the situation will allow. But like I said, he's mostly outside.

I'm considering selling my house to move in with my current girlfriend. She is ok with Sabo comming too,....but she has 2 cats, a puppy dachshund,...and a 5 year-old little girl. He hasn't been around many animals in his day, and when he is, he is in their mug 24/7. Constantly going after them and trying to play. I've been bringing him over to her house to get him used to all of them, and it's going terrible. The puppy runs away, and constantly barks and nips at Sabo to protect herself. Can't blame her. He won't let her be for one second. The cats just run and hide, so it's not a big deal. Also, Sabo is good with her daughter. Does pay much attention to her which is great. And just for the record, he'd never be left in the house alone, or alone with her daughter if I did move in. He's still a rott, and I'd never trust any big dog around that little girl,....so that isn't so much the issue.

Oh,...and he's been marking in her house. He even did it in mine when we brought her dog over to my house,...and he got a wiff of her in the house. He has never marked in my house before,...so it's the smell of other dogs that gets him to mark I'm guessing. She has a VERY nice house, and I feel terrible when he marks.

So that's the situation. How to I make things work in that house? If he's gonna mark up her walls, I can't have him inside. Same with if he is gonna cause that much commotion with her other animals. I just can't see him ever getting used to them. He's always going 100 mph, and I just can't see things ever being normal in that house. It's just too much to ask of Sabo the way he is. YES,..I'd be willing to start trainning with him again,...and work with him to get him to be ok in the house,....but it just might be too much.

I think my best option is to make him mostly an outside dog. I'm not the type of person to get a dog,...and toss them outside and have nothing to do with them. That's not my intensions and would never do that. But it seems that keeping him outside is my best option. He'd have a large yard with a fence, and shade, etc. He could be let inside now and again,...especially under bad weather conditions. Also, she has a finished basement to where I can play with him down there, and be blocked off from the rest of the house...but like I said,...he'll mainly be outside.

Are any of your dogs strickly outside dogs? Any tips on how to make that better for him out there? I do love my dog, and want the best conditions possible. It just seems that this is my best option if we are going to move in to this house with my girlfriend and her crew. Any thoughts?

Thanks alot!!!

[Sargeant_C]

One thing that you will learn in this site is that it is your fault for your dog doing this behavior. I have learned since taking on Sarge that it is a never ending training job. A rott you cannot place out in the pasture and expect them to be a great dog. So many ppl here have advised me of that.
So the dog is marking, how about having him neutered. Which will help with this territory issue.
Sign him up immediately for obedience class. If you cannot handle an hour or two a week at a class plus training at home then you should not have him around other pets, places or what have you. He needs to learn that he is not the boss and now you have a long hard road ahead of you. But in the long run it is worth it.
If you do not get him under control then he will get worse. He could attack someone and then what. What if he attacked your gf's daughter?
Do him and yourself a huge favor and get him in training.
Is it okay to leave him outside all the time? I say no because does he get any attention? Some ppl do leave dogs outside but they also work with their dogs daily. Others ignore except to throw out food and water. If he is outside make sure he has a nice doghouse to keep him warm/cool and dont neglect him.
I am thinking if you sign him up for training then after awhile you will have a wonderful rott and not just a dog out of control.
Good luck

[Karyn]

I beg to differ - training DOES work. You need to get him in serious training together with your girlfriend. Now that there will be two of you perhaps the training could be more consistent. Look up NILIF - or Nothing in Life is Free - start today. Then look up trainers.....

[skywkr01]

He is nuetered by the way. But yah,...I'd like to do training with him, and I agree that's what he needs. But aside from that, the outside thing is what I'm worried about, and the reason for my post. Yes, he would get attention, but not as much as an inside dog ofcoarse. Maybe I'm wrong, but all the trainning in the world would keep him from wanting to go crazy with her dog and cats. It's just too tempting. He is has a mind of his own when it comes to that. A fat T-bone wouldn't stop him from going after her dog.
But I do agree,....and if I do move in there,....I will start trainning for sure. Thanks!

[majicka]

Regardless if you move in w/ her or not I would sign up for training immediately. I can't think of anything worse than a large misbehaved dog.

I don't agree with outside dog. I guess it would be ok if you paid a lot of attention to the dog as opposed to tossing out food and water and thats it. For me, the choice is inside or nothing.

All 3 of my dogs have had formal training. Will my labx still chase a squirrel? Absolutely. Will she come when I call her regardless of what she's spotted? Absolutely. I work with my dogs on a daily basis.

It seems you have let your rottie get out of control and think he's the boss. It's not going to get better if you ignore it, only worse.

[Jango]

Originally Posted by skywkr01

He is nuetered by the way. But yah,...I'd like to do training with him, and I agree that's what he needs. But aside from that, the outside thing is what I'm worried about, and the reason for my post. Yes, he would get attention, but not as much as an inside dog ofcoarse. Maybe I'm wrong, but all the trainning in the world would keep him from wanting to go crazy with her dog and cats. It's just too tempting. He is has a mind of his own when it comes to that. A fat T-bone wouldn't stop him from going after her dog.
But I do agree,....and if I do move in there,....I will start trainning for sure. Thanks!

I have a cat, young nieces and nephews, neighborhood kids, etc. With training he gets along with ALL of them. Has he ever been around cats before this? You have to be the one who dictates what he can and can't do. A dog who makes up his own mind is going to be a major problem. I would suggest you find a trainer who deals with large breed dogs and even better a trainer that deals with rotties. You and your dog are probably going to be in for the shock of your life. Since he has been able to make up his own mind for so long, he will not like it too much to be told what to do. Get to training as soon as possible. With a lot of work, it is possible to have a great dog. Keep checking out this site and ask TONS of questions. Good Luck.

[qhawkins]

With training he MAY be able to live with the other animals in the house. (Although I wouldn't ever leave him alone in the house with them.) However, without training he WILL get worse. Without guidance, inside or outside he will very likely do something that will cause greivous harm to someone or something, and that could cost him his life. At the very least, training will make him a better dog and you a better owner. Please, please, please get into training with him and stay there. Believe me, you will be so glad you did.

[Patty1231]

You said you haven't been able to work with him as much as you wanted to this past year. Exactly how much did you work with him? Doesn't sound like he's gotten much socialization. He doesn't sound like an aggressive dog so I'm thinking he can certainly be trained but it will take time and effort on your part - they're very smart but need to know who's boss. I don't like rotties being outside dogs; they like to be with their family. Consider all the dogs adopted from rescues that people have successfully worked with that had been in your dog's situation and are now well mannered family companions. Crate training would be needed here until he's socialized into the household. It is possible if you're truly willing to spend the time - if you didn't have the time over the past year, what has changed that you now do? You have to look at this realistically - what is fair to you, your GF, and your dog. Good luck!

[Karyn]

In a desparate situation - my rescue chased SUVs, cars, skate boards etc. He was going to get killed, kill me or someone else. He jumped the fence and took off or would rip my arm off during a walk to chase. I could not hold him. I went to e-collar training. He stopped chasing SUVs within two days. Used correctly with someone who knows how to do it, it can be a life saver. Check into it. It will stop him from chasing other animals. Once you get the emergencies under control you can concentrate on more traditional training. As I said with both you and your girlfriend working with your dog, he should get the message. Consistency and repetition is the key.

[Jango]

Originally Posted by qhawkins

With training he MAY be able to live with the other animals in the house. (Although I wouldn't ever leave him alone in the house with them.) However, without training he WILL get worse. Without guidance, inside or outside he will very likely do something that will cause greivous harm to someone or something, and that could cost him his life. At the very least, training will make him a better dog and you a better owner. Please, please, please get into training with him and stay there. Believe me, you will be so glad you did.

Oops for got the MAY part. My bad. Jango was socialized with different animals so that made a big difference.

[anni's.mom]

rehome the dog. it sounds as though you simply didn't want to be bothered with his need for training and socialization, which would have gone a long way toward diminishing the problems you describe. what sabo is, you have created.

there is NO easy way out. do the work or find him a home where he'll receive the training and attention these dogs deserve.

[Carol Burke]

As everyone has said "training". If you have him live in the house he will get used to the other animals that live there. Right now you are taking him into a strange situation with all kinds of stimulation. You got this dog and you owe him a decent life in your house. Rottweilers do not do well as outside dogs, he needs to live in your house, go to obedience class and learn how to be a good boy. Have a safe place that the other animals can go to where he can't bug them and give him a chance to get used to the new surroundings.

[Judi W]

Whether it is this girlfriend or a different one in the future, I don't know anybody that wants to be around a large adult untrained rude dog that pisses in their house. Training is not something you try, it is something you do. That is how the dog learns to listen. It doesn't just come naturally.

As far as rehoming is concerned, it is easier said than done with such a dog. If you raised him and don't love him enough to put in the work, you can understand that there are not a bunch of homes waiting out there wanting to take him in either.

It appears as if he has been mostly an outside dog as it is which is why it has been possible for you to let the behavior part go. You can roll up your sleeves and teach him to listen. When you are in the situations where he gets out of hand (like at the GF's house), put on his leash and collar and put that leash in your hand. He can't be harassing the pup if you don't allow it because you have the lead. He can't be pissing in the house because you are going to control him with the lead. That is the beginning. Purchase a crate to have there and when not on lead and supervised and restrained, put him in the crate. He isn't going to learn respect or manners outside where he can do anything he wants. (chew what he wants, bark when he wants, piss on anything he wants - you get the idea).

accept that you don't know how to train the dog and get in classes and stay in them. You have time to develop a girly relationship, so you have time to train your dog. Loyalty is something any GF would like to see in a partner. If she hates your dog (don't blame her) turn the dog into someone who will be considered an asset not a liability.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by anni's.mom

rehome the dog.

I'm very active in Rottie rescue and can tell you for a FACT it will be very hard, at best; difficult, at worst for the poster to rehome the dog.

Far too much work for the average adopter to want to take on.

No, the poster needs to buckle down and start training his dog.

[Judi W]

My young single son has a Rottweiler and I'm not sure, but I suspect the girls like to hang around because the dog is so darn charming (not that I don't think the son is). Turn that dog into what he is capable of being, and you might find a chick magnet. Leave him like he is and he will never be welcomed in any home. If you decide to make him an outside dog, make sure you have a secure kennel, not just leaving him in the yard where both the child and the little dog have a right to enjoy and be safe. Make sure that kennel has a good padlock on the gate. Otherwise you endanger both child and little dog.

Rottweilers do not thrive as yard ornaments nor do they learn anything but for sure you do not want the dog being at large in the yard where the child and little dog can go out and risk being injured or worse.

I cannot imagine selling my house in order to move in with a "current" girlfriend. Think carefully about giving up your home or dog where there is no more commitment than "current".............