Male or Female?

[SuMdUmGuY]

Greetings from Iraq!
Since deploying earlier this year, I have not been able to access this site.
Lucky for me though, I now have internet access again!
I have a question that I am almost positive has been posted many times over on this site but I cant find. I am debating on what sex my rott will be when I purchase it upon my return to the states (whenever that is...). I really want a big dog...this however, will be my first rott. Everything that I have read, has advised me to go with a female as my first choice because they are less prone to clumsiness as well as over-excitement (my home is not very big but I want to keep him inside). How different can it really be between the sexes behavior-wise? I have studied many pics of rottweilers in books and on the net. After looking as closely as I have been, I am sure that I can see differences in the male and female physical make up. I am not prejudiced toward female rotts, mind you. It's just that I have been considering buying a rott for a very, very long time. I have this rott that I want, envisioned so clearly that I even have a name for this fantasy dog! Am I being too picky? If this thread has already been posted, I appologize for the waste of space...could someone please direct me to it? Thanks!
Semper Fidelis

[SABELLESMOM]

Well, boys do look a bit more masculine. They can be 24-27 inches tall, a female would be 22-25 inches. Their heads can be bulkier.

I love my girls. Most folks believe a female is a better choice for a first time owner. I have or have had 3 females altogether. I find them highly intellegent, willing, everything you could want. My friends have males. The only problem or rough spot if you want to call it that, was one of the males when he hit puberty.

Read a lot. Folks here are quite knowlegable and won't steer you wrong. Rottweilers require a good deal of time energy and training. They require committment. No one here wants to see a Rottie taken home for a short time only to be disposed of down the road some time. They'll tell you they are not a dog for everyone. You need to know yourself as well as the breed you choose. And that's probably true of all breeds.

[RottiMomCT]

We have four rotties in the family - a slight build but all male in attitude <LOL>, a typical fat headed male, a freak of nature huge rottie male, and a very masculine built female (very badly bred BYB girl)...

I've seen some pretty 'manly' looking females, as well as very 'girly' males...

In regards to energy and clumsiness - both genders are klutzes when young! Just like humans!

Welcome to the forums - and read up - a ton of great info is here, and we're a friendly bunch - we don't bite...much

Stay safe over there and God bless...

[Judi W]

Dear not-so-dumb guy.

You see yourself with the dog, it has a name, and now I'm going to ask what you see yourself "doing' with the dog and what if any experience you have with dogs. Then we'll talk further. Yes they are different and not just in appearance.

[Patty1231]

First of all, thank you SO MUCH for your service and please stay safe. I include you guys in my prayers every morning and every night. Okay, I have a male and a female. Male from breeder as puppy, female from shelter at age 4. I got my male first simply because I prefer the look of a male, at least I thought I did. I now prefer BOTH! To me, more importantly than the sex, is, as Judi said, what you plan to do with the dog. If you want a puppy, do your research on a good breeder - they are a tremendous amount of work and training is a requirement, not an option. There are many beautiful dogs in rescues that need homes, though, too, so you might consider that. Personally, my male is a big goober but looks impressive (and trys to show off some times, too). He's got that boyish charm and attitude. My female is all business on one hand, and all licky lovin' on the other. My male is very social (but he's been socialized since a puppy) and my female is more aloof (have no idea what her background is).

[Laura]

I don't have a male (he is in my dreams too) but MY female is aloof and is like a mother hen making sure everything is in its place. She is also poorly breed from a BYB and she is big, tall and lean 27" 97 pounds. I am a first time Rott owner and I was told to get a female and boy did she gave me a run for my money. To tell you the truth if I didn't do all the Obedience training almost 3 years and reading I did and still do I would have had a maniac on my hands.

[Karyn]

My first rottie and dog was an 8 month old, non fixed male. He got fixed real fast. He was a challenge! There was no rottie.net to go to. AT one point I thought about surrendering him but I dug in and would not give up. I must have called every vet, kennel club and trainer in south Jersey looking for help. I was determined to win. I found trainers who were good and trainers who were bad - the problem was I was such a novice I did not know the good ones from the bad ones but I could see how Cromwell reacted to them and figured it out. Cormwell died at the age of 8 1/2 years - he was a credit to his breed and I loved him with all my heart. I now have another rottie boy - a rescue. He is so different from Cromwell. He is easy to work with and so eager to please. Each dog has their own personality.

[Karyn]

Oh - and thank you for being there. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[SuMdUmGuY]

Thanks to you all for your prayers and quick responses! First off, please forgive my ignorance displayed by calling these great dogs rotts. I was reading "Rottweilers for Dummies" and it was explained that the proper term is rotti? Well I am learning something new about this breed with every available resource that I come into contact with. Some of you asked what I plan to do with my rotti once purchased.
To be honest, I really only planned to have him as a member of the family...I am not planning to show or breed him. I have had two dogs in my family growing up. A black Lab and Collie/Shepard mix (the clumps of hair that she shed each year were a nightmare)! None the less they were both very intellegent dogs and my family and loved them dearly. I have always wanted a rotti since the first time I saw one. He was amazing in size and seemed a bit snobby in comparison to other dogs, as if he knew he was superior! I really liked that...but we could never afford to have one. So am still on the look out for my fantasy dog.

[Patty1231]

If you are only planning for a family pet, I would suggest a rescue. They can help provide you with a dog that fits with your family and needs. And you would be giving a wonderful dog a second chance at life.

[BostonRott]

First, realize that Rottweilers are only a medium large dog. To approach any breeder of repute and say that you want a really large dog is going to automatically lable you "one of THOSE guys," .... not exactly the first impression that you want to make.

You say you just want the dog to be a housepet. Ok, but how active are you? Do you sit on your butt and watch sports 24/7? Or do you like to get out and hike, get down to the water, etc? What kind of neighborhood do you live in? Tons of people/kids? Males are definately more imposing-looking than females.

You also need to think ahead to what training facilities are available to you, what their experience is with the breed, etc. No matter which gender you get, it will need regular and continuous training to be a good canine citizen.

[Judi W]

Humm, I always call them Rottweilers.........

It is likely that a spayed female would be the best selection for a companion only home. You will want a medium/low drive whichever sex as the higher drive dogs must have more structured activity ongoing than most companion homes are going to provide. Make sure that any breeder you talk to understands this. The sheer strength and power of a male makes management a bigger deal if you are not going to be active in a more formal arena.

Appearance is the smallest part of Rottweiler ownership. Although that might be one of the attractions, it is the character and intelligence that requires the most on the part of ownership. Yes, even your family companion Rottweiler requires formal training in order to assure bonding and proper living management. The formal training assures that socialization is being done. It should continue well into adulthood.

[Mochasmom]

Originally Posted by Patty1231

If you are only planning for a family pet, I would suggest a rescue. They can help provide you with a dog that fits with your family and needs. And you would be giving a wonderful dog a second chance at life.

I second that...............

[Rotty4Me]

Hello Semper,

It sounds to me that you have been doing a bit of research on this wonderful breed of dog. That is a great start! The more you research & come to forums like these, the more you will learn about these dogs. They are a beautiful breed of dog with a high level of intelligence which is probably what attracted us all to the breed in the first place. Depending on your circumstances & desires, you might either benefit from rescuing a rottweiler or purchasing a puppy from a reputable breeder. As you do your research that decision may become more clearer to you. As to whether a male or female, that is sometimes a tough thing to predict ahead of time. If you adopt an older puppy/young adult/adult, then you will see the temperament & personality that is already there. If purchasing a puppy from a reputable breeder, then knowing what the personalities of the parents are & what is common in the breeders' lines will help you decide. I have had very mellow, good with kids, cats, strangers, males & have had very high drive, mouthy, not good with kids, males, as well. The females I have owned have been very family oriented girls, but my brother-in-law had a very dog aggressive female that was not good with strangers. Keep doing your homework.

And I call them rotts, rotties, or rottweilers....I think you are OK with any of those variations!

Maureen

[SuMdUmGuY]

At one time, I was considering a rescue rott. I am just a little leary about it due to the fact that my wife and I have three children ranging in age from 3 to 9yrs. All very well behaved kids. This however will be their first dog. As far as how active we are as a family? We spend time watching television most nights but being a Marine family, I do quite a bit of running and we do other activities-wich brings up another question...I read that it is not a good idea to take a rott for a run due to possible development of bone problems? Thanks for all of this advice! This is better than any book I have ever read on the subject!