debaiting on a rottie.

[fordman222]

hello everyone how are you doing? i have been reading the post on here for about a week now and decided to post my question.

first of all i just got out of the army 3 months ago and am getting a house here in about another month. i have read about every book on dogs you can get. while i was in iraq friends and family sent me a lot of dog books and a lot of rottie books. i wanted to ask people with experence though because i know some book are writen by people who don't even own the breed. i live in michigan now and im selling cars in the family owned for 40 years ford dealership.

first reason for wanting a rottweiler. when i was young i went with my older brother to a friends of his house and this is the first and only time i have been around a rottie. she was trained really well i walked in and the dog just came near me and wanted to be pet. she was not at all agressive. smart as could be and just a nice loving family pet. when her owner left the room she followed him and i just feel in love with the breed at that moment and have always wanted one sence.

before i buy my pup i want a female, i will get her spayed and i won't take her from the breeder until 10-12 weeks old. these questions are pretty basic newbie questions just want to see how accurate the books are. also i plan to crate train my pup. so she will be in the crate while im at work. other then lunch breaks and stuff to let her out to pottie while shes young and can't hold it for too long.

now for the questions.

1. sheeding. i will have this dog for an indoor dog. most books say rotties only shed 2 times a year when they blow there coats. from reading this board i know that isn't true and i know food and everything helps. but i want to know if many of you keep rotties in there house and maintain a clean house. i know some people you go into there house and its just gross with cat and dog hair and would be a huge problem with me. i have no problem vacuming and cleaning and brushing. but is it rediculace amount of shedding or is it bareable?
2. are rotties family pets or do they cling to just one person? only me and my wife and she like rotties to we where just wondering if the dog would chooose one of us or cling to us both.
3. are they easy to house break? can you get to the point where you don't have to crate all day or are they chewers and chew up the house? im saying around 2 years old.
4. are the mellow dogs while in the home or are they active all the time? (they will be walking and played with daily)
5. if from a good breeder and socialized while a pup. do some still get overprotective? if so how do you control this?

that should be about it for now. thanks,

joe

[Judi W]

Because I am at this time vaccuming and cleaning, I'll address that part quickly. Yes, they shed a lot. How bearable it is depends upon how much you adore the dogs (or how many you have). Like a husband that snores, if everything is wonderful, you suck it up, (with dog hair you use a vaccum) the extra dog hair and stuff because the trade off is a fabulous companion beyond compare. If you are a tidy tilly (it sounds as if you might be simply by asking the question) you very well might not be happy with this breed. Those big feet are also capable of bringing in a pretty decent amount of dirt.

Most of the dogs love those they live with. They tend to bond strongest with the person who works and trains them but that does not decrease their love and devotion to the rest of the family.

No Rottweiler should be "over-protective" which implies aggression when there is no threat. If you realize that socialization and training is an on-going thing for many years you should be assured of a social and well-behaved dog.

[debbiej]

I don't have tons of experience with the breed, but I can say that if you don't have a lot of time to spend working with it, don't get one. They are very easy to train, but they need to be useful and to feel they are doing something important for you. They thrive on working for you and they don't do well laying around the house being a pet without having spent time doing some kind of "job". They will find something to get your attention, positive or negative....they want to be at your side and with you and I love that about them. There are many breeds of dogs who are more independant and less bonded to their owners who can do fine with a lot of time alone. I don't think rotties are one of those breeds.

I'm not cleaning, but I should be. mine shed, but I've always had dogs and these rotties do not shed any more or less than most breeds that have normal dog coats. For that matter, even without dogs you have fuzz balls and dust bunnies. Where do they come from!?

[SABELLESMOM]

Oh wow! Welcome to the forum!
1) Shedding is, for me 2x/year with minimal in between. Some folks disagree, like my friend, Phyllis. Her dog does shed more than mine. Don't know why.
2) Likely your dog would love you both. They like "families." Perhaps the dog would be a touch closer to the one who trains or is with him most.
3) Depends on the dog and your training. They are smart! But one was easy the other is quite the challenge in the potty training department. Also, one never chewed anything inappropriate, only toys and chews. The current demon is even now trying repeatedly to dig for contraband items to chew.
4) I'd consider both of mine mellow in terms of they're up to doing anything you're up to doing. You want to lounge on a rainy day? Go ahead. They'll make do with a nice walk and just potty breaks for a day or two. Longer bouts? Well, I feel sorry for them and force myself to do more. Then, on a gorgeous day, they're happy to play outside in the fenced area, go for a long hike, a ride in the car, attend a class, swim boat, bike, etc. You name it they wanna do it!
5) Socalization and training is an ongoing thing. And a well bred pup will be a good base to start.

[RottiMomCT]

First - welcome to the forums and THANK YOU for serving our country. You are a good person!

Originally Posted by fordman222

now for the questions. Here are a few answers!

1. sheeding. i will have this dog for an indoor dog. most books say rotties only shed 2 times a year when they blow there coats. from reading this board i know that isn't true and i know food and everything helps. but i want to know if many of you keep rotties in there house and maintain a clean house. i know some people you go into there house and its just gross with cat and dog hair and would be a huge problem with me. i have no problem vacuming and cleaning and brushing. but is it rediculace amount of shedding or is it bareable?

I live with two rotties - both indoor dogs unless I am outside with them. I vacuum weekly (sometimes twice weekly) to keep the hair to a minimum. Regular weekly brushing (sometimes twice weekly, before vacuuming!), a good food and good all around care will reduce the amount of hair all over everything but the dogs. If you are lucky, you'll get a dog that LIKES to be vacuumed and that really helps!
2. are rotties family pets or do they cling to just one person? only me and my wife and she like rotties to we where just wondering if the dog would chooose one of us or cling to us both.

Ben, my 5 1/2 yr old male, is truly MY dog, but he adores the whole family. Baron, our almost 2 yr old newest addition, is definitely my husbands dog, but he is also loveable to anyone who will pet him. I find that whomever does the most with the dog will find the dog tends to listen to them better and since I spend more time with the dogs they seem to be a little more bonded to me...

3. are they easy to house break? can you get to the point where you don't have to crate all day or are they chewers and chew up the house? im saying around 2 years old.

Ben was adopted at 10 months old, crated daily until he was reliable loose in the house (about 2 1/2 yrs old). It's different with all dogs. Ben didn't really chew anything - I made sure he knew where all of his toys were and he chewed them. I find chewers are often bored dogs with nothing of their own to chew so they find something else to chew!

4. are the mellow dogs while in the home or are they active all the time? (they will be walking and played with daily)

The amount of time you spend with the dog exercising both their mind AND body will determine their activity level...if you have a dog with a high 'drive' you'll be hard pressed to wear them out...if ou have a mellower dog, you're looking for a dog that's hard to get motivated. My dogs are somewhere in the middle, unless there is a squirrel around!

5. if from a good breeder and socialized while a pup. do some still get overprotective? if so how do you control this?

TRAINING, training and more training. Ben has had no protection training, but is well cared for in all aspects and is, I think, naturally protective of me. If there is no threat, he's told to knock it off...but it is also your job to protect the dog, not the other way around. I think training and socialization are lifelong things...your dog can never have too much of either as long as it is FUN!

that should be about it for now. thanks,

joe

I hope this helps!! Good luck on the search - don't overlook the possibility of adopting an older dog - older than a puppy, I mean...and don't forget about RESCUE GROUPS!!!

[JeanT]

Welcome! You really have read and researched well, moreso than almost any similarly situated poster that I've read here.

I'm ditto just about everything Sabellesmom said.

I've found the shedding to be a lot less than many other dogs, though of course it's still there. It adds a bit to regular housecleaning, but so worth it that I don't even think of it as "extra". The big feet really do carry a lot more dirt than a smaller dog, but you can reduce that too by having a "dog foot mat" by the door he most often comes in.

Activity level - no different from any other active young pup/adolescent, but it does seem to last longer, I guess because the mental maturity takes longer in this breed. But it's not a hyper-nervous activity (which would drive me crazy), it's just youthful exuberence that needs exercise and play or the mental involvement of training. I haven't seen posts on "zoomies" here for a while, but do a search for that topic. Watching your Rottweiler do the zoomies is one of the most fun things to do. It's a personal performance for the audience that loves him! There is also a lot of calm, peaceful resting and just hanging around that's really nice. Plenty of mellow time but always ready to pop up and go when you want to.

Chewing - the crate training will be invaluable if you have a chewer beyond the ususal puppy-time chewer (and that will improve too, just a longer period). One of mine still had every stuffed toy I ever gave him before he died. My current one doesn't have a single ball, toy, tug, kong or anything that has lasted more than 24 hours. But the destruction is limited to his playthings, so I'm not complaining. It's just one of those differences. I can't recall reading here of anyone whose had a lasting (beyond age-related) destruction problem with any of their dogs who were well-exercised and trained.

"Over-protectiveness" - this is not a breed trait. It's something gone awry. It is not appropriate behavior and most often is a training issue, sometimes a temperament issue (often lack of confidence and fear) that needs different kinds of training. I think the best way to understand more about this is to search and read current as well as archived threads about behavior concerns.

Older second-hand Rottweilers - well, I'm definitely partial to them, having had three. Do consider one, or think about fostering maybe, if you're not sure. Once again, you can read a lot here about that, including what to look for in the rescue organization.

[fordman222]

the other breeds i was debating was a pitbull, an american bulldog, a boxer, or a doberman i know they are all different breeds i was just told these short hair dogs she a lot less, but these other breeds are a lot more hyper.

[Canadianrotti]

I'll be brief. We give our dogs fish oils and it helps to dramatically reduce the shedding, but you still have to sweep regularly.

My dogs are sleeping beside me right now, just hanging out. They have a little romp once or twice a day for about 15-20 min every day. I walk the pup every morning for about 1 hr, helps her get through the day.

If you treasure your house, a crate is required. Raelin was able to sleep out of the crate after about 8 months. She is now 1 year and she is now out while we are gone for short periods of time.

Rottis are very smart and will require lots of mental challenges. Training is a HUGE part of raising a good dog. It will keep her challenged and it will help you to form a closer bond.

I think we were very lucky with Raelin as far as house training. She only pooped in the house 1x and had only a few accidents in the house after the first 2 weeks.

There is a tonne of great info here, dont be shy to ask any questions. We all want the same thing here, the best for our Rotti's.

Good luck.

[brunie's mom]

Welcome to the forums.
Have you ever had a dog before? Not just a pet that your family has had..but raised and trained a dog?
I honestly don't feel that Rottweilers are a good breed for the first time dog owner....they are very smart, can be dominant and need alot of training.

Since you have only been around the one Rottweiler, maybe you could do some volunteer work with a shelter or a Rottweiler Rescue and get to know the breed better??

If you really think that only a Rottweiler is for you, then I also would suggest a mature or older Rottweiler that is adopted from a good rescue organization.
One that screens, does temperment tests, and where the dog has lived in a foster home for awhile. They will be able to help you get through the questions and answers that you may need with this breed.

Good-luck.

Gina

[Canadianrotti]

Originally Posted by fordman222

the other breeds i was debating was a pitbull, an american bulldog, a boxer, or a doberman i know they are all different breeds i was just told these short hair dogs she a lot less, but these other breeds are a lot more hyper.

They all shed to some degree, I would be more concerned with the dogs personality and traits, than the fur. The frequency of sweeping is nothing compaired to a dog that you are not totally in tune with. JMO

[aquarius3079]

Originally Posted by fordman222

the other breeds i was debating was a pitbull, an american bulldog, a boxer, or a doberman i know they are all different breeds i was just told these short hair dogs she a lot less, but these other breeds are a lot more hyper.

I have a 20 mth old Rotti and an 11 mth old female pit bull. I agree with everything everyone has posted about the Rottis thus far. As for shedding in my house...the Pit sheds a lot less than the Rotti but the Rotti sheds a heck of a lot less than the cat!

You are taking the right road by doing your research on your breeds, good for you. Since everyone else has answered your Rotti questions I will tell you about my little Pit Bull girl. We got her at 6 mths from a shelter and fell in love with her at first sight (well my bf did ). We let her and Link play together and she had the confidence and spunk that we needed so we got approved and took her home 2 days later.

Her personality...it is something that can't be matched. She is the goofiest animal I have ever seen and we love nothing more than seeing her smile (which she does often). I never quite uinderstood why my bf wanted a Pit so bad until we had Layla about a month. She is awesome, a ton of work, but awesome. I would recommend that anyone that has a Pit have a fenced yard cause she is spunky and a walk just doesn't quite do it, she needs a real run and she must always be on lead.

If you are considering a Pit, know that we have found a great companion and with a lot of work from you AND you wife you could too! If you had asked me before we got Layla if there was any other breed besides a Rotti I could imagine owning for the rest of my life I would have said no. After having Layla 6 mths that answer would change to I don't think I could ever live without a smiling Pit Bull too!

Good Luck and if you have any other questions feel free to ask.

[LavenderRott]

It has been my experience that short haired dogs shed more then long haired dogs. At least on a regular basis, that is. I know I have more rottweiler hair on the floor then I ever had collie hair flying around!

All of the breeds that you are interested in are high maintenance dogs. As in mentally high maintenance. They are not breeds for the weak or timid.

My biggest piece of advice, not matter which breed you choose, is do as much or more homework on your breeder. Do not buy from an add in the paper or pet shop. Do not get one from someone who ALWAYS has puppies for sale.

There is a wonderful "sticky" at the beginning of the Breeding Section about choosing a breeder. Remember, the better the breeder, the better the chance of a healthy, solid tempermented pup.

[StephanieandToby]

Originally Posted by fordman222

the other breeds i was debating was a pitbull, an american bulldog, a boxer, or a doberman i know they are all different breeds i was just told these short hair dogs she a lot less, but these other breeds are a lot more hyper.

Of these four breeds I have only had experience with the Boxer and Dobermann and I have found them both to be lovely dogs....I've never met a Dobermann I didn't like!

[damp]

1. All my dogs (including the Boxers) have only shed (more or less) one time a year… from Jan 1. - Dec. 31. If you don’t like dog hair in your house and paw prints all over the floor… don’t get a dog at all. A clean house and a DOG are not compatible.
2. The Rottweiler is a noble multitasked working dog and yes, a family pet too, but NOT a “fur baby” (just as the other breeds you mentioned) Any pet and especially a "pet" from the working dog breeds, needs training to live up to that "status" being a reliable pet.
3. I believe, that the “success” of house breaking a pup (no matter the breed) is directly proportional to the owner’s contributions and efforts.
4. Physical exercises build muscles and stamina. Mental exercise and training builds bond, confidence, control and in addition to that, you will have a relaxed and mental sound tired dog.
5. I don’t know what over protective means but I think it’s way to often mistaken with fear aggression that is not a desired characteristic.

[RottyMom]

Originally Posted by damp

[list=1][*]All my dogs (including the Boxers) have only shed (more or less) one time a year… from Jan 1. - Dec. 31. If you don’t like dog hair in your house and paw prints all over the floor… don’t get a dog at all. A clean house and a DOG are not compatible.

Oh damp I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately people who are unprepared for the hair and drool (in the case of one of mine anyway) and dirt often end of banishing the dog to the backyard where they become more and more isolated and neglected (yes I know not all dogs who live in the backyard are neglected) but you know what I mean. Dogs are hairy, drooly and messy...and I wouldn't trade it for the cleanest house in the world.