Why the bad rap for Rotties?

[brcrk]

I just bought a new Rott pup of 8 weeks. After which my whole family has turned against me. My mother saying I shouldnt allow my daughter around him, my sister says she will not come around with her children..etc. I know they have a little resevation about the breed because of my cousins dog. My cousin had a Rott that made national attention 15 years ago when his Rott killed a 14 year old boy. We put his Rott up in our kennel until all the court proceedings were over where it was found out that the boy that was killed had been skipping school everyday and coming by my cousins fenced in yard while poking the dogs with sticks and shooting them with BB guns; the dog finally had enough and climbed the 6 ft fence to attack the boy. Even though the jury found that the dog was provoked, the judge ordered him put down.

Ever since my family thinks EVERY Rott is aggresive and mean. How do I explain to them that it is not the breed that is mean, it is the masters that train them to be.

[Patty1231]

By example. I would bet a good majority of forum members have a family member that felt that way in the beginning. My mother was scared to death that I was getting a rottweiler. Now I have two and she tells everyone at the senior center what nice, sweet dogs they are. Train, train, train....socialize, socialize, socialize. Make your dog an ambassador for the breed and you will prove all the nay-sayers wrong!

[MonteRiehl]

I'm not sure your going to find the answer to that question here.

Sorry, what I mean to say is most rotties or rottie crosses that make the news are there because they had a "intellectually challenged" owner. One who did not take the time to train, socialize, and learn about their dogs.

The people who participate in this list, are taking the time to learn about, train, and socialize there dogs by exchanging ideas and experiences. It's a marvelous thing.


I have 2 ideas about your question, but they are just guesses.

1) Some people are scared of big dogs in general, not just rotties. The rotties are famous and recognizable so they come to mind easily? I don't really know because I don't have the perspective of being scared of Rotties.

2) Rottweilers are just picked on by biased media types looking to sensationalize a situation and story by playing to a percieved public fear. They are not interested in facts. The just want to sell papers or commercials in their shows. By continuing to replay the same "evil rottweiler" stories over and over again, they can change the general publics view of a rottweiler.

Most of the negative stories I have read about rottweilers this year were not actually about rottweilers. I think 80-90% of them were about mixed breed dogs. Rottweilers have problems too, but lets call apples apples.
We (as responsible owners) need to jump all over the media and reporters when they call anything that's not 100% Rottweiler a Rottweiler. En masse.

Last time I checked the CKC, and AKC have not recognized rottie-cross as a breed (with a specific temperment, standard, etc.)

We also need to encourage our clubs like the RCC to "come down" like a tonne of bricks on the media that do run stories about mixed breed dog attacks as perpetrated by a rottweiler.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with a Rottweiler cross, but we need to draw a line in the sand to start protecting our breed. This is how the GSD people were able (and still are able) to protect their breed from poor media portraits. Everytime someone picks on a GSD in the media, that reporter's phone, email, fax and snailmail are flooded. It's not worth their effort anymore to "slag" on a GSD. Too much trouble for them. We need to do the same thing.

Just my $.02 Sorry about the rant.

[damp]

Originally Posted by brcrk

My cousin had a Rott that made national attention 15 years ago when his Rott killed a 14 year old boy. .

Are you really serious? If you wonder why Rottweilers have a bad reputation reread your own post.

The answer is simple:
Rottweilers have bad reputations by the reason of bad breeding, stupid uneducated and irresponsible owners!!!

... and you (may be) chage that, by setting a good and better example!

[damp]

Originally Posted by MonteRiehl

We (as responsible owners) need to jump all over the media and reporters when they call anything that's not 100% Rottweiler a Rottweiler. En masse.

Last time I checked the CKC, and AKC have not recognized rottie-cross as a breed (with a specific temperment, standard, etc.)

We also need to encourage our clubs like the RCC to "come down" like a tonne of bricks on the media that do run stories about mixed breed dog attacks as perpetrated by a rottweiler.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with a Rottweiler cross, but we need to draw a line in the sand to start protecting our breed. This is how the GSD people were able (and still are able) to protect their breed from poor media portraits. Everytime someone picks on a GSD in the media, that reporter's phone, email, fax and snailmail are flooded. It's not worth their effort anymore to "slag" on a GSD. Too much trouble for them. We need to do the same thing.

I am not that blond, that I believe every thing I read or hear in the news…but don’t tell me journalists sit home and just make up stories about any breed or mix, just to keep their work!
Blame the media if they don't report what really happened and blame the breeder and owner for what really happened.

[brcrk]

I believe it has to do with the size of our beloved pet that people fear. How many Rotts have you seen tear into a mean spirit with everyone they meet? But I bet 90% of you has encountered Chihuaha's that would tear your leg off if they were large enough. Our pets just happen to be of size that when prevocted can be deadly because of the size and strength of our pets.

And I also believe it is the owners responsibility to monitor their Rott to be sure his "playfull or aggressive nature" doesnt get the best of him.

[RubenZ]

I just saw Animal Cops San Fran.


There was a story on 2 rotts who killed some guys Chihuaha. The ending verdict was that it was the owners fault for not keeping his FENCE in check.


BUT I was pissed because not once did they mention the Owner of the chihuaha having his fence in check too. I mean its both owners FENCE, they share the fence. ???? if my neighbors fence was crap and there were chances of his dogs getting trhough, I'd put up my own fence as well.

I HATE this crap that is the Rott and Rott Owners fault all the time.

[mexi]

Originally Posted by brcrk

I believe it has to do with the size of our beloved pet that people fear. How many Rotts have you seen tear into a mean spirit with everyone they meet? But I bet 90% of you has encountered Chihuaha's that would tear your leg off if they were large enough. Our pets just happen to be of size that when prevocted can be deadly because of the size and strength of our pets.

And I also believe it is the owners responsibility to monitor their Rott to be sure his "playfull or aggressive nature" doesnt get the best of him.

i agree 100% i have said almost those exact words in a previous post.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by RubenZ

I just saw Animal Cops San Fran.


There was a story on 2 rotts who killed some guys Chihuaha. The ending verdict was that it was the owners fault for not keeping his FENCE in check.


BUT I was pissed because not once did they mention the Owner of the chihuaha having his fence in check too. I mean its both owners FENCE, they share the fence. ???? if my neighbors fence was crap and there were chances of his dogs getting trhough, I'd put up my own fence as well.

I HATE this crap that is the Rott and Rott Owners fault all the time.

Well, Ruben, the crap I hate is when Rott Owners pull out the victim card. A fence that will contain a Chihuahua is not necessarily the same fence that will contain a Rottweiler. If you are going to assume the responsibility of owning a large, intelligent, strong dog then you are going to have to do what is required to keep your dog safely contained. If you are going to put it on someone else to assume that responsibility, then get a Chihuahua. In case you didn't notice, the Chihuahua didn't kill the Rottweilers.

[Rottnlove]

Originally Posted by moondog

Well, Ruben, the crap I hate is when Rott Owners pull out the victim card. A fence that will contain a Chihuahua is not necessarily the same fence that will contain a Rottweiler. If you are going to assume the responsibility of owning a large, intelligent, strong dog then you are going to have to do what is required to keep your dog safely contained. If you are going to put it on someone else to assume that responsibility, then get a Chihuahua. In case you didn't notice, the Chihuahua didn't kill the Rottweilers.

I have to agree 100% with this. Exactly my thoughts.

It's stories like the above that confirm why I will not ever leave Xena outside unattended in her yard, even though we have a 6 foot privacy fence. There are so many kids who will torture and tease your dog while outside, and sometimes, a dog will fight them back. In that case, the dog had snapped and had enough. I can't blame the dog, but it's terribly sad what happened to this kid! If my girl is outside, so am I, or I'm right there watching her. You never know when someone is going to jump your fence to retrieve a ball or whatever. My 9 year old has friends over and sometimes jump our fence. (Playing hide and seek. I tell them to stay in the front yard!) I just don't want any surprises. I'm overly cautious in this area, I guess.

My parents and sister use to think all Rottweilers were a viscious breed until they met and know Xena. Now whenever they come over, they can see she's just a huge softie and silly goofball that would love to smother them with wet sloppy kisses. She just loves everyone that comes over to my house. She even licked a kid that walked in our house una unannounced the other day after my son came home from school! I think she'd welcome burglars and intruderers and show them where all the goods were!!!

It's definitely in the breeding and how they're treated that make them good or bad dogs! Good luck with your rottie pup! I'll tell ya, this is a wonderful breed. I love my girl!!!! I can't imagine life without her!

[Luvs]

Originally Posted by brcrk

I just bought a new Rott pup of 8 weeks. After which my whole family has turned against me. My mother saying I shouldnt allow my daughter around him, my sister says she will not come around with her children..etc. I know they have a little resevation about the breed because of my cousins dog. My cousin had a Rott that made national attention 15 years ago when his Rott killed a 14 year old boy.

Ever since my family thinks EVERY Rott is aggresive and mean. How do I explain to them that it is not the breed that is mean, it is the masters that train them to be.

Unfortunately your family has seen first hand the damage a Rottweiler can do. The best thing you can do is train and socialize your puppy and make him a GREAT ambassador for the breed!! Don't just talk about what great dogs they can be, SHOW THEM!

My family was the same way when I brought Akasha home two years ago. They couldn't understand why I wanted another Rottweiler. Now two years later my family loves both Akasha and Keil. At our last dog show as we watched my 12 yo neice show Keil in Juniors, my sister told me that she would take Keil from us in a heart beat! She told me that if we ever have to get rid of him, PLEASE let her have him. That to me is probably the biggest compliment I have ever gotten (not that we would ever consider getting rid of him). I am really happy to say that my family went from being anti Rottweiler to wanting Keil and now talking about getting one of their own . I didn't just sit there and tell them what great dogs Rottweilers are, I spent MANY, MANY hours working hard training and socializing Akasha and Keil to show them what good dogs they are!

Actions definitely speak louder than words

[RubenZ]

You all are missing my point. I agree it was the Rott owners FAULT. BUT ALSO, your fence is not only to keep your pets from going out, it should be strong enough to also keep predators from coming IN. As well as Human Intruders. That was my only beef. At least the Rott owners had a fence. The Chihuaha owners didnt.


My backyard fence is 6 foot high Cedar fence with 3, 2x4's going across in case my dogs ever decided to try and break through which they never have.

[ZeusMommy]

My gramma felt the same way- she had neverheard bad things about them- but she was scared for my girls- UNTIL she came to visit and met him and saw how the girls were with him and him with them- she paid no mind to him aafter that and now when she calls she asks how that "big beautiful dog is" and says that if she had the strenght for one she would own one-

[RottiMomCT]

Your family has seen what a rottweiler can do. I know this was a long time ago, but...what training did the dog have? Socialization?? Interaction with family & all sorts of people through out its life?? Proper care in all aspects of its life??

If the dog didn't have any of the previously mentioned points, or was lacking in any of them, it was a ticking time bomb that went off...sadly, someone had to die because of it (and I'm not talking about the dog).

The BEST way to show (not PROVE) that rottweilers are true family dogs and can live peacefully with everyone is to make sure YOUR DOG is properly trained, cared for, vetted and anything else the dog needs to grow up healthy and well adjusted. Do not ALLOW your dog to become a stereotypical rottie (statistic waiting to happen).

My family wasn't too keen on my owning a rottie either until they met Ben. They love him, we've changed their minds on what the true nature of the breed is. One at a time - one person at a time.

[spidey]

Originally Posted by brcrk

I believe it has to do with the size of our beloved pet that people fear. How many Rotts have you seen tear into a mean spirit with everyone they meet? But I bet 90% of you has encountered Chihuaha's that would tear your leg off if they were large enough. Our pets just happen to be of size that when prevocted can be deadly because of the size and strength of our pets.

And I also believe it is the owners responsibility to monitor their Rott to be sure his "playfull or aggressive nature" doesnt get the best of him.

I suspect that the REAL reason most people fear them is that many of them have maimed or killed people. Their size is what allows them to do that, which is why an ill-behaved Chihuahua, while still a dog being done a HUGE disservice by an owner who does not train and raise it properly (as every dog deserves, regardless of breed), is not comparable beyond that one similarity. I'll also point out that I find it bizarre when people complain about the bad reputation of THEIR breed, while simultaneously bashing another breed based on THAT breed's bad reputation. We do not help the breed by blaming the media, or bashing other breeds and perpetuating stereotypes about them, or looking for reasons for their bad reputation beyond the simple fact that badly bred, badly owned Rottweilers have, in fact, maimed and killed people. The ONLY way to change this is by being good owners, by training, by only buying dogs from reputable breeders, or properly tested dogs from rescues and shelters, by evaulating our dogs with rational, objective eyes and making sure they we never place them in a position where they could hurt someone or someone's pet. In short, a good Rottweiler with a good owner has to be BETTER than a dog of most other breeds to make any difference whatsoever to public opinion, but at very least, we have to make sure not to add to the problem.