Thinking of getting a Rottweiler, Adivse Please!!!!!

[wowman]

Hi all,

I've been lurking here for sometime and just became a new member!! I love this site and I love how deep the Knowledge base is here!! So, hopefully people here can give me their personal advice and/or opinion on what I hope to do within a year or so.

I currently own 5 acres and would like to get a Rotty if not 2 of them (so they can have play buddies). I wanted to have these primarily as watch/guard dogs over the property. I work from home, so they will be getting their huge daily doses of human/dog interaction as well as training. (Not like a junkyard dogs with minimal interaction for feedings only!!)

Are rotties OK to be totally outdoor dogs?? Or do they need to be inside with us?? Because, everything that I've read here indicates that they are house dogs.

I will, of course, do even more research and read MORE books before even getting to that step. That is why I started here with everyone's experiences with this question. Thanks in advance for your time and help and any opinions (constructive) will be most appreciated!!

[Skip]

What is your experience with dogs and training in the past?

[wowman]

I've had pure Breed Collies and they were show dogs. I currently have a fox terrier which is basically my wife's dog. But, we've trained him to be absolutely perfect for a house dog!! Doesn't bark, extremely well mannered and behaved, etc..

Hope this helps.. Thanks

[StmprKB]

my opinion, ALL DOGS need to be in the house with their master. They need to be considered "part of the family", and that inclues them INSIDE the household. I live on 5 acres, and have 5 dogs, in the house. They get playtime outside, but primarily have a choice, between inside and outside. The rotties are inside, 90% of the time.


StmprKB

[targonrotts]

they need plenty of human contact...the main thing, imo, is that you can spend time with them,train,play,and provide proper care.
get to know the breed more.
if you can provide good outdoor comforts, shelter, and water,and be able to bring them in if weather is bad or because they are not feeling well,then why not?
but, i recomend one to start.female better for a beginner in this breed.
also, remember, due to size and color, they are more heat sensitive,so on hot days, they should have option to go in or to a secure shaded shelter.
and make sure your property has secure fencing...high enough and tunnel-proof!

[wowman]

Hi everyone, Sorry for the poorly typed title!! Just read it again and I think my keyboard and my fingers are a little off.. My grammar is much better then this!!

Anyway, thanks for the advise, and yes Targonrotts, I will have excellent shelter for the dog(s) outside that will be attached to the house. As stated, I work from home, so the dog(s) will have plenty of human contact with me for the essentials as well as training. As stated, I will do a lot more research before I go to the next step and actually get one.

Thanks for the opinion of getting a Female Rotty instead of a Male for my first Rott!! Also, do you think that the Rotty will get along great with my current fox terrier?? I assume that it should be ok as long as she grows up with him!! But, my concern was that since Rotties are so smart, they might feel jealousy or envy since the Fox Terrier will be an inside dog and not them.. Or am I thinking way too much into this??

Anyway, thanks again for all of your responses and opinions!! Great advice and Sorry again for the Title.. Like I said, I read it again and I was like, What the hell is this!!! LOL

[Bucky's Mom]

I think your dog will be much happier being inside with you and your family. Rottweilers are so people oriented that you will find out that you have a shadow once you acquire one.

They are also slow to mature and require extensive training over a long period of time so getting ONE then waiting 2 or 3 years while you train is the best way to go.

Do a search here on "outside/inside dogs" and you will find lots of information.

Welcome to the forums.

[BostonRott]

A Rottweiler IS NOT an "outdoor" only dog. Having one as an outdoor only dog IS NOT making the dog part of your family, and a dog who is not part of your family, or your pack, has NO reason to protect you or your property.

Why can the Fox terrier live inside but the Rottweiler can not?

Personally, I don't think you need a Rottweiler if those are your intentions. You're going to create an independant, pig-headed dog who is nothing but a liability to yourself and those who wish to own the breed responsibly.

"The essentials" includes BEING PART OF A FAMILY.

If you want protection, buy a gun. Please.

[wowman]

Guns I've got.... And your opinion is well noted BostonRott... But, you sound very passionate about your statements.. I can understand because you are obviously a well educated and trained Rott owner!! I have read many stories about careless handling and ownership. That is why I am doing an extensive research and questioning of people who own them.. And real life experiences with them..

As for the Fox, it is my wife's dog and it has always been an indoor dog...

Thanks again for your responses!!

[AimeeMB]

Welcome to the forum! I cannot stress enough how much rotties need to be with their people!!!!! As I am typing this, Kizer is laying where he can see me. He always has to see me, and is just as happy as a pig in poop being an inside member of the family. Please consider having them as inside dogs, you won't regret it.

[SonnyRott]

BostonRott is right on the money (as usual).

What is the difference between your wife's dog and your dog? Is the Rottweiler going to be just for you? How does your wife feel about a Rottweiler? This may be a good place to start.

Welcome to the forums and good for you for doing your research BEFORE you buy a dog!

[Canadianrotti]

If you look at the bad press that involves rottis, many times the dogs are outside only dogs. I am not saying that you are going to be one of those stats., or that you will not care for or train the dogs, but think of the life that the dog will have. And getting 2 dogs is not going to solve the problem, you will have 2 bored dogs to deal with instead of one. JMO.

My opinion has always been that crooks are lazy people (why else would they be crooks?), and if your house has dogs (inside), and the one next door does not, then which one are they going to pick?

IMO (and you asked for it), my dogs are the most valuabe thing I have in my life. All other things can be replaced with insurance, or not worth worring about. My first concern is for my dogs saftey and well being. If you want to secure your house, buy a fancy alarm system and keep the dogs inside.

Good luck with your decision, and good on ya for doing the research first!!

[wowman]

As always, excellent replies and very much appreciated!! As for why the Terrier is an indoor dog and not outside is because we got him while we were travelling around. So, in the process, it was always inside either rented apartments or RV's. So, I would think that it would just cause me more headaches if I try to train them both to be outdoor dogs.

And let me make this very clear, I really have no problems with having the Rotties indoor dogs. As stated in the beginning, I was just asking for real world experiences with possibly this option. And it seems that the majority is much in favor of the shadowing the family. Which is fine with me.

How would the option of him being with us all day, but sleeps in his own DogHouse/shelter at night outside?? Is that a better compromise?? Will the Rottie appreciate his own "place" better??

Again, thanks for everyone's input, advise and opinions. Keep them coming, this is by far much better then any book!!

[Bucky's Mom]

[quote=wowman]How would the option of him being with us all day, but sleeps in his own DogHouse/shelter at night outside?? Is that a better compromise?? Will the Rottie appreciate his own "place" better??
QUOTE]

No - he would appreciate his own PLACE inside with you. If you are against him being given free reign in the house he would be happy to sleep in an indoor place you create for him in an extra room somewhere - or in his crate in your bedroom or living room.

Rottweilers are HUGE people dogs -they are happiest when with their people.

There is a member here who has a wonderful signature line- to paraphrase it:

If you want a pet to keep outside - get a tree.

[Francisca Lopez]

Hi Wowman, I too am new fairly new to the forum and new to and inside dog and new to a Rottweiler. So it was something I contemplated as well. We have an acre of property full of huge pecan trees that our little one loves to go out and play fetch and hide and seek in but she is supervised while outside as well, I cant imagine someone coming up to our yard to hurt or try to steal her (I think I would show some teeth and growl like a bear ) and she loves to go out and play and burn some energy as she is still a very very hyper little one but she is very ready to come in to her home so I do agree that they are very much inside dogs and are very clean and if shown the rules of the house keep to their area when they are not laying on your feet while doing dishes or lounging around they kid you not when told you will have a shadow, as long as she can see us she is happy. I cant imagine our home without her now, if you would have asked me a year ago I would have said oh no!! never will a big dog be in my house now I wonder where my big dog is I now see a big part of our family, don know if some would agree with it but she still sleeps in her kennel right beside our bed at night and probably will stay there, I like being able to see her as much as she enjoys seeing and smelling us. Good luck on your decision this is one smart, beautiful package of a dog to be left outside without their masters