Just got a Rotti

[kimmee]

Congrats on your new family member. First thing you need to do is get into obedience classes or your gonna have a bundle of trouble on your hands. Rotts are very smart but have no idea what you want if you don't teach them. Chaining is a bad idea for various reasons. Dogs that are chained tend to get mean, your taking the chance of the dog getting off the chain, and there are endless possibilities of what could happen to them. Also the chain or cable could get wrapped around their leg. My sis in law, (i won't even go into how irressponsible she is) had a beautiful male rott who got caught up in the cable and it wrapped around his leg. He had to have his leg amputated. needless to say I ended up with him.

As far as feeding I feed Olivia 3 times a day, when we eat. That way she's not wanting our food, or feeling left out while the family is eating without her.

You need to spend as much time as possible with Sasha. And take turns going to obidence classes. Let her get used to haveing to obey both you and your fiance. So far all 3 of my rotts have prefered me to hubby. They mind me the first time and hubby has to say it several times. Because I have been the primary caregiver, and hubby is gone alot. Roxanne would even go so far as to look at me when hubby gave her a command, to see if she had to. The look on her face was priceless. Like mom do I have to do what he says? And she also responded to my answer. If I nodded she went ahead and complied, If I didn't she waited til I did. You don't want this behavior. You want you and hubby to be able to control her equally.

Ask questions, there are alot of very knowledgable people here who can teach you tons!! Good Luck!

[Canadianrotti]

Just a quick thought here. Your job as the owner of a dog is to protect THEM from the world not the other way round. 99% of dogs will do no more than bark unless they are trained to do so. There are some people out there that will steal your dog because it is a rotti, and use it for breeding or dog fighting. There is also the issue of liability if somone gets hurt by your dog, even if they wander on to your property. Others here have had kids go into their yards to "play with the puppy", fenced or not.

Not to scare you, but it is a big resposibility to own a dog, and even bigger with a Rotti.

As you are renting, consider a dog run. It can be locked, and moved easily. Rottis NEED to be with their family, they do best when included as a part of all the family doings.

Good luck with the training, and keep hangin' out here, there is a tonn of great info.

[Puppy Love]

We use the stake with two of our dogs BUT we are always with them We NEVER leave them tied out alone. (They won't #2 on a hand held they are weird)

[hmeadq]

Even though you are on a budget please do not dismiss feeding very good food out of hand. Good food means a ton to your new baby. We feed Innova and it is $40 for a 33 pound bag. That sounds like a lot, I know. But when we were feeding Eukenuba it was half as much cost but he ate twice as much of it. Do searchs here on foods, you will be amazed at what is a good food and what is less good.

At our beginning obedience classes both I and my fiance' went. We took turns with the dog. We did this for the first three 6 week classes, now just I bring him because we are starting to work on more advanced stuff, but my fiance' works with him on the basics (sit, stay, come, down, ect) a little every day. But more advanced commands like "finish," "front," and "get" he does not need to as he has no desire to work with Doc in a competive setting.

We tie Doc in the backyard when we are working outside and are within eye shot. When he can see us he happily plays with his ball or sleeps under the tree or tries to dig a hole, but as soon as I pop in the garage to get something or step behind a bush to start the water he is on his feet at the end of the lead and watching. He will bark if I'm gone for more then 20 seconds. I hope he never gets comfortable being tied.

Being in a crate durning the day is better then being tied. We have 5 acers and Doc is NEVER off leash. He gets potty walks and real walks every day. and they are great bonding time. It helps the dog associate you with all good things, not that you just put him on his line.

Have fun and consider microchipping your baby. Its a tag he'll never loose.