Adding a Rottweiler Puppy Into The Mix

[neoshake]

I've been wanting a Rottweiler for some time now and I'm probably just a few weeks away from finally acquiring a Rottweiler puppy. My girlfriend and I will be getting married soon and she owns two Maltese. One of her dogs weighs 5 pounds and the other weighs 15 pounds. She is concerned that if I bring a Rottweiler into the mix she might come home from work some day and find one or both of her dogs in a bloody mess.

Can someone tell me if this is a legitimate fear? My feeling is that if this Rottweiler is introduced to his two Maltese brothers as a puppy that there will be no problems when he reaches adulthood. Am I wrong?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[dmoniz]

My minpin (11lbs) and Rott (90lbs) get a long great. That said they are separated when we are not home, they each have their own crate. Even thought they get along and play well together there is still the chance that the minpin could get hurt by accident.

[Judi W]

Expect a puppy to be plucking some of that fancy coat out!

[neoshake]

Hi Judi,

Funny! But neither Maltese has the classic show-dog coat. They look and act more like ruffians. Would you agree with dmoniz? Will these dogs need to remain separated while their masters are away?

[Blair]

I have a 2 lb chihuahua and a 100lb Rottweiler [and a 7 month Great Dane] and everyone gets along great. The Rottweiler pretty much just leaves the Chihuahua alone unless the Chi comes to him to play. Then my Rottie will lay on the ground and play with the Chi. My Chi is 2 yrs old and my Rottie is 1 yrs old, so my Rottie has been with the Chi since he was a puppy. Also even though they all get along great I keep them seprated when we are not at home. All it takes is one step on my Chi, all it takes is one accident. They are never left unsupervised. When I am home they will run the house together, but only if I am supervising them.

[Miabella]

Yes, definitely separate them. The size difference is too great, the potential for accidental injury is large. We are not talking about you coming home to a "bloody mess", it's that any rough play between a 90 lb Rott and a 5-15 lb. Maltese can spell disaster for the little one. One swipe of a Rottweiler paw on the back of a 5 lb. dog could break its spine.

These dogs could live harmoniously together, but you can't allow rough play and you will have to separate them when you can't supervise. Like dmoniz stated, this is accomplished easily enough with a crate.

[neoshake]

Thanks for all your posts.

Are there any board members here who own a Rott and a smaller dog which are never separated?

[Miabella]

Why are you willing to take the chance? This makes no sense to me.

[neoshake]

Only curious.................

[StephanieandToby]

There is a man at one of the dog parks here who has the tallest Rottweiler I have ever seen...(size of Gr. Dane.....I'm not kidding)
He also has two Bichon Frise....The three of them get along famously...in fact, I think one of the little guys rules the roost!

I would also agree to crate...or at least seperate them with a baby gate...

[Blair]

My Rott and Chi pretty much spend all the time together. Only when we leave they arent. And since I dont work and my husband doesnt get off till like 730pm, that means I am pretty much home all day. As I type this all 3 of my dogs are in the Living Room with me sleeping. When the big dogs play rough with easch other my Chi will just go under the couch on in his crate. People are amazed on how well all 3 of my boys get along with each other. Its because of all the training I put into all 3 of my boys.

[carolynnl4]

Originally Posted by Miabella

Yes, definitely separate them. The size difference is too great, the potential for accidental injury is large. We are not talking about you coming home to a "bloody mess", it's that any rough play between a 90 lb Rott and a 5-15 lb. Maltese can spell disaster for the little one. One swipe of a Rottweiler paw on the back of a 5 lb. dog could break its spine.

A lot of people might call me paranoid, but I even separate our golden retriever (60 lbs) and rottweiler (90lbs). They both have long legs, and sometimes, even during supervised play, they get wound up in each other and Riley (golden) ends up yelping and limping the rest of the night.
I would hate for something to happen when I wasn't there, and me come home to find one of them has permanent injury that could've been fixed with immediate medical attention.

[My Teddy Bear]

Its in the way you introduce your rottie to the other dogs. If you try to seperate the dogs your rotties only reaction to them will be to attack. But if you introduce them as the rottie is a puppy it will be fine. I betcha that they'll grow up to be good buddies

[Miabella]

Teddy Bear, that is complete bunk! Separating a large dog from small ones when you aren't there to supervise will not cause them to attack. AND introducing a puppy is absolutely no guarantee that accidents won't happen. In fact, a boisterous, large breed puppy is probably more likely to injure a small dog than a mature, well-adjusted adult dog. I'm sorry, but that post is inaccurate start to finish.

[LavenderRott]

If you are aquiring a puppy, I would think that you would want to crate train so that you don't come home to a mess, period. Between accidents on the floor and everything chewed up, I think I might be less worried about little dogs and more worried about electric cords.

I have a 35 pound dog and a 45 pound dog. Always crated when I walk out the door for longer then the two minutes it takes to take out the trash.