Preserving The Rottweiler Legacy (HELP!!!)

[LunaBell]

Bare with me, this is a little on the LONG side, but my hope it that my experience will shine some light on a dark corner in human nature.

I went into a chat room for the first time ever yesterday with the idea that I might meet other people with common interests. I actually went in there on my day off from work with the expectation to escape the stress of the upcoming holidays. I posted a picture of Luna on my profile and started getting rude, ignorant comments within minutes of being on-line.

"Rottweilers attack more people throughout the world than any other breed.",one chatter claimed. I immediately asked where he found this statistic and asked that he provide me with his source. "Well, it's a commonly accepted and fully supported fact, everyone knows that!" I then proceeded to talk about the breed and common misconceptions. I explained that this powerful, intelligent, working breed isn't for everone and requires a certain type owner to properly raise a well balanced Rottie.

"All dogs within the working group aren't meant to be family pets. That's not what they were bred for and that's why so many people get attacked by dogs within the classification." I explained that this was completely false and that the Rottweiler is KNOWN as a highly social breed and incredibly capable of adapting to most environments and tasks. No one would own dogs if we only purchased or adopted a dog based on its AKC breed group classification. All dogs are classified within a group based on each breeds original purpose. I guess with that mentality no one should even consider owning a sporting dog if they aren't a hunter.

"Rotties, need a super dominant owner. All rotties need to be smacked now and then when they are puppies to show them who is boss. They need to be hit and pinned whenever they misbehave." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I proceeded to explain that breeds get their bad reputations from bad owners(or just lack of knowledge), poor training (socialization), BYB, and multiple ignorant people passing around myths that instill fear within the general public. The general public feeds on the horrific stories and choose to accept random comments as absolute fact. Beating a rottweiler or any dog for that matter, to obtain dominance just instills fear not respect. Dogs establish a respectful relationship with their owner through proper training and plenty of positive experiences. I have discovered through my experience at an emergency clinic that most dogs labled as "aggressive" try to bite simply out of fear, not instinctual aggression. Regardless, as much diversity and sterotyping the majority of humans have overcame in their lifetimes, I thought most reasonable adults fully supported "not judging a book by its cover" or be able to grasp the concept that a sterotype isn't the best way to build a strong case against something. Obviously, I was wrong.

Multiple "pet lovers" told me that I was simply searching for justification to own a vicious breed and that I had NO idea what I was talking about. I had an entire room spouting off random rumors about the breed and horrific comments about my sanity for owning a known "baby killer" when I have a toddler.

I became flustered and realized that regardless of what I say in defense of the breed I love, those settled in ignorance will never hear my words. Supported facts and me sharing my first hand experiences will never supercede decades of force fed "socially accepted" myths due to the mass hysteria led by the ignorant. The media banks on the idea that humans are much more interested in tragedy rather than positive events. An attack by a large, powerful dog sparks more interest and outrage than a heart-felt story of a Rottie rescuing his owner from certain death.

Believe it or not, but someone actually did learn something from this conversation, me. I had been blind of the fact that a multitude of the general population are fed false information daily, in hundreds of different subjects, in which ignorance acts as the life support to rumors and lies. I know that in the past I too have fallen vicim to ignorance and have probably defended a topic without considering the other side of the fence. This experience has taught me to remain open minded and accept nothing as fact until I sort through other possibilities.

I really feel passionate about Rottweilers and don't expect others to develope the same love I have for the breed, but perhaps I can spark others to at least question if the general lable society has placed on this breeds shoulders in fully deserved. It's not hard to change a single person's negative view of this breed, but what seems to be the challenge is being able to make a permenent mark in the general public as a whole.

This is where I open this forum for all of you to step in and offer suggestions on how we can minimize the negative sterotyping our breed faces. If you are already taking a stand in your community, what exactly are you doing or have you done in the past? I would love to read your personal experiences with actual victories (to any degree) with your fight to perserve this breed and your rights as a responsible owner (like having a breed restriction set by a home owners association adjusted to be more flexible or better yet completely removed?) I will appreciate any support, ideas, stories or any general input.

Thanks Guys!

Megan
(Phew! I'm finally done ranting! Well at least for now!)

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by Lunabell

This is where I open this forum for all of you to step in and offer suggestions on how we can minimize the negative sterotyping our breed faces. If you are already taking a stand in your community, what exactly are you doing or have you done in the past? I would love to read your personal experiences with actual victories (to any degree) with your fight to perserve this breed and your rights as a responsible owner (like having a breed restriction set by a home owners association adjusted to be more flexible or better yet completely removed?) I will appreciate any support, ideas, stories or any general input.

Well, first of all, you can't educate those that don't want it. You can talk (type) till you're blue in the face, (or numb in the finger!), and it's not going to help. Sorry to be a nincompoop about that, but human nature is just that - people believe what they choose to based upon the information (or misinformation) they receive.

That being said, I do make an example of my dogs when I'm in public with them. They are well behaved, and what I consider excellent ambassadors for the breed.

I do take my dogs out in public often - whether I'm just going to the corner to put gas in the van, to the local watering hole, or to a park to train. People constantly see me with a rottweiler - a rottweiler who is under control, and pleasant to be around.

I use Deiter for demonstration in my puppy class; usually there is a large, loud gasp when I take him out of the van and bring him into the yard (LOL), but when they see this magnificant boy peforming a simple obedience routine, they relax immediately, and I believe, they get encouragement to follow through with training their own puppies

That being said, if my dogs were not under control in public, I'd be doing our breed a major disservice.

I educate through my job, and by doing the little things I do socially with my dogs.

I know it gets discouraging when you come across clowns like the ones you did in that chat room, unfortunately, no matter what you said, you probably only cemented what they perceive as fact even more.... they had no visuals to go by, and you were simply someone who was trying to disprove what they believed was correct - most people don't like it when you tell them they're wrong...

Getting involved locally, reaching out to one person at a time - that's usually a safer bet.

Remember, sometimes it's not the right moment to educate people. I ran across one of those situations in a restaurant a couple of weeks ago while damp was visiting Florida. A woman opened her mouth and started giving us too much information about her 'breeding' program (she had bred a rottweiler with a cane corso, and was quite proud of herself!!) - damp and I both looked at each other and in unison said, "Tonight's a night for fun, not education!"

[BostonRott]

The best thing you can do is have your dog be an ambassador of good will and stay out of other people's faces about the issue. Those who are willing to learn will ask you intelligent questions and be willing to listen. Those who just want to stir the pot.....well, you've already encountered them. Answer questions calmly and politely and when it gets out of hand, as you saw, calmly bow out, with the suggestion that when they are ready to be open-minded and adult, you'd be happy to answer any more questions.

[LunaBell]

Although it's hard for me to understand, I know that there are plenty of people out there unwilling to bend their reasoning for bad mouthing the breed. I suppose my hope is that I will be able to reach those out there that can be reached.

I suppose I am already doing my part as a responsible owner. I already get comments on how confident and friendly my pup is when we are out in public. Most of the time people can't seem to grasp the concept that she could even be a Rottie or has to be a mix because she is just so social. I take such pride in her behavior while we go out and love the positive remarks on her mellow temperment while little do they know that she really isn't a mellow pup at all, but rather a well trained and behaved Rott.

When I first got Luna I doubted that taking her to training classes would be any different than training on my own at home. After being persueded to persue good quality training I realize that classes are the way to go. I often compare notes with other owners in a socilization group we go to on the weekends and it is apparent that Luna behaves better then most adult dogs.... LOL! My little ambassador is on her way to proving that Rottweilers aren't the mean, vicious dogs some once thought.

[BostonRott]

I guess I would warn you for your own personal preservation: this battle has been fought for decades before you, and you can see how far it's gotten.

Do you part, train your dog and don't think that you're going to revolutionize the idiots. Their villages let them go for a reason. If you really think that you'll make huge strides in changing people's minds, you're going to set yourself up for a lot of disappointment. Many will give you lipservice, act like they accept what you're saying, etc. But then when it comes down to the real truth, that's all it was: lip service.

I've lived this in my own neighborhood. People I thought were friends, and who seemed to listen to what I was saying and understand what I was teaching about the breed, dogs in general etc.........jumped right on the band wagon with "everyone else" when suddenly my dogs' breed became an issue in the neighborhood.

Few will truly open their minds and be willing to learn. You'll know them when you meet them. The rest.....who cares. If you let them get to you, or think you can really educate them, you're going to be in for years of disappointment. Time is better spent enjoying your dog!

[JaniceH]

To preserve the breed I just simply invest my energy into bringing my rottie, Teazle, up in the most responsible way I can.

I visit this forum to learn how to ensure I do the very best for her to raise her up to be a well mannered, balanced, happy and sociable girl. Then when she travels with me or I take her to places, she presents a good picture of the Rottweiler. I have received many comments about her, and my previous rott, and how gentle and well behaved they are. I have even been thanked by someone who was afraid of rottweilers but loved dogs, because Teazle was so gentle and endearing with him. Quite a few people have been shocked when I confirm that she is a Rottweiler...I think they expected a real devil dog.

If people are so blinkered, then you do not really stand a chance. I can tell by some people's faces and even the look of contempt on the occasional one, that it isn't worth trying to reason with them. It is their loss and yes this wonderful breed still suffers from a negative reputation, so they lose out too.

I am sorry but I haven't been pro-active in any other way, perhaps I should.

[BuckshotSableMolly]

This is so aggravating. I just keep reminding myself that not everyone is open to learning. Just the other day I was at work and someone saw a picture of Lexus. The first comment was, 'Those dogs are for crack dealers'. I simply had to laugh and remind them that they are the breed of my choice and they didn't have to agree or disagree. I also have to chuckle to myself whenever I have been training at one of the local parks and you see all of these 'other' dogs running around, barking and carrying on. Take a look and most of the time, the 'vicious' breeds are behaving nicely... quiet and observant.

[TR Young]

I say we find all the offending people, cover them in gravy, and let our Rotties LICK 'EM TO DEATH!!!!



I couldn't say anything better than what was posted by everyone else above, so I decided to go with humor.

[Em396]

Humor is always good.

I think that as long as responsible Rottweiler people keep up what their doing, the Rotty has a chance. Part of the problem with the Rottweiler's bad reputation is that there are so many stupid owners who don't take care of them. Too often I've seen certain kinds of people with Rottweilers because the dog makes them look "cool", or at least they think they do, lol. It's too bad that there isn't some sort of license or something one would have to get in order to have a dog. It'd be an extra nuisance but it might deter some people because they'd deem it too much work.

I don't have a Rotty (yet!) but I've loved this breed for years. I know this won't work for everyone, but I try to keep a sense of humor about this topic when I talk to people who don't like/are afraid of Rottweilers. So far, it's gone pretty well. There are always a few who refuse to change their minds but it's their loss and we can't change people, unfortunately. Just keep working with the breed and raising good Rottweilers!

[LunaBell]

Originally Posted by TR Young

I say we find all the offending people, cover them in gravy, and let our Rotties LICK 'EM TO DEATH!!!!



I couldn't say anything better than what was posted by everyone else above, so I decided to go with humor.

I was thinking that it should be ordered that the offensive people, the BYB and the bad owners all dress up like Rottweilers and have a huge group of people come an taunt them.

Man am I mean or what?

[SollysMom]

I will say that I've noticed that as many people that say something ignorant about the breed, I find myself surprised by the amount of people who come up to us when we are out stating, "they had one and they are a great breed", or "they had a friend who had one and it was a big love"...etc. Sometimes I have to remember that the person that grabbed their dog and walked in the opposite direction @ the park will be followed by a person that will gladly come up and pet our smiling rotti ASKING QUESTIONS INSTEAD OF ASSUMING. Luckily our homeowner association has not set any guidelines on dogs yet. I do know there are 3 other rotts in our neighborhood that are inside family dogs. (Wev'e been stopped on walks and introduced:) We are waiting for the time they try to set a breed ban in our homesowners.... WE will be there with bells on! :)

[TR Young]

Originally Posted by SollysMom

We are waiting for the time they try to set a breed ban in our homesowners.... WE will be there with bells on! :)

AMEN to that!!
And I also agree about having people come up and greet you and your Rottie with smiles and questions instead of ignorant assumptions; I have encountered that, too. I was nearly blown away when I found out that my (follow me here...) sister-in-law's mother-in-law, who is in her late 60s or early 70s, found out about my Rottie and she made the statement that "they are a truly magnificent, majestic breed", and that she loves them. Could have knocked me over with a feather!

[Imre0538]

Well, I have gotten very weary 'fighting the good fight' ..........I have been to too many places and heard "is that a rock you got?" "Is that a rock?" and had peolple to climb the walls screaming bloody murder from me just walking in with my dogs........ seen too many clients walking out of the clinic with a highly disobedient and/or bad tempered rottie that I know is going on to even more sully the reputation of an already misunderstood breed..........working in a vet clinic I somtimes get a hopeless feeling, like its just too many.........how can there be so many people out there like this??
Now, by all means I have not totally given up hope, I know that for me to have a right to own my dogs, giving up is not an option; I still maintain to every one that my dogs are well and fully trained, and anyone that I see is having an issue with a large breed dog, especially rotties I attempt to correct them in a 'non-confrontational' 'non-critical' way as not to offend them, and as you all know, some take the suggestions and are thankful and appreciative, and some get offended like some parents that some one is 'telling how to raise their fur kids' and it goes in one ear and out another. It angers me very much that there are people out there like that that engulf and propagate such 'doggie racism' and will sit there and argue you down based upon 'what they heard'. I am very sorry that you were verbally attacked in such a manner.........but I look at it this way....that's one less ignorant person that WON'T buy a rottweiler and can go out and get a 'yip yip' dog because clearly its acceptable for them to act in such a manner. I would truly like for the rotties rep to be better, however, I fear that it would create a popular surge of rottie numbers which we do not want. I am also grateful for those that admire my dogs beauty and grandeur.........they make everything better to know that the world is not totally populated by ignorant people Like at obedience class there is a guy there that thinks my male is 'sooo handsome' as he always says, and I figure he will go out and spread the word, like a 'pay it forward' type thing.
I will fight for their name tooth and nail, and I wish someone would pull a 'Denver' on me, it would be a hell of a fight....but as you have realized LunaBell and I had to learn it in just such a manner as you did, you just can't fight everyone all the time, I have learned the "whatever" look and it is especially sweet when their dogs are climbing the wall and my 2 are sitting there all nice and calm.
I wish we could like have a "Rotties On Parade" where we parade all the well raised and trained rotties, maybe that should be included as an activity of RottStock! ; and I do agree that there should be a required license to own a dog...maybe like in the fashion that you earn a CPR certification.
Perseverance, Training, and Leading by example will keep the breed safe and pull us through.

[TR Young]

Imre0538, that last post was just about perfect. You did hit the nail on the head with the following statement...

I would truly like for the rotties rep to be better, however, I fear that it would create a popular surge of rottie numbers which we do not want.

That is the balance of nature. If everyone tried to be Rottie owners, there would be problems, and if noone were Rottie owners... well, that would just make the world (and my home) a very vanilla place to live.

Keep up the good fight; we are all right there with you!

[LunaBell]

Originally Posted by Imre0538

I do agree that there should be a required license to own a dog...maybe like in the fashion that you earn a CPR certification.
Perseverance, Training, and Leading by example will keep the breed safe and pull us through.

I also agree that licensing classes should be required before the purchase or adoption of any breed. I honestly believe that if such laws were passed a large majority of the unprepared potential pet owners would decrease. It would make buying a puppy based on its cuteness factor difficult and would make those breeding dogs unethically much less profitable. City agencies and home owner associations could eliminate breed restrictions and simply demand proof of a responsible pet owner license.

My old home owner association stictly restricted the ownership of Rottweiler in any home within the community. Luckily we managed to move into a new home away from the restrictions, but we can't keep running. If our community chooses begining breed restrictions I will be forced to take a stand.