Sleeping in bed???

[Killfactor]

Rotties, being very dominant dogs, should always be one rung down on the ladder. You should be the alpha leader, The alpha gets the choice spots to eat, sleep, and enters and exits territory first. I once read that dominant dogs are not born, rather, gain dominance over some period of time. However, on your behalf, many people do let their dogs sleep with them with never having a problem.

[German Vanegas]

You are bound for some serious dominant behavior problems. You should never allow a powerful Rottweiler to feel like he is at your ( the handler/master) level. Sooner or later, you will be dealing with a challenge of authority from your Rott. It won't be pleasant... and it may be already too late!

[Orville Story]

OK, I agree that this "could" be a problem, but I have one that jumps into my bed after the wife gets up every morning. My dog KNOWS that I am the alpha so it is OK. Rotties can be very affectionate, but they can be dominate too. If you don't have a dominate problem I say let them sleep in the bed. Here is a test to see if you have a problem. BE CAREFUL while doing this test. Give the dog a bone with a little meat on it, now after he starts chewing on it reach down and take it away from him. If he lets you have it then he can sleep in the bed. If he eats you up make him stay on the floor.

[Liz]

We've reached a compromise If I go to bed first, Janni has to sleep on the floor because if she's allowed to sleep on the bed, she won't let Bret into bed without a LOT of growling and snarling.

If Bret goes to bed first I have no problems - but then, she's my dog <G>

Molly just has to have a cookie to get off the bed and into her crate. If Bret's off hunting or working out of town, they all sleep in bed with me, but it's not something I'd recommend to novice owners!!!!

Liz

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http://www.inxpress.net/~harkon/

[dogluvr]

I own 2 Rotts and both of them sleep with us in our bed each night. Several people have advised me that this is not a good idea. I don't know why this would be a bad idea. The dogs seem to enjoy the cuddling and we've never had a problem (except that they steal the covers). Any opinions on this???

[Lady B]

Both of mine sleep with us, always have. We don't have a dominance problem -- just a space challenge on the bed!! If I want 'em off or to move it's a simple "get down","aus" or "MOVE!". Baron is the only one who does not like to give us extra space. This Rottie has learned how to "ground" himself wherever he is. Try moving him physically and it's like trying to move a ton of rocks!! He grumbles a bit but never growls or snaps. And then simply settles back in. Lady grumbles at anything if it does not serve her royal highness' interests -- never snaps or growls. Just grumble, grumble, grumble!!

[German Vanegas]

Liz,
You're talking about a dominance problem ... snarling and growling... well, I shouldn't tell you because I KNOW you're an expert, but I guess you wouldn't argue with me about this particular dominance "show'. That's why I don't advise dog owners to allow their dogs to sleep on anybody's bed. By the bed floor is fine...but in bed with you? Not me, and I do love my dogs to the death.

[This message has been edited by German Vanegas (edited December 22, 1998).]

[Hackel]

Personally, I don't allow our dogs to sleep with us in bed. Someone once said:

"If you treat your dogs like people, they will treat you like a dog."

I love my dogs to death, but they are still dogs and they know their place in our family. Again, I am not knocking people who allow their dog in bed, it is just not my cup of tea.



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Von Der Ehrenwache Kennels
www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/5378/
***Working dogs are "bred" and rarely "made"***

[Liz]

hehehehe - German, I *know* Janni is a dominant, civil-aggressive bitch who has zero respect for anyone but me, that's why I don't recommend allowing behavior like that for novice owners, but Janni's an old retired lady and I let her get away with a lot of things she really shouldn't because she's the light of my life and I also know from experience that if I tell her to stop what she's doing, she'll stop no matter what it is she has an amazing call off - flips in mid air and comes back to me!!!

My husband is not so fortunate - she tolerates him, but doesn't listen to him and she does feel like she can boss him around, so basically, she's not allowed loose when I'm not around and we have rules, like, she's only allowed on the couch if I'm on it, if I go to bed first, she can't be on the bed because she won't allow Bret to get into bed unless I wake up and tell her to. She has a pillow next to my side of the bed and if I tell her to "go to bed" she lies down on her pillow and she doesn't move till my alarm goes off or I wake up.

Since she's a total velcro dog and follows me everywhere, we don't have that many problems - just don't ever come into my home and raise your voice to me

I'm not an "expert", but then, I'm not a normal dog owner either and Janni is not a normal dog. She's done quite a few things for me in her life which lead me to allow her the few little quirks that make her what she is, and my family agrees (although they don't appreciate being held captive in the bathroom at times)

Liz

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http://www.inxpress.net/~harkon/

[German Vanegas]

Liz,
For the record, I do believe you are an expert in Rotts and dog issues in general (no pun was never intended at all) I guess you should know by now that I do respect and welcome your opinions.

[fersh]

Out of my 5, Jedda is the only one who really wants to sleep on the bed, the boys will occasionally especially when hubby is away for a few days. Jedda is the alpha among the Rotts, but knows who is really boss and will get off straight away when told. She has been known to sneak on in the middle of the night without us knowing tho-not bad on a waterbed!!

[Diane Silver]

Of my three adult rotts my brood bitch (just
spayed) has always slept on my bed. My old
man (Put down last year) slept on my bed from puppyhood. One of the boys has the option to sleep on the bed, but he doesn't like to put up with his mom's bitching so he usually sleeps in the hall in front of the bedroom door. The other boy sleeps in a crate because, of course, boys fight over anything. I'm a woman alone with these guys and I've never had any dominance problems. Belle is in charge of the boys and I'm in charge of Belle. When it's important, they know I'm in charge.

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DianeS

[German Vanegas]

Nice stories for the most part, but I still believe that a large powerful dog shouldn't sleep in bed with the handler. I love dogs dearly, but there are rules and limitations as to what they can do. I'm the boss and they love me and respect me for that.

[fersh]

Hi German, I get where you are coming from. However, my dogs are allowed to sleep on my bed only because I allow them too. It only takes one word or signal to get them off or stop them in the first place. In all my everyday routine they know who is the boss, and yes they too have their limitations. I think they love and respect me and I certainly reciprocate.

[Killfactor]

Dominant dogs are not bred, they are created through actions. They are much better score keepers than us. Allowing them top dog status 51 out of a 100 times, and you may be tested.