Raising a Rottie with a small dog-I need advice

[Triciao26]

My boyfriend and I are wanting to add a rottweiller puppy to our household. I need advice from you folks. We have done research on the breed and feel this is the type of dog we are looking for, however, right now I own a 1.5 year old pug who weighs 18lbs. He is very rambunctious and loves to play with other dogs of all sizes. He is not aggressive, however he seemingly has no fear when it comes to other dogs. My concern is that although a rottie puppy and my pug will get along for awhile....I fear for the pug's safety when the rottie gets to be significantly larger than him. Does anyone have experience with adding a rottie to a household with a smaller dog? Would getting a female rottie be better than getting a male? I am hoping that there are many of you out there who have wonderful examples of the 2 living peacefully together I would appreciate any information that you could provide to me. Thanks.

[Leahjean]

I'll bet they will do just fine,When I got my 1st.Leah(Lost her to osteosarcoma in March,she was my angel)I had a 8#toy poodle,and believe me she was the boss,Leah was a rescue and 9mo when I got her,this little Mandy would stand up to Leah without hesitation,I also have a 12yo Dobe I got as a pup Moriah,8weeks old and she thought Mandy was her mother ,I think,but anyway Mandy also ruled her!!!I'm very serious,they would even look closely before they walked past her ,so she would'nt growl,She died at 14yo and that left Moriah,the dobe boss, so whosever there when they come,it seems to me in my experience that they respect them as the Alpha. No one bothered Mandy...Moriah and Leah only got into it when my son was around(jealousy)No one ever got hurt or even a bite,Now we have (2 )5mo. Rottie Brother and sister and Moriah and of course Moriah is still Boss Dog and Little Leah is boss of her brother,he is so laid back and sweet,Leah will bark across the room if he and she has a bone,if he looks her way she starts,she is a female and the word is Bitch, and they got that right,they are so different from Baron and other Males I've had.But she is a real sweetheart except when it comes to posessions,he cant have it,no matter what it is...She does let him eat and have some water tho...!!!She's not all bad.. If you have a Male already tho,I think I would get a female,hey these guy's need kept in line anyway....and really the Rotties are sweethearts and you keep them both in check and teach them you are really the only Alpha there not them. Don't be afraid because of size I've found it matters not,it's Intelligent dicipline and Love that works...you'll get alot more opinions,just take what you can from them and dispose of the rest.... Hope everything works out,let us know what you decide and when you get the Rott Maybe you can post a Picture.. Jean

[Jean]

I think there would be no problem since you're raising your rottie from a pup.
Many times I take care of strays before finding them homes or spay/neuter them, my rottie(3yr3mo) is the only one (I have 3 dogs)that would get very little sleep to look after the pups and is always so happy to have new friends.
We have a new comer now - a stray pup less then 20 days being bitten by mice I'm bottle feeding him and Lion is a very good helper - the pup is now sleeping with Lion ( snoring) once the pup wakes up he jumps up right away to let me know the feeding time, very cute to watch a large dog with a tiny pup .

[Triciao26]

Thanks for your reply. The reason I have such reservation is because 2 years ago I owned a doberman (who has since died of lymphoma). My parents asked me if I could watch their little terrier cross (he is acually fat...so he is not that little). I agreed because the dogs had been together numerous times before with no problems. The only difference (and it didn't dawn on me at the time) was the now I would be bringing the terrier x into my home, and not be bringing my dobe into my parents' home. Well...the first few days went fine, but the terrier cross made the mistake of jumping into my lap while my doberman was right beside me and my doberman attacked the little dog. The terrier cross lost an eye because of the attack. It was one of the worst experiences that I have ever been through. My hope was that if my new rottie was raised from the start with my pug, that they could establish who is the alpha long before the rottie is too large to do anyting about it. So I really appreciate any words of encouragement. Thanks for your advice...it sounds like that poodle really ruled the roost! Oh...and just in case you're wondering, the terrier x "Zach" is doing just fine...fat and happy with one eye

[Thomas Peuschel]

We do have a 3 year old Rotti-Lady and a 4 year old mixed breed lady of smaller size at our home. Both have been raised up from puppy.
First our smaller lady was very jealous and did not allow our Rotti pup to play with her toys. When the Rotti-Lady has grown up to 6, 7 month some troubles started because both ladies were fighting for the best position in our family. After two month of waiting we ourselves made them clear, that we do not accept such a behaviour in our family. From this time on we never had any problems anymore.
Both are living in peace together and are also playing together.
Now, beeing grown up totally our Rotti-Lady is the Boss and our smaller Ladies has accepted this totally.
It is a real fun to have both dogs in our family, we love them both.
Pictures and informations on our dogs can be found on our homepage

(http://www.zant-rottweiler.de)

[Fergy]

I have a Rottweiler and a Pomeranian. They get along fine. The Rottie actually watches out for the little guy. Introduce them as pups, they be fine.

[Vicki]

Bear was my first rottie, and he was a very big boy. Anyhow, I was keeping a little lab puppy for a few days. I had him in a playpen, so he wouldn't be underfoot. I'm in the kitchen and here comes the tap tap tap of little feet. I admit to speaking rather loudly in the direction of my husband, as I thought he had failed to put the puppy back in the playpen. So I put him back, and sure enough, a minute later, tap tap tap of little toes in the kitchen. So I put him back, again, and kind of peered around the door. Bear leaned in over the top of the playpen and gently lifted the puppy out. Then he stood there with one paw up off the floor, waiting for the puppy to quit dashing back and forth before he set that massive paw down. So no, I don't worry about rotties and smaller dogs.

------------------

[New Rottie Owner]

I think they'd be fine since you're raising the rott with the pug. I had a 9 month old Welsh Corgi when we got our Rott. My corgi thinks she's the boss and loves to bounce off her in the back yard. They like to occasionally play rough but my Rott seems to realize she's much bigger and stronger than the Corgi because she's never taken it any further than just playing. I wouldn't expect any problems.

[AngelBunny]

Triciao26:

Why does the Rottie have to be a puppy? I'm assuming you and your boyfriend are interested in a pet and a buddy.

If that's the case, I encourage you to consider a rescue dog. Rescue is full of dogs--of all ages with various levels of training--who are in desperate need of loving forever homes. Since rescue dogs typically live with a family, they have experience with people of all ages and sizes, and they often live with other pets.


[This message has been edited by Phoenix (edited October 11, 2000).]

[jenawel]

I have a rottie and a daucshund. They get along just fine. They play together great. Of course the rott girl is much bigger and can fit her whole mouth around the daucshund's body, she is never mean and would never hurt my little boy. I think you should go for it if this is the right breed for you. Also it does depend on if the dogs like each other. they might not get along just because they do not get along.

[Fergy]

AngleBunny, It may be easier all around to start out with a puppy. The pups learn to live with one another and see themselves as family dispite the size difference which comes on gradually. This being so, as I have witnessed, the Rottie while growing will actually be aware of himself and his smaller partner so as not to step on them. They also seem to come up without being too territorial. I have (2) males same as last time and only went through a marking issue once.

[This message has been edited by Fergy (edited June 26, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Phoenix (edited October 11, 2000).]

[Triciao26]

Thank you your replies. I really appreciate your words of encouragement. I am considering a rescue rottie, but I really feel that a puppy would be best in order to ensure that these 2 dogs grow up harmoniously. I am not completely adverse to getting a young adult, however, if she (or he) seemed to "hit it off" with my little pugger. Do you think I am better off getting a female since my pug is a male?

[This message has been edited by Triciao26 (edited June 26, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Phoenix (edited October 11, 2000).]

[AngelBunny]

Triciao26:

OK, so I'm a single string fiddle, but I still think rescue can help you.

Perhaps you're not aware that bitches come into rescue pregnant and so their puppies are born into rescue programs; sometimes puppies come into rescue, for whatever reason. Do look into the rescue program for your geographic area.

If you wait long enough, a dog--the age, the sex, with the level of training and background you want (is good with cats, kids, ferrets, etc.)--will come into rescue.

As an example, when I drove home from volunteering at a rescue day, my passenger was a 10 week old Rottie bitch. I drove her to another volunteer who took her to yet another volunteer where she stayed for about two weeks. She was spayed, got a vet check and shots and then she went to her forever home.

Since your pug is a male, I suggest a female.

Fergy:

Rescue dogs typically live in family situations and many of these families have dogs of their own. A rescue dog in such a situation would be quite comfortable going to a forever home that already has dogs. You don't have to start with a puppy to get the dog you want.

[Triciao26]

Angel...I have already connected with a rottie rescue in my area and I am keeping an eye out for something that will work for us. I agree with you that going "rescue" is a great way to go. I worked for a Humane Society and helped my parents rescue this great little dog (which they still have 12 years later). I will certainly be open-minded to rescue. I have had a tough time convincing my boyfriend that this is the way to go, however. He feels that "you don't know what you're getting"....but I tell him that you don't necessarily know what you're getting when you buy from a breeder either...so I am "working" on him. Thanks for your advice.