How will that Doggie change my life?

[SarasMom]

OK, we all had a great time with the dog expenses. Now here's another one to ponder.

How has your Rottweiler(s) changed your life? What I mean is this: what things do you do differently now that you have a Rottweiler?
I'm hoping to use these topics so that new potential Rottweiler owners know what they are getting into.


1) Dog hair everywhere- Don't expect to ever have an immaculate house after you get your Rottweiler. Just get used to living with large amounts of black dog hair and pawprints.

2) You'll get lots more exercise. Dogs want to go for a walk in hot, cold, or wet weather. Forget about some of those favorite TV shows unless you can figure out how to program that VCR.

3) Recreation-Your Rottie loves you and wants to go everywhere with you. How can you say no to that cute Rottie face? That means making weekend and vacation plans that include your Rottweiler. Heck, I almost never do anything that means my dogs can't come along. No trains or buses. No plane trips because they are too much hassle. And, if you decide to take a vacation without your Rottie, you worry 24-7 about him the whole time you are gone, even though you know he's in good hands.

4) You are going to spend huge amounts of time on your dog. Training, feeding, grooming, trips to the vet, obedience class, etc. The list can go on and on.

5) If you get a puppy, time requirements are through the roof. You can't leave puppy for very long when he is little because he can't hold it too long. You can't sleep for more than 4 hours at a time because puppy has to go out at night. Then there is the constant supervision and training.

6) I can't even imagine how a dog breeder lives.

7) If you decide to show your dog in obedience or conformation, all your weekends are taken up with dog clubs and shows.

Anyway, that's a start. How many more can you think of?

BTW, thanks Roscoe, for giving all us Rottweiler-crazy people a place to come and chat. It's nice to know that there are a few thousand folks as crazy about Rotties as I am.

[HackN2it]

Where do we all begin!!! lol

How about if you get your pup before 8 weeks!

Bite inhabition...Took me awhile to get my pup to stopbiting me and mouthing me!

Chewing, EVERYTHING!, shoes shoe laces, clothes, furniture, electrical cords, my playstation.

Dealing with ignorant people, aka You own one of those aggressive dogs!

Finding a vet that will deal with a Rottweiler!

When they are out of the crate, trying to eat everything that moves and doesn't!

High prey drive! Trying to bite your feet when you are walking/ and pant legs!! When they start to grow then you have kids on bikes, skateboards, roller blades, and just kids and joggers running past!!

Potty training, You have to get up every few hours day and nite to take them out.

Saying NO to the cute little fury faces.

Planning personal time outside of work around your dog, vacations, vet trips.

The large amount of money you will spend on the cute little puppy in the window!! Collars, dog toys, dog food, shots, registration, checkups, and god for bid! An emergency trip to the vets!!

Relatives that like dogs, ones that don't like dogs, alergees.

If you are younger and like to go out all the time..ie...Going to bars, clubs, being irrisponcible.....NOPE, NOT ANYMORE!!! IT'S ALL GONE!!!


I'm sure I can think of more later,

Hack(Gumba's daddy)

[JoJo]

How has my rottweiler changed my life? Well probably being more aware of my surroundings as I walk her. Being more responsible as the statement that Dianne Heller says to new rottie parents, "you are setting an example for all rotties". I also get on my band wagon dicussing the breed and bashing the irresponsible people that are out there that are creating the turmoil about our breed. I have gotten educated. And I have not had so much fun with an animal as I have with my girl Reba.

[laurlitt]

How has my Rottweiler(s) changed my life?

I can't stop smiling while thinking about how my life has changed. Even though there has been lots of not so fun stuff involved the good all out weighs the bad.

1. He has opened me up to a whole new world that I had no idea existed.

2. I no longer shop at the mall for myself but instead shop in the catalogs for (food bowls, collars, leads, crates, oinker-roll, ex-pens, etc.)

3. My friends are chosen through dog activities, not social ones where clothes, cars, $$ make a difference.

4. My extra-curricular activities are now all dog related. I use to think a day at the beach playing volleyball was it, but now it's all about training time, a stroll in the park, a hike on the trails, ... all with the dogs of course!

5. I rarely go see a Dr. when I'm sick, but my dog goes to the vet at the slightest sign of a problem.

6. I went from a 2 door sports car to a Mid-sized van (and have no kids to take to soccer practice!)

7. I no longer vacation as frequently as I did before... too hard to leave the boys behind or have them fly with us! Vacations are now geared around the Rotts. I'm afraid my honeymood will involve them as well!

8. And most importantly I have discovered a whole new meaning to LOVE! A love I wouldn't exchange for all the money in the world.

[2RottieMom]

They definately change your life especially if you have 2 of them. But I love them to death.

It has some down to this - If they can't go, then I don't go.

I have 2 wedding to attend in 2 months. They are both out of state. If I have to go somewhere for the weekend, my parents are more than happy to take care of Gypsy and Dakota. Well, it just so happens that the 2 weddings are relatives so my parents are going. The first one I asked I was told "sure, you can bring them, we have a tree out back that you can tie them to". Yea right, I don't tie them to a tree at my house and I'm not going to tie them to your tree. One wedding down, one to go. The second one I asked I was told "Sure, your cousin such-n-such is bringing his 5 dogs, you can put them all in the garage together". Yea right, 7 unsupervised dogs in a garage together. I think not. So now we have no weddings to go to. Which I'm happy that we don't have to go.

So, if I have no one to watch them, then I don't go. They are like my kids and if they are not included then neither am I.

[JonandMichelle]

Originally posted by 2RottieMom:

It has some down to this - If they can't go, then I don't go.

Isn't that the truth People ask "Why don't you just kennel her/them?" I don't think so

How as my Rotties changed my life? Word's can not explain this alone Wouldn't change it for the world!!!



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Jon & Michelle

[AngelBunny]

My dogs have made me more patient.

[Kozmo]

All the things and so much more make loving the Rottweiler breed so worthwhile.
My short list includes..
1. Not owning any socks that don't have at least 2 Rotty inflicted holes in them.
2. Having a big fenced in yard with woods behind it, I scoop up my 2 boys waste everyday and fling it as far as I can send it through the air. I have mastered the "slapshot" and I think I can get that stuff hurling fast enough to attract some NHL scouts. Cleaning up waste is a necessary chore that one must do each day. (having 2 Rotts is a lot of fun folks) :O)
3. Being shadowed all over the house as I go from room to room. (think were attatched)
4. Telling the wife not to moan to loud when we are doing the "hadibity bibity" in fear the Dogs may think something is wrong.
5. Being woken up at 4am to tell me the newspaper girl has thrown the newspaper in the bushes again.
6. And trading in the Toyota for a Ford Expedition just to accomodate the boys for our trips to the shore has to be the topper.
7. Wondering how my K-9 Rotts managed to kill a skunk and set him nicely on the porch without getting sprayed.

[Sheri/Chonna]

I've always had "dogs"...
Didn't realize with a Rottie (and then add to it his BESTEST friend, the pit bull)
it was so much more than having "dogs"...
IT'S A LIFE... FULL TIME.
And I could not love it more.
My friends have definitely changed - some people just can't take hours of dog stories.
My 9 mo. old boys do NOT sit quietly and wait for me to do... whatever. They DEMAND time, attention, and do it in the funniest, craziest ways.
A clean house and a great yard are things of the past.
My heart being FILLED with a before unknown sense of LOVE and PRIDE and DEVOTION - that is what is there now. I love my 2 daughters - TREMENDOUSLY - They have been my constant source of stories and photos.....
UNTIL the boys. Now THESE GUYS are all loving, all giving; they don't throw fits (too bad); they don't argue (too much); they don't demand new clothes at the mall (just new toys); All in All, I wouldn't trade my Dog Life for ANYTHING!!

**Almost forgot - my Jeep Cherokee that I was SO Proud of cause of the PERFECT interior - the back seat is ALWAYS folded down, and I have added a big black futon mattress - makes rides nice & comfy - and they boys INSIST on rides very regularly. They KNOW my work schedule - if I am leaving and it is not a "work day", there will be HELL to pay if I do not let them come.....

I guess the "nice interior" didn't matter much - at least in the back. It NEVER gets seen!!


[This message has been edited by Sheri/Chonna (edited July 12, 2000).]

all i can say is, my babies have added much additional joy to my life, and along with it, alot of $$$$$$.

i also had a furbaby when i was 21, (sigh, 18 years ago) and I really couldn't afford him. (purchased from a BYB) there were times when he needed to go to the vet, and i didn't have the $$$$ to take him.
also, didn't have the maturity to sacrifice what i should have sacrificed to TAKE him to the vet. (i have no sympathy for myself in those days, if i took on the responsibility of a dog, i should have gone all the way)

TODAY, i take my kids to the vet at the FIRST sign of problems. in fact, i am so paranoid, that when i was dog sitting for a friend, i took HER dog to the vet because i thought he was limping (he wasn't - just the way he walked!!! i wasn't used to it, very different from my kids)

overall, having dogs has really made me grow up. i think i would be the perennial irresponsible teenager without them. today, they really are a priority.




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I love my furry kids!
Soapie and Buddy's Mom

[jeremy0]

Owning a Rottweiler....Well, would winning
1 million dollars change your life. Both can change your life for better or worse, depending on how you plan & why you have, but that all depends on You.

[Gryphon]

How has having a Rott changed my (our) life...

Well before the Rott we had (and still do) a big but very mellow dog, two kids and my cat. THen we wanted and were fortunate enough to be able to get the big house in the country with a perfectly manicured yard etc, etc, etc. Then there was only one thing missing, A ROTT. So we got Gryphon

Now almost all of our time is spent around the Rott or fixing/keeping up with what he has done in the house or to the yard.

As someone else mentioned, I also gave up the 2 seat sports car for the Ford Explorer so I could bring the ROTT everywhere with me, before him, the other dog was OK in my wifes car. Now my wife has a sports car and I get to drive the dogs around.

Then of course there is the money. Money, Money, Money... seems like we spend a fortune on the Rott. The other dog never seems to need anything that cost that much.

Well the list could go on and on and on...

I would not trade it for anything in the world... My Rotten little Gryph IS the world to me.

[Spoiled Rott'n]

Hmmmmm how has Sabre changed my life:
1. Every two to three years I fry the vacuum cleaner, and must buy another one.
2. I have become stronger, how else can I get the 50 lbs of dog food in the trunk!
3. I have become more defensive in speaking about this wonderful breed. I don't keep my mouth shut now!
4. I have taken on another job - they are not cheap. Well worth everything.
5. Vacation - what's that.....
6. I shop for Sabre more and more. Thrift stores are my main place for clothes now. You'd be amazed...
7. Love, love, love.....
8. I have more respect for humans and animals than ever before.
9. Towels - gotta have lots of old one to clean those paws.
10. My Hoover steam cleaner best $250.00 I have spent!

I'm sure I will chime in with more later. He's been such a positive and rewarding "son" and I cannot wait until we can get a bigger house and more land to have more!!

[Nidia]

How has Goliath changed my life? It would be easier to list how he HASN'T changed it, probably! All our money goes to buy more stuff for him, all our time is spent doing things with him, for him, or for the Rottie breed. We bought a house for him, are going to buy a new car because of him. All my good friends are dog owners now...

Oh, but he's so happy to see me when I come home from work.. and when we wake up in the morning, he is all wiggles and wants to come and play in the bed with us. What a life!

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@>-,-'---

[Goose71]

I work Weekends, ten hour shifts, and though my roomates are home to take care of the dog they usually wake up late, so my lunch time is now spent driving home letting the dog out of his crate, spending a half hour with him, (roomate generally wake up by this time), driving back to work to pick up a quick meal and eating it at work after my lunch break is over....luckily it's slow on weekends. Before I got him, I'd eat nice lunches at some of the better restaurants. He's worth the inconvenience.

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"Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity"