Would you have a Rott not fenced?

[Cdn1050]

Originally Posted by soon to be mom

Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the input! We value all of your opinions. At this time we're considering either a kennel or rehoming for Zita. We have really fallen for this little girl, she's so very affectionate and already must be with me at all times. We only want to do what's best for everyone, both us and her. We've got a huge decision in front of us, wish us luck. Sincerely, Marie

Please keep in mind that there are people who live in apartments who own Rottweilers (especially in big cities like Toronto, Canada and New York). Their dogs are on leash when outside. IMO, they have to work a lot harder in the training dept because of this, so their dogs have to pretty much be close to bomb proof. I have a fenced in area, but when my dog is outside the fenced in area, she is on a 40 foot lead. You can also purchase a kennel for her, large enough for her to run around and play in off lead. You just have to be outside with her to ensure no one comes on to your property, but even with a fence my dog is never left outside unsupervised.

[alice's mommy]

Where did this "rehoming" stuff come from?! Why would you consider rehoming your dog over a fence issue?! Just because your dog "likes" coming and going inside/outside of the home at will doesn't mean that's the ONLY option for her! Please don't think that you have to rehome your animal over a fence.

I never leave my dog unattended outside, whether it be in the backyard with the fence or in my front yard without the fence. In all situations I am with him.

[Shelby427]

Originally Posted by alice's mommy

Where did this "rehoming" stuff come from?! Why would you consider rehoming your dog over a fence issue?! Just because your dog "likes" coming and going inside/outside of the home at will doesn't mean that's the ONLY option for her! Please don't think that you have to rehome your animal over a fence.

I never leave my dog unattended outside, whether it be in the backyard with the fence or in my front yard without the fence. In all situations I am with him.

In another thread, the OP was being honest and said that they don't walk their current dogs now and were wondering if just by being in the yard with the owners if that would be enough exercise for the puppy. I'm not sure the OP thought through having a breed like a rottie...she may have other reasons too why she'd need to rehome.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by soon to be mom

We got this puppy from someone who had to get rid of her immediately.

I strongly encourage you to contact Rottie rescue in your area. They may be able to help you by taking your Rottie into their program. This is especially true if the dog in question is a puppy. My rescue group is not likely unique in having approved puppy homes, waiting for puppies to come into their program.

Originally Posted by soon to be mom

We didn't realize a Rott was all that diferent from any other breed, we figured if we trained her to the best of our best ability (with professional training), and socialized her we were all set.

The AKC recognizes more than 150 different breeds of dog. Each of these breeds is different in any number of ways because they were bred for different jobs and purposes. The Rottweiler is a very old breed, originally bred to herd cattle and sheep as the Roman army marched around Europe. They did this by intelligence coupled with determination, force of character, and stubborness--by their attitude, not by their size.

The Rottweiler isn't an easy dog to own because of what they were bred to do. Rottie ownership takes sustained work and effort over most of the life of the dog. Many people--including myself--relish owning the breed and wouldn't have the breed any other way.

When people decide this breed isn't for them, they are to be commended. One less unhappy, disappointed owner, one less dog in a home not entirely suited to the dog.

[makjamz]

Angel Bunny Post #34 is constructive. Best to rehome now if you are not certain this breed is for you - or your physical situation.

Invisible Fence? Not for any dog - IMHO. A dog can go unpredictably 'ape' and fly through that zap of momentary discomfort for the prize/gratification of a chase with a squiwrel, bunny wabbit, or their favowite toy. Then what happens next? God forbid.

I grew up on a very large farm. Our working dogs were secured in kennels unless we were out with them mustering, hunting, or whatever.

The panels 6x12's work well as a kennel run. But it is best it should be on a concrete pad, or gravel pad with stable mats 3/4 inch thickness so easy to clean/spray off. If you have a digger this will prevent the underground escape artists. Frame for a tarp and it works in the wet. You could go to craigslist, if you have that in your area, and buy these panels, and an igloo dog house. It would be much cheaper than the home improvement store. Cedar shavings inside the dog house make it a snug place to relax. It is not as impossible as you think. You could put a padlock in the gate - but when you go away from home - your dog should be in the safe confines of your home.

Hope this helps some.

[kilasmamix3]

Do NOT trust this fence. I myself have this fence for my 2 boxer x pitbulls and one of them tested the fence and ran right through trying to get a stranger that walked into our yard. I had to call her back and she came trotting back. Sometimes the fence doesnt zap strong and if your dog gets zapped to much then the battery gets weaker and weaker. This fence does NOT hurt. I've tried to myself. I do not think a Rottweiler should get this fence it WILL run through. Honestly;; the fence doesn't work alot and the collars always break. It's costing us a fortune!

Dezaree

[Weily4Life]

Originally Posted by soon to be mom

We have to do a lot of thinking here, because when it's inclimate weather, do we want to have to run her out to a kennel? I really don't think so. With our other dogs, we just open the door, they go out to do what's needed and come back in. I don't want to have to be with her at all times, to me it's very unrealistic. I work at home, ideal, but if the phone rings (my job)and the dog needs or wants to go outside, i have to take the incoming call and cannot go outside. It is not acceptable for the client to hear that you are working from your home, it must be a quiet. We didn't realize a Rott was all that diferent from any other breed, we figured if we trained her to the best of our best ability (with professional training), and socialized her we were all set. So no "how sad for the dog" here. If we didn't care, we wouldn't be here asking questions, I think "very lucky dog" to have people that care about it's welfare. Thank you to everyone...........Marie

Few things going on here...couldn't do a mutiple quote reply with the long para...so here goes:

1. "...when it's inclimate weather, do we want to have to run her out to a kennel? I really don't think so..." OMG, We live 70 miles north of you on five acres, we don't have a fence, nor do we have a kennel. When the weather is inclement I can't take the girls for a walk around the neighborhoods, but I do CARE enough to see that they still receive exercise with a swift walk around the property periphery 2-3 times. Just bundle up more for the conditions. It only takes 10-15 minutes around the yard.
2. "I don't want to have to be with her at all times, to me it's very unrealistic." MAYBE SO, but she is going to want to be with you.
3. "I work at home..." SO DO I. Take the dogs out on a regular schedule for potty breaks and exercise to avoid a possible interruption during a call.
4. "We didn't realize a Rott was all that diferent from any other breed, we figured if we trained her to the best of our best ability (with professional training), and socialized her we were all set." THEY are a working breed that needs to be exercised to be happy and healthy. For that matter all breeds should have exercise to be happy and healthy, some more than others.

Just my two cents!

[lengel]

[quote= With our other dogs, we just open the door, they go out to do what's needed and come back in. I don't want to have to be with her at all times, to me it's very unrealistic. I work at home, ideal, but if the phone rings (my job)and the dog needs or wants to go outside, i have to take the incoming call and cannot go outside. It is not acceptable for the client to hear that you are working from your home, it must be a quiet. We didn't realize a Rott was all that diferent from any other breed, we figured if we trained her to the best of our best ability (with professional training), and socialized her we were all set. So no "how sad for the dog" here. If we didn't care, we wouldn't be here asking questions, I think "very lucky dog" to have people that care about it's welfare. Thank you to everyone...........Marie[/QUOTE]

Hi Marie,

I too work from home under very similar circumstances. My clients are legal professionals. When I need to be on the phone, my three labs and new rottie mix puppy are in their crates with toys and treats. We have activities during my working hours that they can rely on. If I get an unexpected call, it goes to voice mail. I can quickly crate and treat and return the call almost immediately if the call cuts into our schedule.

That said, I have a six foot fenced yard but I don't ever leave any of my dogs outdoors unsupervised for more than a few minutes, mostly for potty time. They need interaction or they'll get bored and start digging or barking or eating whatever they can find or whatever amuses them. The barking alone would cause problems with my business. I wouldn't say that our rottie mix is any different from our labs in this respect.

Young dogs are just a lot of work. I remember a phone conversation with my mom when I had two lab teenagers. She didn't understand why I was trying to figure out how to keep them entertained while growing my business. At one point, she said to me "Don't they just lie down at you feet while your working?" It takes years for most dogs to get to that point and, from my own experience, putting a young dog out in a yard is just asking for a whole lot of heartache from any number of possibilities. It's really more a question of wearing them out and keeping them mentally challenged on a regular basis.

Lisa

[poohbearsmom]

Let's all remember something folks. A dog is a DOG first, and it's BREED second.

It wouldn't matter if this rottweiler puppy were a cocker spaniel puppy - a dog needs attention and supervision! It has become painfully clear that STBM was looking for a way out when she asked advice in regards to a fence.

Working from home is an IDEAL situation when one has a dog! What better way to destress than to spend some time with a four footed friend!?!

Please do as Angelbunny says, and contact a Rottweiler rescue in your region, and try to find this puppy a home that WANTS it, and will take the time to do right by the dog. There's no shame in not wanting a dog, there IS shame in neglecting it.

[MonicaBH]

You know, I was sitting here thinking about this post and realized I hadn't mentioned something that happened to Clyde and I a few weeks back.

Two doors down from me, there is a home that has several miniature pinschers and a pit bull puppy. The dogs are all kept in an invisible fence. I was sitting in my yard one evening, and the dogs were going crazy in the confines of their fence while a car drove past. One of the min pins went through the fence and started chasing the car, and wound up underneath it. I ran to her; it seemed as if her hip was dislocated.

NOT EVEN a week later, Clyde & I were walking home from playing ball when those same min pins (four of them!) came through their "secure" invisible fence and began attacking my dog. Clyde is trying to run like hell, and I am kicking those dogs to get them off. The owner of the dogs has the audacity to come out of her house screaming at ME for kicking her dogs. I not-so-nicely reminded her that we were in the middle of the friggin' road and that she should consider a different method of confinement since the previous week one of the dogs got hit by a car!

I guess the only reason I brought this up is to point out how unsecure these fence systems are. If these little min pins can get out, they don't stand a chance for a bigger dog. When I was a kid, my aunt & uncle's neighbor had an invisible fence for their dalmatian, Doc. I vividly recall him running towards the fenceline. He'd start screaming as soon as the beep started, but he'd keep on running until he was free. It took about 20 seconds and he was gone.

Okay. Tangent done.

[soon to be mom]

Hi folks,

Thanks to all that helped. We have decided that we will erect a fence for our girl, as we want her to be safe, too. I had never intended to leave her outside alone, potty breaks and maybe a bit of sunning. She does love to be with us and this is where we want her.

[Nishasmom]

She is going to love her new backyard! And you will love letting her have fun back there without worrying!

[makjamz]

Good to hear your are making the solid fence in place.
Be sure when you leave, to go away from your property - take her w/you - or lock her up inside.
cheers,

[GypsysMom]

The portable IF fence I bought works for us because its it the back yard and there are no cars or people for the dogs to see to leave, Cash wouldnt anyhow, he likes to follow me everywhere, and they ONLY go outside if Im out there to use the bathroom or to play for a bit, unlike my neighbors I dont just allow them out to run around and get in trouble

[webangel2b]

Dixie is boundry trained too but someone MUST accompany her outside because of this.

However, she wouldn't have it any other way, she doesn't want to go outside unless we do. Her need to be with us is very strong, if it were not - I could not rely on her training.