What is a Rottweiler?? (need help for article)

[DaveS]

For myself and my family the Rottweiler is an intelligent, playful, faithful companion. We live in the state of Arizona in the U.S. Our dog lives in the house with us and is always with us wherever we are in our home. Rottweilers love to be with their family and thrive in that setting. Our Rottie is a constant companion for my 10 year old son and many of his friends. It is not uncommon for my son and our dog to play for an hour or more two or three times a day. Our dog was taught at an early age to be gentle and careful with all people, especially with children.

Rottweilers love to work and need to have jobs. Our dog is a family pet but also drags my recycle bins to the curb and back when empty. He helps bring in grocery bags to the kitchen from the car and many other small jobs that keep his working instinct satisfied. They are also naturally protective of their pack and home.

Rotties are energetic and need excercise. We walk our dog every night for at least one 1 1/2 miles. Walks are very good bonding time with our dog.

I hope this helps you understand a non showing, non breeding Rottweiler lovers point of view.

[kerry grant]

A D i think means after death [of christ].

[WendiS]

That is not true! The dog is what it is… and the genes and only the genes determine that. Training (to some degree) covers the bad and unwanted genes!!!

Damp, help me understand, are you completely ruling out environmental factors? You don't think it's a combination of heredity and proper training?
I'm always looking for different opinions and a chance to expand my horizons
Wendi

[WendiS]

Ok I re-read Damps original statement and I think I understand it better, but I'm curious, using the logic from your post, (genes make the dog who he is and training compensates for the deficits), are you suggesting that a well bred dog (bred for whatever it was you were looking for specifically) should require very little training at all? The temperament and behavior you were looking for should already exist with little need for tweaking?
I don't have an alternate opinion I just want to make sure I understand what your saying and am interested in anything further info you have to say on the matter.
Wendi

[damp]

Originally Posted by WendiS

but I'm curious, using the logic from your post, (genes make the dog who he is and training compensates for the deficits), are you suggesting that a well bred dog (bred for whatever it was you were looking for specifically) should require very little training at all? The temperament and behavior you were looking for should already exist with little need for tweaking?

Of course, all dogs need training and we need to teach them manners and some commands to live as a member of a human pack in a modern society’s yr. 2007

Breeders have done a very good job through many, many years to breed for specific desired drives and characteristic and that is why we have breeds and not just dogs.
Therefore e. g. I expect a well breed retriever has the desire and drives to retrieve and bring the duck back even it falls in the water. I expect a well breed dash hound has the desire and drives to hunt and it has no fear to go into the dark galleries in the fox's earth. I expect a well breed bloodhound has the desire and drives to use the nose and to go through water and fire to get to the goal. I expect a well breed Samoyed has the desire, drives and stamina to run and to pull etc. etc.
From there we go and teach the dog how we want it to use the drives.... what to hunt, what to track............
I expect dogs with pedigrees live up to the standard for that specific kind of breed (well knowing the perpect dog is not yet born)

However, no matter the breed, it should never be necessary to train/work with fear/aggression/anxiety etc., in a well breed dog.

[WendiS]

Ah ha. That makes perfect sense. I'm not sure I completely understood the statement before. Thanks for taking a moment to clear that up. And like I said, that makes perfect sense (as the little light bulb goes on over my head)
Wendi