New rottweiler owner in need of help!

[meg8777]

Originally Posted by mrsguglie

Our correction was futile. When she would growl or bite we would give a firm "NO" and it didn't phase her. If we used the choker collar and leash or scuff her that just made her come at us ever more aggressively.

If you were using a choker collar on a puppy of that age, then apparently you did NOT do a lot of research before attempting to train your pup.

And how qualified was this breeder that he himself would own a poorly behaved dog of ANY breed? Sounds like a BYB. The pup was not just like the father....it was an individual who needed to be taught correct behavior and socialization skills. Unfortunately, humans failed her.

Please take your new puppy to training classes. And perhaps instead of ignoring their techniques, you should follow them. Otherwise you are in for a world of trouble when this dog gets older too.

(Now I'll sit back and wait for the snide retort even though I'm not attempting to do anything but offer some needed help. Did I mention that neither of my dogs has ever been bullied, but have absolutely no aggression issues? I must have done something right!)

[Anton]

Originally Posted by mrsguglie

We also have a puppy Rott. that's 4 mo. and we got her when she was only 5 1/2 weeks.

This was mistake #1. Reputable breeders don't let their puppies go at 5 1/2 weeks !!! This is such a critical time in their mental development !! Taking a puppy that has barely started interacting with his/her siblings to learn bite inhibition and "manners" is SO wrong !!!

When we feed her we would pet her and she immediatly growls. We did put her on her side and told her "No" and she was fine as we continued to pet her while she ate. But, we cannot let our kids pet her while she's eating or chewing a bone unless we supervise because she will give them a look, maybe growl and if they don't stop then she tries to snap at them

WHY do people think it's acceptable to "pet" a puppy when it's eating ?? Eating is like #1 priority on their small list of things to do to survive. It's one thing to take the food bowl away, but to sit there and intentionally annoy the puppy while eating is stupid !!

...she hasn't bitten them (yet). We can NEVER let our girls be alone with her because she cannot be trusted.

Ummmm...................I don't think it was the puppy who couldn't be trusted !!

When she gets a sock she won't "release" unless we push her lips on her teeth and with much patients and a firm voice she will let it go but sometime she attempts to bite our hand.

Such an easy solution !! Get a toy and trade !! Don't try to pull it out of her mouth. The more you pull, the more she'll want to hang on. It's her prize, and she isn't going to give it up unless you offer her something better.

Common, this a puppy we're talking about here!! It's your job to teach this puppy !! They don't come (at 5 1/2 weeks) already perfectly trained !! It takes work on your part to make them a good dog !!

OMG...................did I say WORK ???

[ODOG77]

WOW- you people should be ashamed of yourselves-(the people with such negative comments to mrsguglie). Just because they took into consideration the welfare of their human Family does not mean that they are horrible people and that they should not be allowed to get another puppy. While my family had to give our rottie back to the breeder, I feel that it was the right decision. I know that all rotties are not like Phoenix was but there are some dogs (again not just rotties) that are like that. However if it is putting your children in danger(especially young children) then you have to do what is right for your children. I feel even though I did not keep Phoenix he will be much happier in a home that will not restrict him the way we would of had to due to his aggressive behavior. We did have a trainer come into our home and evaluate him, she believes that this was due to genetics. Anyway we already have a new puppy- we got a mixed breed from a shelter. All my 5 yr old daughter wanted was a puppy that she could love and pet and play with- she could not do any of that with Phoenix- unfortunately. But for all of you that were soo hard on Mrsgulie- that is just horrible. She had to do what she had to do to protect her children. Also it is not like she just threw away the dog or that it went to the SPCA- she gave it back to the breeder who will love it like a pet. So maybe you all shouldn't have been so hard on her. We did almost the exact same thing and the comments that we got were all positive and helpful.

[jelly8bean]

ODOG - I think the more gentle response was because it was clear that you and your family had done everything to make this work and work with the breed. I don't think there is the same feeling with msguglie..

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by mrsguglie

...Of coarse, we could not get rid of Berlin without replacing her with another puppy. We got a little Yellow Lab. He is so sweet and such a joy to our hearts. Looking back we have no regrets...

No, of course you couldn't.

So you went out and bought a Lab puppy from the first BYB you could find.

BTW--You get rid of garbage. You don't "get rid" of a puppy--a living, thinking, feeling being.

[meg8777]

Originally Posted by jelly8bean

ODOG - I think the more gentle response was because it was clear that you and your family had done everything to make this work and work with the breed. I don't think there is the same feeling with msguglie..

That's exactly why the responses were different.

[ODOG77]

Even so I just feel that everyone should have of been a little more supportive to this woman and her family. It is a very hard decision to make without anyone else making you feel like you are a horrible person.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by ODOG77

WOW- you people should be ashamed of yourselves-(the people with such negative comments to mrsguglie).

Excuse me??? They said they "did their research" and then promptly went out and bought a puppy that was FAR TOO YOUNG to be sold (obviously NOT from a reputable breeder as a reputable breeder would not allow a puppy to leave the litter that soon), and then.....at 9 weeks old (that's 9 WEEKS on this planet) when the puppy is finally old enough to start behaving like a puppy, they start using unkind and aggressive tactics to prevent it instead of TAKING THE PUPPY TO PUPPY CLASS where they would learn what they don't know about raising a puppy and thought they did. Then when the puppy doesn't understand or relinquish its spirit and instead reacts quite appropriately to the treatment it received, they simply rid themselves of "it".

If you read carefully, you'll notice it didn't occur to them to take their puppy to class, they only wanted to know what your trainer said about your puppy. No effort to correct THEIR misbehavior when what they were doing to the puppy didn't work, because of course it was the puppy's fault, right? I don't think so.

Not the same situation as yours at all. They didn't deserve a Rottweiler puppy, and they are the ones who should be ashamed of themselves.

[mamakimpossible]

mrsguglie - your pup is doing this to you and your family because the pup was too young to be removed from it's mother and siblings. there is a very critiacal part to their development during the time of 5-8 weeks when they learn pack order and boundries. now it is up to you to do that. my suggestion is you contact a person who is qualified to help you curb this aggression. it is not to be tolerated. when you back away or leave the pup alone when she does it, you are actually rewarding her of her behavior and that is being engrained into her psyche.

I'd keep her on a leash with a firmly buckled collar. Attach the leash to your waist (give her enough slack to walk behind you). Make this kid follow you around where ever you go at home. Inside and outside. This shows her you are the leader. Not her! Do this for days or weeks if need be. It's a humbling experience for the pushy pup.

On leash, which I'd leave one attached to her when at home: one thing that is sometimes effective when she is being aggressive (even a growl towards you or the kids) is to grab her collar so she is to the side of you and give the pup an open handed upper cut under her mouth with a firm no! now not too hard of course. enough to snap her out of the unacceptable behavior at that time. like if her mouth is slightly ajar, hard enough to basically snap her mouth shut. this is a serious correction for a dog (in her mind), so you just walk away or turn your back on her and leave her alone until she approaches you. praise her for all good things she does like coming to you or beahaving in situations she used to growl or snap at you. Crate her when you can't be active in her training and when you aren't home. Make her crate area a nice private place for her to be and never use it as a punishment. Something I learned from the monks of new skete. They have books and DVD's published to help.

if you are showing fear in your body posture it doesn't help. i have found when my rottweilers were young they kind of got off on the smell and look of fear from people and tended to try and taunt the fearful person some more with pushy bahvior. that had to be nipped in the bud as well.

don't rough-house, play tug or lay on the floor belly up with a pushy and agressive tendencied rottweiler. also keep your head's level above her's at all times. the point is to stay above her at all times, physically and socially (pack) .

don't accept the byb's excuse that your pup is like her dad. there is no excuse for bad behavior. since you have such young children and if i'm not mistaken this is your first rottweiler, perhaps you should consider a canine behaviorialist right away if your pup's getting carried away and you can't stop it on your own. your pup is going to get a lot bigger and a lot stronger!

hope i didn't give bad info. just things that have worked for me and the rottweilers and other strong-willed dogs in my life.

best of luck to you. please keep us posted.

[Nishasmom]

Originally Posted by mamakimpossible

best of luck to you. please keep us posted.

I believe they got rid of their puppy

Originally Posted by mrsguglie

Friday my husband and I had to make the hardest decision. We decided not to wait until Berlin is older and possibly more aggressive to our kids, but to give her back to the breeder. They agreed to take her back and she will be there house dog. That very morning, while chewing on her toy, our kids went to pet her and she snapped at them. 3 different times. I hate the stress of not trusting our dog with our kids. She's only 4 1/2 months old! Of coarse we could not get rid of Berlin without replacing her with another puppy. We got a little Yellow Lab. He is so sweet and such a joy to our hearts. Looking back we have no regrets. It was the best decision and even though we are out about $1,000 we take it as a learning experience. I hope we can help anyone that has a concern or question.

[Anne]

mamakimpossible: It pays to read the thread before posting a reply.

These people posted 3 days ago that they already 'got rid of' the puppy and have already replaced it with another puppy. Chances are if they bully this pup they way they bullied the first one they'll will create the same problems and need to 'get rid of' this one before long. When this happens I hope they will have learned something from the experience and go to a department store and buy a stuffed toy dog.

[mamakimpossible]

Hey Anne - Keep your manners in check. Have you spoken with me before and what do you have against me? This site is for the good of the breed. Not the good of you.

People come here for advice on Rottweilers. Many come to view and not to post.

Eventhough they got rid of their pup (which was the right decision) others may visit this thread for advice.

Don't misrepresent this breed of canine any further by displaying such judgemental and aggressive posting (that goes for all in this thread, my God).

If this thread wasn't so clogged up with the arguing about this person, perhaps I would've seen the post. No one here helped these people out a bit and now they've walked away from the Rottweiler with a very bad taste in their mouths. Negativity travels faster and leaves a lasting impression. So thanks for helping the breed...

Originally Posted by ODOG77

Even so I just feel that everyone should have of been a little more supportive to this woman and her family. It is a very hard decision to make without anyone else making you feel like you are a horrible person.

[mamakimpossible]

nishasmom-yes. thank you for pointing that out. i missed that post. there were so many arguing that I didn't see it and thought she still had the pup since the arguing was still going on. thanks again for pointing it out to me politely. :)

[Anne]

Originally Posted by mamakimpossible

Hey Anne - Keep your manners in check. Have you spoken with me before and what do you have against me? This site is for the good of the breed. Not the good of you.
People come here for advice on Rottweilers. Many come to view and not to post.

Eventhough they got rid of their pup (which was the right decision) others may visit this thread for advice.
Don't misrepresent this breed of canine any further by displaying such judgemental and aggressive posting (that goes for all in this thread, my God).

If this thread wasn't so clogged up with the arguing about this person, perhaps I would've seen the post. No one here helped these people out a bit and now they've walked away from the Rottweiler with a very bad taste in their mouths. Negativity travels faster and leaves a lasting impression. So thanks for helping the breed...

If you want to talk manners then it would be good manners to take the time to read a thread before replying. The same as it's polite to allow people to speak before trying to force your opinion down their throat.

As for having something against you? I don't know you. You've just recently joined this forum. How about you don't tell people how they should reply.

You're quite right, people come here for advice and I hope they will not take your poor advice about giving a puppy an uppercut. Most people here don't agree with bullying puppies. Abuse isn't training.

[mamakimpossible]

I stated that I missed that post that they gave up the pup. My mistake, Ann. You know humans aren't perfect.

In addition, Ann, I gave advice. I didn't slam these people. I didn't call them names. I gave advice to help.

It is not cruel or inhumane to upper cut. I said not hard mind you (read the post). I described one they could use that was age appriate. Do you know much about training dogs? Are you a dog trainer? Do you raise your own kids without punishment for serious offensive behaviors? Would it be wise not to? The pup had behavioral problems (temperment flaws). Upper-cuts and shake downs are effective for these kinds of pups. With the shakedowns -there are 2 different kinds- shakedowns are the more serious corrective approach compared to an uppercut (to a dog). I know you are going to say we aren't dogs.....but our dogs are animals first and we have to teach them and communicate with them on their canine level in order to bring about desirable behavior.

I have a lot of experience with dogs of all temperments so don't judge my experience with how long I've been a member in this forum. I have trained dogs and done behavior mod. I have saved dogs from going to the pound or being 'replaced' using my training experience that is used with love for the dog and the desire for them to live happily with their family.

Have you ever really studied dog behavior within a pack or between a mother and her pups? Corrections given by the older (higher) dogs in the pack don't look kind to humans. Have you ever seen a bitch give a young pup a shakedown? However the puppies learn and aren't harmed or abused. Dogs are animals and they don't go by the same language we have by far.

So Ann, if that is what you want to pick on me about so be it. We can all see where you are coming from. No encouraging advice.

Don't bother to answer. My conversations with you are done.