5 week old male showing signs of anger

[safire]

Hey everyone! I am a new Rott owner and want to start out right. We have a 5 week old male Rottie. We have had him since 3 weeks of age as his mom stopped feeding her pups and had ignored them. He is a good eater. We have noticed that when you touch him on his face or neck he will growl and try to bite. He is not playing either, it really ticks him off. What can we do to get him to tolerate his face being touched? I do not want what is bothering him now to be a real problem when he grows up. I have 3 kids ages of 13, 9, and 3, they are all real good with him and my youngest knows not to pick him up unless mommy is around. I am not into the "bad rot" thing. I have known many and all were wonderful dogs, that is why I know he can be a wonderful pet if we can get over just this one quirk so far. Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[brunie's mom]

This has nothing to do with a "bad rott" thing
It's because you got your pup WAY too early...and without a doubt from poorly bred sire and dam.

Your pup should still be with it's littermates and mother. It does not matter if mother dog does not want to care for the pup's...the pups should be together and learning bite inhabition and being part of a pack.
Your pup may never learn not to bite and may never be a good pup.

If you can get him socializing with other young pups or even a good, gentle dog...he needs to learn about being a dog.

You are really going to have your work cut out for you...get him enrolled into Puppy K classes as soon as he is able to go with his vaccination schedule and keep on socializing him by taking him everywhere and doing everything with him.

You have young children....it scares me about the future.

Gina

[Sharon Marples]

This is a very concerning post. You can and probably will have lots of issues with a pup that was taken from his siblings so early.

Please read these:

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/pup...velopment.html

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/pup...uppy-home.html

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/pup...mprinting.html

You will need to find yourself a good trainer, one that is experienced. As Gina said, you will need to spend extra time with him with others and with other dogs so that he can learn the "art" of socialization because that was taken away from him when he was taken from his littermates so young. It will be a difficult task to get him to interact with your children with no problems down the road. Please keep a very good eye on them when they are together and never leave them alone together.

If I were you, I would consider returning him and finding a pup that was kept with it's littermates until it was 8 weeks of age, one that is well-socialized and has had the opportunity to learn bite-inhibition, etc. from it's siblings. I understand that this is not the road you probably want to go down, but just be aware that you will have lifetime issues with this pup if you do not get into a good training program with him as soon as he is able to do so.

Good luck, stay on the forums and continue to ask lots of questions if you decide to keep this pup. Do you know anything about his sire and dam? What their temperaments were like? What health certifications they had? It definitely sounds as if this pup was gotten from a back yard breeder. We are here to help you.

[moz205]

I too have a lot of worries regarding your pup due to his being taken away at such a young age. As stated, even staying with his littermates would have made a huge difference. Both of my Rotties stayed with the breeder and littermates, (some of them anyway) until almost 12 weeks! He needs to be socialized with other young dogs as soon as he has all his shots. The other young ones will put manners on him! Fully agree with all the posts. So far Buddy has shown absolutely no evidence that he's a Rottie at 10 mo and neither did Rommel when I first got him!

[rottcrazed]

So, here is the problem:

You got a puppy right about the time his ears first opened (when he should be first hearing the tiny growls of his littermates), and about a week after his eyes opened (still blurry vision), and about a week before he should have been eating solid food.

He has missed out terribly on all of the important things in a puppy's young life: ie... his mom and his littermates. Ultimately, his mom rejecting the pups at 3 weeks is not the worst of it. Taking him away from his littermates at about 5 WEEKS too soon is a HUGE issue.

He should STILL be with his littermates, so you need to prepare yourself for some MAJOR issues in this boys life.

The advice above is fantastic.

I have bred 2 litters and I know first hand that 3 weeks old it just the beginning of a puppy's personality. Not only do you not know what type temperament he would have had in an ideal environment (staying with his mom and littermates until 8-9 weeks of age), now he has been scarred by his early removal from the best socialization of his life .....

I do hope this 'breeder' is done breeding.

Kristi

[damp]

Originally Posted by safire

I am a new Rott owner and want to start out right.

Sorry.... but you are way too late to start right!!!!!!!!!!

I presume the littermates are out and about too and returning the pup is no options .
You could try to look for the littermates and have daily playtimes with them. Interaction with other pups and mental sound bitches is a most NOW and the next 3 week. This can't wait just one day and any delay will have influence on your pup.

If you can't do that...return it or put it down!

Taking him away from his littermates at about 5 WEEKS too soon is a HUGE issue.

If it even was so good....

Originally Posted by safire

We have had him since 3 weeks of age

[safire]

I do know where his sisters and brothers went and have set up time to have them get together. His parents are both very well mannered and good natured dogs. They were not set to be breeders the pup " just happened" as I was told. I did not want to get him so early.. I do know it is not good to get them at such a young age, but I did not want to see him "put down" because of inattention from the dogs owners either. I will make sure he has weekly visits with his littermates for as long as needed. I am dedicated and have the time to making this pups life a great one . I also know better then to leave children alone with any kind of dog. Thank you for the advice and do not look down on me for wanting to save a pups life.

[brunie's mom]

No one is looking down on you.
The only one that should be looked down on are the people that allowed these pups to be produced and then got tired of caring for them when they started pooping and peeing and needing to be fed.
What kind of "oops litter" can it be when people keep their dogs intact??? Tell them to spay/neuter their dogs and not to produce any more pups.

If you can take your pup more often than once a week to see his littermates it would be even better. Is it possible for all of you puppy owner's to get them together and allow them to stay at someone's house for 3-4 days and then switch homes? Having them in a group, till they are 7-8 weeks old would benefit them so much.

Gina

[rottcrazed]

I agree with Gina; think about it in terms of a 'normal' litter:

The pups would be together 24/7, sleeping together, eating together, playing together, learning together. This is not just a bonding experience, this is HOW baby puppies learn to be dogs, learn bite inhibition, learn some of the ways of the pack. When a puppy is removed extremely early as yours was, his is going to be lacking in all of the above and no amount of playing with people is going to replace what he lost. If your pup can spend days at a time with another one of his littermates, that is the BEST thing you can do for him right now.

Kristi

[damp]

Originally Posted by safire

I do know it is not good to get them at such a young age, but I did not want to see him "put down" because of inattention from the dogs owners either. I will make sure he has weekly visits with his littermates for as long as needed. I am dedicated and have the time to making this pups life a great one . Thank you for the advice and do not look down on me for wanting to save a pups life.

Once a week is like a snowball in hell and please don't expect my applause for saving this pup or cleaning up after a byb
Last but not least, you have to understand... no matter your dedication and time, there are things NO HUMANS can replace!

I DO know you have the best intentions with all you are doing....
Good luck!

[lovemypuppies]

YES! Going above and beyond what seems to be normal and getting this pup with his littermates as Gina suggested will be helpful for all the puppies and the other owners to. They need each other. Just do it.

[safire]

First I have to apologize for posting my question twice, I was looking at the wrong thread . Second I do appreciate everybodys advice that has been given. I will take it to heart. I will do my best to raise a good dog and If I have to do the unthinkable( which I really hope I don't) I will do what I have to to protect my family.
Damp, I do not expect you to applaud my taking in a pup of such early age. It is not like I set out to get a puppy so young. It just touched me that I wanted to save his little life and not have it end so young.
Also, I would be concerned with his behavior if it was a poodle doing the same thing. Oh! By the way, does it make much differemce that he is also part Alaskan Malamute? His markings are more Rott, so the Rott is more pronounced in him. His father is full Rottie and his mom is full Malamute.
Now , am I going to be shunned because I do not have a full blood Rott? Just wondering because that is why I did not mention it to begin with. I did not know if my question would be answered. Not saying you guys are prejudiced, but I know how much Rott owners love and defend the breed so vehemently. I do not blame you one bit, for they do get a bad rap. If you do not want me on this board any longer , let me know and I will go some place else for my questions. Thank you and God Bless everyone and Happy Easter ,Safire

[Sharon Marples]

By the way, does it make much differemce that he is also part Alaskan Malamute?

Not one bit

Now , am I going to be shunned because I do not have a full blood Rott?

I would certainly hope not!

If you do not want me on this board any longer , let me know and I will go some place else for my questions.

You just try! We are here to help you, no matter what breed or mix of breed you have. If you are willing to take some of the flack that gets handed out with an open mind, if you don't carry a chip on your shoulder and if you really want to learn, then we are here for you!

[observer]

You aren't going to be shunned because the pup is a mix. We have shared "Nottweilers" here too (dogs with NO Rottie in them)!

I really hope those of you who have the pups can get together and share in raising them, taking turns keeping them as a group as someone suggested. Once a week won't make up for what they are all losing thanks to their irresponsible "breeders".

[damp]

Originally Posted by safire

It is not like I set out to get a puppy so young. It just touched me that I wanted to save his little life and not have it end so young.
Also, I would be concerned with his behavior if it was a poodle doing the same thing. Oh! By the way, does it make much differemce that he is also part Alaskan Malamute? His markings are more Rott, so the Rott is more pronounced in him. His father is full Rottie and his mom is full Malamute.
Now , am I going to be shunned because I do not have a full blood Rott? Just wondering because that is why I did not mention it to begin with. I did not know if my question would be answered. Not saying you guys are prejudiced, but I know how much Rott owners love and defend the breed so vehemently. I do not blame you one bit, for they do get a bad rap. If you do not want me on this board any longer , let me know and I will go some place else for my questions. Thank you and God Bless everyone and Happy Easter ,Safire

It does NOT matter what breed or what mix your pup is. A pup is a pup!

What matters:
Any pup removed from the dam and litter before the age of 7 weeks will lack of "dog skills"! Period. (The law in many countries is 8 weeks)
As said above, NO human can replace dam and the siblings, not even your love and human emotions are the dog's worst enemy…so to speak.
If I read your post right... your pup was removed as early as 3 weeks old??? and now he is 5 weeks old???
Your pup so badly missed 2 weeks and will miss the next 3 weeks to I guess.

There is no way back, you can only TRY to substitute nature and love you pup to death.
Here is a good thread to read!