Indoor or Outdoor?

[Koda]

Hi guys,

I wanted 2 ask if rottweilers can be outside dogs? I was wondering if they could be outside dogs, would they be okay? Or do they have 2 be inside! plz if anyone knows let me know! Thank you!

[Carol Burke]

Rottweilers want to be with their people. Mine are indoor dogs, they go out during the day, sometimes for a couple hours, but they live in my house with me and I will not sell a puppy unless it is to be an indoor dog. They hate being alone and will find all kinds of mischief to get into.

[Judi W]

What were your thoughts on the issue before you got your dog? What kind of work are you going to be doing with the dog - how many hours a day.

[Koda]

Originally Posted by Judi W

What were your thoughts on the issue before you got your dog? What kind of work are you going to be doing with the dog - how many hours a day.

Well, basically eveywhere I go he is with me! I spend about half the day maybe a little less with him! Including taking him for walks, obidence classes, my friends house car wash etc.... I wish I could keep him inside but he just poops and pees all over the house! yikes! The only time I have him in the house is when I take him 2 my cabin at Leaky Texas! but the rest of the time he is outside! I also still cant car train him would u know how or anyone else know! Thanks for your help!

[Rott-Wiley]

The only reason he pees and poops inside the house is because he doesn't know any better. YOU need to train him, known as house breaking. There's plenty of posts here on the board about how to house break a dog, I'd suggest you start by reading some of them.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Julius is a strictly indoor dog. He goes outside to play around when we're home for at least a couple of hours a day. He's always supervised though & the gates to his fenced in area are locked.

Why don't you purchase a crate for your seven month old dog? It really does help with the housebreaking.

[RottiMomCT]

By 'car training' him what are you looking for?? Advice on how to get him to behave in the car when you go for a ride, or advice on how to help him not get car sick?

If you have a crate for the pup he'll no longer poop/pee 'all over the house' and you can housebreak him much faster, meaning YOU will have to watch the pup when he gives you signals that he needs to go potty - trust me, they are there.

As for the car, if you purchase a 'vari-kennel' crate (hard plastic) you can also crate the dog in the car in order to keep him safe at all times unless you have a passenger who can control him.

I think a crate is your best option for both of your problems - check out tag/garage/yard sales for used crates as you will need a few sizes as your pup grows. You can donate the crates to a local shelter after the pup outgrows them. You want a crate that is only large enough for the dog to lay down and turn around in comfortably. Anything larger and the pup will use one end for a bathroom and the other end for a bedroom.

As for the biting issue you mentioned in another thread - have a toy on hand you can re-direct the pup to when he gets mouthy - you don't want him biting you at all unless he's gently taking your hand to awaken you to tell you the house is on fire . Seriously - when he gets mouthy, tell him in a firm voice "NO!" and offer the appropriate chewable item. When pup, even for a second, puts his mouth on the appropriate item, PRAISE HIM.

Rottie are smart - no need to drill it into their heads what you want, but you have to be consistent. He'll catch on. Good luck.

[Luvs]

Originally Posted by Brooke&Ryan

Why don't you purchase a crate for your seven month old dog? It really does help with the housebreaking.

I agree, using a crate makes a HUGE difference in housebreaking. We used a crate to housebreak ours and it made things much easier.

Our Rotties are kept in the house with us. The only time they are outside is if we are out there with them. Even if I had a fenced yard I would not feel comfortable leaving them outside without us. Too many things can happen to them.

[Judi W]

At the very beginning of the Training forum you will find an excellent post by Mick on housebreaking. Read it and follow the directions. No one wants to live with a dog that uses their home as a toilet, but the solution is to housebreak the dog, then you really can take him anywhere and live with him as well!

[German Vanegas]

Originally Posted by Koda

Hi guys,

I wanted 2 ask if rottweilers can be outside dogs? I was wondering if they could be outside dogs, would they be okay? Or do they have 2 be inside! plz if anyone knows let me know! Thank you!

As long as you provide adequately for the dog, such as:

1. Plenty of deep shade space (Vital in that part of your world)

2. Plenty of fresh clean water daily (1 gallon bucket per dog)

3. Have a well-constructed weather insulated dog house (preferably made out of cedar or pine wood) and place it under a shaded area (protected from been hit by the sun)

4. Have the dogs in a secured confined backyard, where there is no chance for the dogs to escape, or for someone to easily break-in or trespass into your property (WARNING: DO NOT CHAINED THE DOGS OUT!)

5. Have DAILY contact with your dogs and spend a couple of hours with them throughout the day (FORGETTING or NEGLECTING your dogs will create behavior and temperament problems, with potential unstable aggression)

6. Allow your dogs inside your house every so often and let them feel part of the pack (family)

7. Have the dogs fully obedience trained, and

8. Walk and exercise your dogs every day (maybe one day off out of the week)

Then, your dogs will be OK. However, if you cannot provide all of the above, then forget it; you will have serious problems with forgotten and neglected backyard dogs. Don't even try.

[Burnsway]

Great post German!!!

Although my dogs are toatlly inside dogs I am one who also believes dogs can have a great life full of quality when the above you have written is added to the equation.

You will find that many owners with dog doors notice their dogs stay out more then in.........

[German Vanegas]

Originally Posted by German Vanegas

...Then, your dogs will be OK. However, if you cannot provide all of the above, then forget it; you will have serious problems with forgotten and neglected backyard dogs. Don't even try.

Shut! I almost forgot #9 - Popoo patrol everyday. Yep! If you don't pick your dogs' caca everyday and allow the backyard to become a "landmine" of dog waste, the it will become an unhealthy enviroment for the dogs, you and your family; everybody! (Including neighbors).

[Judi W]

Outdoor living for a dog however, should not be chosen because no one taught the dog house manners.

[German Vanegas]

Originally Posted by Judi W

Outdoor living for a dog however, should not be chosen because no one taught the dog house manners.

I agree, however, outdoors living should not be disregarded either as a matter of personal preference. That is, of course, as long as the dog's owner is willing to commit and devote the necessary time, which can be demanding for the lazy typical dog owner, in which case, indoors or outdoors will make no difference for a dog in the hands of an indolent owner; this type of person guarantees failure either way.

[Rott-Wiley]

Keeping with the original topic, outdoor living is not the answer to a dog that was never housebroken. I've never known any rottweiler yet that thrives on being left outside alone constantly.