Rottweilers are classified as service dogs; they are considered to be potentially dangerous to others due to their uncontrollable aggressive nature. In fact, this is a highly trainable breed that, with the right attitude, will become a protector and loyal friend.
Let's look at how to properly maintain and care for a Rottweiler so that the puppy grows into a disciplined dog.
Content
Many people living in apartments and private houses prefer Rottweilers. Let's consider what living conditions are most suitable for these dogs.
In the apartment
Even though the Rottweiler is a large dog, it can still be kept in an apartment. But for a comfortable stay, the dog needs a separate place . In addition, the apartment should be spacious. In a small home it is very difficult to keep up with a large dog; this can slow down its development.
The Rottweiler's task is to protect its owner, so it reacts warily to strangers. It will be difficult to restrain your dog when guests are too close.
On the street
Rottweilers have a thick undercoat, so the dogs can be safely kept outside . But it should be borne in mind that they cannot tolerate heat; care should be taken to ensure comfortable placement in the warm season.
Can you live outside in winter?
Let's consider whether it is possible to keep a Rottweiler outside in winter? The dog endures winter absolutely calmly; it is much easier for him in the cold than in the heat. In addition, excessive exposure to heat negatively affects the condition of the coat. And the apartments are well heated in winter. Therefore, we can conclude that it is better for an animal to live on the street than in an apartment, although the option of keeping it in a multi-storey building should not be completely ruled out.
What kind of frost can it withstand?
The Rottweiler tolerates frost well because it has long hair with a thick undercoat. Therefore, you can safely leave your dog outside in any weather by equipping him with a suitable booth. The Rottweiler can withstand temperatures down to -20 degrees .
Photo
Next in the photo you can see a Rottweiler in winter.
Training and handling
Considering that without proper attention and in the absence of training, a dog can grow up to be quite aggressive, it is necessary to pay special attention to handling the animal and try to accustom the dog to society.
When kept in an apartment, a dog can choose one family member to protect from all others, which is often the cause of aggression towards children. Therefore, try to accustom the dog to the fact that it can be fed, walked and raised by all family members, so that the dog understands that its life does not depend on a specific person.
When strangers visit your home, Rottweilers can be aggressive and bark, thereby defending their territory. She cannot be scolded or punished for such behavior, but should be clearly explained that there is no threat or danger and sent to her place.
You can train a Rottweiler from a very early age.
Since dogs are partial to food, they immediately remember and can recognize the sounds of their bowl. Even during a period of sound sleep, a dog can wake up from the sound of a bowl and quickly rush to the kitchen. This feature should be used in order to reinforce the “come to me” command.
The same command must be performed during a walk; to do this, call the dog and give it a treat. The voice should show firmness and demandingness, but do not forget about praise when the animals do everything correctly.
Important! Praise your dog as often as possible, he loves it very much and will try his best to please you.
It is recommended to perform up to 5 repetitions throughout the entire walk.
When the dog can easily follow the “come” command, you can move on to practicing the “sit” command. To do this, it is recommended to lure the puppy with a piece of meat and thus force it to carry out the desired command.
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Also, the puppy must be weaned from picking up strange objects, pieces of food and bones on the street. These exercises must be carried out using the “no” command.
What does a dog need?
In order for a Rottweiler to develop normally, it is necessary to provide it with the necessary conditions.
Booth
For an outdoor Rottweiler it is necessary to build an enclosure . It should be cozy for the dog. It is very important to choose the right place. A good option would be a dry area, preferably on a hill. Thanks to this, in rainy weather, water will not accumulate inside the dog’s “dwelling”.
Note! It is better if from the chosen place the dog can see the yard and the entrance gate.
When building an enclosure, the direction of the wind should be taken into account. On the side where it blows more, you need to put a closed wall. Some should be located in the sun, some in the shade. Rottweilers require a lot of space - 10 square meters will be enough. The floor of the enclosure must be made of concrete. This way the dog will not be able to dig his way to freedom.
A Rottweiler living outside spends most of his time in an enclosure, so he should build a booth inside it, where the dog can rest and gain strength. The structure must be spacious so that the animal can freely enter, turn around, lie down and stretch out. But you shouldn’t make the booth too spacious - the dog may freeze while sleeping .
If the Rottweiler will live in a kennel in winter, then the structure must be equipped with double walls with a layer of insulation between them without gaps. In cold weather, the booth should be covered with a rug or tarpaulin.
Harness
A harness is only required for walking the dog in crowded places . As for keeping a Rottweiler in the yard of a private house, the dog should under no circumstances be chained. This will negatively affect the psyche and further development of the animal.
Muzzle
The Rottweiler is exactly the kind of animal that needs to wear a muzzle while walking. This will help protect your pet from eating dirty objects from the ground and subsequent poisoning.
Advice! A muzzle will help avoid conflict situations with passers-by, since many are afraid of large dogs.
Collar
Like any dog, the Rottweiler needs to purchase a collar . In this case, the accessory must be metal or leather and be durable. Such powerful dogs can quickly ruin fragile items.
How does he treat children?
A child and a Rottweiler will become good friends, especially if they have been raised together since birth. The dog feels responsible for the baby's safety. But it should be noted that this is not an animal that will tolerate children's pranks for a long time. This does not mean that the Rottweiler has a biased attitude towards the baby. The animal just won’t put up with some joint games.
Rottweilers are not a breed of patient nannies, so it is necessary to explain to the child from an early age that it is forbidden to pull the animal’s tail, touch its nose or eyes. Otherwise he will bite. Adults need to keep the child and dog in sight at all times when spending time together to prevent unpleasant situations.
It is best to get a Rottweiler where the children are already grown up . A 10-year-old child already understands what is permissible to do with an animal and what is absolutely forbidden. The main thing is that he immediately learns that a Rottweiler dog should be respected.
Note! While a Rottweiler can get along with a small member of its family, the dog treats strangers with suspicion. Therefore, in order to avoid misunderstandings, you should only walk your pet on a leash.
Rottweilers as a family dog
Rottweilers are loyal, affectionate, and love their family. They don’t like to be left alone, and out of boredom they can start to destroy everything around them, especially if they are kept in an apartment. Very often they become attached to one specific person in the family.
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They feel good living outdoors and can be kept in enclosures. Tolerant of cool temperatures, may overheat in hot weather.
When kept in a country house, it is imperative to fence the territory with a fence, otherwise they may attack strangers, considering them to be trespassers.
Be sure to post a warning sign to prevent strangers from entering your property unaccompanied.
In some countries, the breed is classified as a dangerous and aggressive breed and is prohibited from being kept. In Russia, on July 29, 2021, the Government of the Russian Federation approved a list of dangerous dog breeds; Rottweilers were excluded from it, although initially it was included in it, so there is a possibility that it will be added again in the future.
Dogs of this breed get along well with children, but they should not be left unattended with small children, as the breed is quite large and can unintentionally knock over or crush a child during play. Dogs have a dominant character, so they may not listen to children, but at the same time they will protect them.
However, the Rottweiler is a fairly dangerous dog; if they are not socialized early, they can become aggressive towards other pets, some family members and strangers. They can be aggressive towards other dogs of the same sex.
Depending on their character, they can be very active and very passive; for some, a walk of 10-20 minutes a day is enough, while others will have to be played and walked for a long time.
They are prone to overweight and obesity, so do not overfeed them.
How does he get along with cats?
A cat and a Rottweiler dog can become friends if they grew up together - they will not share the territory and will be able to get along peacefully. The animals will have fun together, and if danger arises, the dog will protect the cat, like the rest of the family.
Even if the dog and cat met not long ago, the Rottweiler will not rush at her every time they meet. His position in this case is to calmly observe the movements of the emerging animal, sometimes growling when the cat enters his territory.
Tail docking
Today, many breeders are arguing whether it is necessary to dock a Rottweiler’s tail or whether this is an optional procedure.
Why dock?
Today there is no need to dock the Rottweiler's tail . This operation is performed only to improve the dog’s appearance. There is an opinion that an undocked tail visually lengthens the body of the animal, making the appearance disproportionate. Most breeders are against surgical intervention, believing that it is cruelty to animals.
Interesting! In some countries, Rottweilers with undocked tails are of great value at exhibitions. Although docking up to two vertebrae at the base does not go beyond the standard.
In some cases, tail docking is a genetic necessity. After all, a tail twisted into a ring does not meet the standard.
At what age?
Tail trimming of a Rottweiler is required no later than 6 months . Anesthesia will be required as this is a very painful procedure. After which the pet will require post-operative care.
Next in the photo you can see what a Rottweiler looks like with a tail.
Choosing a puppy
When choosing a Rottweiler dog, you should carefully study the characteristics of these animals from photos on the Internet and take into account all the nuances.
It is also necessary to focus on the following recommendations:
- When purchasing, be sure to familiarize yourself with the pedigree of the animal. If it is not there, then such an animal is not worth buying.
- There are no varieties of the Rottweiler, so you should not listen to the seller’s arguments that it is an American, royal or some other species, and in general you should doubt the thoroughbred of the animal being sold.
- If, as confirmation of the breed, you are offered to look at the veterinary book, then we hasten to disappoint you that this document may well be counterfeit, and will in no way become a guarantee certifying the breed of the dog.
- A puppy can only have a pedigree after 6 months of age, so you should take this fact into account if you want to purchase a newborn puppy.
- The Rottweiler can only be black, with characteristic red splashes. The only defect that is allowed in color is the white chest patch.
- The price of a puppy cannot be lower than $300, so if you suddenly decide to save money, they will most likely give you a mixed breed.
How to educate?
Rottweilers are quick-witted and intelligent dogs, so they are easy to train . But this does not mean that the dog’s development as a person can be left to chance. In order to raise a smart, disciplined dog, it will take a lot of time, effort and patience.
Toilet train
You should start toilet training your puppy almost immediately after he arrives in the house. To do this, you should purchase a tray in which the dog will do “his business.” When a small pet begins to sniff and stomp around in one place, it needs to be taken to the tray. At the same time, you need to praise the baby if he went to the toilet where he should and did not miss. Over time, he will begin to do this on his own.
If the puppy is unable to go to the litter box for a long time, it is necessary to spread disposable diapers everywhere. He will like to go to the toilet on a soft one. Gradually you need to remove the diapers, reducing the area until there is only one tray with a diaper left.
After the baby has learned to use the litter tray, all vaccinations have already been completed, you can start going to the toilet in the fresh air. When going for a walk, you should take a used diaper from the tray with you; the familiar smell will help the puppy find his bearings. After some time, he will understand the purpose of walking, he will endure it, and ask to go outside.
Stop barking
There are several techniques due to which the Rottweiler becomes more flexible and stops barking at the first signal:
- Achieve unquestioning execution of commands “to me” or “to my foot”. This way the pet will be distracted by the owner, stopping making noise.
- Touch your ears. The animal will react positively to stroking; in moments of anxiety, the dog will calm down.
- Use specialized herbal-based nutritional supplements with a calming effect. This method is well suited for owners who do not have the opportunity to train for a long time.
- Try to avoid situations that provoke your Rottweiler to bark.
Features of education
You can train a Rottweiler either independently or seek help from a dog handler.
At home
Raising a Rottweiler at home is not an easy task . To do this, you should adhere to the following rules:
- Learn one command at a time. There is no need to rush around trying to teach several commands at once. This will confuse the pet, as a result of which it will not learn a single command.
- Try to conduct training at the same time and in the same place. The dog must get used to the activities.
- Teach the basics of defense and attack.
Dog handler
Training, first of all, involves interacting with your pet, gaining trust and respect, and only then learning commands. Dog handlers conduct training classes together with the owner, explaining to both how to behave, what is permissible and what is strictly prohibited.
Dog training
It is better not to train yourself if you do not have experience; your dog should be trained by specialists. Rottweilers are trainable, but can be stubborn and disobedient.
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Always show your pet that you are a leader. Show respect and do not use physical force, otherwise the Rottweiler may respond with aggression and this will end sadly.
Early socialization is necessary so that they grow up and get used to people around them and unfamiliar dogs.
While he is a puppy, take him often to places where there are crowds of people and other animals, let him interact with children. This will help him get used to different people and different situations.
Puberty
If the owner plans to breed Rottweilers, then you should know everything about the puberty of these dogs.
Estrus
The first heat in Rottweilers occurs at the age of 8-12 months . After which it appears every 6 months. The duration of estrus is about 18-21 days.
Mating
Mating of Rottweilers is usually carried out on the territory of the male dog, since he feels more confident in a familiar environment. Dogs should be left alone, this will make them more comfortable. If dogs fail to breed, owners must help the process.
To do this, the owner of the male dog holds his pet by the stomach, and with the other hand directs the loop to the male genital organ. After several matings, the genitals of the bitch and the male are joined, which is called a “lock.” Dogs can remain in this state from several minutes to 1 hour. “Castle” indicates successful fertilization. If it was not there, even after the male ejaculated, the mating can be considered unsuccessful.
Pregnancy
The gestation period for puppies varies between 57-70 days . It all depends on the individual characteristics of the bitch’s body. The first half of pregnancy proceeds unnoticed, then the pet becomes lethargic and irritable. Closer to the birth, she begins to “build a nest”, trying to find the most comfortable place to give birth to puppies.
Childbirth
Childbirth is quite a difficult process for a beginner. If this happens for the first time, it is better to use the services of an experienced dog handler.
The birth of a Rottweiler should take place in a quiet, calm environment. No more than 2 people should be present. By the time of birth, the dog breathes frequently and shallowly, the first attempts appear, and it begins to sulk. When the first puppy appears, you should rupture the placenta, cut off the umbilical cord, leaving about 5 centimeters, shake out the water from the respiratory tract, and wipe it dry. Place the baby close to the mother so that he can latch on, then wait for the next puppy to appear.
Keeping a Rottweiler is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. This is a very smart, disciplined animal. The main thing is to provide the necessary living conditions, proper care and training. Then the family will receive not only a protector in the person of a pet, but also a faithful, devoted friend.
