Rottweiler Question and Answer
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I researched the rottweilers & breeders for a while before I bought a puppy from River City rottweilers. I wanted a dog I can show & breed. He guaranteed the pick of the litter for the price I paid. He shipped a long haired puppy. When I questioned the long hair, he stated it was puppy coat & he would loose it. The 2 year old dog now has longer hair than a golden retriever. When I finally got him to return my call he stated he guaranteed the pedigree, not the puppy. What good is the pedigree without the dog behind it? How do I go about letting everyone know what he is doing? Is there anyone I can contact to stop him from doing this to anyone else? I think what he did is very unethical.

Can a rottweiler with long hair be bred with a short haired rott & get short haired puppies or will I end up with a litter of long haired puppies?

I have always admired Rotties from afar. I had a friend who had one, and he was the biggest, loviest baby when it came to friends and family. Now, however, I have a 19-month old daughter, and my fiance has a 3 year old and a 5 year old. He loves Rotties, too, but we're concerned because they're such big dogs. Has anyone ever had an issue with one around children? They seem to have bad reputations with people who've never had one, as I've caught a lot of heat for even suggesting getting a Rottie while I have small children.. but they seem like such loyal, loving pets if given proper attention and love, like anything else... Any feedback on the issue would be greatly appreciated.

I have had two rotties, and have 2 children. As long as you are willing to out the work in that is needed to train one, they are brilliant family pets and will do anything for the kids. Childrens age 3 & 8

My rottweiler is 9 months now, shes just been spayed... but my dog doesnt like being inside alot... she loved the outside.... she hates being inside, shes been like this since she was 8 weeks old, I treat her great and shes a great dog just I would like to know if thats normal? I take her for long walks, runs in the field, pet her and bring her inside sometimes. Shes got a large dog house and always water... but why does she like the outdoors more than inside? anyone's rottweilers like that? mines a purebred and CKC papered... so shes not mixed.

My family and I went to a kennel yesterday and fell in love with a year old Rotti, but my husband is sceptical of rotti's temperaments in general. While we interacted with the Rotti, he really took an immediate liking to me and my 10 yr olds played well with him. Can I get someone's insite to help me and my family make a decision.

i am married with a three year old daughter, my rottweiler is six years old and we have never had any problem with ben my rotty who is twelve stone but very fit and healthy, common sense is vital not only with rotties but all breeds where chiildren are concerned, i remember when sophia was sleeping in her cot downstairs only my wife and i were permitted by ben to approach sophia and anybody else had to be accompanied by my wife or myself, rotties are the most loyal dog ive ever came across, ive had a staffordshire bull terrier and an english bull terrier altough both were 1st class dogs they dont come anywhere near a rotty for protection guarding or intelligence they are so easy to train,i had ben house trained in 2 weeks and as soon as his vaccinations had been done me and my wife took him to training classes in greenford west london, he came first in every event i put him in for obedience, i personally wud'nt consider another breed they are the ultimate dog in my opinion and i have alot of knowledge of dogs

I have owned Rotti's for several years and i also owned a rescue Rotti (which to be fair i also thought like youself i would never do, as you never know the dogs past), but then I asked the same question to a friend of mine who works for the a Animal Rescue Centre, she told me the best way is to look into there eyes while giving them a treat. If the dog has been well trained it should sit and wait, then with the softest of touches, it will gently take the treat out of your hands. That is when you know if the dog is well mannered or not.
Hope this answer helps, they are a fantastic dog and friend to have.

I've been thinking about buying a Rottweiler. Do they get a long with cats?

rottweilers get along with cats very well...if you train them to were they dont dislike them....my rottweiler loves my cat and even plays with him....he show no sign of wanting to harm him:)

Rottie's generally don't like cats, but I had a 6 year old Rottie that hated all the cats he would encounter or see outside. My son came home with a 7 week old kitten, my Rottie could've cared less about the kitten in the house. The kitten was very afraid of him but learned to love him. When the cat was 6 mos. he got out and we thought he was lost my Rottie (Krom) wouldn't leave the windows he kept looking for his little buddy. Thankfully the cat returned some 14 hours later. They slept together, played chase in the house and even drank out of the same water bowl. I never thought Krom would tolerate a cat in the house because of the way he hated the outside ones. We called them Big Brother and little annoying brother. Krom passed away in Nov. 2008 and my poor cat was lost without him, so I rescued a 1 1/2 year old Rottie some months later. She gets along with the cat fine, same as Krom did. If your cat is older you will have a problem with the cat accepting the new addition of a dog. Rottie's have a bad rep with most, but they are very gentle/loving and want to be lap dogs. They are very protective of their territory and family. Hope this is helpful in your decision.

No, generally rotties do not like cats

my rottweiler is 6 months old and only weighs 48 lbs we have been feeding him purina puppy food and i was wondering if this is normal for his age?

I wouldn't worry. Many dog owners feed their pups adult food to slow their growth, as it helps with the joints and "growing pains".
All rottweilers are individuals, just as people, hitting their growth spurts and weight gains at different times.
Hoping this helps
Erin

my rottie mix is 8 mos old and only weighs 50 lbs. Ive seen charts that say they're supposed to be heavier by now, but I've also read information that says it can take up to five years for the breed to reach full weight. I wouldnt worry so long as they're eating all their food and the vet gives a clean bill of health.

We have a 7y/o male Rott, that we have had since he was 6wks old. He has always been a very loving dog until recently. Now he wants to growl and snarl at you everytime you try to discipline him. By that I mean as simple as just talking to him in a slightly raised voice. He had never been a problem but now he regularly tears up things in the house and goes to the bathroom. All of this is new! Help? any thoughts......... This is our baby so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I totally agree with the other two answers. Firm and strong. While you are being strict, stay focused and stand square on if possible. This shows the dog that you are bigger than they are and that you are not going to back down. He/she may try this a few times but they will get the message that your the boss.

When it comes to powerful breeds like rotties, the case is often dominate or be dominated. Be strict, patient and persistent. Don't display anger while disciplining, just be calm and assertive.

You have to treat him gently and you have to be very strict. Rott's need strict and dominant masters. When he does wrong things you have to say no to him by raising your voice.

Hi my rottweiler is about 14 weeks old and still continues to eat his own feces when he has accidents so I was wondering if anyone else has had the same problems and what their advice to me would be?

they sell some kind of a med @ pet shop or @ the vet. after the little guy take it, it will stop him from eating it's own. but as of now, i think you should keep an eye on him. or you can do what i did b4, after he finish his business, wait until he move you move in with a command. ( but it will take a little time.)
i asked a vet b4 when it happen to my dog, He told me that the reason why they eat it's own it's because it taste like , how i can put it like hamburger...

hi, my rottweiler is about 13yrs old, and for the past couple days, he is not eating , if he is , he eats very very, little. and as for the movement, sometime he can't even get up or finish walking up the stairs. i'm very worry about him. i know that the life span for rottweiler are about 12-13yrs. what can i do if it's his time? what can i do or call if something do happen to him? please help

You must be ready,because he is going!I know is very hard to lose your Rottweiler friend,after i lose mine (is now 6 years)i still missing him,he was my best friend and no other dog will give me what he was.This simptoms he had also,he stop to eat and he wanted to be next to me all the time,he wanted to inform me that he must go.Was terible until now i can take other dog,i had him for 10 years ,he was already 3 years .GoodLuck.

My 6 month old male rottie is 22" at the withers. do you think he'll reach the heigher or lower height for the standard? His mum was on the smaller sized and his father was on the larger size.

I have a 4 month old female rotti. I have noticed she has little white hairs around the tan part under her tail and a little bit on the back of her hind legs. It is not very noticibale, but is this normal. I did see another rotti with kinda the same thing though.

Discolorations happen in purebreds and are considered a birth defect. Rottweilers with white patches cannot be shown in competition. But they still make great pets.

light coloured hairs does'nt mean shes not pure breed, a lot of pure breed rotties have light coloured hairs under and around base of tail and on top of hind legs. remember rotties came in various colours before the standard of black and tan was set. so not matter how pure breed the rottie slight variations in colour do occur.

Your rottie is probably not purebred. Maybe some traces of shepherd in her.

I am planning buying a 4 month rotti i currently live in a small flat near to parks woods etc moving later in the year. Is it easier to teach good behaviour from a younger age?

Just like a baby. If you teach it when it's young and go really straight on it. It will know that behaving badly is wrong. If you want to teach it to have a good behaviour, you shouldn't let it do whatever it wants. Don't let it make a bad habit.

Yes. Teaching a puppy at a younger age like a few weeks old will be much easier. But a 4 month is okay. Just a little more work. It can learn the rules faster and better when its young.

A dog of any age can be taught anything, all you need is a gentle hand, an alpha attitude and patience.

I have an almost two year old rottie and a 6 month old rottie. When we got our female, we were not home much and did not get to teach her much obedience. Now that I am home, I have tried, but it is difficult because naturally they are hard headed. I have since gotten a male, and I can promise, teaching him since day one...he picked up on everything. Guess she got by with so much in the past....you know the story.

I have a 14 week old rottweiler and she has a tint of rust color on the tops of her ears is that commom or have I been rooked and got a half breed?? Her mother and father are ckc regestered and she is to but I really need to know can you help me?

My rottweiler has those markings on her ears too, I wouldnt worry about it.

Yes, this is normal. My pure breed rottie also has small rust markings on his ears. Although not all rotties have this.

I am intersted in getting a rott but I live in Florida. Is the Florida climate too hot for a Rott? Sometimes it can be humid and get up to 100*.

It might be a ittle warm. Im assuming you have a/c tho?? They do tend to get over heated. But as long as they have fresh water, an ac house to retreat to, and their fave thing- a plastic baby pool you can get at walmart. You will probably be fine. Look for a breeder in your area! They will have lots of info for you!

What is the difference between " big head" and American rotties ?
or is there is such thing?

The difference is the bigger head ones you've heard of are the german/european ones. They are generally larger and more square then the American ones. Other then that same thing. As long as youve gotten the dog from a good breeder who carfes about he breed not his/her wallet and you raise it right you will have a wonderful family dog!

I recently got a 6 wk old rott puppy. I have 2 young children and was wondering if these dogs are good with kids. I have had so many people ask me what i was thinking getting a dog like this and they also say that she will turn on me and my kids and hurt them when she gets older. Is this possible?

I agree with the girl who said 6 weeks is young. That is an important age for learning behaviors. However Our first rottie we got was 6 weeks also when we got her. And she turned out just fine. She was an awesome dog. Don't listen to people who dont know what they are talking about. They listen to stories and think all the breed is like that. You definately will want to do some training classes with her. They are a stubborn breed and grow quite large so you'll want to make sure you have her well trained. I hate when people say stupid things like they will hurt your child. Our dog would have given her life for one of us. They are definately whats called a mouthy breed. Love to have your whole arm in their mouth. Id suggest stopping it imediately because it scares a lot of people and its not really something you want to do. I also agree with the way to stop the mouthing. Our rottie was trained by a professional who had many years experience working with these breeds and ours was a little fresh inthe begining, not having spent time with her mom to learn its not ok to bite like that. Either hold them down like another dog would do, or pick them up by the cruff. Give a firm no. And end the play time. These dogs are very intelgent and learn very quickly. As a working breed they love a job and get bored and thats when any unwanted behavior will happen. i suggest maybe getting a harness and teaching it to pull and it can have a job of pulling a wagon for your children and to help you around the yard. Itll be fun and helpful for you and fun for the dog. Again... great choice for a family pet!! And get her to some puppy classes to help you out with socializing and training. You will LOVE having her around. And you will always feel safe with your rottie friend by your side!!

your pup will be fine as long as you watch the kids that they dont get to ruff or be crewl to the pup make sure you train your pup and you will be fine i have a 4 month old rottweiler and my kids ages are 2 and 4 and she is fine with them this is not my first rottweiler i have had them before they are easy to train they are very smart they are very loyal they love being with you all the time they love going for walks going to the beach and they love lots of cuddles and getting lots of nice treats when they do good thinds

I have had a rott for six years and she is great! you just have to lay down the law. you probaly dont want to get a male. i say this with experince.

This response is absolutely correct. I haven't had any experience training dogs other than my own rottie. He is almost a year and a half now and he is amazing. I also got him at six weeks. I would trust him with a child if I had one. Dominance is a must! Your dog must know that you make and enforce the rules. I had never heard of it before as being a method of training, but the grabbing of the skin on the back of the neck is very effective. It is how I trained my rottie. It worked wonderfully too. It is simply how a dog would be corrected in a pack. My Moses is obedient and responsive to my voice. He knows I am in charge and he does not test me. The method of training sounds rough but I assure you it is ok. My rottie (Moses) knows I'm in charge but at the same time he is confident and never winces as though he thinks he is going to be struck or something. Also, I would like to emphasize over and over... If you train your rottie effectively the last thing on your mind will ever be it turning on you or a family member. I would trust my life with my rottie. Any of my friends or family members would say the same. After the year and a few months of having my rottie I could care less if I ever own another breed.

Hi Katie. First of all your puppy is only 6 weeks old? Hmmm...It hasn't had the time to learn important things from its mother and littermates like biting and playing. Your gonna have a lot of work to do. But, what people are telling you about the Rottie turning on you is not true. ONLY would that be true if your dog is not well trained,not handled frimly, and allowed on the couch or bed. I have been studying dominant dog breeds for 7 years now and I know that when a dog is at your level like its head is where your head is or higher the dog will think its equal to you or that its alpha. YOU MUST BE THE ALPHA IN YOUR PACK! The children must also be in a higher ranking than the dog. Rotties are wonderful comapnions for children, Again WHEN PROPERLY TRAINED. I would suggest getting help from a professional trainer. Rotties as puppies are VERY mouthy and bity and a little growly. YOU MUST STOP IT IMMEDIATELY. You can try yelling OWW! in a high pitched loud voice...if it doesn't work within 4 or 5 times try something else. Playtime stops when biting begins. Get up and leave the room. If that doesn't work: now I know this is going to sound harsh but I LEARNED THIS FROM MANY PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS: grab the puppy by the skin on the back of its neck and shove it into the floor, do this with a little force no too much because you don't want to hurt him/her. This is exactly what another dog would do if the puppy was getting too rough. Again I suggest you do lots of research and consult a professional trainer. Untill then I hope this will do. -SAIGE

I am thinking about a rottie. I have a huge fenced backyard with a mix of sunlight and shade. I don't plan on bringing the dog inside. I live in Atlanta, GA and wondering how well they do in the cold/heat of the seasons.

i have a 2 year old rottie hes been eating pedigree dry dog food for some time now but for the last few weeks hes been throwing up the food its like if hes cant digest it should i change the brand of food.

maybe a obtruction in the digestive tract check with your vet.

have an xray by vet first or try soft food

What are the first signs that could indicate that my rottweiler is pregnant?

I adopted a female rottie which I have had for 5 months now. I have had her checked by a Vet and she is healthy. My problem is that I have a hard time getting weight on her. Her hip bones protrude, and you can see her ribs and her spine. I feed her the recommended amount of Iams dog food but I cannot keep weight on her. This is my first time owning a rottie, and thought perhaps it was not uncommom for some.

I use Purina One and i'd start giving the more than the daily value.

how tall should my 4 month old rottie be?

well i have a 5 month old rottie that is 22-24 inches and weighs about 53lbs but if its a female it could be smaller.

My nine month old rott has started her period, i thought this didn't happen until 1 years old

Just like humans...this can vary. It can happen anywhere from 7 months to 13 months. Don't worry.

My 9 month old rott is always breathing hard, even when he is laying down. Does anyone know what that is all about?

may be your dog have a heart problem, because rottweiler is prone to chd(chronic heart disease) better to check it up to your nearest vet.!! that is all

I have an 8 yr. old Black Lab and now have an opportunity to get a 1 yr. old male Rot. Your temperament section says "they have a tendency to be agressive toward other dogs". Is this a trait that can be worked through or would this just be a bad situation for both dogs?

Any dog has the ability to be aggressive. Some are more prone to this "red-zone" behavior. Get the Rott into some classes that promote healthy socialization and the possible problem will be more and more impossible. Also, when greeting your dogs with any other dog, allow sniffing of the butt first. Never face-to-face.

Hi there, I have had four Rotties, My first one I had with 2 cocker spanials, and another female rottie,my third one I got an English pointer puppy as a companian for her when she was 2 years old and they were great mates, at present I have a 7mth old female rottie with my 9yr old English Pointer and they get on great. The English Pointer is top dog which is how I like it. I have found that rotties do not like being the only dog, they are very very social and love human company, my rottie follows me everywhere, she is quite content just to be by my side. All my rotties have had a very strong bond with me. They can also watch TV whereas my Pointer cannot.

My Rottweiler suffers from lymphoma and the vet says many of them do. Any Infromation on this?

My Rotty had lymphoma - but it was too far gone to do anything about it.....but they (the Vet) did say it was the most treatable of the cancers and she was optimistic about the diagnosis - UNTIL we found out the grade of it. So don't worry until you get the grade of it.

Ask if you got it from a breeder to see it's family's history to see if it's hetitary.

it's herititary

how long are they pregnant

The Rottweiler is just like any other breed and the usual gestation length is 63 days. If the dog goes more than 2-3 days beyond that, a Veterinarian should be contacted. The puppies may need to be delivered surgically. You will notice a drop in the temperature by several degrees from the normal of 101.5-102. This indicates the Mother-to-be will deliver usually within 24 hours. Rottweiler's can sometimes have large litters with as many as 10-12 puppies. If this is the case they can sometimes deliver a few days early.

