So you want a Rottweiler...

Are you sure?

Rottweilers are extremely strong and powerful dogs:

They are also intelligent, affectionate, loyal, courageous, confident and lovable family companions. They are easily obedience trained. Being robust and active they need lots of daily exercise to control their strong charactor and powerful build, and are more suited to suburbs or country.

They can be willful so members of the family must establish their control over them. They prefer humans to be "pack leader" - but if you aren't they will be!

Most Rottweilers are very tolerant towards children - others resent the rough treatment children can sometimes inflict, so children must not be allowed to tease a Rottweiler.

The Rottweiler is a dominant "guarding" breed:

Some people buy Rottweilers for their protecting instinct, only to find later that they have taken on the wrong breed, as owning a Rottweiler entails considerable moral and legal responsibilities. Aggression should NEVER be encouraged at any time either towards humans or other dogs - THIS IS WRONG! The Rottweiler will guard instinctively without provocation. DON'T confuse their dominant attitude towards other dogs with an aggressive attitude towards people - the first is their ingrained character, the second is bad breeding or lack of socialising.

Controlling the Rottweiler:

PLEASE don't buy a Rottweiler unless you have absolute confidence in your ability (both mental and physical) to handle this strong-willed, dominant breed. You must not use force. Be ASSERTIVE not DOMINEERING. Your 'will' must be stronger - not your physique. Just think how people manage to train whales and elephants, it's called rapport and reward. Reward for doing the right things. Develop a "positive" environment and praise them when they get things right or are just being good. DON'T keep nagging them for getting things wrong. If "rough-housing" or challenges of strength are your idea of controlling the Rottweiler - then it is not the breed for you.

Owners should be encouraged to attend a training class. You don't have to train your dog to a high standard - he just has to be under CONTROL. Discipline is essential. A harsh word will often suffice. Rottweilers want to please their owners, but occasionally can be quite stubborn.