So You Think You Want a Rottweiler Puppy

[MeSheLL]

Rottweiler puppies are adorable little black bear look alikes! They are fuzzy, clumsy and just so cute!

However Rottweiler puppies are not for everyone, and just because you've had a puppy of another breed or mix breed does not mean you are cut out for a Rottweiler puppy. This does not mean you are a failure as a puppy parent, it just means you are smart enough to admit that perhaps you should choose a young adult or an adult rottweiler as your companion.

I have spoken to A LOT of people who desire a puppy for their home. Some of the problems that have become major issues for new Rottweiler puppy owners (and things you SHOULD give serious thought to) are:

1) Eight to sixteen week old puppies have very little bowel and bladder control. What this means is that the new baby will most likely have to be taken outside to potty at least once in the night, 2 am seems to be a popular time. (If your pup is not used to being crated then it will likely howl for 20 minutes to 2 hours before falling asleep!) These pups also cannot "hold it" while you are gone all day at work (there are exceptions but we are speaking in general terms here). Ideally a human is home at least part of the day to take the little one out every 2 to 3 hours. If this is not possible then a room should be made puppy proof and a crate with the door off in one corner and newspapers on the floor. Baby pups need to potty after waking up, before being put in the crate, after coming out of the crate, drinking, eating and playing. What usually causes the most problems is the playing because they are distracted and then all of a sudden HAVE to go now! When playing with a baby you must take them out every 30 to 45 minutes to avoid accidents. ANY TIME you take the puppy out to potty You MUST wait for them to go both pee and poop even if it takes 30 minutes for them to find just the right spot. They have to go out even during a thunder storm or in bitter winter wind..

2) Biting. Rottweiler puppies are VERY mouthy! They are very bitey and growly until they learn otherwise. They can act very aggressive with certain toys and things like rawhide and pigs ears should be avoided because they just cause unnecessary problems. They also chase down kids and bite their hands and legs and toes, they grab the cats, they bite the older dogs face, they bite your hands etc... Many pups can learn to inhibit their biting by you hollering OWW! really loud every time they bite. Other pups need to be lightly clipped under the chin with an open hand while you say "no bite". REMEMBER if what you are doing does not seem to be sinking in after 4 or 5 times then stop! It just is not working and you need to try something else. Some of them are good all day and become biting monsters after 7 pm. Some of them become little sharks if they don't get enough exercise or people time. Some just need to be taken out to potty and then calmly put in their crate for a nap. This is a perfectly normal stage for a Rottweiler puppy and if handled properly will be mastered by 6 months of age. (then they move on to jumping on people and chewing on your furniture!) It is a VERY frustrating and annoying time and this is one of the things that turn perfectly normal people and even some not very rottweiler knowledgable trainers totally off of rottweilers or to label them as aggressive/dominant etc.. which is certainly not the case! This stage requires TONS of persistence and patience.

3) Rottweiler pups are very smart and this gets them into lots of trouble! They are into anything and everything not tied down. Average puppy proofing of your home will not be sufficient! Anything your puppy should not be into should be protected or placed above 3 feet. Remember if anything gets broke or chewed it IS NOT the puppies fault! It is yours because you did not pick it up or protect it enough. Pups should never be left alone in a room, ever! You can not use the phrase "he should have known better" until he is OVER 2 YEARS OLD!!

4) Rottweilers mature VERY slowly! The housebreaking, crate training and chewing may be over with by 12 months old. But the rottweiler is a puppy til it is 2 years of age! They require AT LEAST every other day training sessions from puppyhood on. They also require alot of exercise. Though rottweilers under 2 should never be jogged or biked they should get lots of play time every day and walking is fine as long as you know the distance your pup can easily walk without getting exhausted. Over tired pups easily injure their joints and ligaments. If your young rottweiler is being especially wild and naughty then it needs more exercise and training sessions. Boredom and underplaying are the two biggest causes of bad behavior!!

5) Rottweilers also mature very slowly physically. This means that they should be kept lean. If they don't have a visible waist or you cannot easily feel their ribs the dog is way too fat! Rottweilers do not finish filling out width wise til 3 or 5 years old! Overfeeding WILL NOT make them fill out faster but will make them more susceptible to hip dysplasia, shoulder ailments and torn knee ligaments.

IF after reading all of the above you still want a puppy then by all means get one. But remember the commitment you are making to this dog. You are promising to properly care, train , feed and exercise it while keeping in mind all the above things that make this dog a Rottweiler!