1. Do you have the space?
- Rottweilers are pretty good in most environments however, there is one major problem about raising a Rottweiler in an apartment or a small house. Rottweilers are big dogs. Thus in a small containment facility they are more prone to bumping into things and able to grab things.
2. Do you have the time to put into socialization?
- Rottweilers, especially young ones are easily introduced to many situations and they need it. A Rottweiler easily startled is not a good dog. All dogs need socialization with children, adults, other animals, etc. The more chances you give the puppy the better dog you'll have. The reason we trust Moses with children, adults, horses, puppies, dogs, cats (well sometimes), etc. Is because Moses when little was with us everywhere so he doesn't feel the need to chase/jump on everything.
3. Do you have the time to put into training?
- Training is a must with Rottweilers. There is now way around it and it needs to be done. An untrained dog of any sort can develop into a problem and Rottweilers can cause a lot more damage than an untrained miniature poodle. Sitting when greeting someone etc, is a huge help. No one wants an 120lb dog jumping on them at the door.
4. Do you have small children?
- Rottweilers are generally good with children, however when getting a puppy they believe kids are the same as them. Always plan on supervising your children with the dog. Accidents happen and it's better to be proactive and preventative in the case of a Rottweiler. A larger Rottweiler can be a great friend for a child, but they are large, they do like sitting/leaning on people. No dog should be left alone with small children it is a recipe for disaster. If you cant supervise dont get a dog.
5. Do you have enough time to exercise them?
- Rottweilers need exercise, daily. They are working dogs who have a lazy side. Rottweilers are prone to obesity and need to have the exercise that keeps them lean.
6. Do you plan on spaying/neutering your dog?
- If this is a family pet the answer should always be yes WITH NO EXCEPTIONS. Leaving your male dog intact makes him prone to wandering, and more aggressive then his gelded brethern. Moses' personality is fine without being a "real" male. He didnt have any changes to him. Deal. Some people say 6 months is the perfect age others say a year. We waited until he was 9 months old before neutering Moses because of research we read about Rottweilers growth plates not closing until they were older than six months. (Moses is still growing according to the vet argh)
7. Do you mind dog hair?
- Rottweilers dont shed that badly, but expect to find their coarse hair almost anywhere. Food, clean laundry, mouths, etc. Rottweilers shed at least twice a year and sometimes it can be terrible. They dont shed as badly as say Labrador Retrievers or Border Collies, but they still can be sources of major falling hair. People with severe allergies should be prepared for contention, however if you have a light case of allergies you should be ok (like me, highly allergic to labs and collies but Mo doesnt shed enough to bother me).
8. Are you prepared to deal with their reputation?
- Rottweilers quiet often have a negative connotation. Are you ready to deal with the fact that some places do not allow Rottweilers residence? Rottweilers are considered dangerous by many people. They are number 2 on the most lethal list. They have major negative social status. If something were to happen to you and the police were involved the rottweiler would most likely be shot because of their negative stigmata. Most people will approach a rottweiler cautiously compared to that of a Retriever or other breed. You need to be prepared with people being fearful of your dog and be willing to tell them otherwise. You need to be able to stand up for them, because they are one of the misunderstood breeds such as Pitbulls.
9. Are you willing to share your life?
- Rottweilers are not dogs you can let be only outdoor dogs, they are family dogs, they need family. If left out they often become unhappy and mean. They need to be a part of their peoples lives. Whether that means sitting at your feet while watching TV. Or going on family hikes. The more places they get to be with you the better.
10. Are you willing to face the loss to come?
- Rottweilers are a large dog breed, meaning that their lifetime is significantly shorter than that of a small breed. Rottweilers are prone to hip displasia as well as other conditions that effect larger breeds. Thier life span is normally between 9-12 years. Molly dog, our first rottweiler, was 14 when she had to be put down because of cancer. I was eleven and I still remember saying goodbye. My mother and I decided that it was worth it to get another Rottweiler because we couldnt live without them, so we ended up with Mo. Once you have a Rottweiler you don't want other dog breeds because Rottweilers become part of the family. It's hard to loose one let alone two. But the reward is you get to have a companion who is completely loyal and loving for all those years. The answer is up to you whether it is worth it or not. We decided yes.
No comments:
Post a Comment