Training
Rottweiler Training – Your Guide to Raising This Loyal Breed
Rottweiler Training Tips
Your puppy cannot train himself, just like a child cannot raise himself. And just like a toddler, your puppy would choose “cake for breakfast” every day, if it were up to him. Just like we send our children to school for 12+ years, Rottweiler puppy training is necessary if you want to have a well-behaved dog.
The problem is, when people get busy, they don’t make training their puppy a priority. Puppies are wonderful balls of joy and curiosity; but, they can also be like destructive little tornadoes. Either you harness that energy and naughtiness into training your pup, or you end up questioning your sanity as to why you got a puppy in the first place…
And, if left long enough, that naughty or fearful Rottweiler puppy can turn into a full blown intimidating and aggressive nuisance. It is critical to devote the time it takes each day training your Rottweiler puppy to ensure that he grows up to be a good canine companion. No one gets a puppy intending to drop them off at a shelter to become just another sad statistic.
So let’s work together and make sure we do this Rottweiler puppy training thing, RIGHT!!! It isn’t difficult, it just takes some patience and consistent work.
Socialization is critical! Some Rotties can become over protective and dog aggressive if not socialized properly! Although, many people desire this breed for its protective qualities, no one wants a dog that is dangerous or will not let anyone in the house.
I believe all dogs are capable of protecting his owner in a crisis without training.
Socialization and proper Rottweiler training is much more important than worrying about or training a dog to be aloof or aggressive on the rare chance of an owner attack. Your Rottweiler is daunting enough just to look at!
Puppies aren’t puppies for long! They have a very short window to learn about all the things that will be in their life as they age. It is very important to take your new puppy everywhere with you and let him meet all different kinds of people and children. Take treats with you and let people give him treats while petting him.
You want your new puppy to enjoy meeting people but to also have good manners and not jump; have him sit instead! Now is the time to teach him manners, not when he is 95 pounds! I can’t tell you how many people I know that get a puppy, bring it home, and even do some basic obedience training, but never take the puppy outside of the home until they are full grown.
They then end up with a fearful adult dog that is unsure in all kinds of new situations. Many of these dogs look seriously “abused” to the average person because they are so fearful of everything, when actually it is simply because the puppy was never given proper socialization and exposed to different things. If you want your dog to go hiking, go to the ball field, go to parks and other places, and be able to be around people of all shapes, sizes, colors and children, you need to take him to these places and teach him manners when he is young.
Socialization isn’t always about “playing with” something; often it is about learning to be obedient around certain things and situations. No one brings home a cute fuzzy puppy and considers that it will one day become a terrifying, dominant dog! No one wants to be in an abusive relationship with their dog either, (where the dog is in control of everything in his environment)!
Rottweiler training and manners should also begin right away!
Although he is a cute little ball of fur now, he will soon be a large, imposing, and incredibly strong dog.
Begin by rewarding behaviors you like seeing and will continue to like as he ages. Reward him for sitting, laying down, staying in one place, chewing the right objects and anything else you like that your new Rottie pup does.
Ignore behaviors that are irritating or will be disturbing when he is an adult, like jumping making sure never to talk to, pet or reinforce negative behavior.
Redirecting Bad Behavior
You may also redirect bad behavior through positive reinforcement, by asking your new puppy to do something else; for instance if he is jumping on you ask him to sit or lay down. If he is putting his teeth on you make sure to give him something else to chew on or have him sit or lay down to break his focus on the negative behavior.
Rotties are notorious for chewing anything and everything! So get him used to his crate as soon as possible. Not only will this keep him and your things safe when you can’t keep an eye on him, it will also help you with puppy potty training.
Crate Training Rottweiler Puppies
I can’t tell you how many people “try” crate training their puppy for the first 2 nights and then simply “give up.”
Or the amount of people who simply refuse to crate train!
It astounds me!
In order to have a well-developed, well socialized and good canine companion, you need a dog that is happy in a crate. Why? Because at some point your dog will be in a crate: at the vet, the groomer, or pet sitter’s home. He can’t avoid being in a crate for the rest of his life.
And, wouldn’t it be nice if you gave him the skills to not be bothered no matter where he is at? I work at a veterinary clinic and occasionally take my dogs to work. My Fury is so comfortable in a crate or cage that she flips upside-down and sleeps. Not a stress in the world. I also crate them when we go to sporting events.
I have competed in agility, obedience, dock diving, lure coursing, and Schutzhund protection sports and there isn’t a single venue where having your dog out of a crate all day is appropriate. Crates also give me more options to travel. Not only will some family only allow me and my dogs to visit if they are crated when I am gone, some motel/hotels that don’t allow pets will allow your dog with a crate too. There really isn’t any reason NOT to crate train.
All puppies whine and cry at first when crated, this is normal! However it is critical not to let him out when he is making noise. By doing so, you are essentially telling him that whining and crying is what you want and is the key to his freedom.
Though annoyingly inconvenient, short term fits are better than a lifetime of chewed articles and a dog that has some separation issues because he is never alone and never expected to do things he doesn’t want to do.
Remember he has just left his litter mates and has never been all alone at night, but don’t give in and cuddle him on the bed! You may not always want to share your bed with a 150 pound Rottweiler! More crate training tips.
Begin by making the crate fun and playing games with him inside. Throw toys inside while keeping the door wide open and feed him in his crate. Also teach him that when he stays in his crate you will treat him and reward him, this can become a fun and interactive game for you both.
I also recommend keeping a crate next to your bed so that you can hear him in the night if he awakes and needs to go outside. It also helps for him to hear your breathing and night noises to keep him from panicking in his crate.Potty training is serious business. According to the ASPCA’s National Rehoming Survey, potty training problems are the most common reason that dog owners rehome their pet. But teaching your puppy where to go to the bathroom is one of the easiest things to teach your new best friend.
It’s true that potty training a puppy or adult dog for that matter requires patience, commitment and lots of consistency, but thankfully the Rottweiler, is generally among the easiest when potty training, but remember it is really all about YOU! If you aren’t consistent you are ONLY making your potty training efforts harder on yourself than you have to.
You need to know what your puppy is doing and what his potty training schedule is like so that you can set yourself and him up for success! When he potties outside be sure to quietly praise him. Don’t get too excited or he might stop!
If he doesn’t go potty and you know he should have just bring him in and put him in his crate for 5 or 10 minutes and try again. Don’t give in or he is liable to sneak into another room and make a mistake!
Be sure to keep your Rottweiler puppy with you! If he is in the same room with you all the time, you will notice if he begins to sniff or squat so you can get him outside. When he is not with you, he should be in his crate. But he shouldn’t be stuck in the crate for too long.
According to this article, “Generally speaking, a puppy can control their bladder one hour for every month of age. So if your puppy is two months old, they can hold it for about two hours. Don't go longer than this between bathroom breaks or they’re guaranteed to have an accident.”
Be sure to never EVER yell at him or rub his nose in an accident! This will only teach him that you are scary and never to go to the bathroom in front of you. If you catch him in the act startle him to stop the flow of urine or him from pooping and get him outside so you can praise him. Watch him carefully!
Once he has a handle on going outside you may begin teaching him to ring a bell at the door with his nose to go outside. But, in the beginning it is about making sure YOU are potty trained and watching him and getting him outside in time!
More Rottweiler Training TipsGet him used to and respectful toward his leash early! Leash training and obedience will be critical! He is going to be a very muscular and powerful dog and teaching a puppy leash manners and to “heel” is much easier than teaching a 150 adult dog!
Tether your dog to you, early on, to avoid bad behavior and teach some leash respect and manners. Never allow your Rottweiler puppy to get in the habit of pulling you to and fro when he is on the leash.
If you allow your Rottweiler puppy to run off leash without the obedience to back it up, you will struggle with his obedience for years to come. Again, whether it is true or not, I want my dog to think that I am THE BEST thing on earth. And, I simply cannot compete with wild critters and exciting smells.
Don’t worry! That doesn’t mean that your Rottweiler puppy will never be able to be off leash; the opposite is true. You just need to control his environment, play with him and build his drive for toys and games, and then teach him obedience.
So, when he goes leash, he will have the obedience background to leave whatever distraction may crop up. I have called my dogs off baby bunnies and opossums among other exciting things. The reason I was successful, is because my dogs know if they listen and obey they will be rewarded (mostly with a game of ball which is their favorite thing).
They never learn how fun chasing bunnies can be if they don’t listen. And, let’s face it, bunnies are more rewarding than me… I just want to be smarter than my dog and never give him the opportunity to figure that out.
There are many benefits to basic obedience training, including building a closer bond, through positive reinforcement with your dog, teaching your dog life and social skills, and helping to prevent your dog from developing unwanted behaviors. A dog that will come when called may help avoid life threatening situations, such as being hit by a car or having a bad encounter with another animal.
Dog obedience training should become a part of his regular daily schedule.
I often had my pups work for their breakfast and dinner! Rotties need a strong leader and mental stimulation, which comes in the form of Rottweiler training. A bored Rottweiler is a naughty Rottweiler!
Your Rottie is never too young or too old to learn! When he is young just remember he has a shorter attention span and possibly retention rate, but work hard and you will see him become a great dog! Don’t wait until you see behavior problems, begin molding him into the dog you want and you will both bond and enjoy a wonderful life together!
Your puppy cannot train himself, just like a child cannot raise himself. And just like a toddler, your puppy would choose “cake for breakfast” every day, if it were up to him. Just like we send our children to school for 12+ years, Rottweiler puppy training is necessary if you want to have a well-behaved dog.
The problem is, when people get busy, they don’t make training their puppy a priority. Puppies are wonderful balls of joy and curiosity; but, they can also be like destructive little tornadoes. Either you harness that energy and naughtiness into training your pup, or you end up questioning your sanity as to why you got a puppy in the first place…
And, if left long enough, that naughty or fearful Rottweiler puppy can turn into a full blown intimidating and aggressive nuisance. It is critical to devote the time it takes each day training your Rottweiler puppy to ensure that he grows up to be a good canine companion. No one gets a puppy intending to drop them off at a shelter to become just another sad statistic.
So let’s work together and make sure we do this Rottweiler puppy training thing, RIGHT!!! It isn’t difficult, it just takes some patience and consistent work.
Socialization is critical! Some Rotties can become over protective and dog aggressive if not socialized properly! Although, many people desire this breed for its protective qualities, no one wants a dog that is dangerous or will not let anyone in the house.
I believe all dogs are capable of protecting his owner in a crisis without training.
Socialization and proper Rottweiler training is much more important than worrying about or training a dog to be aloof or aggressive on the rare chance of an owner attack. Your Rottweiler is daunting enough just to look at!
Puppies aren’t puppies for long! They have a very short window to learn about all the things that will be in their life as they age. It is very important to take your new puppy everywhere with you and let him meet all different kinds of people and children. Take treats with you and let people give him treats while petting him.
You want your new puppy to enjoy meeting people but to also have good manners and not jump; have him sit instead! Now is the time to teach him manners, not when he is 95 pounds! I can’t tell you how many people I know that get a puppy, bring it home, and even do some basic obedience training, but never take the puppy outside of the home until they are full grown.
They then end up with a fearful adult dog that is unsure in all kinds of new situations. Many of these dogs look seriously “abused” to the average person because they are so fearful of everything, when actually it is simply because the puppy was never given proper socialization and exposed to different things. If you want your dog to go hiking, go to the ball field, go to parks and other places, and be able to be around people of all shapes, sizes, colors and children, you need to take him to these places and teach him manners when he is young.
Socialization isn’t always about “playing with” something; often it is about learning to be obedient around certain things and situations. No one brings home a cute fuzzy puppy and considers that it will one day become a terrifying, dominant dog! No one wants to be in an abusive relationship with their dog either, (where the dog is in control of everything in his environment)!
Rottweiler training and manners should also begin right away!
Although he is a cute little ball of fur now, he will soon be a large, imposing, and incredibly strong dog.
Begin by rewarding behaviors you like seeing and will continue to like as he ages. Reward him for sitting, laying down, staying in one place, chewing the right objects and anything else you like that your new Rottie pup does.
Ignore behaviors that are irritating or will be disturbing when he is an adult, like jumping making sure never to talk to, pet or reinforce negative behavior.
Redirecting Bad Behavior
You may also redirect bad behavior through positive reinforcement, by asking your new puppy to do something else; for instance if he is jumping on you ask him to sit or lay down. If he is putting his teeth on you make sure to give him something else to chew on or have him sit or lay down to break his focus on the negative behavior.
Rotties are notorious for chewing anything and everything! So get him used to his crate as soon as possible. Not only will this keep him and your things safe when you can’t keep an eye on him, it will also help you with puppy potty training.
Crate Training Rottweiler Puppies
I can’t tell you how many people “try” crate training their puppy for the first 2 nights and then simply “give up.”
Or the amount of people who simply refuse to crate train!
It astounds me!
In order to have a well-developed, well socialized and good canine companion, you need a dog that is happy in a crate. Why? Because at some point your dog will be in a crate: at the vet, the groomer, or pet sitter’s home. He can’t avoid being in a crate for the rest of his life.
And, wouldn’t it be nice if you gave him the skills to not be bothered no matter where he is at? I work at a veterinary clinic and occasionally take my dogs to work. My Fury is so comfortable in a crate or cage that she flips upside-down and sleeps. Not a stress in the world. I also crate them when we go to sporting events.
I have competed in agility, obedience, dock diving, lure coursing, and Schutzhund protection sports and there isn’t a single venue where having your dog out of a crate all day is appropriate. Crates also give me more options to travel. Not only will some family only allow me and my dogs to visit if they are crated when I am gone, some motel/hotels that don’t allow pets will allow your dog with a crate too. There really isn’t any reason NOT to crate train.
All puppies whine and cry at first when crated, this is normal! However it is critical not to let him out when he is making noise. By doing so, you are essentially telling him that whining and crying is what you want and is the key to his freedom.
Though annoyingly inconvenient, short term fits are better than a lifetime of chewed articles and a dog that has some separation issues because he is never alone and never expected to do things he doesn’t want to do.
Remember he has just left his litter mates and has never been all alone at night, but don’t give in and cuddle him on the bed! You may not always want to share your bed with a 150 pound Rottweiler! More crate training tips.
Begin by making the crate fun and playing games with him inside. Throw toys inside while keeping the door wide open and feed him in his crate. Also teach him that when he stays in his crate you will treat him and reward him, this can become a fun and interactive game for you both.
I also recommend keeping a crate next to your bed so that you can hear him in the night if he awakes and needs to go outside. It also helps for him to hear your breathing and night noises to keep him from panicking in his crate.Potty training is serious business. According to the ASPCA’s National Rehoming Survey, potty training problems are the most common reason that dog owners rehome their pet. But teaching your puppy where to go to the bathroom is one of the easiest things to teach your new best friend.
It’s true that potty training a puppy or adult dog for that matter requires patience, commitment and lots of consistency, but thankfully the Rottweiler, is generally among the easiest when potty training, but remember it is really all about YOU! If you aren’t consistent you are ONLY making your potty training efforts harder on yourself than you have to.
You need to know what your puppy is doing and what his potty training schedule is like so that you can set yourself and him up for success! When he potties outside be sure to quietly praise him. Don’t get too excited or he might stop!
If he doesn’t go potty and you know he should have just bring him in and put him in his crate for 5 or 10 minutes and try again. Don’t give in or he is liable to sneak into another room and make a mistake!
Be sure to keep your Rottweiler puppy with you! If he is in the same room with you all the time, you will notice if he begins to sniff or squat so you can get him outside. When he is not with you, he should be in his crate. But he shouldn’t be stuck in the crate for too long.
According to this article, “Generally speaking, a puppy can control their bladder one hour for every month of age. So if your puppy is two months old, they can hold it for about two hours. Don't go longer than this between bathroom breaks or they’re guaranteed to have an accident.”
Be sure to never EVER yell at him or rub his nose in an accident! This will only teach him that you are scary and never to go to the bathroom in front of you. If you catch him in the act startle him to stop the flow of urine or him from pooping and get him outside so you can praise him. Watch him carefully!
Once he has a handle on going outside you may begin teaching him to ring a bell at the door with his nose to go outside. But, in the beginning it is about making sure YOU are potty trained and watching him and getting him outside in time!
More Rottweiler Training TipsGet him used to and respectful toward his leash early! Leash training and obedience will be critical! He is going to be a very muscular and powerful dog and teaching a puppy leash manners and to “heel” is much easier than teaching a 150 adult dog!
Tether your dog to you, early on, to avoid bad behavior and teach some leash respect and manners. Never allow your Rottweiler puppy to get in the habit of pulling you to and fro when he is on the leash.
If you allow your Rottweiler puppy to run off leash without the obedience to back it up, you will struggle with his obedience for years to come. Again, whether it is true or not, I want my dog to think that I am THE BEST thing on earth. And, I simply cannot compete with wild critters and exciting smells.
Don’t worry! That doesn’t mean that your Rottweiler puppy will never be able to be off leash; the opposite is true. You just need to control his environment, play with him and build his drive for toys and games, and then teach him obedience.
So, when he goes leash, he will have the obedience background to leave whatever distraction may crop up. I have called my dogs off baby bunnies and opossums among other exciting things. The reason I was successful, is because my dogs know if they listen and obey they will be rewarded (mostly with a game of ball which is their favorite thing).
They never learn how fun chasing bunnies can be if they don’t listen. And, let’s face it, bunnies are more rewarding than me… I just want to be smarter than my dog and never give him the opportunity to figure that out.
There are many benefits to basic obedience training, including building a closer bond, through positive reinforcement with your dog, teaching your dog life and social skills, and helping to prevent your dog from developing unwanted behaviors. A dog that will come when called may help avoid life threatening situations, such as being hit by a car or having a bad encounter with another animal.
Dog obedience training should become a part of his regular daily schedule.
I often had my pups work for their breakfast and dinner! Rotties need a strong leader and mental stimulation, which comes in the form of Rottweiler training. A bored Rottweiler is a naughty Rottweiler!
Your Rottie is never too young or too old to learn! When he is young just remember he has a shorter attention span and possibly retention rate, but work hard and you will see him become a great dog! Don’t wait until you see behavior problems, begin molding him into the dog you want and you will both bond and enjoy a wonderful life together!