Rottweiler questions

[Napper]

hi all, im kinda new to dog ownership i have never actually been owned by a dog, but i have a few close friends who have them so do have experience in handling etc..

I have a few basic questions, and although i have done my own research, i would like other peoples opinions aswell just to confirm ...

1) i would be keeping the rottie in a garage at the back of the garden- which has a large window and door- is almost inhabitable for humans, if it had carpet etc... I have been told there is no need to keep a rott in a garage and that a average size kennel would suffice. Is this correct as i dont really want to be leaving him outside especially towards winter (can they really handle the cold?)


2) When selecting a pup, what is the best way to chose one- is it just what ever catches your eye sort of thing? i would be looking for one which is registered and has papers but what would i have to check with papers?


3)would a 8-10 week old pupp be too young to be left alone for say s 9-5 day - there would be someone to feed him but not give alot of company (grandparents)

4) at what age would walkies begin!

many thanks

this is the garden and garage at back, or kennel will go on the left of garage

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/fyzgolf/01052006015.jpg

[Kel]

hi all

Hiya :)

1) i would be keeping the rottie in a garage at the back of the garden- which has a large window and door- is almost inhabitable for humans, if it had carpet etc... I have been told there is no need to keep a rott in a garage and that a average size kennel would suffice. Is this correct as i dont really want to be leaving him outside especially towards winter (can they really handle the cold?)

Rottweilers can handle cold conditions and handle them better than warmth, however they are extremely sociable dogs and really do best when kept inside the home with their family - I have to say I wouldn't really be keen to let him/her live outside at all whether it be in a garage or in a standard kennel. Is there a reason the dog would have to live outside?


2) When selecting a pup, what is the best way to chose one- is it just what ever catches your eye sort of thing? i would be looking for one which is registered and has papers but what would i have to check with papers?

Finding a good breeder first - have they done health tests (hips, elbows, eyes...)? Have they got a good reputation in the breed? (things like that) Then questions, questions, questions to the breeder (reasons for breeding, how often they breed, how many times has the particular bitch been bred etc.) and also expect them to ask lots of questions, after all they want to find the best possible home for their puppies :) it's up to you how you choose from the litter, as long as they look healthy and alert.


3)would a 8-10 week old pupp be too young to be left alone for say s 9-5 day - there would be someone to feed him but not give alot of company (grandparents)

Personally I think 8 hours alone per day would be too much for a puppy of that age (not really ideal for a dog of any age), although having someone there to feed the pup you say it wouldn't get much company and what about housetraining etc.? Or is that something you're not thinking about with the pup living in the garage?

4) at what age would walkies begin!

You can start walks 1-2 weeks after the full course of puppy jabs - the age you get the jabs done depends on your vet, here it is 9wks and 12wks, but walks shouldn't be very long or far to start with.

This is just my opinion (as is the whole post), but I'm not sure a Rottie (perhaps not even a dog) is for you if you are planning on keeping it in a garage/kennel and leaving it alone for around 8 hours a day - sorry, just my thoughts :) And I'm sure some others will be along to offer advice and give their thoughts too.

Kel

[nancy]

Do you really want a dog? I am just wondering why you want one to keep in a shed and leave on it's own most of the time??? Puppies get taken away from their mother and siblings and need a lot of human contact in those first few weeks on their own. If the dog is not going to be part of your family then please think again why you want one???

[Napper]

hi all,

unfortunately the house is too small to keep it inside (and hot as i live with my elderly grandparents, they have the heating up too high for even me to stand!!). The garden is quite large and so is the garage.The reason i was asking about leaving it in the garage for that long is because i am currently at uni locally so sometimes have lectures 9-5 ( usually 2 days a week).
Otherwise i would love the companionship as its only me and my elderly grandparents here. i would not neglect him and would take him out everyday. If i could keep it indoors i definately would!! But that is not really an option hence the reason i am choosing a rottie - able to be kept outside. and also as they make great guard dogs which would help my grandparents when i am
out the house..

[kelsiebug]

i think the dog would like to stay outside. my dog does, but of course thats my dog. rotties do make great gaurdians. i think, it would be ok to keep the dog in the yard or garage. you are going taking the dog out every day walking, training,and playing with him? right? well good luck on the dog!

[Napper]

i think, it would be ok to keep the dog in the yard or garage. you are going taking the dog out every day walking, training,and playing with him? right?

Yes i would take it out everyday without a doubt, for 2/3 hours atleast!

[kelsiebug]

thats good to hear!:)

[lassie]

Yes i would take it out everyday without a doubt, for 2/3 hours atleast!
not until it is at least 6mths plus would it need this lenght of exercise.
IMO i think you would be wiser to leave having a dog until your situation changes.
Puppies at a young age need socilisation as well as company. ;)

[Napper]

not until it is at least 6mths plus would it need this lenght of exercise.
IMO i think you would be wiser to leave having a dog until your situation changes.
Puppies at a young age need socilisation as well as company. ;)

im done with uni in 3 weeks so will be free after that. Uptil 6months how often /how much excercise whud thwy be given?

Company wise it would only really be me as my grandparents are a bit too old to care for a dog- and a bit forgetful too.. But socialising wise i would take along with my friends rotts and one has a staffy. Would that be suiteable?

[Kel]

Without sounding like a nosey sod - what will you be doing after Uni? It's just that if you're going into a job you're going to basically be in the same situation?

I personally still don't think the garage/kennel idea is ideal as Nancy said a young puppy is going to be coming away from it's siblings and mother and really does need to be with you and not left in a garage on it's own - I know my Rottie would go mad if she was to live outside away from us :( How much time would you spending out there with it for cuddles, play and socialisation? And what about when it's winter and freezing outside...will you still go out there and give the dog plenty of time?

Sorry, I don't want to seem like I'm getting at you - I'm just pointing things out and giving some thoughts :)

[Napper]

i will be off until october, so will be at home. When winter comes i will be outside with the pupp, take him out when ever i go out. There are alot of parks around my area also, my friends take their dogs everyday so would be joinin them- wud that be ok for socialising? or would it need alot more human interaction?. I know as a pupp he will need alot of looking after and caring for, so will not be leaving him much, will pretty much be with it most of the time. in a few months when its older then would it be easier to leave him alone for a while?

[kelsiebug]

why cant you leave the pup in side while its a pup and sumtimes leave him outside?

[MrsRottie]

You want to shut a large intelligent dog into a garage that isn't fit for humans to sit in all day while you are out, then expect him to guard and be a friendly dog?
Not a chance. You will screw his head up something rotten. A pup should be left for no longer than 2 hours at most. Rotties are classed as pups until they are 2 years old. They need stimulation, training and companionship, not putting away in the garage until you are ready to play with it.

Rotts are prone to elbow and hip dyplasia, both of which are made worse by sleeping on cold hard floors. Which when they get older turns to arthritis and you end up having the dog PTS at an early age.Oh and 2-3 hours a day exercise for a 6 month old rott is WAY too much - again you compound all the problems the large breeds have with their joints. Until over 12 months they should have 3 x 10 mins on leash exercise, coupled with no stairs, no jumping in and out of cars etc.

I'm sorry, but IMO you are not ready for a dog, and certainly not a rottie. It's easy for me to say this and sound patronising, believe me I'm not, but rotts (and other breeds) need a firm hand and an owner that has confidence in what they are doing. Otherwise they take the p*ss and have a laugh at your expense. which can be quite frightening :eek:
Please do some more research into various breeds - why not look into a rescue dog that has already coped with similar situations ie sleeping outside and being left??

[Napper]

hi,
thanks for the reply and info. I was quite concerned about getting a puppy and leaving it alone, i do not want to do that or lock it up atall thats the last thing i want. I have also been advised to look into a rescued dog from the likes of battersea dogs home which i would also consider- rather then a pup, although after researching is it true that after 6months it is extremely difficult to train a large dog/ rottie as they are set in their ways?
What would be a decent age to look for? Would they get used to new ownership fairly easily or as mentioned above- take the piss?

[MrsRottie]

Are you absolutely dead set on having a rottie? They can be set in their ways - but then they can be peachy too :) It very much depends on the temperament and the way they've been treated. Same as any large breed dog really, they all act the same way and have the same 'issues', just that the size of the bigger ones makes it a little more scary. Sometimes a little dog can guard way better than a biggun, they nip heels and make loads more noise :)

A rescue may well be a good idea - be completely honest with them and then they can find a dog to fit you. Spend lots of time getting to know the dog and I'm sure you'll be just fine. And good for you for thinking it through and taking advice - so many people don't and that's wh ythe rescues are full.

Best of luck and keep us posted.

[Napper]

I would really love a rottie i have a real soft spot for them- i think they are one of the best looking dogs(to me anyway!). If i could, i would have considered a staffy but there is no way i would be able to look after one as i know they need alot of attention.
What age rottie should i be looking for if i look for a rescued one?
thanks for all your help on this! im glad i found this forum otherwise by now i would have probably have gone ang got a puppy already.

[zoe08]

I think going to a shelter and just looking at the dogs and talking to the people there about the dogs would be a good idea.

I personally wouldnt suggest a rott or a staffie to anyone who is a first time dog owner. Are you going to take it to obedience school? I think that will be very important. With any dog, but especially with the breeds you are looking into.

Now I know everyone is going to get dogs that they like the looks of, but that should not be the only thing your decision is based on.

ANd all dogs needs lots of attention. A rott isnt really going to need less attention then a staffie. They both need LOTS of attention

[Lucky]

Picking a dog breed based on its apperence is a mistake, which often results in a bad experience for the owner and the dog. Dog breeds require specific things, as they are breed for certain things. If you get a rottie and cannot give it the training, discipline, and socialzaion it needs it will likely become a angry frustrated dog.

There are many good breed selectors on the web that can help you make a more informed decision about what breed you should get rather than what breed you want.

Iams Breed Selector (http://www.iams.com/en_US/jhtmls/breed_selector/sw_BreedSelector_page.jhtml?localeid=en_US&brandcode=I&pagetypeid=BS&speciescode=&lifestagecode=&breedsizecode=)

[nancy]

Couldn't agree more. I have had dogs all my life and Dobermans and rotties , I have one of each and they are the most loving but very demanding dogs I have ever had . I would not reccomend them to anyone unless they have loads of time to spend with them. Every time I turn round I trip over one or the other, they just want too be with you all the time. Looks alone do not make a perfect pet for anybody.

[Becky]

I agree completely on the picking a breed by its looks suggestions. It's the reason many people get in deep doo-doo with siberian huskies or akitas. They are beautiful dogs, but definately not for everyone.


I personally wouldn't get a dog until you get your own place. IMO, having your dog sleep in your room at night is one of the best bonding experience for the dog. It lets him or her know that he or she really is PART of the pack. This is important for ALL dog breeds.

On a side note, if the shed is almost livable, why don't you put some work into so that you can stay in it? That way, you can get your dog and give it the kind of attention it deserves.

You may also want to look for a smaller breed that can go into your house.

[MrsRottie]

I think if you really want to go ahead and get a dog, then go to a rescue centre, be completely honest about your situation and then ask them if they have anything that fits your requirements. They know the dogs and more often than not the reasons they were sent to the rescue, they should then be able to help you.
I understand you wanting a rottie - they're my breed too (lol hence the user name) but they are dominant dogs, as are staffies and the majority of bullbreeds (having said that my rottie is a labrador in disguise, bombproof and capable of a nasty lick at worse...) I would suggest you take the advice of the rescue centre and maybe even have a little fluffball for now. When you have more experience, your own place etc then you can set about getting a pup.