a rottweiler getting trained

 Complete Rottweiler Training Guide

Need help with Rottweiler puppy training, virtually 100% responsiveness in obedience training, dog aggression, or protection training? I can help you.

Before you get a Rottweiler, is it the right breed of dog for you?

Before you get a Rottweiler, let’s see if this large type of canine is a good fit for you. After all, it’s only going to be a puppy until it hits puberty!

How easy is it to train a Rottweiler?
Rottweilers learn very fast. They rank in the top 10 for obedience according to Stanley Coren (professor in canine psychology at the University of British Columbia). There is also no difference in how to train a German Rottweiler versus American.

Are Rottweilers aggressive by nature?

The Rottweilers temperament is  to guard and be assertive. Rottweilers were originally bred to herd, which is a strong indicator why a Rottweiler would be biting a person’s ankles. The breed is also now in the working group of dogs.

If a Rottweiler acts aggressively, it will be considered normal behavior for the breed. This type of breed has the propensity to be combative. It’s already “in the dog.” It’s a Rottweiler owner’s responsibility to give this dog an outlet for his energy.

At what age do Rottweilers become aggressive?

It’s not common to see intense aggressive behavior in under one year of a Rottweiler. In addition, this large breed goes through sexual maturity slower than smaller dogs.

Are Rottweilers aggressive towards other dogs?

Compared to other types of dogs, the Rottweiler is below average for a dog to dog aggression.

(“Breed differences in canine aggression” Applied Animal Behavior Science 2008)

Are Rottweilers dangerous?

Not all Rottweilers are a threat, but the breed has been called “America’s deadliest dog,” having been involved in 33 deaths from 1991-1998 (according to the American Veterinary Medical Association).

When do Rottweilers attack people or other animals?

Rottweilers are known to cause injury to owners because of dominance; trespassers because of territorial aggression; and other dogs because of the same reasons. Since in home attacks are always a mystery, I will elaborate:

When do Rottweilers attack Inside the Home?

A dominant Rottweiler harms a human within a habitation when he or she (the dog) gets accustomed to free things. Family members may not realize their dog considers something his or her property.

A human goes for the resource. To the Rottweiler, it’s perceived as status-based conflict.

Instead of the  Rottweiler changing his self identity, he or she may do whatever it takes to make sure this doesn’t happen again—then attacks.

Are Rottweilers good family dogs?

This line of dogs makes an amazing household pet! According to one study with 372 dogs, 77% were aggressive (not all biters). 20% of those were dominant (Peter Borchelt).

Are Rottweilers good with kids?

As with any kind of canine, make sure your Rottweiler has an obvious respect for his or her owners and displays clear friend signals to children, especially if there’s a Rottweiler living with human babies.

Dogs see kids as litter mates, not leaders. Kids run around yelling with flying hands. Also consider, that puppies, juveniles,and adults instinctively know each other’s age.

Are Rottweilers affectionate?

Many Rottweilers do enjoy being touched. But it’s not good to over pet this class of dog. If your affection Is devalued,  your dog can become satiated, then demanding.

How to train a Rottweiler Puppy

Training a Rottweiler puppy involves dog to owner relationship building, obedience training, and socialization. In addition, your pet’s basic needs should be met.

At what age do I start training my Rottweiler puppy?

A Rottie pup can begin formal obedience, go to his forever home, and is neurologically complete at 7 weeks (Scott and Fuller).

However, his attention span will not be like an adult Rottweiler, so be patient!

What’s the first thing I should teach my Rottweiler Puppy?

All great dog training begins with a solid foundation based on proper leadership.

To take the lead with your Rottweiler, don’t leave dog food lying around. After feeding time, take the remaining kibble away.

In addition, don’t give affection so freely. You decide when you go outside together, not the dog.

When do I socialize my Rottweiler puppy?

At whatever age you get your new young dog, socialize him or her as much as possible.

8 to 10 weeks is the fear imprint stage, so steer clear of stressful situations during that time. 11 to 16 weeks is the most important time span.

How do I socialize my Rottweiler puppy?

Introduce your puppy on a leash rather than in your arms. Advise the humans to please keep their hands to themselves and allow the puppy to build confidence.

To meet new dogs, try to find confident dogs that will allow the puppy to sniff the rear. Put a leash on the older dog if needed. And if you have a super confident puppy, all the better!

Is your Rottweiler puppy growling and biting?

Most young dogs grunt or nip during play. To fix this issue, leave a leash attached to the pup; and when the dog comes for you, grab the leash. From there, put him in timeout for a minute. This is how to discipline a Rottweiler.

However, make sure your doggy’s needs are met. If you don’t  and your Rottweiler puppy is aggressively biting, your discipline will only suppress the behavior.

Should I send my Rottweiler puppy to obedience training or do it at home?

It is a surprise to a lot of people, but dog training is actually very easy! I strongly recommend you do in- home training with your Rottweiler.

As you do the obedience training in your own residence, your dog learns your body language, accepts that you handle him, and receives proper interaction, which also helps for a Rottweiler puppy that eats everything.

However, I recommend a trusted board and train program if you are not physically able to train your own dog or if he or she is dangerous.

How to potty train your Rottweiler puppy using a crate

When using a crate to train a Rottweiler not to pee in the house, make sure the crate is not too big or too small.

Your pup should not feel comfortable urinating or defecating on one side of the crate. There should only be enough space to stand up and move around easily.

Rottweiler potty training is the same as any other kind. How often does your puppy need to eliminate?

2/3 of that time your little one can be out of the crate. When there’s a higher probability of needing to go, that last third of time should be spent confined. Then from there, out of the house.

And that’s how you train a Rottweiler to go potty!

How to train your Rottweiler Puppy or Adult for obedience

When I speak of obedience training, I don’t mean trick training but rather actual compliance.

Want to know a Rottweiler training secret? Obedience is not just maneuvering a dog into a position with food or a tool, but it’s using the foundation tips stated earlier to get him to want to do it.

What kind of training is best for a Rottweiler?

The most effective training for your Rottweiler is operant conditioning. All four quadrants should be used, but only positive reinforcement in the beginning.

From seven weeks of age to training a grown Rottweiler, the same style of obedience would be used.

Again, whether you recently rescued a Rottweiler or have a Rottweiler as a guard dog,or for sale, the obedience would be the same, just used for different purposes.

Treat training begins with charging the marker

When I say charging the marker, I mean strengthening your verbal praise.

To do this, get a palm full of treats half the size of your pinky nail. Give them all to your Rottweiler one at a time, but before each one say, ”good boy” or “good girl.”

The dog will associate the food with your praise. This is important because when you fade the use of food, your praise will have power!

How to begin the Rottweiler heel command

Heel is how to get a Rottweiler to stop pulling on the leash.

Start by facing your Rottie. Make sure there’s at least 5 feet of space behind you for positioning.

With your left hand, put a treat to the dog’s nose.

With your feet stationary, as if you were passing him or her on the street, lure your dog behind you.

Once your arm is fully extended behind you, guide his head and body 180 degrees, all in the same motion, in your direction.

Your dog will end up standing on your left side parallel to you. As you complete the position, keep his or her front paws behind the back of your heel at least 1 inch.

Once in position, raise the treat vertically over your Rottie’s head to encourage him to sit. When the dog’s butt touches the floor, praise him and give him the treat immediately! Then repeat until it’s second nature!

How to begin the Rottweiler come command

Come is a great command to teach a hyper Rottweiler.

Initiate this exercise by facing your dog. Hold a treat to his nose and slowly step backwards a couple steps.

Even this early on, you will somewhat already understand how he trains for this command. That’s gotta be exciting!

When you backed up with the treat, did your Rottweiler engage with you? Did he follow slowly or with enthusiasm?

If slowly, take your time. Make sure you captivate him before adding more steps back.

If you are able to draw him toward you quickly, say your dog’s name and “come” together just before reversing.

Say, “good boy” or “good girl” the instant your dog shifts toward you, and continue praising until he or she reaches you.

Add more steps, more distance, move faster, then repeat until it’s predictable!

How to begin the Rottweiler down command

To teach a  Rottweiler to lie down start by saying, “down” and holding a treat to your dog’s nose to get his attention. Bring the treat to the floor in between his two front legs.

You should quickly see how to troubleshoot your dog into a prostrate position. The food may have to be nearer his chest or out in front of his paws.

Initially, it may also be wise to sit with him on the floor while guiding him in a downward position.

When his/her rear end is touching the floor, praise and release the reward! Praise and repeat!

Once you have mastered the down command, you can get your Rottie to stop jumping on people at the door and in public.

Do you have Rottweiler behavior problems?

Are you trying to train a Rottweiler not to be aggressive or just working on doggie manners? For either issue, obedience is used as a tool.

Can you train a Rottweiler to be friendly?

You can teach some Rottweilers to be more tolerant. All dog aggression can be summed up with the potential for rehabilitation or management.

How to rehabilitate an aggressive Rottweiler

To restore a Rottweiler means he or she would have been normal at one point. Fear aggression is the type sometimes recovered from. Rottweiler aggression towards strangers most of the time is out of fear.

In this case, you can muzzle the dog, and in the down command gradually bring people closer if the dog stays calm.

Eventually, the Rottweiler can learn not to bite.

One more example of possible Rottie Rehab is a fearful Rottweiler growling at the corner.

The dog can easily be muzzled and into a heel command with distance added. Over time, the gap will get tighter and tighter.

When is aggression management the only option?

Predicting and controlling hostile canine behavior is the only option with dog with a strong personality.

A Rottweiler growling at the owner is often dominance aggression and cannot technically be rehabbed because it’s part of the Rottweiler’s temperament.

The most powerful way to control a dog like this is to govern everything. That does not mean to ever take something away from him.

One more type of Rottweiler that needs to be managed is one with high prey drive. Usually you have to watch these Rottweilers with cats.

How to train your Rottweiler for protection work

Ever see a Rottweiler guard dog training in action? I’m not talking about impressive field obedience or a sport dog.

That other stuff looks great, but I’m referring to a Rottweiler that has a powerful bond with his owner and will naturally defend.

How to train your Rottweiler to attack

Obviously I can’t take you through the months of nuances within the discipline of k9 attack training. But I can tell you the truth about what makes the Rottweiler clamp down on someone.

What is it that makes the Rottweiler bite?

Get ready because this is easier than you think. So, most of protection training is the prep work: obedience and a strong relationship between the dog and his master.

The guarding instinct is already in this breed. All you have to do is make it clear that it’s OK for him to act that way.

What attack training exercise can I do with my Rottweiler?

To get your Rottie to advance toward a stranger, start with a man your Rottweiler has never met. At a distance this agitator should square up and stare at your dog. When your dog makes eye contact and the slightest standoffish body language, have the guy run away.

When your dog gets more predictable, say his or her name and add a verbal cue such as “Xerxes, watch.” This is how to train your dog to attack strangers that would try to cause you physical harm.

during this time your Rottweiler will begin pulling on the leash to approach the agitator. a regular collar will put too much pressure on your dogs neck. Instead   purchase a harness made specifically for protection work. I purchase my nylon dog harnesses of the best quality material. They have good bite tugs and sleeves. Also decorated and stylish dog collars.

How to train a Rottweiler puppy to be a guard dog and attack on command

If you are looking for a Rottweiler stud to be a killer puppy, it’s extremely rare for a young canine to strike because of being told to do so.

All the same, your furry buddy should excel in obedience by learning that you are a trusted leader that he will want to defend through confidence building.

Most dogs should not take an actual bite until two years of age. You can start some scenarios with your protection pet, though, at one year. At this point he will start becoming more assertive.

Well, those are my attack dog training tips for you. I hope they have been insightful.

Dog training tips for Rottweiler owners

I hope I offered some valuable suggestions to any questions you have. I saved the following section, for the most part, for tips to save you time.

How to train a Rottweiler to listen

Get your dogs attention with a treat by putting it in front of his nose or eyes. Raise the treat to your eyes and say his name. Start adding more time.

Another way to get your dog to see that you exist is to control his food, toys, and affection. This actually increases the value of everything and makes you a leader.

What does it mean to be patient with my Rottweiler?

Being more tolerant means understanding dogs are instinctual, always in the present. They don’t hold grudges and they don’t know how to lie. Remember this information when you get frustrated with your dog. Be kind to your dog and continue to train him or her and they will come around.

What does it mean to have good timing in dog training?

A dog has 1.7 seconds to connect a stimulus to a behavior. That means if you’re doing obedience training for the sit command, for example, reward immediately. Don’t fish around in your pocket for 10 seconds.

Or if you tell your Rottweiler to get off the couch, be prompt reinforcing it.

Want a tip for training your Rottweiler to an advanced level?

The most overlooked dog training advice is Two steps forward, one step back. This should be part of your dog philosophy. When you train a dog to do something, he’s only as good as that environment.

When adding new variables, you may have to revert a little in your training. But take courage, your Rottweiler will only get faster and catch on over time.

Should I let my Rottweiler mark things outside?

If your Rottweiler is naturally friendly, you probably won’t have to worry that he or she pees on things. But if you sense he or she is dominant or has territorial issues, I would designate urination spots.

Do I need to eat before my Rottweiler and go through the door first?

You don’t need to precede your dog at mealtime or get through narrow pathways in first. We just went over protection training! Do you really want your dog staying behind you?

I’m just giving you a hard time, but no, besides wanting your dog to heel none of these are necessary as a general rule.

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