Rottweilers and the Third Age
Despite their size, Rottweilers make wonderful pets, and though not necessarily ideal for those in their Third Age – broadly speaking, the Over 50s – given sufficient exercise they can and will happily adapt to life with the older owner.
So if you are in your Third Age and looking for a companion dog, don’t necessarily rule out the faithful Rottweiler!
Rottweiler Puppies For Sale
There are many quality Rottweiler breeders who have puppy Rottweilers for sale.
Do your research with the different Rottweiler breeders that you find online. Check to see if the Rottweiler dog breeders also offer a health guarantee. There are thousands of Rottweiler puppies for sale all waiting to be taken home and loved.
If you find the perfect puppy from a breeder that still has Rottweiler puppies for sale we would love you to share the information with us. Please comment your experience and breeder information below.
If you have Rottweiler puppies for sale that you would like to advertise on Rottweilers.co.uk please contact us on:
Please see the advertising info here.
What Are Rottweilers Really Like?
If you train and socialise your Rottweiler properly it will be a much loved member of the family giving you much companionship and security.
Rottweilers are very loyal, devoted, warm and intelligent creatures.
As a general fact they are dogs that do not bark unnecessarily and they are proven to be good watch dogs and warn when something isn’t right.
When a Rottweiler is matured, fit and healthy, it is a very calm dog that will love nothing more than to sleep or chew on a bone.
However, there is a downside to Rottweilers. The life expectancy of a Rottweiler is 8-10 years and they do not mature until the age of 2 years old.
Rottweiler health is a concern as they do have a poor immune system, more so as puppies. Puppy Rottweilers should be vaccinated to help them develop proper immunity to fight against common viruses that the average Rottweiler faces in life.
They are also at risk of hip dysplasia, tearing cruciate ligaments and heart problems as well as cancer.
It is so important to give them lots of proper training and socialising when they are puppies. If you fail to do this they can become unconsciously dangerous as adult dogs.
They play hard and can easily injure someone inadvertently. They also herd young children and other animals, bump, or nip them while doing so without meaning harm.
Rottweiler puppies are generally mouthy and you must teach them that this is wrong – more so as then tend to have temper tantrums.
Ensure that your Rottweiler is exercised frequently and will need some form of work (obedience, agility, herding, etc). If they become bored or improperly housed they can be destructive.
Feeding your Rottweiler is so important as this can be the most common reason for illness. Rottweiler puppies require a lot of very good, quality food. Sometimes a young male Rottweiler can eat as much as 8 – 10 cups of high, quality food per day – that’s an impressive 2 – 2 1/2 lbs!
When shedding they leave black “mouse balls” everywhere.
If you would like to read more about owning a Rottweiler, please read some of these excellent, highly recommended books:
* Rottweilers for Dummies by: Richard G. Beauchamp
* Training Your Rottweiler by: Barbara McNinch
* Rottweiler by: Wilhelm Jonas
* The Everything Rottweiler Book by: Margaret Holowinski
* A New Owners Guide to Rottweilers by: Urs Ochsenbein
* Rottweiler by: Di McCann
So You Want A Rottweiler Puppy?
Rottweiler puppies look like little black bears as they are fuzzy, lumbering and just so adorable!
However, Rottweiler puppies are not for everyone. If you have had a different breed puppy or mix breed does not mean a Rottweiler puppy is for you. This doesn’t mean you are incapable of looking after a Rottweiler puppy, it just means you are smart and honest enough to admit that perhaps you should choose a Rottweiler that is a bit older to be your companion.
Lots of people desire a Rottweiler puppy for their home. Some of the problems that pose a major issue for new Rottweiler puppy owners and things you must give serious consideration to are:
1) Eight to sixteen week old puppies have very little bowel and bladder control. The Rottweiler baby will need 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 enclosed then it will be likely to howl for 20 minutes to 2 hours before falling asleep. Young pups will not be able to hold on while you are away all day at work. Ideally, someone needs to be at home for at least part of the day so that the puppy can be taken out every 2 to 3 hours. If this isn’t possible you should arrange for a room to be made puppy proof with an enclosure of newspapers on the floor. Baby pups will need to potty when they wake up, before being put into their enclosure, after coming out, drinking, eating and playing. What usually causes a ‘messy’ problem is when playing because they are completely distracted and suddenly they are aware that they need to go right that second!
When playing with a Rottweiler puppy you must take them out every 30 to 45 minutes to avoid messy accidents. When you take the puppy out to potty you must wait for them to poop and pee even if it takes 30 minutes and even if it’s during a thunder storm!
2) Biting. Rottweiler puppies do tend to be mouthy. They bite and growl until they learn otherwise. The pups can act very aggressively with certain toys and props. Avoid things like rawhide and pigs ears – they cause unnecessary problems! Children should be careful as they also chase them down and bite their hands, legs and toes. They grab cats, they nip the older dogs face, they bite your hands etc. Many pups can learn to control their biting by hearing you screaming in pain really loud every time they bite. On the other hand, other Rottweiler puppies need to be lightly clipped under the chin with an open hand while you say “no “.
TIP: If what you are doing does not seem to be working after 4 or 5 attempts then you need to stop because it’s not working. You need to try something else. Their behaviour can vary. Some of them are good as gold all day but become biting monsters after 18.00. If they don’t get enough exercise or people time, this can trigger bad behaviour. Sometimes they just need to be taken out to potty and then calmly put in their enclosure for a nap. This is a perfectly normal stage for a Rottweiler puppy and if handled properly with care and attention they will be mastered in just 6 months. Next you need to worry about them jumping onto you and other people people and chewing on everything in sight
It can be a very frustrating and annoying period but this is one of the things that turn perfectly normal people, even unknowledgeable Rottweiler trainers totally off of Rottweiler’s or to label them as aggressive/dominant etc which is certainly not the case. This is a time that requires 100% persistence and patience!
3) Rottweiler puppies are very smart and this gets them into lots of trouble. Anything that your puppy should not be touching should be protected or placed above 3 feet so they can’t reach – although sometimes they will surprise you! It is important to remember that if anything gets broken or damaged it is not the puppy’s fault! It’s your own fault because you did not protect it. Puppy Rottweiler’s should never be left alone in a room. Ever!
4) Rottweilers mature slowly. The housebreaking, potty training and chewing may be over within 12 months. But the Rottweiler is a puppy and not mature until it is 2 years old. They require a lot of exercise. Rottweilers under 2 should never be jogged or biked but they should get lots of play time every day. Walking is great as long as you know how far your Rottweiler puppy can easily walk without getting too exhausted. Over tired puppies can easily injure their ligaments and joints. If your young Rottweiler puppy is being especially wild and naughty then you need to give it more exercise and training sessions. Boredom and underplaying are the two biggest causes of bad behaviour.
5) Rottweilers also mature very slowly physically. Your dog should have a visible waist and you should be able to easily feel the ribs – if you can’t your Rottweiler has too much weight . It should be kept lean. Rottweilers don’t finish filling out width-wise until they are 3-5 years old. Whatever you do, do not overfeed your Rottweiler – it will not make them fill out faster. Remember this is a common cause for illness.
A Rottweiler puppy is a lot of commitment.
Rottweilers And Children
Rottweiler dogs are okay with children when they are trained correctly and well socialised.
The following training points should be considered when bringing up puppies and children together:
Do not let a small child pick up or carry a Rottweiler puppy. Puppies, like babies, are afraid of falling. They will often squirm and fight to free themselves. If successful, they may break a leg. (Vet bills are not cheap). If panicked they may even bite. Remember, in this case, it is not the puppy’s fault, but yours for allowing the situation to progress to the point where the puppy can no longer cope with it.
Encourage children to get down on the puppies level on the floor for fun and games. They can play all they like without either one getting hurt and the puppy is free to move away when he has had enough. A child may not realise the fact that he has inadvertently cornered the pup and set in motion a series of instinctive behavior mechanisms.
Do not expect the puppy to absorb endless punishment in the form of constant noise or teasing. He will learn to defend himself unless he has some place to go such as a crate, bed, corner or run where he can go when he does not want to be disturbed. Make certain that everyone understands that he is not to be disturbed there – and then make sure that he is not. He will come back out when he is ready.
Do not leave your dog unattended in the garden with small children no matter how trustworthy you may think your pet dog is. Although Rottweilers do enjoy children more so than many other breeds, they are not a miracle dog and must be treated the same as any other large dog when around children.
Do enlist the help of your child in the training of the dog. It will increase his sense of self importance, his concern and knowledge of animal behaviour. “If Bruno wakes then please take him outside right away so he won’t make a mistake in the house”. ”Watch him please in case I don’t notice, okay?”
Do insist that other children who come to play abide by the same rules that you expect of your own.
Do teach the dog to sit before he is given food or a treat, and to wait for an “okay” to take it. Your Rottweiler puppy will grow quicker than your toddler. If the sit stay becomes automatic they will sit before a child with food, hoping but never touching.
Never allow a small child to take the puppy’s food or bone as this could create a problem later when the puppy has grown into an adult dog.
Do give your Rottweiler simple obedience training so that he will be spared random scolding and confusion. Let children use the words “DOWN” and “SIT” as pleasant commands to a puppy and make sure the puppy is rewarded with a brushing or a tummy rub by their young master.
Do not expose an innocent passerby to your dog’s protective tendencies. Do not leave your Rottweiler and your small child outside a shop and expect them to take care of each other. Some well intentioned stranger may be bitten.
Do increase your child’s sense of responsibility and pride of achievement by letting him help as much as he can. Do not expect him to know what to do. Guide him.
Rottweiler Health
You would be surprised at the number of Rottweiler health issues you could actually diagnose and treat yourself, at a fraction of the cost of taking your Rottweiler to the vet.
Written by vet John Bleby, The Dog’s Health from A-Z: A Canine Veterinary Dictionary, descibes how many canine illnesses can be self-diagnosed and treated, or avoided altogether, with a little knowledge and understanding.
While this book cannot take the place of your vet, it certainly demonstrates that there is much that you can do to prevent many problems happening in the first place. We are more than happy to recommend this excellent book which is certain to pay for itself in the fullness of time!
Tug of War and Your Rottweiler Puppy
As a general rule, we would not recommend you play Tug of War with your Rottweiler. Some dogs yes, but not a Rottie. Rottie’s are playful balls of fur when they are puppies. They love nothing more than playing games of every kind with their new family. After all, you have taken the place of your puppy’s siblings when you take it home with you and we defy anyone not to be enchanted by a litter of Rottie puppies play fighting and chasing one another until exhaustion inevitably overcomes them.
But remember, that little ball of fun and endless energy is going to grow into a large and powerful dog who needs to know just who is leader of the pack. They may well look to be having fun – and rest assured, they are – when chasing their siblings around their pen, but whether or not they are conscious of it, there is also a degree of seriousness to their play. Even as puppies, young Rotties are establishing a set of rules amongst themselves. They are establishing ‘top dog’. And like any pack of young animals left together for long enough, sooner or later, they will!
With any game you play with your Rottweiler puppy, you must always be in control. You must establish the rules. You have to become that top dog, that ‘leader of the pack’. It’s no good having one set of rules when your Rottie is a puppy and expecting he or she to accept a different set of rules when they are fully grown. That simply doesn’t work. It might work with some dogs, but not with the Rottweiler. You have to start out as you intend to continue. If you start out letting your young Rottie puppy think he or she is your equal, you are simply storing up problems for later on. Chances are that sooner or later he or she is going to outweigh you. He or she is certainly going to outweigh any child in your family and most other dogs and people he or she is likely to come into contact with later in life. Better you establish the rules at the outset rather than have a problem dog later on!
Of course that does not mean that you should not play with your Rottweiler puppy. Of course you should. Don’t forget, you and your family have taken the place of your puppy’s siblings. Puppies, like children, love to play. That’s how they learn things, as well as burning off surplus energy which might otherwise be used for destructive purposes. In fact you owe your Rottie puppy the opportunity for play, and lots of it. But make sure it’s always a game in which you are in control. Not one which, sooner or later, he or she could win!
