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.