Rottweilers are a confident breed, and when well trained, they can be the best dogs for any dog owner. However, many dog owners have a hard time getting to understand and get along with their Rottweilers because they are known to be aggressive. They wonder what they can do about the situation to get their dogs under their control and bring the best in their dog. If this is you, you are in the right place. In this article, we discuss how you can bring out the goodness of your Rottweiler. However, before we discuss that, we will help you understand why you feel like your dog is out of control. With this information, you can know how to address your dog’s needs.
Why Your Rottweiler is Out of Control
Rottweilers are social dogs, and they enjoy the company of their families. As a result, this breed is not to have separation anxiety. Also, they are observant and rarely react immediately to the trigger. You will notice them reacting to subtle signals before it becomes a full episode with them getting out of control. As you strive to spend time with this breed, ensure that you are meeting their needs so that they do not become hard to control. Some of the reasons why they can get out of control include:
- Lack of physical exercise. Rottweilers are energetic dogs, and they need to expend their energy for them to be calm and collected. If you have not taken your dog for a walk or have not been giving it much physical exercise, there are chances they will become hyperactive and, as a result, difficult to control. Regular walks and exercise can help them maintain their calm.
- Looking for attention. Like other dog breeds, Rottweilers love to be doted upon by their owners. If you have not been attentive to your dog and his needs, he may begin to become aggressive. Therefore, if you have been away from your dog for a long time, you may need to give them attention.
- Being in a new location. Dogs can also get nervous when they are in a new environment. How they react can be unusual and may include being aggressive.
As a dog owner, therefore, knowing the needs of your Rottweiler and understanding them is key to bringing out the goodness in them. In the next section, we tell you how you can achieve this.
What to Do with Your Rottweiler
Despite the assumption that a Rottweiler is dangerous, aggressive, or even scary, these dogs can be the best companions. However, the secret to solidifying your dog’s temperament is to train them so that you can control them. The secret with Rottweilers usually is to start early enough when they are still puppies so that they are well socialized by the time they reach maturity. Here is what you can do.
1- Expose them to triggers
As you train your dog, you will need to expose him to a trigger so that you teach him how to control aggressive behavior. Professionals at https://www.dogtemperament.com/rottweiler-temperament/ encourage you to ensure that you do this in a controlled environment so that you are not hurt in the process. Remember not to encourage your dog to be passive by praising them because this act against what you are trying to achieve. Most times, their aggression revolves around fear, so you should work on what is causing the anxiety instead.
2- Tackle aggression through positive reinforcement and socialization in the early stages
Rottie puppies may begin to show signs of aggression from a young age. Considering they are not a small-sized breed, they can do some considerable damage even when they are still young. Find out why your puppy is aggressive and work towards addressing those issues. Notice that you may need a variety of mechanisms to be able to tackle their aggression. Ensure that as soon as your dog receives all vaccinations, you socialize them with people and other dogs and practice positive reinforcement with them. With these two tactics, you will be able to teach them how they should behave, even in a different setting.
3- Arrange for meet-ups with friendly dogs
Everybody likes having new friends and your Rottie is no different. However, to help your dog grow a calm and sweet temperament, it would be helpful to take him around dogs that have good manners and are gentle. This will not only be a teaching experience for him but also, friendlier dogs are unlikely to act in a way that will frighten or overwhelm the Rottweiler. Begin taking him around other dogs from a young age. When his early socialization experiences are positive, friendly, and calm, he will likely develop a gentle disposition too.
4- Public spaces
Your dog will be eagerly waiting for that walk in the park or a trip to the pet store because it allows them to meet other dogs and people. Dogs are observant, and exposing them to situations where there are people and dogs from the earlier stages of life helps him learn to cope and lets you know how he behaves. Be careful because in situations where animals and humans interact, anything can happen, and your dog might react. Be ready to remove your dog from a situation if he begins to feel overwhelmed and becomes aggressive so that they do not hurt anybody. Also, taking the Rottweiler on these exciting adventures helps them stay healthy.
5- Learn your dog’s body language
Aggression is progressive for Rotties, and before they fully lash out and bite, they will show the signs. For instance, a Rottie may growl if they feel that their needs are not being addressed, and usually, they do this when they are highly stressed. It would help if you learned how your dog behaves when they are stressed so that you can know how to calm them accordingly. Lastly, remember to remove the dog from stressful situations to keep everyone safe.
Bringing out the goodness in your Rottweiler does not have to be a difficult task. However, you need to understand the possible triggers that lead to aggression in these breeds and then learn how to control them by training. From the information above, you will be able to bring up a happy Rottie that everybody will love.
