Quote:
Originally Posted by goochgirl
Can someone tell me if what runswithscissors is accurate. Because first of all you don't know what goes on here. I do realize he is going to be big an is a strong dog. But I am doing everything i am supposed to do according to my vet and the rottweiler training book an other materials. But my pup does sit on command lay down on command come when i say his name walks with me without pulling and he doesnt bite or nip me so I am doing my best But I am not leaving him to defend himself or making it where he thinks he needs to protect me.
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That's fine but he's a baby.
Well of course I don't know
all of "what goes on there" but I know enough to read what YOU said. That's all we have to go by. But I have ESP with humans' words regarding pets LOL. Another example is leaving the rooms to follow you everywhere. It's a CLUE. He's concerned. The time he went to the downstairs crate he was WAITING FOR YOU to come HOME. Worried about his PACK.
NOT about himself about YOU. This is different than a partying dog who's just naturally curious about what exciting thing he can figure out to do with you LOL.
If you doubt me, read THIS thread. EVERYONE needs an outside opinion sometimes. Even experts. Cesar Millan used to take his Pit Bull on jobs like a consultant to use to read the energy of the client's dogs when he thought things were a little contradictory. Once he had to watch a VIDEO of two Jack Russells fighting all the time to actually CATCH the little eye movement that caused the fight and which one was the culprit.
Would you allow this behavior or prevent it?
First let me state I'm not trying to demonize Rotties or your dog - who sounds like a well balance puppy.
ALL dogs are fundamentally the same at the highest level - domesticated canine. Body language, behaviors, communication, etc. But there ARE DEFINITE breed traits that can take over past that point. We want to encourage the typical DOG traits and not beef up the BREED traits unless we know what we're getting into. We also want to encourage not so dominant traits in certain breeds like having a Bulldog use their weak pushed in NOSE to find things LOL. (not so possible)
It's not that he's going to be a strong dog. Plenty of big strong dogs are not the type of breed that may have a suspicious or guarding nature. BUT every single breed CAN turn into paranoid unbalanced in certain situations.
Even the very basic descriptions you read online explain it:
Rottweilers: What's Good About 'Em? What's Bad About 'Em?
It's that he's going to make up imaginary reasons to guard you if you are someone he perceives as "his person" and "in need".
Both which are coming off in your posts. Your level of emotion is coming through. Not a good combination with the boyfriend who is REFUSING to do what's best for the dog.
OR YOU.
Another thing that's going to happen is the CONFLICT in your home will make the dog think that YOU need his help. Because the SEPARATE PACK OF 3 (2 kids + boyfriend) are conveying reasons for him to be concerned.
You have TWO PACKS.
DOG + YOU
KIDS + BF
Remember I'm saying this as someone who speaks dog not saying it as a human.
1.) I know a very sweet guy, 6 ft 8 inches tall, who had two Rots who both thought they had to protect him. Of course he didn't understand this at the time and thought they were just ...something else LOL. "Didn't like strangers" or whatever. Ages 4 & 8. Had them from birth. IRONICALLY he got the first one the year his brother died and he was lost without him. I'm not even lying! He was on my Yahoo megaesophagus board.
He's just the beginning of my stories. This particular guy was weak energy and in the middle of drama because the OLDER DOMINANT PACK LEADER Rot had a life ending illness for many many months then died. A couple years before that, HE put 350 stitches in the mother in law's arm which caused a divorce b/c the guy wouldn't give up the dog. The older one kept the "younger one in line". This is VERY BAD. NOBODY should let one dog be the 100% boss of the other in the way this guy let his dog. There will be natural leaders and followers but I'm saying this was allowed to get out of hand.
The younger more unbalanced one bit the lip off of his girlfriend when she leaned over to kiss him on the sofa from behind and the dog was asleep.
THEN he found out the remaining one who bit the girlfriends lip off had thyroid/seizure disorders.
NOT RARE but typically very under-diagnosed with nervous energy dogs. It took me about a YEAR for the guy to rehabilitate the dog. Starting with every single move he made in the house then slowly socializing him and constant vet checks on his thyroid. Eventually he was GOOD because he was out from under the control of the DOMINANT PACK LEADER who died and the weak energy of my friend and his confidence and stability grew.
Of course in any other circumstance both dogs would have been euth'd.
2.) Another girl I know had a neighbor who LOVED her Rot. "Played"all the time. One day she was visiting and ready to leave, walks out the door and the dog took a chunk out of her thigh. The owner had to send the dog through the underground railroad to save him because they lived in an anti-aggressive breed city burb. Of course that was the end of THAT friendship and "LOVE".
3.)Another girl I know - very TOUGH girl - "rescued" a dominant but screwed up Rot and though she could rehab him. Think again. She took him to the gym she owned every day. Everyone had strict orders to ignore him while he was gated in her office. One day he rose up ferociously foaming at the mouth at her when she tried to go in her OWN OFFICE where he had been spending the morning. She didn't know what she was doing or what even happened in her few minute absence to cause that. IRONICALLY she was a friend of the weak energy guy friend of mine above. GREAT! Two people who didn't know what they were doing!
This isn't just a Rottie phenomenon. I've met ALL KINDS of owners who's dogs are unbalanced and potential dangers and those people usually won't take good advice. They are addicted to the dog's dependency IMO. Does this ring a bell?
But a Rot can inflict maximum damage if things go bad.
NOTICE I didn't even MENTION your two little kids who will still be little when your dog is full sized adult. Do you think other parents won't be concerned sending their kids over to your house? They SHOULD!
I credit you with not getting so mad or indignant (even though you're in denial LOL) and getting a trainer. You think you know more than you do, though.
Your entire FAMILY has to be part of it and the "TRAINER" should be a behaviorist type not someone who's going to tell you to use food and stuff to get a certain action.
It's VERY easy to get any dog to sit, stay, paw, walk property etc. Especially a puppy. UNTIL!
What THEY are doing is HUMORING YOU. "Oh they want me to do the paw? Eyeroll, okay." " HA HA now I will kill the mailman!"
It's impossible to control their brain once they get in the RED ZONE in an unfortunate circumstance after years of counterproductive conditioning. I don't even use WORDS. WORDS can cause confusion and excitement.
Try that and see how it FEELS. Relying on your energy not verbalizing.
You guys need to learn to portray consistent leadership and calm so he trusts he's not responsible for his PACK. It's too much for a dog to bear.
I have no idea what to say about the boyfriend who I'm quite sure will undermine everything. But good luck to you. There's a saying sometimes we get the dog we NEED not the dog we think we WANT. But I always hope it's not to the detriment of the dog who's chosen.
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P.S IMMEDIATELY start having visitors come to your home, hug you, shake hands, and IGNORE THE DOG COMPLETELY. If he approaches them STILL IGNORE. NO TALKING!!!
Do NOT allow him to greet them at the door. YOU OWN THAT ENTRYWAY NOT HIM! Make an imaginary area in front of the door he's not allowed to pass. Just point away and send him there. WITH ENERGY. CALM matter-of-fact energy. Walk towards him and he SHOULD walk backwards. When he goes on his own, he understands what you want. You can put a broom down or a rug to signify the stopping point and remind yourself. BE CONSISTENT.
NO BOTHERING THE HUMANS OR VICE VERSA.
A SNIFF is not an invitation to be touched if he goes to sniff them. It's an investigation. Tell the visitors to IGNORE the first approach. See what he does.
If he sits between you and the people IT'S BAD.
DO NOT PERMIT THAT. AND DO NOT PET HIM TO REWARD IT.
LATER in the visit if he sits near them and asks for a touch by leaning on them or going under their hand - they can touch his chest. AND LEANING is not permitted. That's dominance.
And get him some giant breed sized Gumabones. When he has energy or excitement give him the bone to chew. It's a redirection. My kid spent the first week of our dog's life on the floor overnight holding the dog's gumabone to chew LOL.
It's the same thing as when they grab a toy when people enter. It's NOT that they want to share the toy - it's a calming mechanism.
Lastly, DO NOT PET HIM OR CONSOLE HIM when YOUR BRAIN decides he's worried or nervous or concerned. That CONFIRMS there's something to "be worried about" and there ISN'T. Be nonchalant about all that stuff.
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