Rottweiler and Children - Teach your children how to treat the dog

Teach your children how to treat the dog. Never allow them to tease any animal. If you have a Rottweiler puppy, do not allow roughousing or chasing games. It might be cute and safe now, but will not be safe when your dog is 100 lbs. Do not allow your puppy to do anything now that you don't want him doing as an adult. It is not fair to change the rules as he grows.

Rottweiler - Dog Lover

Selection guide - Get to know the puppy's parents

Get to know the puppy's parents. You can learn a lot about the personality of the puppy you are thinking of bringing into your home by interacting with its parents and observing how they act.

Rottweiler - Dog Lover

Selection guide - Look at the puppy's tail

Look at the puppy's tail. Rottweilers' tails are commonly docked or cut short to leave a small stub on their backside. While this practice does not improve the dog's health or well-being, it has become such a recognizable feature of the breed that the American Kennel Club requires Rottweilers to have docked tails to be eligible as show dogs. Docking a Rottweiler's tail too soon, however, can cause nerve damage. If you are considering purchasing a puppy whose tail has already been docked, find out when the surgery was performed and talk to a veterinarian to make sure it was done correctly and at a proper time.

Rottweiler - Dog Lover

Selection guide - Examine the puppy's legs and feet

Examine the puppy's legs and feet. A Rottweiler's legs should be straight and proportionate to the rest of their body. If they appear overly thin or the puppy appears bow-legged, this could be a sign of bone disease or poor nutrition.

Rottweiler - Dog Lover

Selection guide - Find a good breeder

Find a good breeder. The Rottweiler is prone to a degenerative bone disease called hip displasia due to its large size. The odds of a Rottweiler having this disease is greatly increased if it has come from an inbred bloodline. Some studies of the breed have also shown that inbred dogs are more prone to having violent personalities. Find a reputable breeder who breeds puppies responsibly to guarantee that your Rottweiler is healthy.

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DOG FAQ - How are they with other pets?

Early socializing with other pets is a must. In most cases, a rottweiler puppy will get along with other pets if introduced at a young age. An older rottie who has never been raised with cats and then introduced to them, may want to chase them, etc.

Rottweiler - Dog Lover