I believe one of the most important points to start off with is the temperament of the Rottweiler. This is the source from which a lot of misconceptions are born. Words like reliable, alert and loving all describe a Rottweiler. Words like aggressive, hostile and stoic also describe a Rottweiler. So which is it to be, since this seems like quite a paradox. Well, like the saying goes: There is no bad dog…just bad owners. A Rottweiler is a breed that needs socialization as a puppy in order to become the reliable, and loving companion. A Rottweiler left to his own devices without any care given, will be an unsocialized and possibly hostile dog. The negative publicity that has followed this breed throughout the 20th century is a sad fact, and although..yes…a Rottweiler can indeed be aggressive, hostile and aloof, it can be very loving, loyal and responsive as well. Socializing and training a Rottweiler puppy is paramount. Rottweilers love children; they are eager to please, highly-devoted and eager to learn. They were bred to be working dogs, so learning for them is second-nature! They need to be mentally and physically stimulated, in order to develop into a receptive family dog and guard dog. Rottweilers are inherently of a dominant nature, and thus require a dominant “master” whom they can and will respect. A less-assertive owner will be overdominated by a Rottweiler. A Rottweiler respects authority and if he sees that the alpha male is not him, he will respectfully back-down. But only if he sees it continuously!
A rejected, uncared for, unloved and poorly-trained Rottweiler will become aggressive. But let’s look at this realistically. Any dog..or person for that matter will be a rebel if uncared-for and unloved. Right? So it all goes back to how the owner has raised his Rottweiler (or his children). A dog trained for dog-fights or aggression..WILL…be an aggresive and hostile dog. Aggression in Rottweilers is associated with poor breeding, poor handling, lack of socialization, natural guarding tendencies, and abuse. An assertive, loving and devoted Rottweiler is a result of proper breeding, proper handling, socialization and care. It makes total sense, doesn’t it? Rottweilers are not usually barkers. Male dogs are silent watchers who notice everything and are often stoic and aloof. Females may become barkers if they sense a threat to their den. An attentive owner will recognize when a Rottweiler perceives a threat. Barking is usually only a sign of annoyance with external factors like car alarms rather than a response to actual threats.
If you are planning on getting a Rottweiler, please do keep all this in mind. Maybe it seems to be a high-maintenance dog in your eyes, but in the end, it is worth every second to be the family member of this gorgeous breed!
The aggressive, untrained and unsocialized Rottweiler:
The loved, trained and socialized Rottweiler:
