Knowing Rottweiler Temperament Leads To Successful Training

Rottweiler TemperamentThe Rottweiler is a large and strong breed of dog. Their gentle disposition is known among Rottweiler owners and breeders. When a Rottweiler is correctly bred, they make very good gentle companions. They are known for being very caring dogs that are extremely devoted to their families. A Rottweiler will provide affection as well as protection when a situation requires it. To have a positive experience, a dog owner needs to understand the Rottweiler Temperament.

History
The Rottweiler breed of dog comes from Germany. They were bred specifically for herding and protection of stock. It is in their nature to be very protective. In Germany, they were often seen with a traveling butcher. A Rottweiler would guard the butcher’s meat, money as well as the butcher. It’s original name is Rottweil Metzgerhund. Translated into English, it is Butcher’s Dog. Rottweil is the town in Germany where the dog breed first appeared.

Nature
People who don’t know much about the Rottweiler breed believe them to be aggressive attack dogs. This is not the real nature of this dog. A Rottweiler needs to be correctly trained, exercised and socialized starting when they’re a puppy. They are then very even-tempered dogs. It takes time for them to be comfortable with a person or another animal. Many people who own Rottweilers claim the dog doesn’t comprehend its size. These animals will want to be with an owner on the couch, bed and other places.

Guarding Behavior
It is in the genetic makeup of a Rottweiler to be territorial. They were bred to detect any type of threat. When a Rottweiler is properly trained, cared for and socialized, it may never display guarding behavior. This behavior may happen for a number of reasons. When it does occur, it is important the owner handles the situation with positive behavior modification. Rottweilers can be taught to know the difference between a threat and a nice person.

Temperament
A well-behaved Rottweiler is a very pleasant companion. They will not be aggressive toward a stranger even if they are unsure of a person. Unfortunately, there has been indiscriminate breeding of Rottweilers. This has resulted in many dogs of this breed being born with unstable blood lines. Anyone considering having a Rottweiler as a pet needs to understand that aggressive behavior is not a natural trait of this dog breed. A dog breeder who does not know this should not be used. A Rottweiler has a strong desire to chew. Should they not have enough exercise or enough things of their own to chew, they can get bored. This is when they will seek out other items in a house. A Rottweiler’s jaw is very strong. They can easily chew threw many things.

Exercise
It is important that a Rottweiler owner provide their dog with daily moderate exercise. This will help keep a Rottweiler healthy, happy and with a good temperament. They need to be walked a couple of times a day and given an hour or more of running time. Doing this will enable a Rottweiler to burn off a lot of their stored-up energy. It is important to be careful when exercising a Rottweiler in hot temperatures. Their dark coats make them vulnerable to overheating.

Training
Training a Rottweiler must start early before any bad habits develop. A Rottweiler can be a challenge to train. A new or inexperienced dog owner can easily become overwhelmed by it. It is common for a Rottweiler to exhibit dominance. This breed may feel they are the ones in control of what happens in a house. Rules and boundaries have to be established immediately. They have to be enforced with 100 percent consistency. If given some slack during training, a Rottweiler will take complete advantage of the situation. When the training is done with firmness and confidence as well as consistency, it will be successful. A Rottweiler must never be trained using harsh methods. It is important this dog breed respect their owners and accept their leadership. This breed will often respond to physical punishment by challenging the leader to take command. Socialization is essential to happen early and often. They need to learn that strangers are welcome in a home.