Am I going crazy?

[Loba]

My 9 month old neutered male Rotty is a sweetheart. Very respectful and playful when meeting other dogs,  loves people but waits to be invited for cuddles and adores our cat (the feeling is NOT mutual lol)

 

He has good basic Obedience plus great recall even from playing with other dogs. In other words, a lovely dog BUT....I swear at least once a week some stranger stops me to tell me he will "turn vicious when he matures" or that "A Rottweiler can't be trusted - one day they will suddenly bite."

 

I try to ignore this blatant breed-racism but it is taking a toll on me. Now when he is happily playing with dogs he has known all his life, I find myself watching over the interactions. 

 

Likewise, when he is lying down having his tummy rubbed by a stranger, I imagine him suddenly leaping to attack.

 

I know this is counter-productive but how do I stop myself worrying about it?

[BDJ]

It is hard - so much ignorance must become hard to ignore.

 

I don't know Rotti's well, but everyone I have known have been wonderful, gentle dogs.

 

My only advise is to 'be alert but not alarmed' (showing my age here Mr Howard :-)).  He is only 9 months, so he is not fully matured.  When he gets older he may start to 'push his luck' or have times when he is being a 'jerk' - and because of his size and jaw strength the impacts (and response by other people) of that behaviour will be different than if the same activity was done my a (for example) sheltie or whippet.

 

Most dogs who go through the 'teenage' stage start with body language (this the alert comment), so you can 'nip it in the bud' if needed.

 

But if he is a well adjusted young citizen, I don't think he would go Cujo without notice.

 

I would love to suggest a good response to the comments, but I am not that witty unfortunately :-)

[tdierikx]

I have owned 2 male Rotti's over the years - both were intact. 1 started pushing boundaries at puberty (around 18 months old), and only required some refresher obedience training to come back into line. The other boy was such a softie all his life... never pushed any boundaries at all.

 

I have also worked with guard trained adult rottweilers of spurious breeding (for size rather than temperament), and 99% of those were just big softies wanting cuddles and attention when not working. They were all intact also.

 

As your boy has been neutered, he is less likely to exhibit hormone driven behavioural changes, but normal adolescent boundary pushing may occur. As long as those instances are acted upon so he knows what behaviour is acceptable and what isn't, then really I wouldn't be concerned about what other people's perceptions are of "breed characteristics" based on alarmist internet postings by the sadly uninformed.

 

Good socialisation and obedience training is key to reducing behavioural issues in any/all breeds of dog... and it looks like you are well on that road already. Don't pay any attention to the alarmists, really, they don't know what they are talking about, OK? Love and enjoy your boy, and he'll be a great canine citizen.

 

T.

[Loving my Oldies]

God that is sad.  People can be such negative knobs.  Fancy making comments like that.  Perhaps get a t-shirt with some pithy comment telling people to be careful .... your dog will demand kisses and cuddles.   

 

Tell them to go volunteer at pounds and see what big softies most dogs are.  It is a long time ago now, but I consider the five years I spent as a Saturday morning walker at a pound was the best education a person could ever have.  Pitties, Rotties, Irish Wolfies, German Shepherds, Dobermanns ...... I walked them all.  I actually had dreams of having a couple of Rotties when I was older and we’d plod around the neighbourhood together.  (Dream over as I am now even older and still have five very elderly little dogs   .)

[Tassie]

Your boy sounds lovely.  I agree with the others … just keep doing what you're doing .. but be alert particularly to the reactions he might get from other dogs who don't know him.    I say this because some dogs .. and my Border Collie boy is one of them .. have great difficulty "reading" some other breeds .. Rotties and other mastiff types among them .  They misread the normal posture of those breeds as threatening and tend to stiffen up and stare … which can then upset the Rottie (who is totally the innocent party).   My BC boy competes in obedience and agility, is a Rally O champion, but that is just who is he .. and it's up to me to try not to put him in situations where he feels uncomfortable .. and may upset the other dog.    So don't get too upset with other people's comments (just feel sorry for them that they haven't met enough of the beautiful and talented Rorries that are out there)… but do be conscious that if someone like me asks you please to keep your dog away, or turns away when they see you and your lad coming … that is not based on their worries about your dog, but their concerns to not have their own dog being stressed or maybe stressing your dog.     I have withdrawn my BC from stays in obedience competitions if I think that he's not going to be comfortable with other dogs that might be in the line .. even if he's on a pass .. his inability to read other dogs well is my problem, not one I should put on the other dogs.

 

And here's a fun fact for you to use in educating the people who think that all Rottweilers are "dangerous" … Rotties are one of only a couple of non "herding  type - Group 5 Working Dog" breeds that are allowed to compete in ANKC Herding Trials.

[juice]

It’s one of the things you will have to get used too . 

I was always wary of them until Reddog in here asked me to walk his while he had a knee op as we live close . 

I fell in love with them both , adorable big goofers , but while walking them I was constantly getting people asking me if they were dangerous. 

I own Bull breeds and the most common comment is “ they lock jaws and you shouldn’t have them with kids .” 

I also have people cross the road to avoid me . 

Its a shame , but people are ignorant. 

[Tassie]

True Dat @juice

 

And along the same lines … with the Border Collies … it's "oh they need heaps of exercise, so I'm jogging with my 6 month old puppy for an hour every day ……"  …. umm, no.   Then you'll have a fit (unless you broke it) bored Border Collie .. and they're worse than a bored Border Collie).

 

And people perceive them as sort of universally friendly with other dogs  …. ummm.. not necessarily .. and why would they be.   Going back to their heritage, they needed to be chilled around other sheep dogs at things like markets, and sheepo dog trials  … but there was no value for a farmer in having a BC which was happily invited any other random dogs to come into his space and onto his land.      

[persephone]

I'm fortunate in only having ever met goofy friendly rotties   if your boy is trained, well rounded  and happy ... you can relax. 

In Fact..relax anyway ..he WILL pick up on any uncertainty you may be projecting  ;) 

[grumpette]

Relax when around your boy, especially when he is interacting with other dogs and people. He will pick up on your apprehension and begin to wonder what is wrong, which will in turn make him wary. If your boy has never shown any reason for you to be concerned, then don't be. They don't know your dog, you do.

 

Also consider doing more obedience training with your boy. Trick training and scent work are great activities that will strengthen the bond between you and your boy, and that way you will get to know him better. And you will then feel more confident in him and his ability to deal with all situations, and he will feel that you can deal with things to keep him safe and he wont have to.

 

Don't listen to people who know nothing about your dog or our wonderfully awesome breed. 

[grumpette]

23 minutes ago, persephone said:

I'm fortunate in only having ever met goofy friendly rotties   if your boy is trained, well rounded  and happy ... you can relax. 

In Fact..relax anyway ..he WILL pick up on any uncertainty you may be projecting  ;) 

Jinx 

[juice]

Unfortunately we have a bad one in our street now , young dog , huge , walked only to the end of the road and back , often as I’m coming home with mine and it’s dog and people aggro . 

Walked by a young teen who struggles to hold on to it, I dread seeing it . 

I have seen it lunge at people ,and It just missed me as I went to letterbox and didn’t see it coming up road , lunged at me , scared the crap out of me . 

 

[Loba]

Thank you all! He really is a lovely boy and these negative comments have been getting into my head. 

We do Obedience Training but I think the idea of doing some Agility or nose work is a brilliant idea. Would be nice to actually have fun with him again!

 

What sort of testing behaviours should I keep an eye out for as he gets older?

[Tassie]

Rally O is a fun version of obedience .. you can talk to your dog, and there are no group stays to worry about.   It's great for helping to build focus and relationship.    And IMHO easier to get started in than agility .. which if done properly requires a lot of commitment - and the good schools have longish waiting lists.