HOW TO TRAIN YOUR ROTTWEILER

What Age Should I Start Training My Rottweiler?

The answer is simple: as soon as you welcome your new puppy home! You can start training your Rottweiler as early as 2 months old. Set boundaries right from the start, and don't give in. While your little puppy is not difficult to control at first, they will grow fast and be much harder to contain once they reach full adult size. Don’t forget that Rottweilers reach a substantial height and weight in adulthood! If you are unable to control your dog, the consequences could be dire, for them and others. So forbid your Rottweiler from doing anything you wouldn't want them doing once fully grown. It is much easier to grant permission later than to withdraw permission granted too early and correct bad habits. Set limits and make it clear to your puppy that you are in charge.

Also, take the opportunity to improve their socialisation. This is an essential and crucial step, which will determine your dog’s relationship with the world around them, as well as with people and other animals. This should take place between the second and third month of your pup’s life. Focus on creating positive experiences for your Rott and allow them to meet as many people, dogs, and other animals as possible.

While training a puppy is easier, it is of course possible to train and socialise an adult dog. However, the task becomes more difficult the older they get, due to their history and potential traumas. Adult dogs already have lots of life experience and, perhaps, deeply rooted habits, good or bad. However, it is quite possible to “re-train” a Rottweiler. In this case, don’t hesitate to call on the help of a professional dog trainer.

Rottweiler Training Tips

Properly training your dog requires certain prior knowledge and a solid base. Keep in mind that you should never use violence with your dog, neither verbal nor physical. Favour positive dog training based on rewards, not punishment. Reinforce good behaviour with cuddles or playtime. You can also bribe your dog with treats as a last resort. Just be careful not to overdo it to avoid any risk of obesity. All dogs respond much better to this kind of approach than to coercive training. While fear-based coercion may, in some cases, lead to faster results, the long-term consequences are not worth it. Poor dog training could make your Rottweiler aggressive and difficult to handle.

Always follow these three main principles when it comes to dog training: coherence, consistency, and patience!

• Coherence: Keep your commands short and easy to remember, and stick to them along the way. Each action or request must correspond to a specific word, which is easy for your dog to understand. Set limits and make it clear to your puppy that you are in charge. Teach your Rottweiler one command at a time, repeat until they've fully grasped it, then move on to the next one.

• Consistency: The only thing that will bring concrete results is repetition over time. Your Rottweiler cannot be expected to understand everything immediately, no matter how intelligent they may be. Set aside fifteen minutes a day—no longer, your pup will get bored!—for training sessions and repeat each lesson as many times as necessary until your furry friend understands what you want from them. Take advantage of games and activities to perfect a command your dog has already learned.

• Patience: Don't ask for too much of your dog too quickly. They need time to remember all the different commands you want to teach them. Try not to get impatient with your Rott, and praise them as soon as they succeed to help them progress.

Which Basic Commands Should I Teach My Rottweiler?

Considering the weight and size of a Rottweiler, certain basic commands must be learned quickly in order to be able to maintain control of your dog at all times and guarantee their safety. These should be implemented as soon as your puppy arrives in its new home.

• Heel: This should be high on your list. Your dog needs to learn how to walk on a lead properly, especially if they live in the city. Your Rottweiler should know not to pull on their lead, as they could wind up injuring themselves. It's important to teach your pooch to respect and follow your rhythm. Start teaching your pup how to do this in a well-enclosed area to avoid accidents.

• Come: In general, it is advised not to let Rottweilers off the lead in public. There is no law against this in the UK, but in some other countries there are strict rules about keeping your Rott on a strong lead at all times. Nonetheless, it is always possible that for some reason or another your dog slips away from you. And, in this case, teaching your Rottweiler this command will help to keep them and others safe. It allows you to call your dog back to you whenever you see that they’re in danger. Again, start in an enclosed, secure area. If need be, ask a family member or friend to help you. Take turns calling your dog and congratulating them profusely when they come towards you.

• Wearing a muzzle: The Rottweiler is not subject to the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 in the UK. However, in other countries, such as Ireland and France, Rottweilers are required to wear a muzzle at all times in public, i.e. when walking in the street, in a park, etc. As such, even if you live in the UK where it’s not required, your Rottweiler may need to wear a muzzle if you travel with them. Or, you may prefer to use one as a precaution anyway. A muzzle feels unnatural to a dog, and they may not accept it initially. Take it one step at a time. First, present the muzzle to your Rott and allow them to sniff it. Put a treat in the muzzle and let your dog stick their stout inside to find it. Wait a moment and then give them their reward. Fasten the muzzle over your dog’s face and offer them another treat. Then, remove the muzzle. Repeat these steps, gradually increasing the time you leave the muzzle fastened on your dog, until your Rottweiler is perfectly comfortable. Opt for a muzzle, such as the Baskerville muzzle, that allows your dog to drink, breathe, pant, and eat. The muzzle must be perfectly adapted to the size of the dog. Finally, avoid nylon muzzles!