Although Rotties have been working as service dogs for a long time, people have recently started noticing them. We know that America has various dog breeds that make perfect service dogs, including Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Poodle, etc. However, Rottweilers have also been added to this list of popular service dogs.

This has increased interest in people to know more about “Can Rottweilers Be Service Dogs.” Whether Rottweilers are good as service dogs or not, we will answer that in this post. So, if you’re interested in knowing how to make my Rottweiler a service dog or whether this dog breed can help people with PTSD and anxiety, make sure to stick to the end.

Understanding The Meaning Of Service Dogs

Before we answer whether a rottweiler can be a service dog, we must first understand what service dogs are and what they are used for.

Let’s go by the definition of the Americans with Disabilities Act. They explain that service dogs are classified as specially trained dogs meant to do particular tasks for people with disabilities. The disabilities here can be sensory, physical, mental, intellectual, or psychiatric.

Furthermore, service dogs can have complete public access rights. This means these dogs can travel to places restricted to other animals. So, it is common to spot service dogs in public transportation, restaurants, and libraries.

What Are The Best Service Dogs? Qualities That Define One

Most of you reading this post will be aware of the fact that dogs’ smelling power far surpasses that of human beings. If we talk in numbers, dogs’ smelling ability is 10,000 and even 100,000 more than an average person. Now, when someone says that a particular breed is good as service dogs, there are some qualities of these dogs that support this idea.

However, having this power doesn’t define a service dog. For breeds to be classified as great service dogs, they must possess the following characteristics or qualities:

A working desire: Good service dogs are always active and willing to take walks or play with you rather than sitting in one place doing nothing. So, your dog should always be happy and up to accompanying you wherever you go.

A calm behavior: A good service dog will never cause a fuss when in a public place. Furthermore, their tendency to get startled due to their surroundings will be much less.

High intelligence: Service dogs perform tasks that any dog can’t perform unless they have been trained for such tasks. And, for that, that particular dog breed needs to be intelligent. Therefore, your service dog must possess innate or natural intelligence to perform complex tasks while also having good decision-making.

A friendly nature: The service dog must have a friendly disposition, so they act friendly and remain comfortable in front of other animals and people.

A loving nature: A service dog must possess strong bonding power so it can serve all your needs in the best way. For that, the dog needs qualities by which they can form a strong bond with you quickly.

So, now let’s see what qualities Rottweilers possess.

Can Rottweilers Be Service Dogs: 5 Reasons That Make Them Perfect Service Dogs

After knowing the meaning of service dogs and the qualities of great service dogs, your curiosity will reside, “can a rottweiler be a service dog?” So, yes, Rottweilers can be outstanding service dogs because they’re strong, caring, and extremely friendly canines.

Well, there are some more known and popular service dogs breeds like German Shepherd and Golden Retriever. Both are fantastic therapy dogs, but Rottweilers are also not behind them when it comes to being excellent companions.

Like all other service dog breeds, Rottweilers need specialized training from experienced Rottweiler trainers to be great service dogs. And, since this breed is well known for its intelligence, you can expect great results in its care.

So, suppose you’re considering a service dog. In that case, you should not forget to add a Rottweiler to your list because of the following reasons:

Rottweilers Have The Right Personality To Be Great Service Dogs

The first thing about Rottweilers is that they are people-loving dogs. Being a great service dog, a Rottie can naturally read human emotions. Furthermore, this breed has a history of protecting livestock and people. Also, Rotties are amazing cuddling companions and offer relaxation to their owners, making them excellent therapy dogs too.

Therefore, Rotties have the instinct to protect their owners and care for them. Not to mention, Rottweilers also take pride in their never-ending stamina. So, they can work tirelessly for you, making them the service dogs you can consider.

They’re Not Limited To One Care, Thanks To Their Big Size

Rottweilers are up for doing multiple tasks because of the big size they possess. Although they’re in the medium-large category, people often see them as big dogs. Having that big size and strong body, Rottweilers can help individuals with medical conditions. Rottweiler heights range from 22 to 27 inches, where females are usually on the shorter side compared to big-size males.

While females come in the 80 to 110-pound weight categories, males are much heavier, as they can range from 110 to 130 pounds. From this, you can be conclusive about Rottweiler’s sturdy build. Although Rottweilers can be excellent service dogs, it will be complicated if the training provided isn’t good.

So, to bring out the maximum potential of Rottweilers as service dogs, effective training is a must.

Rottweilers Are Highly Trainable Because Of Their Innate Smartness

Did you notice Rottweilers in the top 10 of the most intelligent dog breeds? Even A.K.C. (American Kennel Club) has ranked Rotties at the top out of the 79 intelligent breeds of dogs. Open your browser now, and search for the most intelligent dog breeds.

It is easier to train a dog for a service dog if it possesses high intelligence. However, as we’re talking about Rotties here, teaching them isn’t easy. This is mainly because this breed has a stubborn side to them. So, the training would have to be consistent to make the Rottweiler ready for the job.

But you should not worry too much since Rotties love to please their owners. So if you use praise and positive reinforcement on these intelligent pets, you will see that they will soon start behaving as per your commands with no exceptions. Furthermore, Rottweilers are incredibly loyal to their family and owners and will not hesitate to help you wherever you need them.

Stays Loyal To Their Owners In Every Situation

As a service dog, your Rottie will have to stay with you all the time, with few exceptions. On top of that, if you’re using a Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD), you will need them to be with you almost every time. And here, there will be no exceptions whatsoever.

Rottweilers care about their owners, and they will always track where you are going to confirm your safety. Because of their natural loyalty toward their owners, they will never leave your side. You can always rely on a Rottweiler, and you don’t have to particularly train them to be by your side since they will do that naturally. Once they know who they must protect and care for, you’ll not need to explain to them again.

Friendly Dogs Make Perfect Service Dogs

The must-have quality of being a service dog is that the dog should be friendly toward its owner as well as other pets. Now, if you’ve never checked about it, chances are you may have heard rumors about Rottweilers being aggressive and violent. But, in reality, the case is actually completely opposite.

The reason why Rottweilers gained this negative popularity is because of their sudden increase in demand in the 1990s. With such high demand, numerous breeders opt for unethical breeding practices to match the public demands. As a result, it was mostly Rottweilers without a German Bloodline that were not even an example of how Rottweiler breeds should look.

Purebred German Rottweilers are playful breeds with extreme friendliness toward their owners and family. They’re of calm demeanor and highly patient. Because of this, Rottweilers are even popular as therapy dogs, not limiting them to service dogs only.

What Are Things Rottweilers As Service Dogs Can Do?

So, from above, you can conclude that Rottweilers can be great service dogs. However, when you search for a service dog rottweiler on the internet, you also want to know what precisely a Rottweiler service dog can offer. You not only want to know about their capabilities but also what type of medical conditions they can help with.

This leads to a question, can a Rottweiler help with my specific medical condition? A professional trainer can train a Rottweiler to be a service dog that can perform a variety of tasks, which are as follows.

Balance As Well As Mobility Aid

As previously mentioned, Rottweilers possess a big size, and this size can help individuals greatly. People who face problems while moving or doing their daily tasks can train their Rottweiler accordingly.

So, if you require sturdy support while moving inside your house or taking outside walks, you can take the help of your Rottweiler strong body. Furthermore, you can train them to guide you in everything related to your day-to-day tasks.

Let’s talk about male Rottweilers, which are comparatively taller than females. They can assist in switching on and off the lights. Other than that, Rotties can even offer their support in opening or closing the doors.

Handing Objects And Things, A.K.A. Object Retrieval

It is possible to train a Rottweiler to perform some particular tasks for its owner. This can include grabbing dropped items from the floor or handing the medications to the owner. Rotties love to stay busy and thrive when they successfully perform their jobs.

Intruder Alert And Danger Notification

While Rotties are not as popular as Retrievers and German Shepherds for being service dogs, when it comes to guarding dogs, Rotties are well-known. This breed makes up for the best guard dogs. So, while they help you with your daily activities, Rottweiler can naturally guard you, their family, and the property they’re living at.

To maintain the protective nature of Rottweilers, you need to offer them specialized training directed toward guard dogs. You need to train them on who they have to protect and in what situation. Although they have an innate protective nature toward their owners, it is best to teach them about other things as well.

Alert And Notification For Medical Emergency

Rottweilers can act as service dogs for medical alerts or emergencies when properly trained. Suppose you have a Rottie service dog with you. In that case, he can alert you about future medical crises so you can prepare yourself beforehand.

If we talk about P.D.S. Rotties, they use their paw to notify their epileptic owners that they are about to have a seizure. This way, their owners can quickly look for a place where they can safely lie down. Furthermore, a service dog, Rottweiler, can even alert on things like low blood pressure and blood sugar level drops.

Can Provide Deep Pressure Therapy

Individuals with mental health conditions like PTSD, autism, anxiety, etc., can take the help of a Rottweiler. You can find Rottweiler service dogs for PTSD, Rottweiler service dogs for anxiety, Rottweiler service dogs for autism, and Rottweiler service dogs for other mental conditions.

If you have any of those conditions which can initiate panic, you might get help from deep pressure therapy. In such therapy, a Rottweiler uses its body warmth and weight to help control the symptoms caused due to mental distress. So, whatever your mental illness is, you can always rely on a service dog, Rottweiler.

How To Get A Rottweiler Service Dog?

Now, you know why Rottweilers are great service dogs and what they can do performing this job. If you think a Rottweiler will be your best companion for a service dog, you are thinking right. However, your next challenge would be how to get a Rottie service dog.

There are some requirements for a person to become eligible for having Rottweilers or other dog breeds as service dogs. Only a person with some disability can train a dog to become a service dog. So, if you or someone you know need a service dog like a Rottweiler, here are some requirements you should know about:

Firstly, only a person with some physical, mental, or emotional disability can become eligible to have a service dog.

The Rottweiler you’re considering has to stay well-mannered all the time.

The dog has to be trained to do the particular tasks which can help your disability.

Finally, you should be sure what the Rottweiler as a service dog can provide. If not, you need to answer some questions about their service.

There are licensed mental health professionals who can approve your application for eligibility to adopt a service dog. However, if you’re not already working with such a medical professional, you need to schedule a meeting with them.

This professional will check whether you require a PSD Rottweiler. They can disapprove your eligibility letter if they find you don’t need a support dog. So, ensure you have the eligibility before looking for a service dog.

How To Train A Rottweiler To Be A Service Dog?

So, you have confirmed your eligibility to have a service dog. If that’s the case, the next thing would be training your Rottweiler to be a service dog. However, the problem is, how do you teach a Rottie to be a service dog?

Suppose you’re adopting one from a professional breeder like Vom Hause Stan. In that case, you will have it much easier to train the puppy since it has already been introduced to basic dog training.

So, let’s see the ways by which you can train your Rottweiler to be a service dog.

It’s Always Good To Train Dogs That Are Neutered Or Spayed

It has been noticed that spayed or neutered Rottweilers tend to be less aggressive, territorial, and calmer comparatively. For a breed to be good service dogs, they need to possess such traits.

Start With The Basic Commands

One advantage of adopting a Rottweiler puppy is you can start their obedience and basic command training when they’re still young. It is much easier to train a puppy compared to an adult Rottweiler to become a service dog. Your Rottweiler must know commands like stay, come, sit, and heel. Then, when the puppy can follow these commands in a single word, you can train them for the more complicated tasks and commands.

Understand What Makes Your Rottweiler Motivated

To train a Rottweiler for service dogs, you need to know what actually makes your dog motivated. In most cases, trainers use treats to reward the dog for doing a good job. However, in your case, it can be your Rottie’s favorite toy or the evergreen belly scratches. Whatever your dog likes, know about it so you can make the training more rewarding for them.

Train Them To Behave In Public

Most dogs love interacting with people, and Rottweilers are no exception. If you give your Rottie socialization training from an early age, they will behave well, as well as greet new people they meet. But, you should not forget about the person that the Rottweiler has to serve primarily. Therefore, you need to make them understand such behavior in public so they always stay with you without getting distracted.

Make The Rottweiler Understand When They Are Working And When They Are Not

It goes without saying that your Rottweiler will need breaks from time to time. To make your service dog aware of when they’re on duty and when they’re off duty, you can use a command that will act as a cue for them. Start using that command from a young age so your Rottie can understand the importance of it when working.

Go For The Training You Want To Make Them Specialize In

The Rottweiler you are training can only become specialized in helping with one disability. Don’t expect your Rottie to be specialized in handling all types of disabilities, as it can be too much for your pet to handle. While some are trained to assist people having physical disabilities, there are also Rottweilers that help people with medical conditions as well as those individuals who’re blind. You need to train them according to what your needs are.

Earn Your Rottie A Certification

Now that you have trained your Rottweiler for service dogs, it is essential to get them certified. You need to check what form of assessment your particular area needs to get a dog certified as a service dog.

Conclusion

Rottweilers are assertive, sturdy, loyal, affectionate, and friendly, all of which make them perfect service dogs. So, we hope you no longer need to search for can rottweilers be service dogs, since now you know that Rotties definitely make good service dogs. Not only that, Rottweilers work amazingly, even as therapy dogs.

It’s all about good and consistent training, and your Rottweiler will be ready to perform its duties as a service dog. You can contact Vom Hause Stan if you are considering adopting a Rottweiler to work as a service dog. Our dogs are purebred and healthy and come with basic training. So, training our dogs for service dogs is much easier comparatively.

So, make sure to dial (425) 329-9996 if you want to know more about our Rottweiler puppies. You can also use VomHauseStan@yahoo.com to drop your queries.

Can Rottweilers Be Service Dogs & Therapy Dogs?