Is The Rottweiler A Good Family Dog? Answering All Your Concerns!

Rottweilers are a strong and loyal breed that has been part of the top 10 family dogs for a long time. Since Rotties look intimidating, many are concerned about whether Rottweilers make a good family dog. And the one-word answer to all such doubts is “Yes” Rottweilers are the ideal family dogs. However, you might not be satisfied with just a yes since it’s about your family’s safety.

If you have kids and other pets at home, you should know about Rotties’ temperament around other pets and children. Furthermore, answers to questions such as: Is the Rottweiler a good family dog? Do they require extra care compared to other dogs? Do Rotties require training for obedience and socialization? Get answers to all your Rottweiler questions in this blog post. So, firstly, let’s start by knowing a bit about the history and appearance of Rottweilers.

History

Although the Rottweiler origin is unclear, they are said to have descended from ancient Rome. They were originally drover dogs and had the duty of protecting livestock and animal herds. They started acting as police dogs in the early 1900s. In the year 1931, they were officially recognized by AKC. 

Now, Rottweilers are popular as watchdogs, guard dogs, as well as family dogs. 

Appearance Of A Rottweiler

Rottweilers show different characteristics and appearances based on their gender and how well they are bred.

Size

Rottweilers come in medium to large sizes. This big size can be hard to control sometimes. The average Rottweiler male size is 24-27 inches, and the average female grows to 22-25 inches. An average male weighs 110 to 130 pounds, while females weigh 77 to 110 pounds. In most cases, Rotties can reach their maximum height by age 1. However, there are also instances where they can take up to 2-3 years to get maximum growth.

Note: For a first-timer, handling the Rottie handling can be overwhelming. Therefore, if you are unsure whether you and your family can handle it, you should seek expert breeders’ advice.

Coat

Rottweilers have a dense and medium-length coat. In addition, the coat is straight, and you can find an undercoat under their thighs and neck.

Note: If your concern is whether they shed a lot, continue reading to find the answer. 

Color

Rottweilers come with interesting color combinations. The common coat type is black. However, tan, rust, or mahogany are also noticeable in many Rotties.

Tail

Most Rottweilers have their tail docked while working as police dogs to prevent injuries. However, as a family dog, it’s up to you whether you want to dock the tail. Docking tail is more focused on cosmetic purposes rather than Rottweiler safety. 

Is Shedding A Major Problem With Rottweilers?

No, Rottweilers are known to shed only a moderate amount, just like other dogs. However, their shedding amount can increase in spring and fall since they are seasonal shredders. 

You can keep the shedding amount in check by offering proper care to your Rottweilers. Regular fur brushes and a healthy lifestyle can maintain the shedding amount greatly. However, there is a high chance you will have a mixed experience if it’s your first time as a dog owner.

A Major Question: Should You Adopt A Rottweiler If You Have Children?

Prioritizing your children’s safety is important if you are adopting a dog. Since they are large, your concern regarding the child’s safety is natural. However, you can rest your worries since we are talking about Rottweilers here. They are an intelligent breed with high loyalty to their owners and family, which also include kids and children. Growing your child with a Rottweiler puppy can help you make a strong bond between them. 

However, what if you decide to adopt an adult Rottweiler? In that case, you must confirm from the breeder if the dog is well-trained and socialized or not. In addition, you must make the Rottie comfortable around the kids so they don’t act violently and aggressively with kids. As Rottweilers have a guardian nature, you can expect them to protect your children if they consider them part of their pack.

Rottweiler can never hate the company of your children as they love to have playtime with them. However, Rottie’s love is limited to your children and doesn’t go the same with other kids. You cannot leave them with stranger kids as Rottweiler can assume strangers as a threat since they are unfamiliar with them. You must keep the Rottie under supervision so they don’t act violently toward other kids.

Until the obedience and socialization training is over for your Rottweiler, you must keep an eye on them in the company of other children and pets. Suppose the Rottie is never socialized and lacks social gathering experience. In that case, making them comfortable around your family and other people will be hard. Furthermore, they can be potentially dangerous to your child’s safety. So, either get a Rottweiler puppy and grow them under social conditions. Or you can choose a well-trained and socialized adult Rottweiler for your family.

Are Rottweilers Good Around Other Family Pets?

Another major concern families have while adopting Rottweilers is whether they behave around other pets. Expert breeders recommend early socialization training to raise a well-behaved Rottie. So, it is important you start your Rottie puppy training as soon as possible. As per different Rottweiler owners, early socialization helped their Rottie greatly. If you have another dog, cat, etc., in your home, ensure they are comfortable around them.

If not properly raised and trained, Rottie will likely act aggressively toward other same-gender dogs and cats. You can seek professional Rottweiler socialization training to get evens on your side. 

Things That Make Rotties The Ideal Family Dogs

Despite their strength and big size, Rottweilers are highly popular family dogs because of their gentle nature. One less-known fact about Rottweilers is that they help mothers care for their babies. They make sure that the baby is safe while sleeping and playing. Moreover, they can inform their owners if they see the baby acting strange or in danger. Making Rotties learn a command is quite easy since they are known for high intelligence. They tend to follow their owners and family members inside the house. So, most of the time, you will know where your dog is. 

With a Rottie by your side, you can confirm the safety of your family members. They can be trained as guard dogs and have the proper strength and size to be ideal for this role. Having a strong dog can save your home from the ill intentions of burglars. Also, if you’re worried about your wife or children’s safety, you can adopt this dog to guarantee it. 

However, you must be dedicated to your Rottie exercise if you want it to play all these roles. In addition, you have to avoid leaving them alone for a long time. If you find it hard to handle a clingy companion, Rottweilers might not be the best dog for you. Talk to a professional breeder to clear your doubts.

For you to keep your Rottweiler temperament stable and calm, you must stay close to them and spend time. Furthermore, Rotties always look for a strong leader, so it is important that you are able to handle them yourself. Rewarding your pet for good deeds and following commands can help build stronger bonds. Try not to force commands on them as their aggressive nature can increase.

Rottweiler, A Good Family Dog: Reason To Adopt One

Rottweilers are not simply pets but long-life companions. They are extremely loyal and go beyond when it comes to protecting their owner and spending time with them. While you are not around, this dog can protect your home and family members. Their average life span is 12-14 years, so you can expect them to stay by your side in your lows and highs for a long time. 

Another point that makes Rotties ideal for adoption is their intelligence. Training a Rottweiler is much easier compared to other dog breeds. You can make them learn new commands with two or three repetitions. Furthermore, they never forget what they learned once. You can follow the DIY guide or YouTube tutorials to make your Rottie learn basic commands. For obedience and socialization training, it’s better to take professional help. 

How To Train A Rottie To Be A Good Family And Guard Dog?

Being territorial dogs, you might find it hard to train them later if not properly trained from a young age. They are extremely energetic, which makes them act aggressively sometimes if not given enough space to let it out. Getting your regular Rottweiler walks in dog parks and backyards can help them release the extra energy. 

Stop your Rottie when they do something you don’t like. You can use negative reinforcement to stop them from attacking people or when they act aggressively. In contrast, you should use positive reinforcement to appreciate your Rottie good behavior.

Ensure you don’t keep sessions too long when you train your Rottweiler. This is because Rotties can lose interest if they are too long. Also, avoid playing games that can make Rotties aggressive, such as tug of war. 

To make training sessions rewarding and interesting, try to keep your Rottie favorite food and fresh water with you. When given proper food, Rottweilers tend to be more submissive and obedient.

Rotties are social creatures and love meeting new people and pets. And, with early socialization and training, it will be easier for you to maintain such behavior. Spend your alone time with your Rottweiler to strengthen your bond with your pet. They can be gentle and loving creatures with proper care, and you should stick with them if you care about your paw companion.

Summary: Is The Rottweiler A Good Family Dog

From all the above data, we can summarize that Rottweilers are perfect family dogs if trained and socialized at an early stage. They will protect your family and show extreme loyalty. You can make them learn new things fast as they are so intelligent. Rotties love the company of children and are gentle with them under the supervision of an adult. 

We cannot press enough about how important early socialization and obedience training is for Rottweilers. They don’t act aggressively unless triggered or experience danger. A wonderful social companion who loves other pets and people. 

While all the points mentioned above are essential for raising a family-friendly Rottweiler, you must also make sure you adopt one from a reputable breeder.

Vom Hause Stan is the best place to adopt a purebred German Rottweiler puppy. We follow breeding standards and offer proper care to our puppies. Our puppies’ parents pass the standards for breeding and have perfect health conditions. Other than that, we also offer early socialization, obedience, leash training, etc. We are your one-stop for all your Rottweiler needs. Connect with our experts at (425) 329-9996 or VomHauseStan@yahoo.com.