Rottweiler info

kkelly77

Calling all Rottweiler owners,

I am currently researching the Rottweiler breed and I would like to hear from owners to get 'real world' experiences.

I have checked numerous websites to find out about this type of dog to make sure it's the right breed for me. Although there is a lot of information out there, it all seems to be the same information i.e. the text seems to be all copy and paste from one site to the next.

This is why I need to hear from YOU, the Rottweiler owner! I want to know everything you have to tell me about your dog(s), why they are right for you and may not be right for others. From what I have read about the Rottweiler temperament, they are an amazing dog to own if trained correctly.

If you could point me in the right direction for genuine breeders, pricing, a rescue Rottie, what to look out for in choosing a dog, I would appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks.

K

nearly_there

Hi!

I dont have any personal experience with rottweilers but there is a rottweiler dog at the trainig class i go to with mine and he is the most well behaved passive creature iv ever seen.

His owner told me that he used to be a bit stubborn (the dog) and would only follow commands when he wanted to so he started taking him to puppy class at 5/6! he has been going now for about three months every week and he said the difference in the dog is amazing. That he seems like a lively puppy again. And you should see the way the dog listens to his owner its fantastic! he stays right by his side with no lead in an arena with up to 40 other dogs and horses nearby, nothing distracts him.

So what im trying to say is i think you are right with the training is key.
Hope this helps a small bit!

Good luck in your search!

andreac

Hi there, i own a rottweiler, a male, who i happen to show too.
They are a fab breed but are hard work, they are big powerful dogs and need a lot of training, socialisation and discipline from day 1.

My fella is 3 this weekend and is currently weighing just short of 50kg, so you can imagine how strong he is.

Their temperaments are great but as i said they need a lot of socialisation from day 1 and good firm training too.
You must buy from a reputable breeder and make sure the parent/s have good temperaments too.

Try www.rottweilerclubofireland.com for more info and contact the breed secretary, June Wall for more info and she might be able to put you in contact with some breeders who have pups.

They need regular exercised but not too much when they are growing as they can suffer with joint problems if over exercised too much as a pup.

My lad goes through about a 15kg bag of good quality dry food per month.

If you have any other questions just shout.

I paid €650 for my fella 3 years ago and he had very good breeding on his fathers side and i wanted to show him too, hes now an Irish champion and can be viewed on the rottweiler site i just mentioned in the stud dogs section, Cuchulain The Brave.
There are plenty of rotties in rescue too if you want to go down that route. Be very wary of buying from breeders advertised online, most good breeders wont need to advertise online so come back to me if you still cant find a good breeder and i can put you in touch with some people.
Hope this helps.

Toulouse

Try posting over on http://petsireland.invisionzone.com/

Lots of owners of rescue Rotties there with lots of info.

kkelly77

andreac wrote: »

Hi there, i own a rottweiler, a male, who i happen to show too.
They are a fab breed but are hard work, they are big powerful dogs and need a lot of training, socialisation and discipline from day 1.

My fella is 3 this weekend and is currently weighing just short of 50kg, so you can imagine how strong he is.

Their temperaments are great but as i said they need a lot of socialisation from day 1 and good firm training too.
You must buy from a reputable breeder and make sure the parent/s have good temperaments too.

Try www.rottweilerclubofireland.com for more info and contact the breed secretary, June Wall for more info and she might be able to put you in contact with some breeders who have pups.

They need regular exercised but not too much when they are growing as they can suffer with joint problems if over exercised too much as a pup.

My lad goes through about a 15kg bag of good quality dry food per month.

If you have any other questions just shout.

I paid €650 for my fella 3 years ago and he had very good breeding on his fathers side and i wanted to show him too, hes now an Irish champion and can be viewed on the rottweiler site i just mentioned in the stud dogs section, Cuchulain The Brave.
There are plenty of rotties in rescue too if you want to go down that route. Be very wary of buying from breeders advertised online, most good breeders wont need to advertise online so come back to me if you still cant find a good breeder and i can put you in touch with some people.
Hope this helps.

Hi Andreac. Is the size of your dog a good indication of a typical male Rottweiler? What would your normal monthly outlay on feed be?

I wouldn't have a problem dedicating the time to training and would actual see it as acquiring a new skill for myself as well. I did come across the Rottweiler club website but couldn't find a contact number. I've sent an email in the meantime.

The only information I have on breeders are what I have seen on done deal dot ie. Most of them say dogs are IKC registered etc but how easy/difficult is this certification to get? If you know of genuine breeders, please do let me know. I am very wary of those who are in it for a quick buck and puppy farming.

K

andreac

Hi, yes 50kg would be the average for a good male, females are a bit lighter and smaller and usually a lot easier and quieter to handle, I would recommend if you are getting a male, unless you are going to show it that you get him neutered as my fella is quite a handful and if i wasnt showing him he would be neutered.

Food wise that would be about the norm, give or take a bit. When you say outlay what do you mean? I feed a good complete dry food, and he gets salmon oil too to help his coat. He doesnt get too many treats as they can be prone to weight problems, ive been lucky that my fella gets plenty of exercise so his weight has never been a problem for me.

IKC registration is not a indication if a breeder is good or not, once the parents are registered the pups can be registered too. I would stay clear of done deal if you want my opinion as it can full of puppy farmers and back yard breeders.

I will pm you the phone number of the secretary and give her a call.

kkelly77

andreac wrote: »

Hi, yes 50kg would be the average for a good male, females are a bit lighter and smaller and usually a lot easier and quieter to handle, I would recommend if you are getting a male, unless you are going to show it that you get him neutered as my fella is quite a handful and if i wasnt showing him he would be neutered.

Food wise that would be about the norm, give or take a bit. When you say outlay what do you mean? I feed a good complete dry food, and he gets salmon oil too to help his coat. He doesnt get too many treats as they can be prone to weight problems, ive been lucky that my fella gets plenty of exercise so his weight has never been a problem for me.

IKC registration is not a indication if a breeder is good or not, once the parents are registered the pups can be registered too. I would stay clear of done deal if you want my opinion as it can full of puppy farmers and back yard breeders.

I will pm you the phone number of the secretary and give her a call.

Got your PM Andreac, thanks. Had a look at Cuchulain on the Rottweiler Club website, handsome fella

Regarding the monthly outlay for feed I meant in €'s, how much would you normally have to spend? Also, how much exercise is enough exercise, bearing in mind your comments on possible joint issues?

Do you have any information on the likes of hip scoring? Who provides the scoring service and how is it rated?

K

andreac

Thanks a mill, hes a special dog, i have him qualified for Crufts in 2010 too so very excited.:D

With food, you can expect to pay anything from 40-60 a month on a good food, then if you are giving some treats then thats extra.

With exercise, pups should be only getting 5 mins per month of age til they are over a year old. At the mo my fella gets 2 walks, oneof about 30 mins free running at lunch, then a good hour or more in the evening. Not much road work/hard ground should be done with young rotties either.
I have also done flyball with him too before, and also obedience classes also.

Hip scoring is done by the Vet college and i recommend you go there to get it done. It gets sent off to the BVA in the UK to be scored as it cant be scored in Ireland. It costs about €120 for the xrays, then about £35 (sterling) for them to be scored by the BVA (British Vet. Assoc)

The avergae score for a rottie is 12, they combine the scores of the 2 hips, so 12 is the total of 2 hips. So ideally you are looking for a score around that or even better lower than that.Oh just to add, they usually wait til the dog is over a year old before getting them hip scored.

looserock

kkelly77 wrote: »

Calling all Rottweiler owners,

I am currently researching the Rottweiler breed and I would like to hear from owners to get 'real world' experiences.

I have checked numerous websites to find out about this type of dog to make sure it's the right breed for me. Although there is a lot of information out there, it all seems to be the same information i.e. the text seems to be all copy and paste from one site to the next.

This is why I need to hear from YOU, the Rottweiler owner! I want to know everything you have to tell me about your dog(s), why they are right for you and may not be right for others. From what I have read about the Rottweiler temperament, they are an amazing dog to own if trained correctly.

If you could point me in the right direction for genuine breeders, pricing, a rescue Rottie, what to look out for in choosing a dog, I would appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks.

K

Rottweilers are fantastic dogs to own, I used to have two of them and I can't think of a more loyal companion, they are so keen to please their master its unbelievable.

I would still have have Rotties too except I got so much hassle from other people It just took the good out of it, op be sure you're prepared to put up with people acting like you have a rabid foaming at the mouth killer on the lead and not the gentle and loving family member that most rotties are.

kkelly77

looserock wrote: »

I would still have have Rotties too except I got so much hassle from other people It just took the good out of it, op be sure you're prepared to put up with people acting like you have a rabid foaming at the mouth killer on the lead and not the gentle and loving family member that most rotties are.

Hi Looserock. Can you explain in a bit more detail the problems you experienced?

votejohn

Im a dog walker and Ive looked after about 4 different rotties. Obviously if someone is going to hire a dog walker, they are going to look after their dog well, and each and every one of these dogs were absolute softies! They're one of my favourite breeds, so big and strong with such sweet temperaments!

As you've said your going to put a lot of work into your pup, so make sure your pup gets the best start, and that the breeder you pick socialises / handles your pup in those important early weeks. you should also go visit your pup a couple of times before you take it home for the first time.

Best of luck!!!

looserock

kkelly77 wrote: »

Hi Looserock. Can you explain in a bit more detail the problems you experienced?

Ahh, Its a while ago now but in the twelve years or so that I had them, there were quite a few false complaints to both the dog warden and the guards and then the usual things like people crossing the road when they see them coming, picking up their small dogs and a whole bunch of stuff like that.

There was always just that negative vibe from the public that soured what was otherwise a great experience.

lrushe

kkelly77 wrote: »

Calling all Rottweiler owners,

I am currently researching the Rottweiler breed and I would like to hear from owners to get 'real world' experiences.

I have checked numerous websites to find out about this type of dog to make sure it's the right breed for me. Although there is a lot of information out there, it all seems to be the same information i.e. the text seems to be all copy and paste from one site to the next.

This is why I need to hear from YOU, the Rottweiler owner! I want to know everything you have to tell me about your dog(s), why they are right for you and may not be right for others. From what I have read about the Rottweiler temperament, they are an amazing dog to own if trained correctly.

If you could point me in the right direction for genuine breeders, pricing, a rescue Rottie, what to look out for in choosing a dog, I would appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks.

K

Hi KKelly,
I'm a newbie Rottie owner, my girls is just 15 weeks old. I decided on a bitch as I am new to the breed and I thought a male might be too much for me first time out, although I have had German Shephards before. I bought her in Kildare, google Kilrott Kennels and you will see her breeder Keith who did an excellent job raising her, I can't praise him enough. The only thing is he doesn't breed v.often so rarely has pups available however he has contacts to other good breeders who could help you out with your search. Brook is a joy to own, attentive, lively and friendly, saying that she is also alot of hard work. While researching the breed I was told they will test you at every turn and boy is that true, nothing malicous, they just make you work for every sucess. You also have to deal with the serotype people have of the breed, they are banned from most of the fun doggy places I would also advise making sure to have money aside for obedience training, it is a must with the breed. Also you should have your dog insured because as they are so big and prone to certain health conditions they could cost your a fortune in vet bills. But I wouldn't be without Brook she's my little shadow around the house and makes me laugh everyday:) I have her on James Wellbeloved dog dry dog food at the moment which really seems to agree with her, but I would recommend whatever food you do decide on make sure it is good quality, those first two year of growth will determine the rest of your dogs life. Can't think of anything else, I am by no means an expert, but I will try to answer any of your questions from my experience or the advice I was given by my breeder. Best of luck!

Brook 12 weeks old.JPG

votejohn

oh my god ridiculously cute!!! im so jealous, I want one now!!!!

And Brook is such a cute name too, wish i should have thought of it! Named my dog bella so and shes 16 weeks now so I guess its too late to change her name!!

kkelly77

lrushe wrote: »

Hi KKelly,
I'm a newbie Rottie owner, my girls is just 15 weeks old. I decided on a bitch as I am new to the breed and I thought a male might be too much for me first time out, although I have had German Shephards before. I bought her in Kildare, google Kilrott Kennels and you will see her breeder Keith who did an excellent job raising her, I can't praise him enough. The only thing is he doesn't breed v.often so rarely has pups available however he has contacts to other good breeders who could help you out with your search. Brook is a joy to own, attentive, lively and friendly, saying that she is also alot of hard work. While researching the breed I was told they will test you at every turn and boy is that true, nothing malicous, they just make you work for every sucess. You also have to deal with the serotype people have of the breed, they are banned from most of the fun doggy places I would also advise making sure to have money aside for obedience training, it is a must with the breed. Also you should have your dog insured because as they are so big and prone to certain health conditions they could cost your a fortune in vet bills. But I wouldn't be without Brook she's my little shadow around the house and makes me laugh everyday:) I have her on James Wellbeloved dog dry dog food at the moment which really seems to agree with her, but I would recommend whatever food you do decide on make sure it is good quality, those first two year of growth will determine the rest of your dogs life. Can't think of anything else, I am by no means an expert, but I will try to answer any of your questions from my experience or the advice I was given by my breeder. Best of luck!

Brook 12 weeks old.JPG

Thanks for the advice on the breeder Irushe. I wonder if anyone else has any experience with them too. I see on their site they have some pups available. I wonder if it's up to date

You mentioned something about restricted breeds being banned from certain parks? I thought they were only required to be leashed and muzzled?

Best of luck with Brook anyway

lrushe

votejohn wrote: »

oh my god ridiculously cute!!! im so jealous, I want one now!!!!

And Brook is such a cute name too, wish i should have thought of it! Named my dog bella so and shes 16 weeks now so I guess its too late to change her name!!

Thanks so much, she's my baby, in every sense of the word, one minute she makes me want to tear my hair out the next I'm brimming with pride ha ha!!!

BTW, Bella's a cute name too!!!

lrushe

kkelly77 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice on the breeder Irushe. I wonder if anyone else has any experience with them too. I see on their site they have some pups available. I wonder if it's up to date

You mentioned something about restricted breeds being banned from certain parks? I thought they were only required to be leashed and muzzled?

Best of luck with Brook anyway

When I picked Brook up the breeder was holding on to one of her brothers and one of her sisters as they weren't gaining weight as well as the rest so he wanted to build them up before selling them, whether they are still available or not I'm not sure?
The off leash section in Marley Park and most off leash parks don't allow 'restricted' breeds or their crosses in, Brook gets away with it at the moment as she is young but eventually she won't be allowed in:(

kkelly77

lrushe wrote: »

When I picked Brook up the breeder was holding on to one of her brothers and one of her sisters as they weren't gaining weight as well as the rest so he wanted to build them up before selling them, whether they are still available or not I'm not sure?
The off leash section in Marley Park and most off leash parks don't allow 'restricted' breeds or their crosses in, Brook gets away with it at the moment as she is young but eventually she won't be allowed in:(

Was Brook hip scored etc when you got her from Kilrott?

kildara

We've got a Rottweiler bitch. She's 11 months old now. She weighs about 25 kg now, we expect her to be about 35kgs when fully grown.
I will start with (the few, slightly) negative points:
She took alot longer to house train than our older dog; she was still (occasionally) going in the house at 4-5 months old. Dont think she has done since then. (in fairness, the boy is a mega-clean breed and came house trained at 11 weeks. Maybe the 4-5month timeframe is normal for a rottie bitch, i have only had the one rottie so dont know for sure)
She chews everything and anything. She destroys all her toys within a very short period.(again, maybe we were spoiled by choice of first dog - he seems to have a very soft mouth)
With regard to the negative image implied by looserock; I have had a couple of people react like this. I wouldnt worry too much about them though as they are, generally, ignorant people. One woman picked up her springer and said her dog didnt like Dobermans cos he was attacked by one when he was a pup; I said "This is a rottweiler" and she replied "Oh, he doesn't like them either":rolleyes:
As I say, some people are ignorant.
Overall though, people who are at first hesitant, are usually swayed by her charms!

I agree with all the above positive points so I won't go over them all again.

Also, if you plan on showing your dog, make sure the dog you choose is not docked. I say this because if you are successful and end up with a champion (as andreac has above) you wont be able to bring him/her to crufts (or any other English or Welsh KC accredited shows) as any dog docked after march or april 2007 can't be shown if they are docked.

On the hip-scoring: its the parents that are hip scored, not the puppies - go for parents with as low a score as possible. It doesn't guarantee your pup wont develop issues, but its a good indication.


On a side note: andreac - congrats! He's a beaut.

Anoeta

andreac wrote: »

You must buy from a reputable breeder and make sure the parent/s have good temperaments too.

Or instead you could take in a rescue Rottie. There are always Rotties on the dogsindistress.org site and if you are worried about temperament you could always adopt one that has already been in a foster home prior to adoption.

Shammy

andreac wrote: »

Hi, yes 50kg would be the average for a good male, females are a bit lighter and smaller and usually a lot easier and quieter to handle, I would recommend if you are getting a male, unless you are going to show it that you get him neutered as my fella is quite a handful and if i wasnt showing him he would be neutered.

Food wise that would be about the norm, give or take a bit. When you say outlay what do you mean? I feed a good complete dry food, and he gets salmon oil too to help his coat. He doesnt get too many treats as they can be prone to weight problems, ive been lucky that my fella gets plenty of exercise so his weight has never been a problem for me.

IKC registration is not a indication if a breeder is good or not, once the parents are registered the pups can be registered too. I would stay clear of done deal if you want my opinion as it can full of puppy farmers and back yard breeders.

I will pm you the phone number of the secretary and give her a call.

Do you by any chance know Mike Prior ? He had the rottie of the year this year ?

Lovely looking dog you have by the way

Paul91

did you look at this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rottweilers

females up to 42kg

According to the FCI Standard, the Rottweiler is good-natured, placid in basic disposition and fond of children, it is very devoted, obedient, biddable and eager to work. Their appearance is natural and rustic, their behaviour self-assured, steady and fearless. They react to their surroundings with great alertness. According to the FCI Standard, the Rottweiler is good-natured, placid in basic disposition and fond of children, it is very devoted, obedient, biddable and eager to work. Their appearance is natural and rustic, their behaviour self-assured, steady and fearless. They react to their surroundings with great alertness.

lrushe

kkelly77 wrote: »

Was Brook hip scored etc when you got her from Kilrott?

Brook isn't hip scored, that can't be done until she's over a year old but both her parents are, both have good hip scores, mother is near perfect.

kkelly77

lrushe wrote: »

Brook isn't hip scored, that can't be done until she's over a year old but both her parents are, both have good hip scores, mother is near perfect.

Hi Lrushe. I took a trip to Kilrott Kennels to meet Keith today. He's an absolute gent I must have been there for over an hour and a half. He certainly is passionate about his Rotties and his work. I think he could have talked for longer but I had to head home at some stage

Keith did put me in touch with a breeder in Cavan and I'm going there on Saturday to see a male pup, 7 weeks old.

K

lrushe

kkelly77 wrote: »

Hi Lrushe. I took a trip to Kilrott Kennels to meet Keith today. He's an absolute gent I must have been there for over an hour and a half. He certainly is passionate about his Rotties and his work. I think he could have talked for longer but I had to head home at some stage

Keith did put me in touch with a breeder in Cavan and I'm going there on Saturday to see a male pup, 7 weeks old.

K

That's Alan in Cavan, if I'm correct? He owns Brooks father, an absolutely stunning dog!!! You'll be in good hands with Alan, he taught Keith most of what he knows and is as passionate. I'm not sure of the breeding of the pup you are going to see but its quiet possible related to Brook! Best of Luck and don't forget the pics if you do decide on that pup!!!

kkelly77

lrushe wrote: »

That's Alan in Cavan, if I'm correct? He owns Brooks father, an absolutely stunning dog!!! You'll be in good hands with Alan, he taught Keith most of what he knows and is as passionate. I'm not sure of the breeding of the pup you are going to see but its quiet possible related to Brook! Best of Luck and don't forget the pics if you do decide on that pup!!!

Yeah it's Alan's kennels and the father of the pup is Rexx, a real champion I'm told. Looking forward to seeing my possible future dog

Whispered

Keith looks after my dog in his kennels. He loves it there.

I don't own a rottie, but as with any dog, if you are buying a pure breed dog, please please please look into blood lines and do a LOT of research. Any claim to being champion etc should be looked into and proven.

lrushe

kkelly77 wrote: »

Yeah it's Alan's kennels and the father of the pup is Rexx, a real champion I'm told. Looking forward to seeing my possible future dog

That's Brooks dad alright he's is a breath taking animals, his show name isn't 'Rottsdale Stop and Stare' for nothing!!!, Both Rexx's littermate sister and brother have qualified for Crufts! We could have half sister and brother!!!

andreac

Shammy wrote: »

Do you by any chance know Mike Prior ? He had the rottie of the year this year ?

Lovely looking dog you have by the way

Hi Shammy, yes i know Mike very well, lovely man and we are at all the shows together. We are competing against each other in the champions class at the mo but we get on great. He has some fab dogs and a very genuine breeder.

Are you at the shows yourself Shammy?

kkelly77

I should be getting my pup on Tuesday, fingers crossed. He is only 7 weeks so is still due two more sets of shots.

My friends have 2 dogs and want to see him on Tuesday. Is it OK to bring the new pup to their house if we keep my pup and their dogs seperate? As the puppy still needs more vaccinations I'm concerned this may not be the right thing to do.

K

lrushe

So long as the other dogs have had all their vacinations up to date and there will be no direct contact between them then it should be ok. I don't know if you were aware but Rottweillers also get an additional injection at 6 months as they are highly prone to Parvo, your vet will probably suggest this to you anyway. Don't forget the pic!!!