Training a rottweiler puppy.?
Question by Intollerant: Training a rottweiler puppy.?
My brother recently got a baby rottweiler, he is 8 weeks old tomorrow, and we’ve had him since friday. However he’s started growling at me when i play with him. He listens to my brother all the time, but me and other people he will growl at and be stubborn. He only started being like this since yesterday, what should i do to stop him?
His teeth don’t hurt me so when he gorwls and tries to bite i put my finger on his bottom jaw, holding his mouth open and shout ‘DIESEL, NO!” and priase him if he stops, but sometimes he doesn’t. Every now and then if its viscous i tap the tip of his nose and tell him off too. I don’t want to hurt him but i want him to learn now before he grows. What should I do?
Best answer:
Answer by Rochelle T
I have a 105 lb rottie, Java.
when is the right time to stop the growling and biting? NOW.
suggest to your brother to start the obedience training now.
Yelling, and hitting, not recommended at anytime.
start the shots, worming and sign up for obedience now.
when your brother’s dog starts to growl, bite and it’s not so cute, it’s too late.
I also suggest visiting Cesar Milan’s website for him, as he deals with Rottweilers, Pits, and other “hard to handle” dogs.
dvds and books are also recommended for your brother by Cesar Milan to help him with Diesel.
rotties are really good dogs, and I recommend them, in the right hands.
they need strict discipline, and an experienced hand.
please tell him I do strongly advocate obedience class NOW.
What do you think? Answer below!
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Try gently grasping the top side of his muzzle from “above” (fingers pointed down) when you correct him.
Having part of your anatomy physically “over” him is a show of dominance and may get your point across more clearly. Be calm, assured and confident. Your overall energy and behavior is half the battle….that’s a language dogs know.
PS. Love the name, Diesel! Our neighbor had a Great Dane by the same name.
He’s had a few days to settle in and is now showing his true puppy colours.
It’s perfectly normal. At 8 weeks old, he trying out behaviours and being a regular obnoxious puppy. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you it’s dominant or aggressive behaviour. A normal, healthy puppy will not try dominant behaviour until its about 13-16 weeks old.
Now, what you don’t want to do is to tap his nose or hurt him when he’s growling and biting. You are setting an example for him and if you display “aggression” then he’ll think that’s the correct way of communicating. The problem with physically correcting him at this age is also that many pups will think it’s part of the “game” and get wilder and more excited, which then could mean that you might think you need to be harder on it and then you have a bad circle of behaviours going on. In the wild, adult dogs will very rarely physically correct a puppy below the age of 13 weeks – this is why you often see young puppies getting away with the most atrocious behaviour toward adult dogs.
Instead, when he bites or growls, let out a loud yelp and immediately break off all contact with him for about 30 seconds or until he’s nice (leave the room if you have to). Most puppies soon learn that being too rough equals no attention/no play/ no affection and they’ll start to play nicely. Remember to always immediately praise good behaviour.
You being in the room playing with him is positive to him. When he bites, leave the room and close the door to another room, separating yourself from the puppy. Removing yourself is negative reinforcement or taking away something good. After 10 seconds go back into the room. When you re enter the room start playing again using a toy so that he doesn’t try to bite you. Every time he bites, leave the room for 10 seconds. It is a pain for the first bit, but dogs quickly find out that if they want you to play with them (which is positive) they can’t bite you. Puppies usually pick up on this pretty quickly.
By holding his mouth down, you are only going to aggravate him more and make him want to fight back harder. It is instinct in a dog that if you pull they pull back. This is true when walking them as well as when playing or when people try the physical punishment approach to dog training (which from my experience has never worked). Any physical force either creates tension or increases a dogs arousal making them want to fight back and once the rottie pup gets bigger there is a chance that you won’t have the strength to hold him down, so it is much easier to train him using smarts rather than muscles.
Good luck!