WHAT
DO YOU FEED YOUR DOGS?WHAT
DO YOU FEED YOUR DOGS?
HOW BIG DO
THEY GROW?
WHICH
IS BETTER MALE OR FEMALE?
ARE THEY
GOOD WITH KIDS?
ARE THEY
GOOD GUARD DOGS?HOW
MUCH EXERCISE DO THEY NEED?DO
YOU LET THEM IN THE HOUSE?HOW DO
YOU PICK A PUPPY?ARE THEY
EASY TO TRAIN?RECOMMENDED
READING|
When you read on please remember these are MY answers to questions asked of ME. We all have a preference for diet etc and I am not saying my way is the best, but this is how I raise my dogs. |
WHAT DO I FEED MY
DOGS?
I like to give my dogs as natural
a diet as possible. This includes fresh meat, mostly beef, sometimes
chicken. The meat is raw and is only one quarter of the total
meal. The rest of the meal is made up of rice-natural or pasta,
and vegetables. The vegetables can be raw or cooked frozen. I
add Ascorbic Acid to their meal-(non acidic-Vit C), especially
when puppies and in their growth periods; a spoonful of oil; and
powdered kelp can help their colour darken, but otherwise is very
good for them. I only feed them one main meal per day and this
at night. They have quiet time before and after their meal so
as not to encourage bloat. Treats during the day may be carrot
or apple, and low fat yoghurt is a favourite.
I train them all to 'wait' for the correct command before they 'chow-down' and as you can see Kodi says Grace.
HOW BIG DO THEY GROW?In Australia currently we follow the FCI Standard. This standard says the shoulder height of a full grown male should be between 61-68cm, and females between56-63cm. Weight approximately 50kg for males and 42kg for bitches. There are sizes in between. I personally don't like my males any more than 50 kg in weight and around 40kg for the girls is plenty. An overweight dog can have problems with hips and if you want to work them in agility for example, being overweight is not helping! For dog or handler!
WHICH IS BETTER MALE OR FEMALE?I think this is personal preference. Size is a consideration, with males growing larger. I have not found either one more or less loving than the other. If breeding is an option and you have checked out the breeders and the hips, eyes and mouth certification of both parents satisfactorily, then maybe a bitch is the go. But breeding is not something to consider lightly and never be fooled that you will make money out of it.
A bitch will come into season twice a year and for approximately a month they need to be kept away from interested males, if they are not spayed. On the other hand males have a keen interest in females in season and this may be a problem at working trials and conformation shows.
ARE THEY GOOD WITH KIDS?If you have any doubt in your mind about whether a dog is
going to be able to cohabit with your child, don't purchase that
dog. I have found that for many people that doubt does not go
away and we have had to find homes for many Rotties simply because
the owner is frightened that one
day that dog will attack their child even though
in the past three years it has lived very happily as part of that
same family and shown no sign of aggression.
Let your pup and child grow up together, but teach them both the rights and wrongs. Remember that the pup will grow faster in size than the child, and that a small child has no way of knowing it is causing pain to the dog when he pokes its eyes, nose or pulls its ears. Remember how you feel when a small child pulls your nose in fun, dogs have feelings too. The pup must be taught not to jump up on the child (or adult) and those puppy teeth can be very sharp and painful.
If you cannot put the time into supervising their play together then wait until the child is older. There is a lot of joy in watching them play together, but never, whatever the breed, leave a dog alone with a child.
ARE THEY GOOD GUARD DOGS?Rottweilers make very good guard dogs. Mine certainly let me know when someone is at the door. This is not something that needs to be taught to a Rottie, they are naturals. Don't think that you must not let them socialize for fear they will not be good at guarding, this has led to many fearful and aggressive dogs.
HOW MUCH EXERCISE DO THEY NEED?Rotties need daily exercise. This is not only for their
physical health, but they 
need
to see the other side of that gate. Most Rotties love to swim
and mine are no exception, even though a little encouragement
may be needed first time round.
This also helps with their important socialization with both people and other dogs.
DO YOU LET THEM IN THE HOUSE?Yes, my dogs are very much part of the family. They have their own beds and come and go as they please for the most part of the day, although vacuuming needs to done with them outside, its safer for the vacuum cleaner. Most visitors are quite happy to just pat them before the Rottn'kids return to what they were doing.
HOW DO YOU PICK A PUPPY?This may depend on whether you are going to show your puppy
or not. An 
experienced breeder
will be able to show you a puppy with show potential, but don't
forget a puppy grows up and becomes a full grown dog, and whether
for showing or not, it should be for life and should be loved
and cared for just the same. The puppy you pick should be happy
and outgoing, not shy and cowering in the corner. When you visit
the breeder make sure the kennels are clean and both Mum and the
pups are clean and healthy looking. Check for up to date vaccinations
and worming on puppies and mum. Ask to see the certification from
a vet that will tell you the parents Hip scores and view the eye
and mouth certificates as well. Ideally the scores of both parents
are low and the grade is 2 or under; and the mouth are scissor
bites with no evidence of Entropian or Ectropian in the eyes.
It is sometimes a good idea to visit shows to speak to breeders
and handlers before you decide on your puppy and breeder. Ask
your local Rottweiler Club for advice.
ARE THEY EASY TO TRAIN?Rottweilers are very intelligent. They catch on very quickly especially with the basic sits and stands etc. I have found they are also 'nosey' in that they want to know what the class next door is doing and may lose track of where they are and what they are doing. Rottweilers are working dogs and as such take pleasure in obedience training, but don't leave it there, they also love tracking and agility and pulling carts. The list is only as long as you are prepared to go.
RECOMMENDED READING'The Rottweiler Today' Judy and Larry Elsden
'The Art of Raising a Puppy' The Monks of New Skete
'The Dog's Mind' Bruce Fogle
'Think Dog' John Fisher
'The Complete Rottweiler' Muriel Freeman
These are just a few of some good reading, I know that at the moment these are still in print. There are more titles in the 't.f.h' Publications range.
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