THINK BEFORE YOU BUY A DOG

 

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                                      Living with Rottweilers

Before buying a rottweiler, please think carefully about your future plans. Do they include children, moving around, working longer hours or anything else that might make it difficult for you to keep a dog. We are often phoned by people who have not given enough thought to the long term commitment that is needed to owning any dog.

They are often surprised that we are unable to take their dog just because they have grown tired of walking it after a full day at work, or their partner is having a baby. We are here to help dogs that are really in need of rescue, but are overwhelmed by the vast numbers of dogs that owners do not want anymore. In many cases these dogs are very young - some only five or six months old. Surely in many cases it would have been easy to predict that the dog was not going to be a long term member of the family, and should never have been bought. THIS IS NOT A DOG PROBLEM - IT IS A PEOPLE PROBLEM

 

      TRAINING CAN BE FUN!

 

Each week, Freda spends two mornings working with some of the dogs we have in rescue. Freda gets to know the dog by playing games with it, grooming it and building a relationship with it. These dogs are not 8 week old puppies, they are aadult dogs who are often stressed and confused by the situation they find themselves in. With kindness, patience and fun, they soon learn that an hour in the pen with Freda is something to look forward to! The photos below are of Freda and Tia (In our Care March 2010)

These photos show Tia learning to weave in between Freda's legs.

Tia has also learned to sit and wait for the next command.

Look at the concentration on Tia's face! 

Even heelwork can be fun with Freda!

Down.                                                    Tia's trick - roll over!

 

 

OWNING A RESCUE ROTTWEILER.
Jeff woke up at 6.30am and came downstairs to let Jake (our rescue rott) out for his morning wee. Jake comes back in quickly, as he does’nt like staying out in the garden until he has had his breakfast.
Jeff feeds Jake and goes back upstairs to wash and dress and get ready for work.7am Jeff has his morning cup of tea. I'm (Gini) just getting up, waking kids up and telling them to get ready for school.
We have 3 children. Our daughter who is 16yrs, our son who is 13yrs and our youngest son who is 5yrs. 7.30am and Jeff leaves to go to work. I come downstairs. Jake is waiting at the bottom of the stairs to greet Kian and myself.(Kian and Jake are the best of friends).
I make Kian some breakfast and Jake is hanging around to see if any food drops on the floor, but it didn’t today (bad luck Jake).When I give Kian his breakfast Jake sits close to him while he eats but Jake does not beg as he knows he will be told to leave the dining room, and he gets very upset if he has to be away from us if we are in the house.
The other two finally come downstairs at about 8am and 

Jake goes to greet them both. They have their breakfast and we leave for the school run. Jake rushes to his bed when we leave.
I drop the kids at school, the last one at 8.45am, and get myself of to work,(in a children’s nursery).
12.30pm I leave work and go home to Jake who is always waiting with a waggy tail at the door. I let him out  into the garden, but he never wants to go out - he would rather stay with me. I make some lunch and sometimes give Jake a treat. He always sits in the dining room while I have my lunch. He is very well behaved when we are eating..In my spare time I like to do a little training with Jake when Kian is not around as he says that Jake is his dog and gets in the way,(not that Jake minds).
We sit together and watch a bit of T.V., and then at 2.45pm I go to collect Kian from school, and when we get back we change our clothes and get ready for our dog walk. I’m also a dogwalker so I pick up 4 other dogs to take out with Jake. Jake has the most amazing temperament and loves to be with the other dogs. He gets on great with all shapes and sizes, and is very gentle with all of them, although some of the other dogs like to boss Jake around he does not bat an eyelid. We walk for an hour every day and that is fine with Jake, although today he refused to get back in the car and it was starting to get dark so in the end I had to pick him up. (he is not light).
Took the other dogs home, and then went home ourselves. I take Jake to dog training classes on a Tuesday and that starts at 6.20, so I had to clean him up from our walk, which he loves because it means he gets lots of attention. I very much like to walk with dogs. My fishing rods and niblicks for a golf are forgotten in garage, but I am not sorry about this.
Jeff is walking through the door at 5.45pm and Jake and I are leaving for dog school. Jake loves to greet everyone and every dog at the training school as we enter, and they all remember Jake as he is such a friendly boy.
Our class went well, we will have to practice the down command as Jake keeps getting up, (bless him).We got back home at 8pm and Kian rushes to say hello to Jake first and me second!  
I have my dinner and Jake always eats after us. Kian has played with Jake and given him lots of hugs and kisses. Jake is so good with the children and just lays there while Kian makes a big fuss of him, after a while we tell Kian to leave Jake alone as he needs some rest.
The kids go to bed around 9pm and Jake usually stays in his bed sleeping unless Jeff or I get up. Then he will follow us to see what we are doing, and once he is satisfied that we are not going out he will go back to his bed until we move again.
Jake is our first rescue dog, so was a big step for us -  especially having a rottweiler. We have always had rotties or rott crosses but never a rescue,
We think Jake is great, and the bonus is we didn't have to toilet train him, or have chewed up items that we would have more then likely have had if we had got a puppy.
It is as if he has always been here and I really cannot imagine life without Jake in it. Rottweiler Rescue Trust take great care in who they rehome the dogs to and I think that is so important.
It is not rottweilers who are bad  - it is some people who own them. That is why they all need a special homes with people that will give them all the love and attention they so need and deserve.
 
Gini and family. 

WE ALL HAD TO START SOMEWHERE!

Peter and I were discussing how we became involved with rottweilers, and our first experiences of them. We ended up laughing, but there were some relevant points that came out of it.

Peter bought his first rottie when he was 28 (34 years ago). He paid £600 - yes, £600 for it. Mac, as the dog was known, was a big puppy, and like all dogs, needed to go to training. . One day Peter's wife gave Mac a bone to chew on and then discovered that Mac would not let her past him or the bone! She telephoned a local rottweiler owner,who helped her to get the bone away, and gave her some advice on rotts. A few days later Peter came home from work, dropped a piece of toast on the floor and also discovered what Mac's teeth looked like!

Obviously, they were both concerned and only then did the training start in earnest - going to classes every week and practising at home. Mac lived to a ripe old age and never put another paw wrong - but Peter did wonder whether he would have been better buying something cheaper and not as well bred!

Peter and his wife went on to foster dogs for Rottie Welfare - sometimes taking on dogs that were considered difficult or hard to rehome. Peter has always loved a challenge, and learnt as he went along - winning over some of the more difficult dogs with time and patience and the odd "Hail Mary".

I was talked into buying a rottweiler by my husband. I was not at all sure that I wanted one of these slightly intimidating dogs. Rosie came into our lives at 10 weeks old. This was six years later than Peter's first rott and although Rosie too was very well bred, the prices had dropped and she was £350. She very quickly won me over with her teddy bear looks and friendly disposition. We had had her about a week. My husband had gone upstairs for a nap, and I carried cute little Rosie upstairs to wake him up. I put her on the bed and she settled down beside him, licking his face. I then got onto the bed and went to move her. The cheeky little madam nipped my nose and growled at me! I have to confess at this point that I cried!

I did realise that with 4 kids and an Old English Sheepdog in the house it was imperative that I got to grips with her - and quickly. I telephoned a member of the Rottweiler Club for advice - who as it turned out was one of the most experienced people in the breed. Her knowledge and reassurance saved both me and my dog from disaster. She recommended a good training class, which I attended with Rosie every week. This meant that I was getting a good network of dog sensible people who I could call on for advice. I grew in confidence, and went on to study animal behaviour - which hopefully helps new people in the breed when we are called on to give advice.

I think the point is - We all had to start somewhere. Even with puppies there are bound to be hiccups, mini dramas and setbacks. You simply have to get off your bum and start working with the dog to solve the problem. And ninety percent of the time it is by training - preferably within a class, with a good, experienced and kind dog trainer - not in your back garden on your own. The worst behaved dogs are always the ones that have been trained by an inexperienced owner, without help from a training class. You send your kids to school - take your dogs to school too!

The other thing that came out of this discussion was that the price of rotts has dropped considerably throughout the years. Of course, the big breeders charge considerable sums for their dogs - but rotts have become easily available anywhere - and nowadays are not out of anyone's price range - often available at under a hundred pounds, to anyone with the money to buy one. 

LIVING WITH AN OLDER RESCUE ROTT

Sophie came to live with us in November 2007 at the grand old age of 11 years.

We had often thought about having another rottweiler (myself more than Michael if I'm totally honest!), but hadn't really looked into it. We already had a beautiful but tad boisterous neutered 18 month old male rottie called Burly, (whom I felt in my wisdom, would benefit from a playmate) and then we got the internet!......I just happened to type in Rottweiler Rescue and up came Peter and Shelley's website. Joy! As I scrolled through there was Sophie with an appeal next to a photo of her asking someone to give her a home at her age. For me that was a done deal but I did have a husband and two young children's views to think about! I need not have worried though, the boys are remarkable children who are used to animals coming and going due to my work and if they can help something they will. Michael, (apparently up for perfect husband award!?) had the same attitude, but needed a little more convincing. His questions, more than reservations, were fair. Themain ones being how long we would realistically have her, health, child-friendly etc, but not once did he mention cost bless him!

So I made the call and after a lengthy chat with both Peter and Shelley it was decided that Shelley would bring her to us in Suffolk and do the home check at the same time. I was a bag of nerves on the day! I was concerned that Burly being so mad and desperate for a buddy would hurt her in play, but apart from behaving like a spoilt only child he soon learnt not to push her too far; Sophie is one feisty old girl! To this day she keeps Burley in check which is not an easy thing to do! She has played a huge part in the continuing development of his social graces.

Health wise she has come on in leaps and bounds, literally. Every day her gentle walks got a little further, what began as a 5 minute trek is now an hour of bliss, it was as if she knew the park was just round the corner! She now has a playmate in the shape of Lindsey a Jack Russell (her favourite) who she devotedly follows round the park while Burley continues his exuberant search for an inexhaustable female to love! We take each day as it comes and try to make it as special as we can for her. If its raining she is just as happy with the sofa.

Although being no pushover, she impresses everyone she meets with her gentle manners and soulful eyes(which she uses to full advantage if there are treats around). Seeing Sophie sit gently beside (or on if she can) my 91 year old Nan's lap is wonderful, and despite Nan not being a fan of the breedhas won her around completely! She is my 6th dog and my 3rd rottie but I have never had a dog with such a huge indomitable spirit. Watching the transformation in her has been fantastic, but she does like to play the old dearie when it suits her. If its time for a wee and its raining she couldn't possibly get up but if you leave food on the worktop it mysteriously vanishes!?! It must be the cats!

The children have learnt many things in having an older dog; they respect her and play with her in a totally different way to Burley. Also that life is not always about your own needs but helping something that needs it no matter how long you have it or how gorgeous it is. No, Sophie is not a stunner, and yes sometimes she smells but hey, she's old and we love her for it, warts and all! The very long point I'm trying to make is that without people like Peter and Shelley doing their wonderful job and the rest of us stepping up when we can, and giving older dogs like Sophie a chance, many wouldn't be here now. She is a joy to have and very much a part of our family regardless of how long we have her. Thank you to all those who have shown interest in her wellbeing in the last five months (I think fame has gone to her head, though) and have included some more recent photos of her enjoying life! Long may it continue. Dear old Sophie was put to sleep at the beginning of September - please see News and Views page.

ROTTWEILERS AND CHILDREN

We do not rehome rottweilers to people who have children under 5 years old. This is not because rottweilers are not good with children, but because new Mums with young children do not have enough time to do everything! Young dogs are like young children, they need lots of time, attention and training to make them happy members of society.

Many of the dogs we get into rescue will have lived happily with children - even tiny ones. The danger is that when Mum is busy and things get out of hand the dog will always be blamed. This is why we feel that once a child has started school full time, he/she is old enough to understand not to annoy the dog, and Mum has a bit more time to ensure that the relationship between child and dog is happy and safe.

It is very nice to see rotts with children - we get sent a lot of photos with kids and dogs playing happily together and having a cuddle. We do not put them on the website as we feel that many people do not realise the hard work that goes into getting the relationship right between children and dogs, and think that any dog can be fussed by small children. If you feel that your experience is different from ours, please let us know.

TRAINING CLASSES

A MUST FOR ALL RESPONSIBLE ROTTWEILER OWNERS

DRAWING OF JADE BY SHARON HARVEY
Bella is a rescue dog owned by Judith and Edward. Their little girl is typical of so many rottweilers - affectionate and good natured to all she meets. She likes nothing better than a nap on the sofa!

RESPONSIBILITY OF OWNING A ROTTWEILER

Rottweilers are a guarding breed and all owners need to be aware that their dog will quite naturally protect their family and home.

It is imperative that all Rottweilers undergo training for basic social skills.

Basic obedience should be started from puppy hood but it is never too late to teach a dog good social skills. Teaching a puppy what is acceptable and what is not is far easier than waiting until you have a large, wilful adolescent. Patience and understanding is required when teaching adult dogs.

As a responsible owner you should consider the feelings of members of the public. Even if you have the friendliest of dogs, it should ALWAYS be kept under complete control, and it should be on a lead when in a public place.

Your dog should not be allowed to worry livestock or be aggressive to other dogs.

Above all, it should not be aggressive to people.

HISTORY/LIVING WITH A ROTTWEILER

The Rottweiler is a very old breed. Originating in the town of Rottweil, in Germany, the Rottweiler was first used as a butchers dog. The breed was noted for its versatility - a Rottweiler could pull the butchers cart, defend the money bag or herd cattle. All of these jobs it did remarkably well and as a consequence the breed flourished and grew in popularity.

Nowadays the Rottweiler is most often associated with guarding and protection. The Rottweiler will protect the family without any attempts to train it to protect, or to teach it to be aggressive. Aggression should never be encouraged in this breed.

Rottweilers tend to be strong willed, very intelligent, highly trainable dogs. If they are left to their own devices they will often try to take over the family and this is where the problems can start. A Rottweiler needs to be trained, firmly but kindly, and should know the house rules from day one.

Rottweilers are not generally good with other dogs of the same sex. Most will tolerate dogs of the opposite sex. We never rehome two male Rottweilers together.

Rottweilers are very loyal to their owners, and will give years of love. They are a wonderful breed, but not for the weak willed person. Rottweilers are ‘people dogs’ and should live as part of the family.

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Jim O'Halloren, who rescued a dog from us some years ago, has sent us in this lovely photo of the gorgeous old Murphy living happily with a fostered kitten. It just shows how lovely these dogs can be if handled and trained properly. Jim and his wife work very hard for rescue animals and are doing a great job.