Living with the Rottweiler

This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, June 2013 issue.

Living with the Rottweiler

After 30-plus years of sharing my home and heart with this magnificent breed, it seemed I could barely remember a time of NOT “Living with the Rottweiler”! As I pondered over how to approach this article, it came to me that the only way I can present this is from experience—from the heart—for the Rottweiler has most certainly become the heart of me. What stands out about this magnificent breed is their versatility, combined with their intelligence. They will do just about anything you ask them to do. From herding, carting, obedience, agility, tracking, conformation, search and rescue or service/assistance dogs—including therapy work, from reading programs with children to visiting nursing homes and hospitals. Ask them! They will do it! Be it at home, work or at show; in the water, snow or air—ask them! They will do it! No matter what their role in your life, you will most likely find they give 100%.

The Rottweiler is a loyal, loving dog—devoted, dependable and smart. I can’t say that enough.. smart! When working with various people who are having “problems” with their dog, my first statement is, “You have to be smarter than the dog!” Oh, how true that is! A perfect example takes me back several years ago to one of our Specialty shows. I remember watching the Breed, and one of the top bitches caught my eye… not so much for her beauty at the time, but her antics! She was having a great time; however, the handler was not! The handler was insistent on doing things the same way repeatedly; the bitch was not. It was clear to me how bored she was. She was trying to entertain herself, and I might add, being quite cute about it—she had a twinkle in her eye and that darling smile on her face! She locked eyes with me several times and, no doubt in my mind, knew she was entertaining me.

They are so smart! That ring time could have been turned into a positive situation, instead of a battle. She was doing everything she needed to do, but she was just doing it her own way. Rottweilers need something to do, because they are not good when left to their own devices. Even if it is something as simple as teaching them tricks, they love it! You can just see them smile. They have a wonderful willingness to please and a great sense of humor. How they love to make you laugh!

One of my all-time favorite Rottweilers loved to entertain people; he loved to make people laugh with his tricks and with his songs—how he loved to sing… on command yet! We would call people on their birthdays so that he could sing. He was dead serious about his singing, he was totally offended when one of the other dogs tried to chime in. He would stop immediately and look at them as if to say, ‘Excuse me, I’m singing here!’ He had an entire repertoire of tricks from “Bang! You’re dead” to “prairie dogs” and “dancing bears” to actually saying, “I love you.” Most of the time you could literally hear him saying, “I love you.” What a dog he was! He knew exactly what he was doing, and loved the response he got from his audiences, be it in the ring or in the living room. He was quite the entertainer. I tell potential Rottweiler owners that you will get out of them exactly what you put into them.

They need a loving, structured environment. They need to know what is expected of them and what is allowed and what isn’t. They are loyal family members with a need to be part of a family, even if the family is just you and your dog. If you bring a Rottweiler into your home and raise them with your children or other animals, they excel. Just to be at your side and part of your family seems to bring out an inherent instinct. It’s not anything that needs to be “taught”; it is the sense of loyalty and belonging. I have always said of my dogs that it’s like they become my ‘self-appointed guardians’. I remember being at a desolate little show in Iowa, years ago, with my 13-month-old bitch. We had arrived late at night, and our hotel sat on the edge of town, next to a field.

After getting checked in and settled, I took her out for her last walk. Naturally, the best “potty area” was this sprawling, vacant field. Walking along in the pitch black, waiting for her to potty, I was going over the next day’s schedule in my mind, not paying attention to my surroundings. All of the sudden, something caught the corner of my eye. I looked up and a man had come out of nowhere, in the middle of this field, heading straight towards me! The hair on the back of my neck stood up, as the fear shot through me. This little 13-month-old puppy came out of the dark, guns-a-blazin’. She hit the end of that flexi lead and her raw strength almost dragged me to my knees! She told that man in no uncertain terms, ‘Do not come one step further.’ And he didn’t, he turned tail and ran! I don’t think I have ever been that frightened or that grateful to have that brave little Rottweiler at my side.

They make their presence known and felt. It’s a warm, secure feeling to have the love of such a majestic dog. I’ve never doubted that any one of my Rottweilers would lay their life down for me—just as I would for them. These dogs are highly intelligent—they have almost a sixth sense; an intuition about things. I see this so often in dogs that need to be re-homed for any number of reasons (not “turning out” for show, people relocating, kids allergic, death in family, money problems, disasters; sadly, the list goes on and on). But no matter the reason, the bottom line is, there is a dog needing to be placed. These dogs seem to “know” a change is coming. Of course, placements vary depending on the circumstances of why the dog is needing re-homed. One of the best feelings in the world, is having a person or a family waiting for that “just right” dog, when that dog becomes available.

I love listening to the stories of how the dog goes into a home and “just fits”. It’s like they know this is their chance at a new home, a new family, a new life—a forever home. They seem to thank you from the moment they get there and every day thereafter. Most recently, I just re-homed a gentle 3-year-old male in a home with three children, who ranged in age from 3 to 8. The 3-year-old girl was quite unsure of big dogs, the other two kids couldn’t wait until he arrived! I was somewhat apprehensive about the little girl, and this big 135-lb. dog. I kept a watchful eye that first visit, as did the family. Not for fear of aggression, but for fear he would play too roughly or knock her over or scare her.

The other two kids would play ball with him, run around with him—typical dog and kids playing. Yet, when he was around the little girl he was very reserved, very gentle, because he just knew. He remained calm around her, building her confidence. Now she feeds him, kisses him, and is no longer unsure. Today it is one big happy family! The little girl can lay on him, hug him; he knows this is his forever family! They just never cease to amaze me. The family jogs with him, takes him on road trips with all the kids, he joins in on all the family get-togethers, with people and dogs. What a great, loving family for this boy. His presence in this family is obvious in every picture they send me.

This totally warms my heart—it’s one of my best feelings in the world! In keeping with their presence, I can’t help but mention the overwhelming feeling due to the lack of their presence when they are gone. I have said to friends that the silence is deafening. What a magnificent animal; what a magnificent breed. Their bounty of gifts is unending. All that being said, I still tell people the Rottweiler is not a breed for everyone.

They require a person willing to commit—not just for the moment, but for the lifetime of that dog. It is a commitment in many different areas… to the supervision, care, and training of that dog, as well as assuming that certain sense of responsibility that goes along with sharing your life with a Rottweiler. Not even so much because of the breed, but because of what people have done to this magnificent breed. (There are insurance issues to deal with, not to mention breed-specific legislation that doesn’t even allow you to have a Rottweiler in some cities/counties. It’s heartbreaking what people have done.) Remember, you have to be smarter than the dog, and not everyone is!