Rottweilers...

[Donatello]

I get fed up with this subject myself but I'm considering this to be a little bit of research after a few irritating situations this weekend.

Being 100% honest (nobody will take offence, I am genuinely interested) would any of you avoid a Rottweiler on a walk or treat it any different than say a labrador/collie/spaniel?

We walked our two this weekend in a very dog friendly place and the amount of people that avoided us was ridiculous. We walked right passed a mother and daughter and the young girl hid behind her mum when passing our Rotty but tried to say hello to our little bulldog puppy. My OH pulled our bulldog away as if one isn't good enough for you then you can fk off!

It is something that drives me insane, she is very well behaved and one of the most loving dogs I have ever known. Even with complete strangers!!!

So please be honest and share your views on Rottweilers.

Thanks,

Tom

[bexVN]

No not if I wasn't given reason to. I would treat them the same as any other dog.
I would only take avoiding action if a dog gave me reason to, as a vet nurse I can read dogs well breed doesn't come into it.

I also happen to have a genuine soft spot for rotties

It's disappointing to see people react in the way they do but it's because they don't know dogs and only ever hear/ read negatives on the breed.

Mind you I've had mums with kids cross the road when walking my dog....he's a whippet!

[ehonda]

Thing is they are a big intimidating breed which has had bad press in the past. If someone is nervous of dogs then a big powerful breed like a rottie is probably going to scare the living daylights out of them.
You see a big slobbery, cuddly pile of fur, they see a big powerful dog with a giant mouth full of sharp pointy teeth and 'devil dog' headlines. If it bothers you could try and win them over to the charms of your breed and not take offence at the actions of a scared little girl

Also I think that the perception may be that rotties fall into the status dog group, although I don't think that myself, and people are not likely to believe that someone who owns a status dog is capable of training it or socialising it effectively.

Just my 2p, no offence meant.

[grass widow]

No I wouldn't avoid anyone walking a Rottie. We had a Rottie when we first got married and he was the softest thing on four legs. But as you we had people who would avoid us, give us funny looks and mutter things about dangerous dogs as we walked past them.

Our last dog was a Newfoundland and he was bigger and heavier than our Rottie who had been a big dog and because he looked like a big bear everyone thought he was lovely. But same as the Rottie he was the softest thing on four legs, but he liked being fussed by strangers less than the Rottie had.

We now have a Bernese and a Springer and people will think the Bernese is like a big bear too, but although they aren't vicious they aren't as forgiving as Newfies.

[bexVN]

Have to admit you can't be offended by the girl being scared, a lot of young kids are wary of Jimmy because he's the same height as them, I talk to them and give then confidence to fuss him, it usually works. You can understand a childs natural wariness of an animal larger than it.

[Donatello]

bexVN said:

Have to admit you can't be offended by the girl being scared, a lot of young kids are wary of Jimmy because he's the same height as them, I talk to them and give then confidence to fuss him, it usually works. You can understand a childs natural wariness of an animal larger than it.

I can appreciate that but I won our new neighbours round by encouraging their kids to come and say hello and they now love her.

However, this little girl (I say little, must've been 9/10) moved around her mum for one of our dogs and then pretty much jumped at our little puppy (who is far less tolerant and would not have thought twice about telling this stranger where to go)... our Rotty is always seeking a stroke from a stranger and it just upsets me that she doesn't get to play with as many people/dogs as a labrador would.

I understand it though, just frustrates me

P.S. - When the 'devil dogs' headline came out, my step-mum had a brick thrown at her when walking our old Rottweiler and I was attacked by 3 lads outside our corner shop as they knew we had a Rotty. It is a sad world we live in

[grass widow]

bexVN said:

Have to admit you can't be offended by the girl being scared, a lot of young kids are wary of Jimmy because he's the same height as them, I talk to them and give then confidence to fuss him, it usually works. You can understand a childs natural wariness of an animal larger than it.

Reminds me we have a picture somewhere of my niece aged 4 I think, stood on the beach next to our Rottie and I believe his head was higher than hers.

If he got in her way she just used to push him out of the way.

[Japveesix]

Donatello said:

I can appreciate that but I won our new neighbours round by encouraging their kids to come and say hello and they now love her.

Maybe you should have introduced the girl to the puppy and used that as a nice soft intro to the Rott. That way the Rott gets some attention, girl plays with puppy, you hopefully change someones opinion of rotts and you leave the situation less bitter than you obviously did

Personally I wouldn't avoid rotts at all, the few I've come across have been lovely, but I would be inclined to avoid scary/dodgy looking owners far more than their dogs. Sadly staffies, rotts and so on do tend to be the dogs chosen by undesirable types so they might end up being avoided by proxy of having nasty looking owners.

Tis a shame but unless you introduce people to your dog in a friendly manner then perceptions won't change.

Edited by Japveesix on Monday 2nd April 17:35

[Mobile Chicane]

I walk a Staffie cross for friends, and always make an extra-special effort when chatting to people out and about to show them how gentle she really is.

Who knows, I may yet convert someone into adopting one.

[C3BER]

No I would not unless it's out of control and the owner cannot hold it. As GW says we had the most amazing Rottie who suffered the Sun News Papers "Devils Dog" title. There was a few people killed by Rotties when we had Sam who happened to some what larger than show height.

The best reaction I ever had was a little old lady who in Bath I thought was going to say something against Sam but instead bent down and hugged him so much it still makes me smile and remember him.

[Jasandjules]

Not at all. With the exception of the male in our village who is dog aggressive!

They are lovely dogs. And people are stupid.

[AdiT]

I wouldn't avoid unless the owner was showing signs of trying to avoid my Weim'/me. I'm suspicious of ANY dog on a lead in an area where most dogs are off the lead (so most areas I walk) as from experience, often the dogs aren't to be trusted. In both cases my dog is usually aware before me; If he goes from DECON 1 to 4 skipping 2+3 he's usually got good reason... and he never trusts a GS on a lead.
Lad that works for me has a Doberman and people often avoid him with that. Pretty rare with mine though. With scared kids, I often get him to sit/lie down and invite them the stroke him; Some do some don't. He's had kids walk up behind him and hug him withgout warning (which makes me nervous) but he loves it... he has hurt one or two with his wagging tail though!

[Windlepoons]

When walking our rottweiler I find that most people will cross the road, even had one guy run into someones garden and tell me the dog was dangerous and shouldn't be walked on the street, something I laughed at and felt obliged to reply to.

Quite a lot of people comment on his size, even had a police car stop and ask why I wasnt riding him lol.

A few people did a double take the other night when my 3 year old neice was holding the lead of a a dog that was twice her size.

Edited by Windlepoons on Monday 2nd April 23:47

[C3BER]

Spot the cat

[Donatello]

Thanks for all your opinions. I now agree I should have done more to encourage the girl to come and see the dog but it was just frustration boiling over. It has happened for years and it annoys me.

I appreciate all that has been said and will definitely try to be more pro-active in future if somebody looks intimidated or worried.

Thank you!

[R1gtr]

No, we love Rotties, tho I must admit if I am out with my dogs and I see a Rottie or any other so-called 'Devil-Dog' I quickly try to judge if the owner is in control of their dog if only to avoid potential problems.

[RB Will]

I'm perfectly happy to be around a Rottie. My sister used to have one and he was soft as anything. Have met a couple of people locally with some too. One is an oldish lady who is pleasant to talk to and the other is a middle aged bloke and his rottie is bloody huge but again all pleasant.

The only reason I would particularly avoid one, and this goes for any dog is if the owners looked rather dodgy or the dog was made to look a bit dodgy, eg a spiky collar and being walked on a chain rather than a lead.

I know this is a bit judgemental of me but stereotypes usually have some basis in fact.

[Donatello]

RB Will said:

The only reason I would particularly avoid one, and this goes for any dog is if the owners looked rather dodgy or the dog was made to look a bit dodgy, eg a spiky collar and being walked on a chain rather than a lead.

I know this is a bit judgemental of me but stereotypes usually have some basis in fact.

I can understand that but at one point I walked ours on a chain as no lead I could find felt right. I now have a good rope lead that is perfect but when she was 8-12 months she used to pull alot and broke several weaker leads.

The pulling has almost stopped now, only very occasionally does she stride out ahead of me and is usually off the lead anyway.

I tend to put her on her lead now if I see anyone. Not because I worry she will run off and hurt them, but more because I think it is polite and avoids any silly hassle.

[AdiT]

By coincidence I was talking to my niece this morning who has a Rotty and a Staffy. She was having a carpet delivered and fitted yesterday. The fitter arrived came in the front door, saw the dogs sat in the kitchen, said "You can get those f****g things out of here!", turned around and went back to his van, made a phone call and drove away. When she phoned the shop (confused,) they said he wouldn't work in a house with 2 dangerous dogs!
She explained they're not dangerous, weren't were he was working and that she wasn't happy to have someone come into her house shouting expletives in front of her children,was cancelling the (rather large) order and would be reporting it to trading stndards and thier trade body. New van and fitter arrived and fitted the carpet witin the hour at cost price... Think I'll borrow her Rotty next time I order a carpet.

[PoleDriver]

I love Rotties!
I've had contact with them many times in the past, and always found them well behaved, friendly, funny and intelligent.
Had a friend sharing my house for abou 3 years with her lovely Rottie 'Shelby' (Who is sadly no longer with us). We would take him eveywhere, including a week-long (working) tour in France. He was always polite and friendly and a complete clown. I never had reason to miss-trust him ever!

BUT!


It must be remembered that Rotties are extremely devoted and protective of their owners. Because of this they may be aggressive towards any person or situation which they perceive is causing a threat to their owner. Having said this, (IMHO) they will always give a warning and readily back down if told by their owner, or if the level of threat is reduced.

Bad training, chavvy 'Gangsta' owners and abuse can, unfortunately, negate all of the above good traits. If this is the situation it is not fair to punish the dog!!!