Can someone anyone help, while walking Sal (Stafford 9 months old) today she was on the lead and we were ona windy path where you can't quite see who's coming.
A lady came up to me and said could I hold my dog back please while her husband passed with their dog, Sal was as I said already on her lead but I got her to sit and popped down next to her ready to hold her sollar or pull her out of harms way expecting a well I don't know what I was expecting really the lady walked back a few steps out of site and called out "it's okay" then I heard a man's raised voice " steady boy, steady" to be honest I was quite nervous at this point and considered picking Sal up but I held my place and put a hand on her collar,.

Back into sight came the lady saying again to me "hold your dog" then I saw a man mid 40's a large man and on the lead "the hound of the baskervilles?" NO a Rottweiler pup and I mean pup about 4 months old who when he saw Sal the Rottie waggled his whole bum and made toward her the man nearly yanked him off his feet shouting at the top of his voice "NO" The pup to give him his due took no notice of the man at all just continued toward me and Sal.

The man carried on walking with the dog and the lady came back and explained they'd only had him a month, and because he was a Rottweiler they had to keep him away from other dogs. I must admit I was gobsmacked and never said a word I just watched them pass.

Am I wrong in thinking this man has the wrong impression of Rottweilers, I always thought you had to socialise them not ostrasise them?

Any suggestions on what to say if I see them again.

Karen (confused and gobsmacked still)

The man was a clown.
That will be a rottie with a problem if they dont
let him meet other dogs, poor thing.

sorry to be blunt but what a prat of a man,i had a rottweiler male until 16mths ago he was the most layed back and gentle thing known,if this person keeps doing this he is gonna have loads of problems,rottweiler and all breeds need socializing,oh well that his problem,but what a dip stick some people have know idea

Carolyn,

I know that but the point is surely someone would have checked him out like a breeder before they let him buy a Rottweiler or any BREED of dog come to that.

Why my park? Now I will have to say something if I see him again, any suggestions I think I'd rather try and be "nice" than "go in for the killstraight off"

More for the pup than for them.

Karen

What a shame for the poor pup.
The owners have got to be total prats who obviously haven't done any reading up on their chosen breed.

I suppose all you can really do is start chatting with them, (which is going to be difficult if they're keeping the pup away from other dogs) if you do manage to talk to them, just be really friendly, and ask where they're doing their puppy socialisation...if they're going to classes etc. If they're as dumb as I think they probably are, they're bound to ask what it's all about, and you can share your knowledge with them.

Let's hope you can talk some sense into them. I don't know much about Rotties, but I imagine, like all breeds they need lots of socialisation at that age.

Good luck....let us know how it goes!

Lisa

What stupid people they are! :rolleyes: If they want an unsafe dog they are going about it the right way. If they want a well-socialised dog they will let it meet as many friendly dogs as they possibly can.

Some people shouldn't be put in charge of a dead stick insect.

Actually you've all made me feel really guilty now. I wish I hadn't just sat there like an idiot, I should of sai something along the lines of "is he your first Rottweiller?" I think that would of got them to talk I will do this next time in fact I'm going back tomorrow about the same time to look out for them something tells me they will be creatures of habit and local using that area of the park especially.

I will attempt to make contact with them. I'll keep you informed in fact I think I'll take my "better half" with me for moral and physical support. And he can hold Sal while I get closer, to the pup.

Karen
'

Karen, if you pretend to be a 'pain-in-the-backside nosy parker' you can chat to them as you change direction and walk along with them, and Sal and their pup can walk along together .... it will be the best start you can give to them all.

I'm sure you're right, they'll be creatures of habit and will keep to a strict timetable, so it shouldn't be too hard to meet up. Just grow a rhinocerous skin and act bold (even if inwardly you're cringing!)
:)

They obviously haven't got much idea about puppies really have they. I can't understand why they would get a rottie if they have such a negative idea about the breed. If they think they are so dangerous, you have to question why they didn't just get a lab? (No offense to either breed obviously - i think they are both lovely.) Luckily enough it doesn't sound as if the pup has been too affected by it but the longer they keep it away from dogs the worse it will get. (He must be very frustrated too as all pups love to play with other dogs!)
But i wouldn't beat yourself up about it. It is always easier to think of things to say after they opportunity has passed. I hope you do manage to get through to them though, it sounds like they really think this is the best course of action. :-(

poor pup, wagging itself silly and unable to meet yours-theyre heading for trouble, the pup will never learn to mix or read signs, some folk take the breeders far too seriously, and what might seem like a small fact to the breeder gets blown out of proportion, yes if youve a mature rott male and something stroppy gets in its face then youd need to act, but ive not ever had a rott going looking for trouble, they will however react to a threat,
i do hope you meet them again, maybe suggest a dog club, or dog books on the breed, -fingers crossed

Jeangenie, may I just say I don't have to pretend to be a "pain-in-the-backside nosy parker" I AM A "PAIN-IN-THE-BACKSIDE NOSY PARKER" ;)

Good idea about walking alongside them too after all what can they do tell me to clear off?

I'll just be my normal "chatty-friendly-stick-to-you-like-glue-where-ever-you-go-self" and who can object to that :D

Dizzy actually you may be right about them getting the wrong end of the stick about what the breeder told them, maybe they have said something like "be careful around other dogs" and that's got blown out of proportion ;) I hope so, they didn't seem unkind just unknowing.

Well my friends that's it I'm off tomorrow into the unknown world of "hunt the strange couple and their wriggly pup"

Karen

Good hunting!
:D

Thank you,
I'm just making up the marmite sarnies now ;)

Karen

Hi Karen

Why don't you initiate conversation again by admiring their pup (bound to get even the most gruff person vaguely interested).

Because you are embarking on this mission with you and your dog's future safety in mind, you could even tell a fib or two (ie you/your partner used to own a rotty) because it might make them listen a bit more. Is there a local training club you could recommend? If so, tell them about it and comment that it specializes in training "big dogs" (pander to their pretensions!).

Good luck

:)

Thanks all, good idea about the fib too I could back that up with a photo. My cousin who lives just around the corner from me owns a Rottweiler bitch "Cass" who's very friendly and I might borrow one of Jill's (my cousin) sons or grandsons (Jill is a bit older than me ;) ) to walk Cass if I track the pup and his owners down.

Cass is 8 now and very friendly not huge but certainly a Rottweiler. Her manners are good and she is used to pups she loves Sal too so she can't be all bad ;)

I'm off now to the same place I saw them yesterday. It's an strange place to walk actually, well not on the normal dog walking route at all so I imagine they will be there again.

Karen

I can't add much to what other people have said, but Dylan's (6 month old Golden Retriever) best friend is a rottie. She's 3 weeks older than him and they've known each other since Dylan was 8 weeks old at the vet's puppy parties. They now go to the same training classes, and we take them to the park together afterwards. They play like brother and sister, as if they've been brought up and live together. It's lovely to see, but they're such an odd couple!
But the perception of the two dogs could not be more different. People always stop to stroke Dylan, but very rarely the rottie. Yet she's got a lovely temperament. She has been well socialised since an early age.

Sarah

well, all they are doing is imposing their own fears onto their dog. The poor thing will grow up thinking other dogs are to be feared, and then they really will have a problem!

I hope you see them again and set them straight :)

Helen

Hi

To anyone who's replied to this I have seen them again and the update is in gerneral.

A new thread.

Karen

I own a rottie called Bruno he is a gentle giant very sociable with all dogs he is quite well known now with other dog owners and has actually changed some peoples minds about rotties especially when they see him playing with very small dogs or my children

I wanna see what happened, what was the new threads title!!!

Update on 'viscious' Rottweiler. Is the new threads title. Look on General, I think it's on page 3 ;)

liberty :)

Excellent. I'm just searching through them all now, looking for the update.