hi, i have recently took on a 10 mth old rottie, well 9 weeks ago, his previous owner said child was allergic, i went up viewed him and he seemed great, playing with kids giving kisses and cuddles both my husband and i thought he was perfect, got him home and he and my other rottie who is nearly 3  got on like a house on fire, he even liked the cat! then about a week later when we raised our voice to him he started to growl, now he has progressed to jumping into your face teeth out and everything, doesn't bite, he treats us almost as if he was warning off a another dog, i have mentioned this to the previous owners and they deny he was ever like that, but they don't want him back, i don't know what to do, i know he needs training, i have enroled but will it work, or could he just flip one day? i really don't know how to take him, i have small children and i am keeping them apart but i don't think it is an ideal situation? if anyone has any advice at all or any views on him please help me, thank you.

Sound as if his early training has taught him to challenge or it could be fear of being hit. Think you need to find a trainer/behaviourist who will look at the situation within your home and advice you. To give you suggestions on the forum could make matters worse as we can't see the situation. Until you find someone local to help you I would suggest you treat such threats to your authority by turning your back and walking away, ignore the puppy at all times except when he is behaving as you wish.

I'm afraid that I would not give this dog the benefit of the doubt in your situation. You have small children and a large powerful dog who is seriously challenging you. It appears that his threatening behaviour has already escalated in 9 weeks from growling to leaping at you with bared teeth. You cannot always be sure that your children will be kept apart from your dog and to me this is a seroius accident waiting to happen. I am willing to bet that his behaviour is the reason he was rehomed to you and the reason his original owners will not have him back.

I really think that he needs to go to an  home experienced in large guarding breeds and where there are no children.

Yvonne W

I second everything Yvonne said. Absolutely dead serious.

Carrie

Agree that if there is a danger to the children the dog should go, but the poster is experienced in the breed, well according to the post they are.

Taking on an older pup can be a problem and I wouldn't recommend it when young children are in the house since you have no guarantee how this pup has been treated by its previous owners unless, of course, the puppy has come direct from a reputable breeder and is not third hand.  I've never come across a puppy of that age showing these traits and if you take him to a training class it needs to be the 'right one'. Did you have any pedigree papers when you bought him? It may be that the original breeder does not know he has changed hands!

All the extenuating circumstances, whatever they may be don't matter. Whether or not you find a good trainer doesn't matter. Whether or not he 'might' be all right one day is guess work. The fact is, he has acted this way and you have children. In my opinion, it's just not worth the risk. Period. I certainly wouldn't have a dog that was aggressive, not at all, much less with children. I urge you to find a new home as Yvonne suggested.

Carrie

You have to be extremely careful esp. with small children, but you know that :)

If he reacts to your raising your voice it does sound as if he is reacting to that and he may be reacting in this way because he is actually frightened. I suggest  get him medically checked out via a vet (including bloods, thyroid etc, not just a once over) and then get the vet to refer to a reputable behaviourist as Jackie mentioned, experienced with large dogs who can assess. Could he live in a sort of foster home for a few days or weeks until this is sorted out?

That could be a short term solution....difficult situation, i wish you luck.

Lindsay
X

Guest, if your register I can recommend an excellent behaviourist who may be able to help. :)

I don't think a behaviourist is any good and I personally wouldn't recommend one.  I would however recommend someone who has been in the breed a long time and has knowledge of the breed. I wouldn't recommend rehoming it until it has been established what is causing the problem since it is just being passed onto someone else and it would make the puppy worse. I think the guest should either contact Rottweiler Welfare or their local breed club for advice and assistance but more importantly if they have the puppy's papers they should contact the breeder in the first instance.

There are 'behaviourists' and then there are 'behaviourists' and sadly many people can't tell the difference :(

This is someone I work with and I KNOW he is excellent! :D

Which is great :)  But it's not fair for one poster to paint all 'behaviourists' with the same brush :(

you have to get on top off this behaviour before he gets too big for you.i agree a experienced home is needed as this behaviour shud have been sorted well ages ago