Just for my own interest those who have owned or currently have a Rotti.

Its a breed i have always admired and some time down the line i may pluck up the courage to have one alongside my Bernese.
I have seen many in the show ring and also at ringcraft and i just love how dedicated they are to their owner and how calm they generally are. I personally haven't seen a bad one at any show.
I have however seen some bad ones out about on walks.

I have looked on the GB website which gives me a bit of information. I know i can ask the lady at ringcraft next week, buts its something on my mind now.
How easy in general are they to have in the house? I would be bringing in a male if i did get one(more than likely), how easy do they get on with other males?
How easy are they to train? besides the terrible puppy moments and the 'kevin' stage.

To be honest there is not a lot out there on the good and bad points and this is what i am looking at to weigh everything up. All i keep seeing is very basic points on the breed, none negative and every breed has negative points to it.
Also i know they suffer from some health problems, though how much of an issue do you believe these are in the breed?
A female is a possible option once we get some kennels in place, again i wouldn't get any of them done as i would want to show.

suejaw, i have never owned a rottweiler before we knew of a few people  that had, there ones always seemed to have good temperaments, but i dont know how two males would get along,i beileve they can suffer with hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and if i am right some  can have heart trouble and can suffer with conjunctivitus, also one of the breeds that   are more likely to get g.d.v, going by what there owners have told me, i cant think of any other health  problems that i can remember them telling me about, but they do enjoy and obviously would benefit from a good training school.

Hi, currently we have 2 Rottweilers (bitch and dog) who live alongside 5 other dogs.  We have owned Rottie's for the last 10 years, both males and females.

As a general overview they are fantastic, loyal, loving dogs devoted to their family.  The will guard and protect but also welcome people into the home with masses of slobbery licks and kisses if the owner lets people in.

Out of the 5 Rottie's we have owned over the last 10 years they have all been so very different.  We have had bitches who are aboslutely full of energy and would run around all day if possible and we've had another bitch who would just sleep and laze around.  With the males, you may get a very laid back boy (like my 2 year old) who is sound with all other dogs and never puts a foot wrong or you could end up with a more alert male who cannot mix well with other male dogs and is more of a handful in general.

To be honest if you are going to keep the bitch or dog entire for showing and you want a Rottie that will go off lead and play with all other dogs with no problem I would go for a bitch.  If you are happy that you may have to keep your male on a lead when other males are about then that is also an option.

Both parents should be hip and elbow scored, more people are now starting to eye test more aswell.  They do seem to suffer with cancer (we have lost 2 to this ages 7 and 8 1/2) and also they are known to get cruciate problems.

I wouldn't be without a Rottie by my side as I think they are wonderful.  If you want any extra advice or good, helpful breeders to speak to then please send me a pm and I am willing to help.

Lucy

My Rottie a entire male who is 8years old, is the best dog i have owned, he has the most wonderful temperment, does talk alot!!
He is great with all other dogs/cats, male and females, very illegiant, loyal, he was bought as I owned his Aunt, and she was diagosed with Oral Cancer, I bought him from a very good breeder, with years experience of the breed, and he is wonderful, he didnt enjoy showing, but has done his GC awards to gold.
Hip, elbows are the main health concerns, you certainly couldnt get a better breed, and you have to be firm with them as teenagers, they can try you sometimes.
I wouldnt have another Rottie, as I dont think I could get one to match the temperment of my boy Boss, we foster Danes also, and there never a cross word between him or any other dogs coming into his demain.

Make sure you do your homework, and but from a experienced breeder.

Fiona

Hi,
I can only back up what other Rotti owners have posted, and give you some of my own personal experience.
We have one Rotti, Bo who is 5yrs (female) and prior to her have had two males. Rottweilers will always hold a special place in my heart, having been a huge part of my life, from a young child growing up with a variety of them as my friends family trained and fostered them, they had both male and female living together aswell with other pets and visiting dogs.
Bo lives with our two children, Fudge who is a puppy ( mastiff x) and our cat Fi-fi Lee (after Bruce Lee as Bo has suffered at her clawed quick swipes when she gives her one of there famous slobbery kisses or baths would be a better description lol), she is a wonderful edition to our family, and they make fantastic companions. My sister has Bo's brother and he (Thor) lives with a westie, (female) rabbits, cats and kittens aswell as tortoises and two young children, yes pretty much a zoo! But that just goes to show they get on with most animals.
Rotti's are bold and intelligent dogs willing to please. Training is essential as they are strong and powerful, mine have allways enjoyed training and picked it up with ease. Bo is a joy to have in the house, except for bedtime when she will happily open the baby gate and come up to bed with us, her favorite thing apart from watching football is to sit and look out the window all day i wouldn't call her nosey, more like inquisitive! Bad points apart from silly stuff like farting and burping she doesn't really have any, but in the wrong hands (and i no its not just Rotti's) can be an obvious problem, and not to end on a negative note the majority of them are excellent well rounded dogs with a great potential to be your best friend throughout there life.
We love this breed alot and will continue for as long as we can to own them as there superb!!

Diane

Ooh sounds like they have similar health problems to the Bernese then. That is something you deal with if and when the time comes.

I did try to get one from rescue once, but they refused to allow me to have it as it didn't like cats, even though ours really stick up for themselves.

I do think that i would prefer a puppy so i can raise it as i so wish.
The lady at ringcraft currently has 1 male and 2 females, 1 of those being a young puppy. She has bred these Rotti's to have a fantastic temperament. She did say most of the pups went to pet homes and she had such good feedback that friends of these owners now are requesting one. Which just goes to show that they aren't a bad breed really.

I'll be looking to get another Bernese at some point next year and then i'll think about the Rotti.
I just wish i had the money and space to have lots more dogs.

My gets on very well with all this breeders Rotti's at ringcraft so i feel that this is something to think about in the future.

It seems that those who have them or have had them can only really say positive things about them.
Like with any breed its choose carefully and make sure all the health tests are done.

Thanks for all the replies

x

One of Strathclyde Police's best dogs died recently of bone cancer and he was a Rotti.  They say he was absolutely fantastic at his job.  Not many Police forces use Rotties.  There might be something about him on their website?

All the working dogs seem to suffer from very similar ailments from what i can see. Due to their size i can see the hip and elbow problems. But the bone cancer is a real worry. Just wish we could do something about this, but like us humans you never know who is going to suffer from it.

http://www.centralscotland.police.uk/about/policing/operations/rpu_ss/mac.php

Sorry it was Central Scotland Police :-)  They are full of praise for him.

I've currently got 3 - having previously had Bullmastiffs and Cavaliers. My girls are lovely, one more so than the other who doesn't really like in your face excitable dogs, but will tolerate them. Both girls have Hip Dysplasia, the eldest came from fully hip scored lines, only low scores bred from etc and she still has it (diagnosed at 7 months).

My boy (11 months) is a bit of a nightmare. We took him in at 12 weeks, he'd had 4 different homes and had been attacked by bitch who'd just had pups in the last home before us (can't blame her, it was the numpty that took him home's fault). We weren't going to keep him, the plan was to nurse him back to health (he was riddled with worms), and then look for a decent home for him. We ensured that during this time he was well socialised both on his own at puppy classes, and with the girls when we took them out. Anyway to cut a long story short, the OH couldn't bear to part with him, even though we had 2 homes line up, so we kept him. At 6 months he went through a fearful stage that manifested itself in having a go at other dogs, usually nice gentle submissive ones. He has now added certain men to his list of things he doesn't like! Having said all this he's perfect at training classes (continuing the socialisation), and we're working on his Silver GC award.

He has recently been diagnosed with Panosteitis and is on Metacam so his agression is not pain related. Everyone agrees that he is fear aggressive, although one trainer also thinks he's trying to dominate - we're not convinced by this and are in the process of getting a COAPE registered behaviourist involved. Just waiting for our vets to ring her back to complete the referral.

Sorry I've gone off on a bit of a tangent but just wanted to tell my story to emphasise the need for thorough research into the breeders, for both physical and mental well being of their dogs, and for your mental health going forward!! Mine have all had the same socialisation etc, but have 3 different temperaments, which I can only put down to breeding. Whilst I wouldn't be without any of mine (even the little s*d), the last 2 were brought into the "fold" as a result of the OH falling for a sob story, feeling sorry for the dog and taking it in. MEN !!!!

Claire's rottis are wonderful aren't they and just so happy all the time - like you I think her dogs are just wonderful and seem to have lovely temperaments.

Good luck Sue
xx

Hey Rachel, yes that is who i am talking about. Had a good long chat with her on monday about her recent litter and her young girl is so well behaved and both her and my boy had fun playing together..

Not sure if you know but ringcraft is not on next week, so don't attend, you'll be all alone..

I have actually put my boy back into training again and we are going for the gold GC award. Seems to be going well and have continued with the training today and he is just about getting the down command in the middle of recall.

He is going through that 'kevin' stage right now, so thought it would be best to throw him back into training to assist me in getting through it.

Thanks for the heads up next week - we weren't planning on going but you never know do you!!! :)  Will be there beg. November though as the girls have handling :)

Oh good luck with your Gold - sounds like a good time to remind Kai what to do with some training whilst he is going through that lovely phase!!!

I think they are simply awesome dogs :)

Their stance in the ring is very noble and they ooze strength and power which I love in large breeds and their coulouring is simply stunning.
I wouldnt own one tho as Matt is a little funny with them as his friends Rottie when he was younger attacked a dog and he has been put off since but after he explained what happened just seems the dog was protecting his owner from a possible threat which is another thing which I admire in this breed is the willingness to protect family :)

Gorgeous dogs but alas its a Saint for me if we change breeds :)

My friend has Rotties, she has currently a young 7mth old male... he is adorable, naughty but adorable... I love this breed, her girl who she lost earlier in the year, was a fabulous well behaved ambassador for the breed.

I think they are highly intelligent, loyal,  easy to train bred, I love the way they stick to you like glue on walks...(not like my two) 

Do your research, makes sure you buy from reputable breeders..

On another note  though, met a chap yesterday with a 12 wk old rotti girl down at our local shopping village..this is his first one, she was adorable, he has always had GR and still currently owns one.

When we stopped to fuss her, he was so grateful,, that we had stopped, he was really upset, because of the reaction he had received from  some people, he was gobsmacked that people could be so rude to him over owning a dog.

Comments like.... cute now, but wait till it grows up...and you can guess the other things..

Poor bloke was so upset, he had gone out with pride to start socializing his girl and thats what he gets for it.

We told him to just ignore ignorant comments, and enjoy his girl

my first rottie was an absoulute nutter he was so lovable, and would try and sit on your knee for a cuddle everyone that he met fell in love with him, he was my best friend and loyal but a nutter, he thought agility was brilliant and would do everything at full speed and grin and bark all the way around, in obedience he loved that especially the down where he could roll on his back with his legs in the air saying look at me everyone, flyball favourite trick close your mouth when running with the ball and everyone would then thinkyou had dropped it, and then spit it out when no one was looking, also see how many tennis balls you could get in your mouth at once,
he loved all animals and mothered two sick guinea pigs we had to look after, he loved to be in with pups and would clean them so tenderly, he never had a cross word with anyone, but his biggest love was babys, the humane type if our friends brought there baby who at the time was 3 weeks old he would watch over him , if the baby was lying on the sofa and he started to cry he was there crying with him watching us picking him up he would lie when he started to crawl and would watch him when crawling giving a warning low growl to the other dogs if they got to close warning them to be careful the other dogs where allowed to sniff the baby but that was it they where not allowed to long a sniff he would move on his belly in a kind of crawl to push them out the way,he lived with a chinese crested and border collies, he played rough with the collies but gentle with the chinese crested, she would wash his face and clean his ears and eyes and he would lie down and let her do it, sadly he passed away but two years later another scrap of a male came to me by a friend he is now 13 months old, adores my grandchildren to the point of obsession with them both he is also cleaned by the chinese crested, he is also told off by her he loves agility and started flyball training which he also runs around with two tennis balls in his mouth, he is clumsy and does not know that behind his head he has a huge body, he runs into doors, when playing chase , he can look the menancing part when he needs to be standing looking magnificent if he is not sure of something but yet again i have not seen a nasty bit to him.
he has been playing with a rabbit today that chased him around the garden and when they where both shattered they lay in the sun the rabbit lying between his legs and they where both snoring.
so all i can say is both my rotties have been brilliant, there have been some ups and downs going through adolesecant was one of the downs but we came through it , find a reputable breeder go and talk to people at shows, see what you like and what you don't
they are loyal and if you are willing to put the training in you will reap the rewards,
about two males living together well my boy lives with three males and two bitches and they all get on brilliantly
carolann

Carol Ann that was the so touching,I can still see him in the ring being a devil lol.
He had one hell of a wonderful owner.

How lovely to hear some positives and a insight into this gorgeous breed, i know nothing about them, so really lovely to hear. :):)

i would like to echo everything that has already been said - superb dogs

not that i am bias of course. I currently have 10, a mixture of males and females entire and neutered and have no problems with any of them mixing with each other, though my youngest male (2 yrs) can not mix with my male dogue de bordeaux who is the same age (thats the problem, they are the same age and trying to prove themselves against each other) but apart from them two all my dogs mix with no problems at all.

i would never be without a rott (or 10) and wouldnt part with any one of mine for all the tea in china!

Just do your research carefully and take your time to find the right dog, if you do he/she will be worth the wait :)

When we stopped to fuss her, he was so grateful,, that we had stopped, he was really upset, because of the reaction he had received from  some people, he was gobsmacked that people could be so rude to him over owning a dog.

lol we get the same with our staffords.
How anyone can find my dogs scary when their padding along calm on lead ignoring everyone around them is beyond me lol

I adore Rotties but alas...... it will never be :(

We have had 5 Rotties over the last 10 years - all from the same breeder.  They are wonderful companions, extremely loyal (mind you, you can say that about most dogs) and are wonderful with our children.  We have never really had a problem training-wise; we have always made sure that they know who the 'top dog' is in the family (me with our first, hubby with all the others).  In my experience, other dog owners who you meet out walking are, in the main, extremely friendly and do not find them scary.  Obviously if they are under control it always helps, and this also gives other people no chance to moan at you for having a 'dangerous dog'. 

i have had a couple of instances when people have gone bananas (for want of a better word) when my Rotties have approached their dog - the latest was "get your dog away, it should be on a lead AAAAHHHHH get the camera I am reporting you to the police !!!!!!!!!" ............ sounds like my dogs were attacking their Staffies, when in reality they were merely sniffing each other and bouncing around playing........

With all this in mind, I can only advise you that it is so important to choose a good breeder (we found ours through the Kennel Club) and to make sure they are well socialised.

Good Luck :-))