Identifying the Root of the Problem
This chapter deals with problems that are caused primarily by lack of training or by allowing a small problem to get out of hand. Many owners fail to see the slippery slope of a single action. They let the problem escalate to intolerable limits before they actually do something. Remember, it is easier to teach good habits than correct bad ones, so if you're looking at this chapter in the hopes of a quick fix, you won't find it here. Your rottie has taken time to learn this annoying behavior, whatever it is, and you're not going to fix it overnight.
Biological or Behavioral?
Before looking within these pages for a correction, look at the behavior itself. Could there be a possible underlying biological cause for this? For example, if your rottie is whining and crying when he's in his crate, could he be uncomfortable due to a joint problem? Or if he growls and snaps at you when you approach his food bowl, does he have a condition that makes him ravenous? You can't really know unless you have your vet look at him and see if there is a biological cause for the behavior.
There are no quick fixes once a bad behavior starts. It can take weeks or even months before you correct a problem behavior once it has been ingrained. It is always better to prevent bad behavior than it is to try to correct it.
When you take your rottie to the vet, talk to your vet about the behavior. Ask your vet if there could be any underlying biological cause. Make suggestions. Vets aren't infallible, and they may not have thought the entire problem through. For example, if your rottie is suddenly urinating everywhere, don't accept that he just might not be housebroken — ask the vet if he might have a condition such as Cushing's disease, diabetes, or a kidney disease. Has your rottie been drinking frequently? (All that urine has to come from somewhere!)
Behavioral Causes of Bad Behavior
If your vet has determined that there is no apparent biological cause to your rottie's bad behavior, the next step is to determine the behavioral cause. Bad behavior usually has a root cause in the owner's behavior. Often, the owner doesn't see that allowing a certain behavior will eventually lead to the one they find obnoxious. For example, it is cute when a puppy mouths your hands. But as the puppy mouths, he learns that it is acceptable to chew on people, and as his bites become harder, it becomes a real problem. If you teach him right away that he should never have his teeth on flesh, this natural tendency of his won't develop into a biting problem.
Look at the current behavior and ask yourself if there is something you're doing that might be contributing to your rottie's delinquency. Often it's the little, apparently harmless transgressions that escalate into others.
If you're having a behavioral problem and your rottie is intact, spay or neuter him. While it won't solve all the problems, it will help if you aren't fighting against hormones too!
Some bad behavior stems from excess energy and boredom. How would you feel if you were cooped up in the house all day and all night with nothing to do? That excess energy gets released one way or another, and it's up to you to channel it where it's least harmful. Many pet owners find their dogs' behavior problems magically disappear when they become involved in dog sports or give their rottweilers a job to do. A tired dog is a happy dog and one less likely to get into mischief. Exercising your rottie or giving him a job to do will help curb his excessive energy and make him a better pet.
Are You Causing the Behavior?
When you see a problem start, look at what you're doing as an owner. Are you treating your rottie like a dog or treating him as if he's in charge? You can do things to establish your role as owner.
Free feeding is not allowed. Have scheduled mealtimes. Don't just dump food in a bowl and let your rottie eat whenever he feels like it. He must know that the food comes from you. You do this by establishing feeding times. Make him earn his treats. Treats and snacks are okay, but don't give them to your rottie just because he exists. Make him sit, lie down, or perform a trick.
Your job as owner is to establish dominance over your dog, so make sure you do not act as one of his littermates. If your rottie is sleeping in your bed, put him in a crate in your bedroom. Sleeping with you makes him think he is your equal. Never play tug-of-war or roughhouse games. It puts you on his level. When the two of you leave the house or pass from room to room, you are the first one through each door. Never allow your rottie to “mount” you or loom over you. It makes you look like a subordinate. If you eat dinner the same time as your rottie, eat first and then feed him.
Never tolerate aggression in your rottie toward people and other dogs. An aggressive dog is a liability. Contact an animal behaviorist who specializes in aggression so that you can correct this serious problem.
Exercise your rottweiler vigorously. As stated before, a tired dog is a happy dog and one less prone to mischief. Practice sit/stays and down/stays. Spend five minutes a day practicing commands. This isn't much time out of your busy schedule, and both you and your rottie will benefit from it. You could also take up a dog sport such as flyball, agility, or herding.
