This brings us to the subject of crates. Some people have a bad image of a crate as being a cage. Dogs, however, have another view. Dogs, like wolves, have a natural den instinct. They feel safer in an enclosed area. When you teach your dog to use a crate, you're taking advantage of that den instinct to give your dog a safe place to stay.

Although a crate is an excellent tool, there is such a thing as too much time in the crate. Never leave a rottweiler puppy younger than six months in a crate for longer than four hours, and never leave an adult longer than nine hours in a crate. If you must do so, consider hiring a pet sitter to come by and walk your rottie during the day.

Most dogs sleep in their crates once trained to go there. If you feed and give your rottie treats in his crate, he'll look at it as a safe haven and not a cage. To train your rottie to accept his crate, feed him in the crate; give him treats and toys in the crate. Use a special word to designate that you want your rottie in his crate: “bed,” “crate,” or “place” are all acceptable words. Put your rottweiler in his crate when you're unable to watch him. This is especially important in housebreaking your rottie.