Rottweilers are very adorable and popular among pet lovers. They are very playful pups and grow up to be enormous adults.
Every dog parent wants their pooch to be welcoming. So, are Rottweilers friendly with strangers? Yes, they can be with proper training.
Rottweilers are very loyal, responsible, protective, and loving dogs. Their friendliness changes from their puppyhood to adulthood.
Know more about Rottweilers’ general nature and how you can make them more welcoming.
What Is the Temperament of Rottweilers?
Rottweilers are adorable, and there is no denying this fact. They grow up to be huge and enormous dogs.
They take around 3 years to develop into an adult fully. Their temperament changes a lot from their puppy life to adult life.
Rottweiler pups can be a little rowdy. There are a lot of changes happening in their body at this time that can cause this.
With proper training and the owner’s attention, Rottweilers can be very welcoming.
Rottweilers are very loyal and devoted to their owners. They form a very protective breed and very famous among pet lovers.
Rottweilers form the perfect companions and will protect your families. But how do they react around strangers? Rottweilers are very good at defending themselves.
This makes it important to socialize and train them properly. They can be a little aggressive and rowdy if they feel threatened.
Little Rottweiler pups can be aggressive and moody around strangers. They grow to be very loving, protective, and friendly dogs with proper training. Rottweilers can be hostile to strangers if not trained properly.
Reasons for Rottweiler’s Bad Temperament
We now know that Rottweilers can be a little aggressive in some situations.
Let us take a look at some reasons why your pup might be getting a little rowdy.
Improper Training
One of the most common reasons for Rottweilers to be aggressive is a lack of training. A lot of people assume that an over-friendly dog will not be able to protect them from danger.
In most cases, a well-trained dog can recognize a friend and danger.
Proper training of Rottweilers is important as they are generally a little aggressive. They are good defenders and can attack when they sense fear.
It is best to start training them when they are little pups.
Abusing or hitting your Rottweiler can also lead to a bad temperament. Even when training, avoid scolding and hitting your dog. Rottweilers can be friendly, are put in the right environment and trained properly.
Guarding Behavior
Rottweilers are guard dogs. This gives them a tendency to defend and guard themselves.
They are also very protective of their family. Their protective nature, when aided with guarding nature, can be dangerous for strangers.
This is a good case in dealing with a stranger who can bring danger to you. But often, Rottweilers get angry even when they are meeting your friends for the first time.
It will be very important to socialize with your dog. This will make your pooch differentiate between friends and danger. In this way, your friends can also feel safer around your doggo.
Fear
Fear can be another reason in which your pooch might be behaving oddly. Rottweilers, when they are scared, can attack people to defend themselves.
This can be dangerous if you have guests visiting your place.
The family must put good behavior towards Rottweiler. There should not be a lot of scaring and hitting. This will adversely affect their behavior around strangers as well.
How Important Is It to Train Your Rottweiler?
Rottweilers are a little aggressive naturally. This can result in them misreading situations and cause harm to strangers, including your friends.
It is important to train your Rottweiler so that they can know the difference between playful wrestling and an actual threat. Their protective nature towards their owners can usually cause them to defend and attack strangers.
You must teach your Rottweiler to socialize. This will help in making your pooch accustomed to your friends and neighbors.
Rottweilers often left alone, abused, and not trained properly can be dangerous and aggressive. It is very important for you as a dog parent to provide your pooch the right guidance.
How Can You Socialize Your Rottweiler?
Socializing your Rottweilers is very important, keeping in mind their natural temperament. Rottweilers can get a little aggressive when they see strangers.
They can often misread friendly gestures as danger and harm people. So, how can you socialize with your Rottweiler?
Here are some ways in which you can induce a friendly nature in your pup.
Spend Time with Your Dog
Make sure that every family member is spending equal time with the Rottweiler. This will help your dog in forming a bond with everyone.
Start doing this early to ensure that your pooch knows who all is part of the family. This exercise makes sure that they know to distinguish between family and strangers.
Introduce your Pup to Your Neighbours
Introduce your Rottweiler pup to the neighbors whenever you are going out on walks. This will help your pooch is recognize your friendly behavior towards others.
This is the best way to teach your dog about friendly interactions and possible dangers.
Teach Your Dog Common Commands
It is very important to teach your dog common commands like stay. Just like any child, your dog also looks up to you for guidance.
When your dog does not know how to react, you should command and teach good behavior. This will help your dog to have control over the emotions when required.
Points to Remember While Training Your Rottweiler
Now that we know that training and socializing are important for your Rottweiler. Let us now have a look at how to do it properly.
Start Training at An Early Stage
It will always be easier to start training your pup at a very young age. Teaching pups is easier than teaching a full-grown dog.
It is always better to start training them when they are of ages 6 weeks to 6 months. The more early you start training, the better trained your pooch will be.
Rottweilers are intelligent and loyal. Training an older Rottweiler might require a lot of patience and time. It is best to start early.
Reward System
Positive reinforcement is essential when it comes to training Rottweilers. This can be practiced by rewarding your Rottweiler for good behavior. Do this in case of actions that you want your dog to repeat.
A reward system helps you in communicating with your dog in the best possible way. This will help your dog in understanding that certain behavior is acceptable. Whenever your Rottweiler behaves well in front of your friends, appreciate it by rewarding. This will also make training interesting and like a game.
Avoid Yelling and Physical Dominance
Fear and negligence can give rise to aggression in Rottweilers. You should always avoid using physical discipline while training your dog. This will give rise to fear in them and also a change in their temperament.
Yelling and scolding also lead your dog not to follow your commands effectively. The dominance of any kind will only scare and confuse your pooch. Try following the reward method instead of losing your cool.
Be Patient
Patience is the most important aspect of training your Rottweiler. An older Rottweiler requires, although more patience. Rottweilers are intelligent and learn things quickly. But it would be best if you stayed calm and composed during the entire training.
Rottweilers always look up to their owners for guidance. As a dog parent, you should stay calm if you want your dog to learn calmness. It is not a night’s process to train a Rottweiler. It is a long process and therefore requires patience.
Staying patient is good for you as well as your dog in the whole training process.
Signs to Look for Aggression in Rottweilers
Rottweilers can naturally be a little aggressive. But at some time, the signs can be a little dangerous.
In such situations, you should look for professional help if your pooch is showing any of the following symptoms.
- Snapping a lot
- Barking at every stranger
- Trying to attack known ones
- Biting
- Growling a lot
- Snarling
Rottweilers are very protective and can show these signs often. But in case they are behaving excessively aggressive, it might be a warning sign.
The best way to change these is proper training and socializing. It will help in the proper grooming of your pup.
Related: What is the Bite Force of a Rottweiler?
Summing It Up
Rottweilers are naturally a little aggressive and defending. Their temperament is on a constant change in all ages of their life span.
Rottweiler pups are a little rowdier as there are a lot of changes going on in their bodies.
With early training and socializing, Rottweilers can be friendly around strangers. Stay calm and patient, and your dog will pick up the same skill.
Once your pooch learns to distinguish between friendly gestures and danger, you will see a playful sight!
