Hello! So glad I found this page!
Was hoping maybe I could get an opinion. just became foster Mom to a seven year old female rottie. Will start socialization next week.
I understand if rotties aren’t properly socialized when pups, that there difficult to socialize as adults. is this true? If so any advice on where to start?
And are muzzles acceptable when first around kids and other pets?
Thank you!
Hi, welcome!
Good questions, and I’ll try to answer them all and then I know other Rottie lovers will join in 🙂
ANY dog of any breed can have trouble learning to be calm, friendly and at ease in social situations if they haven’t been socialized properly when younger. Rottweilers are no different in this respect.
The trick to it is to start slow, and take it at the dog’s pace. Obviously you want her to become increasingly confident so it’s necessary to move forward but take baby steps outside of her comfort zone and never push her into a situation where she is clearly scared or anxious. That can lead to reactive defensive behavior, and is counter-productive.
Some obedience schools have special classes for socialization, and it would be worth checking for this in your area.
MOST Rottweilers, if well bred and not mistreated, will be accepting of strangers, even if they don’t fawn all over them. How they behave around other dogs is less predictable but in general they’re not dog-aggressive. Some Rotties have a high prey drive which makes them likely to chase smaller dogs, cats, rabbits and so on. You will find out about this dog’s personality as you go along. Be observant and vigilant, but not anxious.
As for a muzzle – this is something I’d discuss with the organization you are fostering for. I would doubt it’s necessary, and it could frighten or upset your foster dog. Which will again be counter-productive.
Wherever she is now should have some idea of her personality/temperament and so on, they will be able to give you more accurate info. on this question.
If you are in doubt about her behavior around children especially, then it’s always better to be safe than sorry, but so much depends on the individual dog that I can’t really give you a whole lot of help in this area.
I wish you and your foster Rottie a lot of luck and I hope that she settles in well. Rottweilers are awesome dogs and they’re huge ‘lovers’.
Most dogs, even those who have been treated horribly, are incredibly forgiving, trusting and loving. It makes me happy to know that another Rottie is getting a second chance at a happy life and I’m rooting for you both ~ Sue
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