Rottweiler as an outdoor dog

by Eman
(Bahrain)

I am getting a rottweiler puppy in two weeks and I’m reading up and preparing as much as possible. I want to know how to raise a rottweiler to live outdoors properly, so I will try to explain my situation.

I live in the middle east where the climate is quite warm. We are renting and not allowed to keep dogs indoors, but I have a cat indoors (which is allowed). The house is one story with a big yard, a pool and has a high wall around it, we have an outdoor room which is conditioned and currently empty. I want to turn the outdoor room into the dogs room, I’m going through the process of installing a dog door so she can go in and out of the room easily.

I know that rotiets require human interaction, so we’re making it a point that every two hours someone spends a little time with her (we’re a big family so someone is always home). After work I’m planning to allow it to come into my room only (through the sliding door, ssshhhh don’t tell on me), so that she spends as much time with me as possible.

I really have researched this a lot in order to provide the right environment and proper care for her. I will be collecting her after she turns seven weeks old. What I can’t seem to figure out is how to get her to be comfortable and happy with living in that outside room. In terms of basic needs and proper environment, I’m trying my best to provide that.

But when I first get her, should i make an exception and let her sleep in my room until she’s old enough to sleep in the outside room by herself? Or should I try to teach her from the start to sleep in that room? I guess my question really is how get her settled in? She will predominantly be an outdoor dog. Again, the room is clean, big enough for a fully grown female rottweiler, will have a dog door and access to the yard, and the pool area is gated. Initially, i will restrict outdoor access until she is fully vaccinated and old enough to run around the yard at night unsupervised, but during the day I will unlock the dog door so she can run outside and play if she wants.

If I had the choice, I wouldn’t keep her as an outdoor dog, but I honestly can’t and the landlord lives right next door. I am open to any suggestions in terms of raising a happy and healthy puppy outdoors, and any other suggestions as well in making sure she gets the required amount of human interaction and not left alone for too long. Just to point out, we don’t have dog sitters or day cares in this country (Bahrain), I work from 8-5 and will be coming home during lunch time (as much as possible) to spend some time with her. Since the room is still being prepared, I don’t have any pictures to upload.

Sorry for the long post.

Hi Eman. Obviously you already realize that this isn’t the best possible set up for raising a puppy, especially a Rottweiler puppy BUT I admire the thought, effort and care you’ve put into thinking through every aspect of her living arrangements and the research you’ve clearly done on this breed.

These things show that you will be a loving, dedicated and responsible dog owner, and for any puppy/dog that is a blessing.

Making sure that your girl gets plenty of human interaction on a daily basis is crucial for her mental health and stability, so it’s important that you ensure this happens long-term.. not just for the first few weeks while she’s a puppy or whatever. She will also need plenty of socialization with other people and pets (outside of the home) and to experience new and different locations and environments. All of this will help her to grow up to be confident and friendly, rather than suspicious and nervous.

Being able to have a clean, comfortable and climate controlled room with access to the outdoors is second-best to being in the home with her family, but much better than being left outside.

Puppies are creatures of habit and she will not understand if you allow her inside in your room at night to begin with, and then make her stay outside in her own room. You need to start out the way you plan to continue. Obviously she will be a baby and need to go potty outdoors during the night so you will need to be able to hear her from your room, or go to her regularly and take her outdoors at night while she’s a puppy.

If you plan to allow her to spend some time in your own room daily, that will be great for her too.

Potty training will only work successfully if you work at it, and during the day she will need someone to take her out every hour or so too. Using a crate to contain her within her room is essential so that she doesn’t start to pee or poop in it and build up bad habits. Once she is fully potty trained she will not need to be crated during the day and will be able to go inside and out freely.

Given your situation you’ll need to work extra hard to make sure she feels loved and gets plenty of training, socialization and one-on-one time with you, but as long as you’re prepared to do that I think you can make this work 🙂

But please do NOT slide in your care and end up leaving her outdoors, or in ‘her’ room for hours on end without companionship and love. If that happens it will make her unhappy and anxious and that does not make for good Rottweiler behavior or temperament. Plus it’s unfair and unkind.

Hope this helps and I wish you all the best of luck.

~ Sue

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About The Rotty lover 2159 Articles
My name is Dr. Winnie. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Duke University, a Masters of Science in Biology from St Georges University, and graduated from the University of Pretoria Veterinary School in South Africa. I have been an animal lover and owners all my life having owned a Rottweiler named Duke, a Pekingese named Athena and now a Bull Mastiff named George, also known as big G! I'm also an amateur equestrian and love working with horses. I'm a full-time Veterinarian in South Africa specializing in internal medicine for large breed dogs. I enjoy spending time with my husband, 2 kids and Big G in my free time. Author and Contribturor at SeniorTailWaggers, A Love of Rottweilers, DogsCatsPets and TheDogsBone