MR

Anyone here own one or know anyone who owns one? My little sister has two of them, and I'm worried sick. She says if you treat them well, they won't hurt you. Still, I worry. She keeps them outside in a fenced area, but sometimes lets them roam free. I worry about her getting attacked or them attacking someone else. I'm petrified of them and I refuse to even go to her house because of them. My mother won' t leave her car when she visits.

I'm sure in some instances they can be good dogs, but I feel like you'd really need to know what you're doing. I don't feel she knows what the heck she's doing!

Are they really as bad as the media makes them out to be? Am I worried for nothing?

Just found out their PITBULLS. ROTFL. I knew that, but got the ROTWEILLER STUCK IN my head. Either way, I'm still scared for her.

This is an excellent website that will provide almost any information you need about this breed.

http://www.amrottclub.org/rottweilers.h ... emperament

No matter the breed and no matter how well-trained an animal may be, NO dog should be allowed to run free. I hope you're able to make her understand the importance of keeping two Rottweilers under control.

Trailblazer wrote:This is an excellent website that will provide almost any information you need about this breed.

http://www.amrottclub.org/rottweilers.h ... emperament

No matter the breed and no matter how well-trained an animal may be, NO dog should be allowed to run free. I hope you're able to make her understand the importance of keeping two Rottweilers under control.

Okay, I'm stupid, I just got off the phone with my sister, their pit bulls. Are they as bad as Rotweillers?

I used to work in a veterinarian's office and helped treat several rottweilers. Only one was vicious, he had seizure problems and a deteriorating brain. He tried to attack me, but luckily I pulled his gate back against me and he was lunging against it to get me. When he turned around to lunge at a dog in another kennel, I was able to get out the back door. That was by far the most exciting experience I had working there.
After a few more months he started turning on his owner and we had to put him to sleep.

Otherwise, rottweilers are like any other dogs, they respond to how they are treated. It angers me that people overbreed rotts and pit bulls and sell them to people who want a "fad" dog and subject them to mistreatment and teasing. Now the shelters are full of these dogs, usually they have to be euthanized.

As long as your sister loves them and treats them well, there's probably nothing to worry about as far as her being safe with them, but she's setting herself up for a huge liability problem by letting them roam free. They shouldn't be allowed access to other people. All dogs, especially ones that large, should be securely fenced.

Sounds like she doesn't want visitors.

Just saw your edit. Same applies to pit bulls. She should keep them fenced. My dad owned a really great pit bull, a friend of mine does also.

scarygirl wrote:

Trailblazer wrote:This is an excellent website that will provide almost any information you need about this breed.

http://www.amrottclub.org/rottweilers.h ... emperament

No matter the breed and no matter how well-trained an animal may be, NO dog should be allowed to run free. I hope you're able to make her understand the importance of keeping two Rottweilers under control.

Okay, I'm stupid, I just got off the phone with my sister, their pit bulls. Are they as bad as Rotweillers?

I think they should be banned. Too many instances of them attacking people and turning on their owners. They're mean and unpredictable. I think a big part of the problem is inbreeding. Makes them unstable mentally.

You are right about the inbreeding , Rick. Add irresponsible owners to the mix and you have a potentially dangerous situation. We adopted a golden retriever from a rescue group last year. He had been kept in a cage for two years, beaten, not socialized, no immunizations, etc. As gentle a breed as retrievers are, the rescue group folks told us that it was necessary to euthanize some because of aggression issues. We're still working through some issues with him, but he has come a long, long way. I know that there are sweet pits as well as Rottweilers, but it takes a dedicated person to own such a dog, IMHO.

I've tried to talk to her. She doesn't listen to me. She doesn't listen to anyone. I'm going to print out this thread along with some information I've found online. Maybe that will change her mind.

scarygirl wrote: ... I'm sure in some instances they can be good dogs, but I feel like you'd really need to know what you're doing. I don't feel she knows what the heck she's doing!

Hi Scary, am I evil? For some reason I found that last line comical. Started chuckling.

scarygirl wrote:I've tried to talk to her. She doesn't listen to me. She doesn't listen to anyone. I'm going to print out this thread along with some information I've found online. Maybe that will change her mind.

A stubborn one, eh? Well, maybe this might change her mind...........

Hey Scarygirl's sister! There are leash laws in all towns and cities. Letting your dogs roam free will be inviting trouble, police or animal control visits, and fines that will go up with each infraction. Maybe down the line the dogs will be taken away from you.......... Just some food for thought.........

scarygirl wrote:I've tried to talk to her. She doesn't listen to me. She doesn't listen to anyone. I'm going to print out this thread along with some information I've found online. Maybe that will change her mind.

Somehow I don't think we'll change her mind.

Hard to believe she'll keep them around knowing your mom is scared.

I used to be afraid of Rotties, too. I had one for 11 1/2 years and he was just about the sweetest dog ever. At his heaviest, he weighed 156 lbs. He still thought he was a puppy. I like to tell people that you would've drowned from being slobbered on before he'd hurt you. So, yea, I had a great experience with that breed. Pit bulls, on the other hand.... I think the breed has taken over the "bad reputation" that Rotties used to have.

Of course, any and/or all of the behavior could be attributed to the genes or how they are raised. I think if you are not raising an animal to fight - your chances are better to have a "family friendly" pet. I know that doesn't give an answer one way or another, but just wanted to put down a plus for the Rotties.

I know what you mean. I know someone who has a dog, part pit, part doberman? The sweetest dog you ever met. I still worry for my sister though. These dogs are pure pit through and through. I worry even more so, because we as a family aren't exactly strong on the luck department.

Maybe I worry too much. I guess it's part of being a sister! I probably shouldn't have watched CUJO as a tot either.

Ms_M wrote:I used to be afraid of Rotties, too. I had one for 11 1/2 years and he was just about the sweetest dog ever. At his heaviest, he weighed 156 lbs. He still thought he was a puppy. I like to tell people that you would've drowned from being slobbered on before he'd hurt you. So, yea, I had a great experience with that breed. Pit bulls, on the other hand.... I think the breed has taken over the "bad reputation" that Rotties used to have.

Of course, any and/or all of the behavior could be attributed to the genes or how they are raised. I think if you are not raising an animal to fight - your chances are better to have a "family friendly" pet. I know that doesn't give an answer one way or another, but just wanted to put down a plus for the Rotties.

scarygirl wrote:I know what you mean. I know someone who has a dog, part pit, part doberman? The sweetest dog you ever met. I still worry for my sister though. These dogs are pure pit through and through. I worry even more so, because we as a family aren't exactly strong on the luck department.

Maybe I worry too much. I guess it's part of being a sister! I probably shouldn't have watched CUJO as a tot either.

Ms_M wrote:I used to be afraid of Rotties, too. I had one for 11 1/2 years and he was just about the sweetest dog ever. At his heaviest, he weighed 156 lbs. He still thought he was a puppy. I like to tell people that you would've drowned from being slobbered on before he'd hurt you. So, yea, I had a great experience with that breed. Pit bulls, on the other hand.... I think the breed has taken over the "bad reputation" that Rotties used to have.

Of course, any and/or all of the behavior could be attributed to the genes or how they are raised. I think if you are not raising an animal to fight - your chances are better to have a "family friendly" pet. I know that doesn't give an answer one way or another, but just wanted to put down a plus for the Rotties.

No doubt watching Cujo had something to do with it... I'll think good thoughts for your sister.