In training and observing Rottweilers, a common
problem I have noticed is with the dog who "grumbles". I have had people
call me in hysterics because their precious little five month old Rottweiler
is growling at them. They immediately assume he's gone over the edge and
is dangling on the precipice of absolute viciousness. Usually I am able
to tell them he is only "grumbling".
This scenario makes a great case for knowing
what you are getting when you buy a Rottweiler! In addition, it would behoove
all new puppy owners to attend puppy kindergarten classes in order to learn
what's normal and what is not. The sooner you lay the foundation for learning
with a puppy, the better off you will be in your relationship with your
dog as an adult.
Now, back to the problem at hand. Or is it a problem?
In general, a Rottweiler is a quite vocal animal who tends to grumble when
being petted, handled and played with. A normal grumbler, without ulterior
motives, will grumble low in his chest or throat and no facial movement
will accompany the sound. In other words, he is not baring his teeth. If
he does, you may have an altogether different problem on your hands.
Problems with grumbling that escalate to growling
usually begin because the owner is unaware that this behavior exists in
the breed. Hence, the first time the young puppy grumbles it is met with
what is known as a reinforcing behavior from the owner. In other words,
the owner backs off from the puppy, retreats and/or stops what he is doing
with the puppy.
Let's say this happens during some activity the
puppy didn't like much anyway, such as nail clipping or ear cleaning. The
puppy has now learned an easy way to get the owner to back off. The next
time the event takes place the puppy may growl or snarl and possibly attempt
to bite. Many owners may take to smacking the puppy every time he utters
a sound. Trust me with most Rottweilers violence begets violence. This
owner will quickly have a dog that fears being handled in any way and may
bite as soon as he gains a little maturity.
Another owner might coo at the dog or stop everything
and stroke the > dog to calm it. "There there, Poopsie. Mommy won't touch
you with the big nail clippers anymore. It's okay." This action will also
reinforce the behavior. The puppy immediately learns that grumbling can
actually earn him praise and petting and the unpleasant activity
stops, too!
So, what is an owner to do? First, make sure you
purchase your rottweiler from a reputable breeder with well-tempered stock.
The breeder will have a special area for whelping either indoors or outdoors.
The area will be clean, safe and quiet. He/She will have handled the puppies
briefly every day from birth. Once the puppies reached three weeks of age
they will have become accustomed to noises, light grooming sessions, play
sessions with humans and submission exercises. They will have been spoken
to and cradled and, most importantly ... they will not be removed from
the litter until after six weeks of age. (seven or eight is better)
Secondly, when you bring the puppy to your home,
continue the breeders good work. Handle the puppy in brief sessions every
day. Pick up his feet and hold them. Have your veterinarian show you how
to clip off the ends of his toenails. Then check them every week for growth
and keep up with it. Look in his ears; brush his coat lightly and
gently. Talk to him quietly while handling. Keep a few small pieces of
treat handy and randomly reward him while he is being still and quiet
for his sessions. Increase the time you spend on the sessions gradually.
Don't expect an eight-week-old puppy to be still for twenty minutes of
grooming. If he grumbles or growls, wait it out. Do not look at the dog.
You might put a slight smile on your face as you wait. If there is
even one second of quiet from the puppy, quickly praise and reward with
a treat so you can win that battle. Otherwise, you will never win the war.
In addition to all of the above handling techniques,
it is advisable to find a behaviorally-based puppy class in your area.
Let me caution you though, a badly taught class at this point in a young
dog's life can be worse than not going to class at all!
Here's some advice on what to look for in a puppy
kindergarten class: any reference to formal obedience should be avoided!
We are learning to cope with puppy behavior, not trying to teach a sixteen
week old puppy to heel.
Light obedience such as walking on a leash, sit
and down commands with no stays, and teaching a solid come-when-called
are good components.
The professional involved will stress problem
prevention. In addition, does the program include social playtime with
the other puppies? Does it limit the number of puppies, have an age cut-off
of about twenty weeks, and insist that all shots be current on puppies?
Are the facilities clean and treated daily to prevent spread of contagious
diseases?
Other topics that belong in a puppy class include
housebreaking, bite inhibition, chewing prevention. safe toy and health
discussions, puppy and child relationships, etc. There should
be absolutely no mention of choke collars or corrections. Treats, toys
and praise should be in obvious abundance on the premises.
Armed with the tools to interpret normal puppy
behavior, you will be better able to cope with your grumbling Rottweiler.
You should quickly be able to discern grumbles from growls. Snarling and
biting then need never make it into the picture.
Grumbling can be looked at as a particularly endearing
habit of many Rottweilers as long as it is correctly and calmly handled.
Many times the grumbling will stop when the reactions to it are controlled.
Often the grumbling stops as the dog gets older. Others grumble until the
day they die. Make it your business to be able to understand and handle
your dog's vocal tendencies and you will avoid big problems down the road.
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