The first command I taught Bentley was to return to me when we were on a walk. Keeping a dog on a short leash (if you are taking them for a walk) or around 5 feet away if you are in your house, say “Come Bentley” and slap your thighs gently while bending down and looking at your dog in the face. It will take some practice but when he/she eventually comes to you embrace them and pick them up. This will let them know that they will get a cuddle if they approach you when you say “come”.

The next thing I taught him was to sit. This is obviously one of the hardest things to teach a rottweiler puppy because they are so energetic. When you say sit, push gently on the rare of your rottweiler until he goes into a sitting position. Acknowledge that by saying “good boy/girl” and gently rubbing their back.

The next most important command to teach your rottweiler puppy is “stop”. As a general habit they will bite anything they can find in their reach. When they start to nibble on furniture say “stop” in a low pitched voice and gently move them away from it. They will obviously try to go back, but you must be persistent each time saying “stop” so they associate it with the fact that they are doing something you do not approve of.

These are three of the basic commands you use to start to training a rottweiler puppy. There are of course many more commands that are essential for their learning, and you can find these in the rottweiler care category of the website.

photo by foxrosser

It might seem like a strange concept to make a meal for your dog, but if you are looking to get the best for him/her its right in your house.

Its important that your rottie gets the right amount of nutrition, protein, and vitamins because this will prevent many diet related diseases and injuries. It doesnt take long at all to prepare a good meal with the right nutrition, but the effects of it will show throughout your dogs life.

Remember that the rottweiler is a puppy until its around two years old and usually has grown completely within the first year. Even after a year, once your dog looks like an adult, it is still important to feed it the puppy meals (with regards to vitamins). Referring to the post made earlier about rottweiler health care and avoiding hip injuries, it is better to provide your dog with five or six small meals a day even if it means they will not be completely satisfied after each meal.

The preferred ingredients for a home made meal would include meat (lamb only), chicken, and dairy. What you don’t want to feed your rottweiler is fish, rice, corn, or beef. There are two ways of making the meal, wet or dry. If the meal is dry make sure to keep a bowl of water next to your rott as this will help them to digest the food easier. Its a personal decision and you should consult your vet in case your rottweiler requires a specialized diet based on his/her current health.

Rottweilers are by nature extremely smart and bold. This can work both for and against you in your struggle to groom your rottweiler into becoming enjoyable and loyal companions. Without the right training rottweilers can be extremely destructive (often harming owners and ripping apart anything they can find in the house), but hopefully with the help I am giving you on this site we will be able to prevent that type of behavior.

photo by: Zevotron

If you train your dog with the right methodologies and take good care of their health they will turn out to be well maintained, obedient, and confident at the same time. Well maintained means that they will not tear your furniture to pieces if you leave them alone in the house, and they will be in a sense potty trained (more on that later). If they are obedient it means they will let you trim their nails, give them a bath with ease, and not chase/bark after other animals if you encounter any while taking your rottie for a walk.

Rottweilers can sometimes be very aggressive and try to take over as the “alpha dog” of the family. Its important to set who is in charge, through the use of various training techniques which are in the course I outlined on the home page. This will provide you with the means to expand the training of your dog and even make it easier for you to groom him/her because they will learn that you appreciate them complying with your commands.

This is just the basic theory and what you should hope to achieve by completing a training course. It is easier if you manage to get a rottweiler puppy because then you will be able to instill the right values in him/her, while if you end up getting a fully grown one it will be harder to get them to cooperate with you. In my opinion it is very possible with the right determination and persistence.

This is the second post in a series about training rottweiler puppies. Once you have decided on a nice name for your rottweiler you can begin playing with him/her. Rottweilers are a breed of dogs that crave a lot of interaction and attention. You can start by giving your rottweiler a hug and letting him know that you are there to take care of him. Rottweilers are extremely loyal to human companions and once they get used to having people around they will build a strong relationship with the whomever they are staying with.

It is important to exercise your dog even when they are a puppy by taking them for short walks (read more about walking your rottweiler in the “Rottweiler Care” category located on the right). Taking them on walks will allow them to see and hear the new surroundings and will stimulate both mind and body. At first keep them on a short leash to prevent them from interacting with other animals and dogs because they could end up in a fight and get hurt.

Let your friends meet him and also introduce him to anyone else you know. By letting them pet him/her they will get used to interaction and socialization with animals other than yourself.

Rottweilers require constant interaction and nurturing to keep them entertained and prevent them from becoming destructive. Socialization and interaction with other animals will prepare them mentally when you perform obedience training. Remember that you are building a relationship with a friend who will become extremely dedicated and loyal to you.

Choosing A Name For Your Rottweiler

Photo by nicasaurusrex

The first step to begin training your rottweiler puppy is choosing a name. Choosing the right name is essential because this is what you are going to call your most trusted companion for the rest of his/her life. They will learn to become accustomed to it and follow instructions when you refer to them by their name.

Many people choose a German name for their rottweiler because the rottweiler breed is originally from Germany. Personally I don’t think a German name or English name will greatly affect your dog. The most important thing to do is choose a name that has two syllables so that he/she can become accustomed to the beat associated with the name (and pitch).
Rottweiler Training Tips For Your Puppy

Use his name as often as possible when talking to him/her so that they become used to hearing it and they will know that you are referring to them. When my rottweiler was a puppy, any time he performed a task that I asked him too or obeyed a command I immediately notified him of my approval by saying “Good job, Bentley!”. It is probably the best way to get him/her associated with it and also to recognize that they did what you were expecting.

However, be careful not to scold your dog using his/her name. Do not use their name when they have performed something that you did not want them to do. If you do use their name they will start to associate it with the fact you used it when you were displeased with them, and then will assume that you are displeased with them any time you use their name.

Photo by Solid Bond

1. Bloating
This happens when a Rottweiler’s stomach gets filled with gas or fluids. This can be caused if he/she is fed too much on a daily basis and they overeat or even if they drink to much water. Another important thing to keep in mind is that they should rest after eating, and not do much exercise (this will help prevent bloating from happening). Try to ration the amount of water your rottie takes and also instead of eating three heavy meals give them five or six smaller meals throughout the day.

2. Heart Disease
Rottweilers are very prone to a wide variety of health problems, and one of them includes heart disease. In some cases it can be very subtle and almost undetectable, but in other cases it can result in death. This is usually inherited and your vet might be able to give some medication for it.

3. Allergies
Rotts can suffer from many different allergies. The most common one is food allergies, but they can also be allergic to fleas, pollen, feathers, or dust. If you notice your dog acting out, take them to the vet because they can suffer great irritation from these allergies.

4. Cancer
Bone cancer is very common in rottweilers. If you notice any bumps on your rottweiler or if you see them limping, take them to the vet and have it checked out.

5. Hip Dyplasia
This is a disorder that is obtained genetically. Its when the hip of the rottweiler is deformed and he/she will have trouble walking. There are no signs of any actual disturbance until after 6 months of age, after which an x-ray can determine the complexity.

6. Von Willebrand’s Disease
VWD for short is something like hemophilia. It causes the dogs to bleed unnecessarily with minor cuts, and can be disastrous if your rottie needs to undertake any surgical procedure.

There are many other health concerns for rottweiler owners but these are probably the most common. If I missed anything please post a comment below.