If you have just gotten your hands on a new Rottweiler puppy, you are probably wondering how you are going to train this tiny bundle of joy and cuteness. Oh Yes this particular dog is extremely adorable, especially in its early years. But it does eventually grow up to become a big, strong and somewhat formidable dog which is generally a good thing if you are looking for lifelong guard and companion. This is why you need Rottweiler Puppy Training Tips and here we go..
It’s worth noting that training a Rottweiler is not an easy task. This is not meant to discourage you. In fact, many ordinary people have successfully taught this dog breed how to behave well and obey commands. All you need is the right information and some time to train your dog. Ideally, you should allocate time every single day to interacting with your new companion. Let the dog know you from the onset. Training should begin immediately you get your new puppy. However, it’s never too late to start training a Rottweiler. They are known to be very intelligent and overall easily trainable with a little practice. Rots excel in competition obedience training. They are often used for service dogs, police and military work, search and rescue, and detection work as well.
The importance of training
All dog owners want their dogs to grow up to become obedient, social, well-adjusted, and overall happy dogs. For this to happen, the dog owners have to invest both time and money in teaching their dogs some basic obedience and manners commands. An untrained Rottweiler puppy grows up to become a disobedient/unruly dog that does not make life easy for anyone. Many dog owners end up abandoning their dogs because of behavioral issues that could have been easily avoided by training their dogs early on in their lives. Good Food Matters.
So, don’t fall into the trap of not training your Rottweiler puppy. Begin immediately and use the tips listed below to give you and your dog the best time of your lives. You may want to enter your dog into agility training.
Rottweiler puppy training tips.
First things first, training your puppy should be fun and exciting (for both you and your dog). However, there are some basic rules you need to follow if you want to get the best results.
There are two main types of coaching that you’ll be engaging in; basic manners/obedience and house coaching. You will also need to teach your dog how to interact with people, dogs, and different situations. Puppies, and specifically Rottweiler puppies, are very intelligent animals who can learn very many things within a concise period. They are tiny but very eager to learn. So, instruct them and expose them to new things every chance you get.
Some essential tips you can use during initial training include:
1. Begin with frequent interactions that involve fun and excitement.
2. Using positive reinforcements (toys, praise, dog treats, etc.)
3. Avoiding shouting at the dog.
4. Only give your puppy one command at a time as they are still too young to handle complex commands.
5. Keep sessions short at first (4 to 5 minutes is enough)
6. Practice basic commands at least three times a day and form a predictable practice routine.
7. Be consistent in your instructions and methods.
8. Aim to end sessions on a positive note with your puppy feeling happy :-).
9. Avoid having sessions when you are busy, stressed, or not focused on the task at hand.
Apart from them, these are some essential suggestions which I believe will help you properly train your puppy.
Before you get into training its necessary for you as an owner and friend to understand the Rottweiler breed.
You must understand the common personality traits and temperament of your fellow Rottweilers and plan his training accordingly; the dog’s instinct favors a dominant owner rather than a weak and inconsistent owner.
The dog is calm and vigilant because they closely monitor the owner’s behavior to learn and react. If they find that one of their actions is rewarding for family members, they like to repeat it. They are known for thriving on the physical contact of family members. Rottweilers have a high work ethic and are quick to learn and accomplish a task.
If you are consistent with your training methods, they prefer to wait and see rather than react instantly. And remember that they are sensitive to human feelings and don’t like to be dealt with harshly.
Start as Early as Possible
Start training your dog as soon as he arrives home. The best time to start Rottweiler training is when your dog is aged between eight weeks and six months. A puppy is more amenable to training than an adult and independent dog. A young puppy’s training is more likely to succeed because his attention ability is limited and so it is easy to get the puppy to concentrate on what you are saying with a minimum effort, time and patience. With all this time invested in your puppy and for the sake of the puppy please check out our basic puppy healthcare page.
If your pet is beyond this age, you still have a chance to train them with rewarding, reinforcement, and proper communication.
2. Select the Right Time
Train at the right time and for the right amount of time. You need to make sure your Rottie is physically and mentally fit to reciprocate while training. So, it is crucial that you train your dog when it’s relaxed and alert. You will notice that the output may not be up to your expectations if you train a dog when he is sleepy, injured, or sick. A Rottweiler is able to focus on your teachings when he is not alert and without any ailment.
It is advisable that you keep your Rottweiler training sessions short 10 to 15 minutes and repeat each command five to ten times. Teach him how to react to a command and relay action to a word. For example: make him sit after saying sit down. Observe the reaction after each command and reward positive behavior. In the beginning training sessions should be limited to 1-2 but slowly can be increased to 3-4 sessions a day.
3. Teach to Obey Commands
It is the most crucial part of Rottweiler training. A puppy is a naive pet unable to understand what you expect him to do.
You have a task in hand to make him understand your words related to a particular action and do that action. Use simple commands that are easy for the dog to learn and understand. Ensure your voice is friendly and devoid of any anger. Keep him focused and let your dog feel that his actions please or annoy you to learn the right manner.
4. Reward Obedience
When you devise a reward-based Rottweiler training, you will see your dog is learning faster. Rewarding immediately after his action is the key to conveying it to your dog that you are happy with his behavior. Your pet will stick to such manners and conduct to keep you pleased.
If you fail to reinforce his good behavior, it is likely that the dog will become confused and unable to find out what do you exactly expect from him. Rewards may be in the form of treats, verbal praise, toys, or more playtime. Using food as a reward has its share of demerits, so in the long term, gradually replace treats with other verbal and nonverbal incentives.
You can also reward him with praise or cuddling when he obeys your word. You may use signs like hand waving, clapping, throwing a toy, whistling, or slapping your thighs to help your dog understand your word and follow it.
5. Convey Your Displeasure
If the puppy nips firmly tell him not to bite and leave him alone to convey your displeasure and make sure to repeat the act after a while.
Do this until he learns not to nip or bite and reward him to show your pleasure if he does not bite. Also, try teaching basic command like no chew. If you see your pet chewing anything, firmly tell him no and remove the item. This is to make sure that your dog understands your displeasure adapts accordingly.
6. Be Consistent and Repeat
These dogs have high work ethics, and they just love to work. This also leads them to expect their trainer to be consistent in his command, approach, reward, and behavior. Rottweilers are thoughtful and observer dogs. They may disobey commands that are inconsistent or confused. So, plan you’r Rottweiler training with a consistent approach and simple and clear commands. Make the training fun so that your dog feels relaxed and comfortable. Don’t lose your cool and keep patients as you are teaching a kid unaware of everything.
7. Understand Training Basics
While training a Rottweiler to establish it clearly that you have set a few rules and the dog has a duty to follow them. Be kind to your dog and avoid yelling at or hitting him and remember never to use a crate as a punishment. Observe the reaction of the dog and use it to your advantage. Encourage good behavior while discouraging nuisances and aggression. Don’t try to control the dog or assert yourself and just be friendly to win over his loyalty.
Important Notes
Again, the key thing to remember is that you need to treat your new puppy like a little baby or toddler who is just getting to know their way around the world. Guide them and show them how things are done, and they will have no choice but to follow.
There should be no harsher physical punishments during the training session as it may make the dog fearful of being with you or forcing him to react. A puppy frequently punished at a tender age is more likely to be disturbed, stressed, and aggressive when he becomes an adult.
Start with The Basics
Your new puppy may not even be vaccinated yet, so they cannot interact with other puppies during his first weeks with you. For this reason, you must take it upon yourself to be there for him, lest he becomes lonely. You can use this time to teach him some basic commands at home. Start by giving him a name.
1. Name Recognition
Of course, you have to give your new companion a name. You can choose whatever name you like there is no limit to your imagination here. However, the name you choose will only make sense when your puppy learns to respond to it. So, the first item on your list of basic commands should be name recognition.
Name recognition and come command go hand in hand.
The best way to inform your puppy of their new name is by using treats. Look for quiet moments when your puppy is paying attention to you and call his name, then when he comes to you reward him with a treat. Repeat this on several occasions. Once he has associated his new name with a treat, try saying it when he is NOT paying attention to you and wait. If he responds to you by staring at you, get excited and call him again in attempt to get the pup to get up and actually come to you, reward him with a treat when he does. Proceed to repeat this process on several occasions until the puppy learns to recognize and respond to their name.
2. Come Command
The goal with this command is to get your puppy to respond and come to you without any hesitation. If you have a “stubborn” pup you should only teach the come command when the puppy if fully attentive. Start by attaching your dog to a long leash. Call his name and give a signal like clapping your hands or whistling and bend down to his level and encourage him to come to you. When he obeys this command, give him a treat as soon as he gets to you. If he doesn’t give him a gentle little tug on the leash. The best place to practice this command is in your backyard or in a park where the puppy has enough space to roam around but without distractions.
3. Sit Command
Hold a treat right new to the puppy’s nose while standing on all fours. Ask him to ‘sit’ in a calm but firm voice and then proceed to move the treat slowly back over his head. The puppy’s nose will follow the treat up until the point where he’ll be forced to sit and only stand on two’s. If he’s able to follow the command successfully, reward him with the treat. Practice this a few times every day until he gets it right.
4. Potty training a Rottweiler puppy
First, you need the right size crate. One too small and the puppy won’t have enough room but often the mistake people make is getting a crate that’s to big. If the crate is too big the puppy will feel like it’s big enough for him to use the bathroom in and still have his own safe spot to lay.
To successfully get the puppy to enter the crate and not have to fight them every time the door opens have a treat ready. Once you open the door throw the treat in and eventually the puppy will be excited to go in so they can get the treat. Then simply close the door. Expect a few accidents in the crate and be sure to allow the Rottie puppy to have plenty opportunities to use the bathroom in the designated area. Get the puppy used to using the restroom in a certain place in the yard and eventually it will be come his potty territory. Be patient and consistent.
5. Other Commands
After your puppy has learned to respond to the basic commands listed above, you can move on to other complex commands such as the “Down” and “Leave It” commands. Rottweilers are highly trainable but you may wish to hire someone to teach Rottweiler attack training, this is a very competitive sport. These may require additional effort on your part, but the key is to be patient and remember to reward your dog every time they get a command right.
Conclusion with Rottweiler Puppy Training Tips
Training your Rottweiler puppy doesn’t have to be difficult. Just remember to train frequently, be consistent, and use positive reinforcements where appropriate and every will go smoothly. All the best!