Rottweilers—affectionately known as “Rotties”—are sometimes unfairly subject to a bad reputation. Though some believe that Rottweilers are loose cannons that can’t be trusted around children, a well-socialized Rottweiler is actually one of the most loyal, loving, and protective family dogs you could hope to have.
In this post, we’ll address some common misconceptions and questions about Rottweilers and share more about how well they adapt to family life.
Are Rottweilers Good for Families?
Rottweilers are described by the American Kennel Club as “loyal”, “loving”, and a “confident guardian”. If socialized and trained correctly—ideally from as young as possible—Rottweilers, however intimidating they may look to some, can be major softies. Many grow very attached to their families and some even suffer from separation anxiety if their people are away for too long.
Rottweilers are also excellent guardians and are fiercely loyal to their families—as a result, they can be a tad suspicious of strangers but are rarely aggressive. They’re the ultimate “ride or die” dogs and will be by your side through good times and bad. It is these traits that have begun to turn the tide regarding the misconception that Rottweilers are inherently aggressive and endear dog lovers the world over to them.
Are Rottweilers Good With Kids?
Yes, Rottweilers can be great companions and playmates for kids. Of course, as with any dog breed, it is the owner’s responsibility to socialize their Rottweiler. Any dog breed has a higher chance of being good with kids if they’ve been socialized alongside them.
At the same time, children should be taught how to gently and respectfully interact with the dog and be supervised at all times when spending time with dogs. This goes for any breed, not just Rottweilers. It’s also important to keep an eye out when your kids are playing with your Rottweiler, especially toddlers. This is simply because they may knock a child over accidentally on account of their large size.
In short, if a Rottweiler has been raised with plenty of love and positive interactions by a dog parent with good leadership skills, there’s absolutely no reason why they wouldn’t make a wonderful family dog. A Rottweiler that hasn’t been socialized or has been maltreated, neglected, or trained to be aggressive is much more likely to be a danger, just like any other breed.
Is It True That Rottweilers Are Hard to Train?
Not at all. On the contrary, Rottweilers even made it onto the American Kennel Club’s list of most trainable dogs! Rottweilers need and enjoy training and learning boundaries. They’re extremely intelligent and are protective to the core, so they thrive on training and having another excuse to spend time with their families learning how to please them. Like we said, big old softies!
You can even involve your children in helping train your Rottweiler, as this is a great way for them to learn responsibility and gives your Rottie more interaction with them. As long as you’re supervising to keep things under control, this could really help to build that all-important bond between your Rottweiler and your kids.
It’s important to be positive, calm, and consistent when training your Rottweiler. Have some treats handy to encourage them and heap on the praise when they do something right. Avoid shouting, hitting, or punishing your Rottweiler as this will erode their trust in you.
Final Thoughts
Bringing it all in, well-socialized Rottweilers with plenty of love and attention in their lives are just as loyal, affectionate, and good with kids as any dog breed, especially when they’ve grown up together. This is a breed that responds excellently to training and can make a wonderful guardian and companion to children who show them as much love and respect in return.
Featured Image Credit: Ricantimages, Shutterstock
