The American Kennel Club describes the Rottweiler as ‘A gentle playmate and protector within the family circle.’ Due to some of the reasons Rottweilers have been used, there is a stigma around them. But are they truly dangerous?
Due to their size and strength, and in the right (or wrong) circumstance, the Rottweiler can most certainly be dangerous.
However, a properly socialized Rottweiler in a loving home will unlikely be a threat. In fact, they are gorgeous dogs who are loyal and loving.
Rottweilers were bred to herd livestock and also to pull carts stacked with meat to the market. Hence their innate strength. They were even known to march the Alps with Roman Legions.
The above jobs that Rottweilers were bred for entailed the protection of their owners and stock. This is why they also make fantastic guard dogs.
The Rottweiler is considered even-tempered, and with proper training and socialization, they will consider every situation carefully.
They respond to events with a wait-and-see attitude, and if they deem it necessary, they will react to protect their ‘pack’.
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When owning a dog as large and powerful as a Rottweiler, it’s important that they are raised correctly. A poorly raised Rottie can lead to a situation in which they could be extremely dangerous.
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What Makes a Rottweiler Dangerous?
Being bred for herding and protecting means the Rottweiler carries various traits that can come out in dangerous ways, if incorrectly trained or socialized.
Irresponsible ownership, neglect, abuse, lack of training, and socialization, can all lead to dire outcomes.
Rottweilers are also extremely strong, and this makes them more dangerous than other, smaller breeds if all other factors were considered equal.
Breed experts don’t just recommend training and extensive socialization, they say it is a must-do.
A courier who strays into the yard of a Rottweiler who isn’t socialized or trained, could be faced with an early exit from planet Earth.
What Makes a Rottweiler Not Dangerous?
Although Rottweilers have a reputation for having aggressive tendencies and behaviors, Rottweilers are not innately aggressive dogs.
They can be loving, loyal, and protective family dogs. Aggressive tendencies are likely to only occur in situations of watchdog or territorial instincts.
It will be up to owners to consistently work on their Rottweilers territorial, protective instincts.
Although obedience training is vital, socialization from a very early age is critical to success in this aspect.
Media coverage of the Rottweiler has often painted the breed as a vicious, dangerous, animal. This has definitely exaggerated the actual nature of the Rottweiler.
Their adult temperament is heavily influenced by the owner, and the past work the owner has done. However, even a Rottweiler with little training will likely have a level head in most situations.
As owners, it’s important to know your dog. If you know how your dog will behave in any given situation, you can act before the situation becomes a danger.
For example, if a long-lost cousin comes over and starts wrestling with the father of the family, a Rottweiler seeing this may see a threat and act accordingly.
Also knowing your Rotti’s body language is important. If they bark and lunge at another dog or at a stranger, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are being protective or aggressive. They could be playing.
Rottweiler Trainability to Stop Aggression
Rottweilers are highly intelligent. They are even rated in the top 10 for domestic dogs in intelligence!
This means they are easy to train, and this is especially so if it’s in line with their natural instincts of protection. Being so loyal also means they will listen to you when you call them off, as long as the training has been put in place.
Rottweilers also love attention and praise, which supercharges their trainability. The only downside going for them is they can be stubborn at times.
This stubborn trait can mean they will do something they prefer over what you want in that moment. Which is another reason why regular obedience training is required for Rottweilers.
The fact that they are easy to train means they are less dangerous than breeds that lack this intelligence and ability.
Having this high intelligence is also another reason why they are level-headed in situations, as they spend a moment to judge a problem before acting.
How to Stop Rottweiler Aggression
Whenever your Rottweiler shows an undesirable or aggressive behavior, you should stop the behavior by removing them from the situation, or distracting them.
Here are some things you can do to prevent and stop dangerous behaviors from developing:
Vital Socialization
From 4 to 14 weeks a Rottweiler is in their socialization window. This time is the most important time in your dog’s life. After the window closes, behavioral issues that show up from poor socialization will be difficult to overcome.
Through this open window, it’s critical for a Rottweiler puppy to get out and about. To see other dogs, other people, other places, and other homes.
Forget your fears of parvo right now, this is more important! Puppy school sessions are a must, too. Do as many as you can as often as you can during this open window.
Take your Rottweiler puppy with you wherever you go and get them used to the varying situations, so as they get older, they won’t be fearful or anxious about meeting people, children, or other dogs in the future. And being a danger to them!
Obedience Training
Ensure you enroll in obedience training early and regularly attend. Not only is this important for the training aspect, but it also gets your Rottweiler into social situations.
Body Language
You should also learn about dog body language, so you can tell if your Rottweiler is being aggressive, or is just playing.
If your dog is being aggressive, they will bare their teeth, growl, have a stiff body, and may have their hackles up.
If you see any of these warning signs, you need to act quickly to stop the behavior.
It’s important that you don’t smack them. Positive reinforcement training is always best. Reward them once they stop the unwanted behavior.
Exercise
Preventing aggression can come down to something as simple as preventing boredom. Ensure they get daily exercise. Walks, runs, ball chasing, and games, are all important.
As herding dogs, Rottweilers have lots of energy to expel. Pent-up energy with nowhere to go can end in unwanted behaviors, including dangerous behaviors.
Rottweilers need at least 2 hours of exercise every day. A good-sized backyard is great, too. They definitely aren’t apartment dogs.
Puppy and at a Younger Age
When they are young, it’s important to keep your Rottweiler on a leash for walks. This will give you control over them in situations that they are unfamiliar with. It will keep a safe distance from other people and dogs.
Any aggression that you see and can’t resolve should be handled by calling in a behavioral expert. Don’t ignore aggressive outbursts from your puppy or young Rottweiler.
Mental Exercise
Mental stimulation is important for all dogs, but especially intelligent dogs such as Rottweilers. Without brain games, a Rottweiler can become destructive as they find tasks to do.
One task a Rottweiler might find is guarding the home from people walking by, barking, and showing aggression to anyone who threatens their property. This occurs because they are finding their own job to do to pass time.
Keeping them busy and active will lessen the risk of this dangerous behavior.
Mental exercise can be done through daily obedience training, sniffing on walks, and playing puzzle games.
Training From Puppyhood to Adulthood
With proper training at the right age, it’s more likely you’ll see an adult Rottweiler that doesn’t show unwanted aggressive behaviors.
For a perfectly harmless, beautiful Rottweiler family dog, it’s important to raise them in a holistic sense. Training alone won’t do it. Socialization alone won’t do it. But all together, you will have a healthy, non-dangerous Rottweiler.
One thing to consider, as they mature, even with all the above, ailments and pain can cause aggression later in life. So always be mindful if your Rottweiler is getting on of the danger that this can cause to others.
Conclusion
If raised inappropriately and if put in a bad situation, Rottweilers can be very dangerous. Adult Rottweilers have an extremely strong bite that can cause harm or death. However, with correct diligent training and socialization, a Rottweiler is a safe family dog.
