Introduction 1
So Who Am I? 2
How This Book is Organized 2
Part I: Getting to Know Rottweilers 2
Part II: Searching for Your Soul Mate 2
Part III: Living with a Rottweiler 3
Part IV: Keeping Your Rottweiler Healthy 3
Part V: The Part of Tens 4
Icons Used in This Book 4
Part I: Getting to Know Rottweilers 5
Chapter 1: So What Exactly is a Rottweiler? 7
Understanding What Sets the Rottweiler Apart 7
Looking at the Purpose of Breed Standards 9
The German standard 10
The AKC standard 12
Knowing Whether Your Rottweiler Has to Fit the Standard 14
Taking a Quick Tour of Rottweiler History 14
The Rottweiler’s German roots 15
The changing role of the Rottweiler 16
The transplanting of Rottweilers to the United States 17
The Rottweiler’s role in modern day 18
Chapter 2: Is a Rottweiler Right for You? 19
Being Honest with Yourself about What You Have to Give 21
Knowing the kind of time and energy dog ownership requires 21
Understanding that Rottweilers aren’t perfect 22
Knowing Whether You Have What It Takes to Own a Rottweiler 23
Seeing how ready you are to own a Rottie 23
Looking at the specifics of what dog ownership requires 24
Weighing Your Decision Carefully 27
Part II: Searching for Your Soul Mate 29
Chapter 3: Knowing What You Want in a Rottweiler 31
Remembering That Each Dog is Unique 31
Deciding Between a Male and a Female Rottie 33
Considering the Age of Your Dog When You Bring Him Home 34
Birth to 7 weeks 35
Seven to eight weeks 35
8 weeks to 6 months 36
6 to 12 months 36
The adult Rottweiler 36
Chapter 4: Finding and Choosing Your New Friend 37
Knowing the Difference between Responsible Breeders and Backyard Breeders 38
Working with a Responsible Breeder 40
Understanding which health tests and guarantees the breeder provides 41
Asking the breeder which puppy he would choose for you 42
Considering the Rescue Option 43
American Rottweiler Club rescue 44
Independent rescue groups 44
Humane societies and animal shelters 44
Choosing a Puppy 45
Pay attention to the puppy’s health 45
Don’t overlook the puppy’s personality 50
Observe the puppy’s behavior 51
Knowing Which Important Papers You Need When You Walk out the Door 52
Health record 53
Pedigree 54
Registration application 54
Sales contract 55
Part III: Living with a Rottweiler 57
Chapter 5: Preparing for Your Puppy 59
Making Your Shopping List 60
Finding the Right Leashes and Collars for Your Rottweiler 61
Getting the Right Equipment to Confine Your Dog When Necessary 62
Crates and cages 62
Outdoor runs 64
Stocking up on Puppy-Proofing Supplies 64
Supplying Your Pup with All the Toys His Heart Desires 65
Chew toys 66
Play toys 66
Toys to avoid 67
Finding the Right Grooming Tools 67
Chapter 6: Welcome Home! 71
Being Prepared for Reality 71
Bringing Your Pup Home Safely 73
Surviving the Difficult First Week 73
Dealing with Inevitable Baby Behavior 75
Dealing with a lonely pup 76
Addressing house-training problems early 77
Redirecting your puppy’s chewing 77
Surviving your pup’s bursts of energy 78
Managing play biting and growling 79
Knowing What to Expect from Your Adolescent or Adult Rottweiler 79
Recognizing the Instincts of the Breed 80
Guarding 80
Dominance 81
Dealing with Stress in Your Rottweiler 82
Being sure you don’t pressure your dog too much 82
Understanding separation anxiety 83
Housebreaking Your Rottweiler 84
Chapter 7: Understanding How to Communicate with Your Rottweiler 87
Understanding Why Your Rottweiler Does What He Does 88
Instinctual creatures 88
Thinking creatures 89
Figuring Out How Behavior Gets Reinforced 90
Knowing How to Respond to Your Rottie When He Misbehaves 91
Socializing Your Rottweiler for His Own Happiness 92
Getting children to help in the socialization process 93
Continuing socialization in your pup’s new home 94
Listening When Your Rottie Speaks 96
Active versus passive behavior 96
The hidden meaning behind a dog’s behavior 96
What your body language says to your dog 97
Chapter 8: Training Your Rottweiler 99
Assuming Your Role as Leader of the Pack 99
Knowing What to Expect of Your Rottie 100
Starting with the Basics 101
Name recognition and “no” 101
Using a collar and leash 102
Teaching Your Rottweiler the Most Important Commands 103
“Come” 103
“Sit” 104
“Stay” 105
“Down” 105
“Heel” 106
Attending Training Classes with Your Rottweiler 109
Finding a Good Dog Trainer 109
Dealing with Emotional Conflicts 111
Chapter 9: Having Fun with Your Rottweiler 113
Playing Games with Your Rottie 114
Following the bouncing ball 115
Playing a rousing game of fetch 116
Getting a game of hide-and-seek going 116
Taking Advantage of Dog-Friendly Parks 117
Enjoying the Water with Your Dog 118
Hitting the Trails with Your Rottie 120
Helping Your Rottie Do What He Was Bred to Do 120
Herding tests and trials 121
Schutzhund 123
Guard work 125
Carting 126
Search and rescue work 126
Keeping in Mind Some Other Fun Things to Do with Your Rottweiler 127
There’s no business like show business 127
Competitive sports for Rottweilers 133
Canine Good Citizen 135
Helping Your Dog Help Others 135
Part IV: Keeping Your Rottweiler Healthy 137
Chapter 10: Getting to Know Your Rottweiler Inside and Out 139
Exploring the Anatomy of the Rottweiler 140
Identifying Inherited Health Problems and Diseases 142
Hip dysplasia 142
Osteochondritis dissecans 143
Eye problems 144
Demodectic mange 145
Checking Your Dog’s Health Regularly 145
Deciding Whether to Breed Your Rottweiler 146
Spaying or Neutering Your Dog 148
Looking for the Best Veterinarian on Your Dog’s Behalf 149
Chapter 11: Feeding and Exercising Your Rottweiler 151
Answering Your Questions about Your Rottie’s Nutrition 151
Which food should I feed? 151
How much is enough? 152
How much protein and fat does my dog need? 153
Will that inexpensive grocery-store brand be good enough? 153
Adapting Your Dog’s Diet as His Needs Change 154
Feeding puppies 155
Maintaining your dog’s current weight 156
Feeding an aging Rottweiler 156
Meeting Your Rottweiler’s Special Nutritional Needs 157
Chicken soup for the ailing pooch 157
What to do for the tubby Rottweiler 157
Getting Your Rottweiler the Exercise He Needs 158
Puppy exercise 159
Adolescents and healthy adults 159
65 and counting: Exercise for seniors 160
Chapter 12: Preventing Health Problems 161
Vaccinating Your Dog Against Deadly Diseases 161
Canine parvovirus 162
Canine virus distemper 162
Hardpad 163
Infectious canine hepatitis 163
Leptospirosis 163
Rabies 163
Bordatella 164
The Great Vaccination Debate 164
Paying Attention to Parasites 165
Fleas 166
Lice 167
Ticks 167
Mange 168
Tapeworms 169
Heartworms 169
Whipworms and hookworms 169
Roundworms 170
Grooming Your Rottweiler for Health and Beauty 170
Brushing 170
Ears 171
Teeth 171
Eyes 172
Feet and nails 172
Anal glands 174
Chapter 13: Being Prepared for Emergencies 177
Setting Up Your Own First Aid Kit 177
Figuring Out When to Call the Vet 178
Knowing What to Do When You Need to Do It 180
Muzzling an injured dog 180
Moving an injured dog 181
Treating burns 181
Responding to shock 182
Attending to bites and bleeding wounds 182
Responding to poisoning 183
Handling broken bones 184
Removing foreign objects and responding to the choking dog 184
Responding quickly to bloat 185
Dealing with heatstroke 185
Responding to hypothermia 185
Attending to stings and bites 185
Removing porcupine quills 186
Responding to the dog who has come across a skunk 186
Giving Your Rottie the Medicine He Needs 187
Medications and ointments 187
Pills 187
Liquid medicines 188
Chapter 14: Knowing What to Do When Your Dog Gets Sick 189
Living with Chronic Conditions 189
Hip dysplasia 190
Bone disorders 190
Eye problems 190
Skin disorders 191
Bloat 193
Considering Alternative Therapies for Your Ailing Rottie 194
Herbal therapy 194
Homeopathy 195
Bodywork therapies 196
Part V: The Part of Tens 199
Chapter 15: Ten Reasons to Own a Rottweiler 201
You Know What You’re Getting 201
You Can Find Out Anything You Want to Know about the Breed 202
Rottweilers Have Good Temperaments 202
Rottweilers Are Highly Trainable 202
Rottweilers Are Easy to Care For 203
Rottweilers Are Protective 203
Rottweilers Do Good Work 203
Rottweilers Know How to Have Fun 204
Responsible Breeders Are Everywhere 204
Rottweilers Give a Lifetime of Friendship 204
Chapter 16: Ten Reasons Not to Own a Rottweiler 205
The Neighbor Down the Street is Selling Rottweilers for Next to Nothing 205
You Think Having a Dog to Pet Every Once in a While Would Be Fun 206
You Want to Feel Needed 206
You’re Not Prepared to Be the Leader of the Pack 207
You Lack Physical Strength 207
You Tend to Procrastinate 207
Your Living Space is Restricted 208
You’re Not Sure How You’re Going to Pay Your Next Credit Card Bill 208
Patience is Not Your Virtue 209
You’re a Loner 209
Chapter 17: Ten Tips for Training Your Rottweiler 211
Remember That Training is Something Your Rottie Needs 211
Teach Your Rottie Your Rules 211
Give Positive Reinforcement 212
Be Consistent 212
Start Training Right Away 212
“No!” Means “No!” 213
Keep Your Lessons Short and Sweet 213
Curb Certain Instinctive Behaviors 213
Be in the Right Frame of Mind for Training 214
Do the Minimum in Basic Training 214
Chapter 18: Ten Tips for Traveling with (Or without) Your Dog 215
Get the Right Car for Your Rottweiler 216
Think about the Weather Before You Leave 217
Buckle Up for Safety 217
Remember Your Rottweiler’s ID and Medication 218
Bring Along Your Travel Necessities 219
Plan a Vacation for the Whole Family to Enjoy 220
Find Dog-Friendly Lodgings 220
Fly Well with Your Rottweiler 221
Find a Good Kennel If Your Pal Can’t Go 223
Consider Getting a Pet Sitter 225
Appendix A: Glossary 227
Appendix B: Resources 231
Books 231
Magazines 232
Videos 232
CD-ROMs 232
Web Sites 232
Organizations 233
Index 235
