rottie puppy

[bexbexbex]

hi all! Just wanted to ask a question. Anyone else had a baby whilst they have a young puppy in house? I'm currently 15 n a half weeks, and me and my OH have a 6month old rottweiler puppy, and all i have bed getting from my dad is that we should get rid of her because they are "dangerous breeds", they are only dangerous if people don't train them properly, we have been, she is so clever and takes commands instantly! Rottweilers aren't fully grown until 2years + so she will still be a pup when the baby is here. Whats peoples own experiences on puppys and babies. X

 

[Jem88]

Loads of people have dogs before they get pregnant and choose to keep them, i think aslong as you and your OH are happy to keep your puppy and will be comftable with the pup near the baby and as you say the pup will be trained, then it's really upto you and your OH weather you keep your pup. We found a new home for our 2 year old whippet a month ago, we'd had him since he was tiny, and really didn't want to get rid of him, but he was spoilt as we treated him like our baby, but we decided it would be too hard with him and a new baby as we've only got a small house and he got really excited when we had people round, but non of it was his fault.

 

[JaniceT]

I currently have an old girl that's a Lhasa Apso, and a 6 year old Golden Retriever. They are both good with children. However, are looking for one more to join our family. I'm looking at a German Shepherd because it's good with children, protects everyone in the household instead of just listening to one owner. It's also an excellent guard dog.

I was offered a Rottie and also a Pitt Bull. Though they may be good if they were very well trained, I have to be very realistic that I do not and will not have the energy and time to do that as I'm pregnant and will have my hands full when baby arrives.

It's honestly really up to you if you and your OH can train your Rottie. Also, there are cases where some dogs, no matter how well trained, tends to lean towards certain bad behaviors that comes with the breed. Just make sure to check its Sire and Dame's personalities.

 

[miamix]

Post deleted

 

[Hannaaisha]

I think if you want to keep it you have to take it for loads of training. My friend got bitten by one on her boob for no reason it just went for her, luckily she had lots of padding in her bra so she was ok. They are very powerful dogs so they need lots of training. But saying that i have two staffordshire bull terriers and everyone thinks they are a scary breed as well. But they are so soft and I can't imagine them attacking anyone and they have never had any training classes or anything.

 

[playgirl666]

we have got a rottie as well and he is so good with our 11 month old, he loves children and every1 lol

 

[cryingtrying]

Bex!!!
Congratulations on selecting a rottie as a member of your household!! With the right training and discipline that is a rewardable breed!! I had a rottie several years ago. She was the best dog i've ever had!!! But please understand, he/she will need guidance. Also to socialize the dog( bring it around other people and dogs) will help it along the way. As for your father saying its a dangerous breed...any breed can be dangerous if not train properly right down the the little ankle bitters!!!! Let me just say this..... When i had Zoe( my rottie) my nephew was only like three years old and he lived with us. I could not convince my nephew that the dog was not a horse. Every chance that he got he was trying to ride the poor dog's back. Not once did Zoe growl, nip,give him the "get the hell away from me look", or bite.

Take care
becky

 

[dragonfly26]

I have my sweet little rottie girl, she is 1.5 yrs old and weighs 105 lbs. She will be two years old when our baby is born, and I have not once question how she will react with the baby. she is the sweetest most gentle dog. She has been around kids plenty. Growing up I also had a rottie and I am not sure how they have received such a bad name as I have never met a mean one.

 

[donna-c-86]

rotties can be as gentle and loyal as any breed of dog, they have more publicity because they are big and strong. Any breed needs to be trained well and socialised, your dog is still young which is good because it can then grow up with ur child. I wouldnt leave ANY dog alone with a young child anyway as they are animals and therefore unpredictabl. I know of more people and more importantly young children who have been bitten by yorkshire terriers and jack russells but because they are small they attacks from these breeds are never in the paper! dont get rid of ur dog unless it shows itself to have vicious tendencies, its not fair on the dog.

 

[Jojo-Mummy]

I dont undertstand when some people say types of breed are nastier than others. yess all breeds are different. My mother had an american bull dog and a labrador, and the bull is the sweetest little thing (well big thing lol) shes like a little doll. Its not the dog its the way the owner brings it up hun. Rotties are meant to be great family pets!

 

[eclipse_xo]

OH got me a Doberman puppy for Christmas. At the time his son was just a year old. The puppy would jump up on the baby and knock him crashing down (only happened a couple times but guess who's fault it was.. Not the puppys) Our breed is known to be a guard dog, etc. People have even approached me and told me they where attacked by a Doberman when they where younger but said my boy was very sweet. Which he is!! Yes, your right, its all on how YOU train your dog. Your the one who teaches the dog what is acceptable. You may want to set down some rules for your dog before baby is born to avoid accidents, and of course NEVER leav the infant and dog unsupervised. My boy is almost 11 months now, I trust him to be alone with OH's toddler because he has proved himself and has never done anything to make me think twice. He was also raised with this child so he has some socialization with children, although like I said a newborn baby is a complete different story and put the dog outside/kennel/other room when and if you need to leav the baby unattended where the dog has access. I think it is very important you socialize your dog around children and if you know someone with an infant to try and get that socialization in now. I have absoloutly no idea how mine is going to react since he has never seen an infant. My boy is a huge suck and gives kisses all the time to OH's son but a newborn baby is more delicate and i know I need to be careful so that he doesn't nudge him/her with his nose too hard, etc. Etc. Good luck

 

[NicoleLJ]

Many people get a dog or puppy when pregnant hoping it will grow up with their child. This is a great idea as long as people realize the training involved. Here are two articles I wrote and had published with Dog training magazines on things you can do to prepare a dog for the arrival of a baby.

Baby? Aren't I the Baby?
https://giftofgracekennels.tripod.com/id56.html

Who's Toy is That?
https://giftofgracekennels.tripod.com/id54.html

I hope those might help some. If you look to the side bar on my site you will see a link saying training pages. There are other articles there that I have writen and had published about training dogs that might help as well to make your life just a little bit easier. Good luck and good choice in choosing a rottie. Awsome breed.

 

[eclipse_xo]

Oh and also, I think the only time its acceptable to get rid of a dog when there's a new baby is if the dog poses a threat to the child and its safety, growling/snapping/biteing. But it all depends on how you train your dog and with proper socialization this should never happen. Your pups young enough to still learn and you really shouldn't have a problem

 

[donna-c-86]

agreed, the dog hasnt done anything wrong its unfair to get rid of it for no reason

 

[boyzmum]

Hi,
Ive got 2 rotties They are alot older than yours now, 6 & 5yrs but i got Amy when ds2 was just over a year then adpoted Rock 10 months later. Im due ds3 in december. When brought up & trained properly they do make fantastic family pets,both of mine r actually trained to walk next to a pram/buggy already so thats not going to be a problem for me. Rehoming either of them would never cross my mind & i have no worries about them being around a baby/small child at all (although obviously id never leave them alone together).
As for your father....mine told me he had reserved the hospital beds ready for when amy attacked my kids the day i brought her home as a 8wk old pup!!! Now though he will argue the case with anyone who says anything bad about them.
You will need a pretty tough skin though if you get anything like the comments i used to get/still get to a degree but ive learnt now they are just petty minded ignorant people who actually have only read the rubbish printed in papers

sarah

eta: i would of had them earlier but lived in a 3rd floor flat before i got a house with a garden

 

[bexbexbex]

wow thanks everyone for your replies! I will reply properly when i'm home at my laptop, thanks all x x

 

[charliemidge]

My friend had a rottie and a bullmastiff when her baby was born.. up untill that point the dogs had been trained well, socialised well and were fantastic dogs everyone commented on how well behaved they were .. then the baby came along .. !!

The baby was very demanding and it was in no way intentional but the dogs were not given the attention that they had recieved prior to the baby arriving and they started to show signs of aggression, they started to become naughty, chewing furniture and were generally seeking attention due to possibly being pushed out a little.. a few months later the dogs were rehomed with friends and it broke their heart but they new the baby came first and they could take no risks with the dogs being jealous around the baby..

You might want to sit down and plan a routine for your dog for both now and when the baby comes along and stick with that routine so that the dog never feels pushed out.. rotties are very big dogs to a tiny baby and even bigger if they see that baby as a threat to there attention .. as long as you plan ahead you should be fine and they should live happily together.

 

[Sophist]

hi all! Just wanted to ask a question. Anyone else had a baby whilst they have a young puppy in house? I'm currently 15 n a half weeks, and me and my OH have a 6month old rottweiler puppy, and all i have bed getting from my dad is that we should get rid of her because they are "dangerous breeds", they are only dangerous if people don't train them properly, we have been, she is so clever and takes commands instantly! Rottweilers aren't fully grown until 2years + so she will still be a pup when the baby is here. Whats peoples own experiences on puppys and babies. X

How old was your rottie when you got her?

I think these dogs are gorgeous and I really wanted one a few years back so I looked into it quite a bit and found some info saying that especially concerning this breed its very important that they stay with their mother and siblings until at least 8-9 weeks old, because the socialization their mother provides is crucial to their adult temperament. Rottweilers are somewhat notorious for being sweet & loving one day and then the next a very well trained dog attacks or kills its (usually female) owner, a stranger walking by or neighbor children.

In trying to find out why sweet & well trained rotties suddenly attack, some behavioralists believe that the dogs who change temperament and attack people tend to be the dogs sold early on and removed from their homes at before 8-9 weeks old. Something about that socialization period with their mother seems to make the difference, even when the owners have been careful about good training. During this time they learn bite inhibition as well as develop security around new people and situations. Here in the USA, though its not recommended (and even illegal in some states before 8 wks) I know its common for dogs to be sold before 9 weeks old, especially larger breeds which tend to have bigger litters and puppies with stronger vocal chords, its quite a bit of work to care for 7-15 puppies running around everywhere. Many backyard breeders or people who end up with an unplanned litter are happy to move them to new homes as soon as they are weaned, sometimes even 4-5 weeks! If the dog came from a pet store, hobby breeder, or unplanned litter, I would hesitate to keep it in a home around children.

In your shoes I would also consider whether I'm still in touch with the breeder, and whether I know (or can find out) the parents and possibly grandparents temperament, especially around strangers and unfamiliar children. Can you maintain the kind of routine (rottie's seem to be a dog that really needs an established, consistent routine) this dog needs to be happy, when you are caring for an infant with an unpredictable schedule? Can you be as consistent with training, when your dog weighs nearly as much as you do, AND you are caring for an infant? Good training often falls by the wayside when a new baby comes and the dog ends up in the backyard to be "out of the way." Rotties are really smart, and left to their own devices or with inconsistent training, they push the boundaries, especially a more dominant pup from the litter. Does your homeowners insurance (or your renters insurance) cover you if you own this breed? Some companies will drop you if you have certain breeds.

I personally would really hesitate to get any puppy until my littlest kid is at least 2. Puppies are so much work, and you can't always be ready to correct them immediately when you are also taking care of a baby.

Even though you know your dog, I don't think this is a decision to be made lightly. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Srrme]

Lots of people have dogs while pregnant, and afterward -- Rottie's can be a dangerous breed (just like most other dog breeds) if not trained properly -- but as long as you train him correctly, I think you will be fine.

No dog (regardless of the breed) should be left alone with an infant or a small child period, no matter if they're properly trained.

 

[blue_kat]

Have you considered crate training? I am a pet care professional and find a lot of people find it a useful tool...

As long as it is used in a positive way it can benefit your dog as well as you and your baby...in many cases we find the dog going for a lie down in its 'bedroom' when the baby is being too noisy!

just an idea!