Rottweilers For Dummies

by Richard G. Beauchamp

Overview

Discover how to raise, train, and enjoy your Rottweiler with this fantastic resource

Known for its great strength, endurance, and protectiveness, the Rottweiler can be a good-natured, playful pet. It can also be a highly challenging breed. In the right hands, a Rottweiler can be the best security system in town, and at the same time, an affectionate friend to the whole family, always ready for fun and games. The well-bred, well-trained Rottweiler has the courage of a lion and is happy to obey. In the wrong hands, a Rottweiler just as easily can become an unruly beast, a menace to all that come near.

Is the Rottweiler the right breed for you and your family? Rottweilers For Dummies provides the answer to this and all your questions about getting, caring for and living with this big dog. Long-time Rottweiler breeder and trainer Richard G. Beauchamp gets you up and running with what you need to know to:

• Choose the right Rottweiler for you
• Socialize your new puppy
• Educate yourself and your dog
• Maintain good health, proper exercise and diet
• Handle behavioral problems
• Participate in dog competitions

In friendly, down-to-earth language, Rick provides insights into the Rottweiler temperament and loads of sensible, easy-to-follow advice on everything a Rottweiler owner should know – along with fun facts and tips on how to have a great time with your Rottie. Discover how to:

• Decide on whether a male or female is right for you
• Find and choose your new friend and bring him or her home
• Understand how to communicate with your Rottweiler
• Train your Rottweiler
• Finding a good trainer and attend classes
• Deal with emotional conflicts
• Feed and exercise your Rottweiler
• Recognize, prevent, and treat common health problems
• Have loyal friend for life

The indispensable guide for you and your Rottweiler, Rottweilers For Dummies is the only book you’ll need to help you have the best possible experience with this admirable and loveable breed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764552717
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	12/08/2000
Series:	For Dummies Books
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	268,443
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Richard G. Beauchamp, a respected breeder and prominent dog show judge, has been involved in every facet of purebred dogs for most of his life. He is a longtime Rottweiler enthusiast.

Table of Contents

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