Rottweilers are among the most intelligent and trainable breeds. Dog training will strengthen your bond with your new puppy and prepare it for life as a family dog. However, while Rottweiler puppies are eager to learn, training them requires some know-how.
In this article, we at Champion Rottweilers provide training and socialization tips for Rottweiler puppies. Read on to learn how to raise a well-tempered, affectionate Rottweiler companion.
Training Your Rottweiler: Milestones and Tips
Generally, the adoption age for Rottweiler puppies is seven to eight weeks, and your new Rottweiler’s training will begin at the breeder before it comes home to you. This training mainly focuses on early socialization with littermates and people, especially children.
Once your new puppy is home, you should continue with its training and socialization.
Start your Rottweiler puppy on potty training and basic obedience training from the age of eight weeks. You can also introduce your little Rottie to grooming, leash walking, and basic commands. Close personal interaction with all family members is crucial from the beginning.
After receiving all its vaccinations at four months, your Rottweiler puppy should start socializing with other pets. Your puppy can also attend professional training classes from this age.
Which Training Style Is Best for Rottweilers?
The most effective training style for Rottweilers is “operant conditioning.” This process consists of four aspects:
- Positive reinforcement
- Negative reinforcement
- Positive punishment
- Negative punishment
The objective of positive and negative reinforcement is to encourage correct behavior. On the other hand, positive and negative punishments aim to reduce incorrect behavior.
A positive response is when you add a stimulus; a negative response is when you withdraw a stimulus. Stimuli can be positive (a treat) or negative (a slight pressure on the dog’s body).
Positive reinforcement is the most effective quadrant of this training style for Rottweilers and involves rewarding desired behaviors. When using positive reinforcement, give the reward within two seconds after each desired action, so your dog knows which behavior you want to enforce.
Mastering Potty Training: Tips for Rottweiler Owners
You can start potty training immediately after your puppy comes into your home for the first time. This training aims to teach your pup that your yard is the only place to go potty. You must also train your pup to never:
- Hold its bowels or bladder for long periods
- Go potty inside your house
Before you start potty training, choose an accessible area in your yard as your puppy’s designated potty spot. Then, come up with a verbal cue to let your pup know it is time for potty, for example, “Let’s go potty!”.
You should put your puppy on its leash and take it to its potty spot first thing in the morning, after meals, and every 30 minutes throughout the day. Praise your puppy and give it a treat when it does its business in the right spot.
Start the Grooming Routine Early
Your Rottweiler’s weekly grooming schedule should include a nail clipping and ear cleaning. While puppies are still a few weeks old, they are more likely to cooperate during grooming. Once your pup gets used to nail clipping and ear cleaning, it will lie still, making the grooming process quicker and easier.
On the other hand, an older Rottweiler that is not familiar with the grooming routine will struggle. As a result, you are more likely to clip the nail center and hurt your dog.
Obedience Training
Positive reinforcement and positive punishment are effective obedience training styles. In other words, when your pup does something right, reward it with praise or a treat. When your Rottie does something wrong, punish it with a negative sound.
Keep your verbal cues short, and rely on tone without shouting. For example, if your pup uses the doggy door to go outside for potty, you can praise it by saying, “good dog!” in a friendly voice. If your pup jumps on the couch, say “no!” or “bad dog!” in a negative tone.
Consistency and confidence are crucial during obedience training. When you give a command, be firm and authoritative. Your reaction to poor behaviors must always be the same, so you don’t confuse your puppy.
Teach Your Rottweiler Basic Commands: Tips and Tricks
Teaching basic commands overlap with obedience training. For example, teaching basic commands such as “Off!” or “Down!” will help you control your pup as they grow. Eight weeks is the ideal age to start teaching your puppy basic commands, and most Rottweilers and their owners love this part of the training.
Other commands you can teach your puppy include:
- Sit
- Stand
- Lie down
- Stay
- Roll over
- Speak
- Paw shake
Rottweilers require very few repetitions to learn a new command, and you can accomplish a lot in a five-minute training session. Train your pup daily until it can follow these basic commands without hesitation.
Addressing Biting and Growling
You must address your Rottweiler’s aggressive behaviors from a young age to eliminate safety risks.
If your pup is aggressive, ensure this behavior is not due to hunger, thirst, or anxiety. Feeding your pup or removing a perceived danger can calm it down and stop growling, nipping, or biting.
However, if there is no reason for your puppy to act aggressively, put it on a leash, and take it outside for a one-minute time-out.
Socializing Your Rottweiler
Puppies younger than four months have not received all their vaccinations, and they can’t socialize with strange pets, for example, at your local park. However, they must socialize with your household members, especially your children. Playing with your kids teaches your Rottweiler puppy to interact with people and form a protective bond.
Once your pup is up to date on its vaccinations, it must socialize with other dogs. Supervise all interactions with other pets to prevent bullying.
Select a Reputable Breeder
At Champion Rottweilers, we are professional dog breeders who offer Rottweiler puppies for sale. Our dogs receive all necessary training before adoption, and we go the extra mile to eliminate risks for congenital conditions. Call now to learn more about our services and start your rewarding journey as a Rottweiler parent.
