Q&A for How to Train a Rottweiler

Always keep your puppy within your sight when he's inside the house, and take him outside frequently. That way, he's less likely to learn it's okay to go to the bathroom inside. If you see him start using the bathroom, quickly scoop him up and take him outside. Then, give him a reward when he finishes going outside.

At 2 months old, this is most likely to be play biting. In a litter of pups, they will mouth each other, then squeal and yelp when the bite is too hard. This is known as learning bite inhibition. However, with a large breed like a Rottweiler, it's essential to teach bite inhibition yourself so the dog is not out of control when older. To do this, yelp when the dog nips, and if necessary, stop the game and leave the room so the puppy calms down. A great resource to to attend a puppy class so the trainer can give you extra guidance on how to do this.

Rottweilers have working dog roots and an energy level to match. They need at least one to two hours of exercise a day, preferably off leash. No to do so will end in weight gain and antisocial behavior, such as barking or even aggression.

The size of a Rottweiler means if they don't want to do something, they can refuse and put the brakes on. This makes training a matter of motivating the dog, using reward-based methods. Rotties are intelligent and, for an experienced handler, easy to train, but are not suitable for novice owners.

A calm, well-adjusted Rottweiler is a delightful dog that is loving and loyal. They are also easy to groom, and love the mental challenge of training. On the negative side, their sheer strength and size make them a hazard if poorly trained, plus they are prone to health problems such as hip dysplasia.

The short answer is as a general rule, no, Rottweilers don't make good family dogs. There are too many variables which could make them dangerous around kids. That said, there are notable exceptions, such as when you have a well-socialized pup that is raised with an experienced handler and kids who behave respectfully around the dog.

Never raise an aggressive dog. Let the puppy get used to as many people as possible, and make these experiences as positive as possible. Provide your rottie with a lot of physical and mental stimulation, and try to get your rottweiler to learn as many commands as possible. Take your rottie to dog school, and aim to be the best in your class. Make sure you have a qualified vet from whom you can ask advice, and never mistreat your dog.

The dog will do whatever you allow him to do. If you don't want him to do these things, scold and punish him when he jumps on you, and give him a treat when he does not jump, bite, etc.

When you get home, once he starts jumping, turn away from him, then use the "off" and then "sit" commands. Repetition is the key here. Rottweilers are highly intelligent, and want to please their owners. For each good behavior, praise, praise, and praise again. So, once your rottweiler sits on command, turn back around, and praise him. Repeat this process until he understands that jumping only gets him your back, but good behavior get him praise.

Teach them the "look at me" command, and muzzle them until they are reliable.

Tell them why they attack. Most of the time, they are abused and lack socialization. Sometimes the children are being annoying, and it warns them many times, and they ignore it. Sometimes they are raised to be aggressive. They were bred to guard and pull farm carts. Any and all dogs can attack, and are not afraid to do so. If this won't work, you can't do much about them being ignorant.

Don't make your dog aggressive. If your dog attacks an animal or human you could be sued. If you want your dog to be a guard dog, take it to a professional trainer.

Do not make your dog aggressive, they already have a bad name. They will naturally be protective.

Most dog owners prefer to keep their pets indoors. Depending on where you live, a dog house may not be adequate for keeping the dog.

Socialize them. That's as simple as it will ever get, because if not, they will become frustrated and territorial.

Use the "stop" command, and when they stop, give them a reward. Take them on jogs and suddenly stop and give them the command. If they stop, give them the reward. Do this repeatedly and the dog will learn to respond to the command.

You should take it to the dog park more or meet friends with dogs. You could also put him around more people and let him get used to them.

Yes, depending on the spray. You can buy bitter apple sprays to stop them from eating the wall.

Work with your dog to introduce it carefully to people. The more socializing you do, the better your dog will be around people. Be careful though, if it has a history of biting, you need to be prepared to handle the situation. Have people greet the dog by talking to it in a calm voice and reaching their hand out as a gesture to let it smell their hand.

Use crate training for just a few hours a day to teach the dog to be content alone, so you can go out to the grocery store, etc.