Rottweilers are a large and aggressive breed, more so if they are left to their own devices to develop their own instinctive traits. By asserting yourself as the Alpha in the relationship and establishing dominance early on, you will make it much easier on your Rottweiler and yourself when you begin obedience training.

Before You Begin Obedience Training

Before you start obedience training with your Rottweiler, you should have your dog thoroughly examined by your veterinarian to ensure that there are no health conditions that may be exacerbated by rigorous activity. As Rottweilers are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, they should be checked out for that as early as possible. An x-ray can usually give your vet a good insight into this condition.

Home Training

The first step in training is to get your Rottweiler’s attention. This can be a bit of a challenge especially when they are young, but persistence combined with constant praise and reward is really the only way to go. The real object at this point is to build the Rottweiler’s trust and confidence in you and himself. Early success can often be had by playing something as simple as fetch or tug of war. When your relationship is strong enough that your Rottweiler trusts you, you can move on to the basic training commands.

You may be tempted to use an electronic “shock” collar during training. While some dog-owners have used these collars with good results, there is a real danger of using too strong an electrical current, which can cause the dog to bolt or freeze up in fear. This can do a great deal of damage to the trust and respect your pet has for you and I would personally not recommend the use of electronic collars under any circumstances.

Contrary to what the media may have you believe, Rottweilers seem to respond best to verbal commands and verbal reprimands. Physical punishment is no way to teach a dog right from wrong and should be avoided at all costs. A strong, assertive NO! should be all that is needed in most situations.

When issuing your commands during obedience training (Sit! Stay! Heel! Come!), the easiest way to ensure success is to use a reward system wherein the dog receives a small treat for performing the expected behavior. It is important to remember that you must patiently show your Rottweiler how to properly execute a response to your commands and to never raise your voice while training. Keeping a strong and even tone throughout the training sessions will avoid confusion and strengthen the bond between you and your Rottweiler

Obedience Training Schools

Those who opt not to train their Rottweiler on their own should enlist the help of a qualified obedience trainer. Check with your vet for recommendations and ask for references and to observe the trainer in action with another animal to ensure that the trainer’s style and manner is a good fit for you and your Rottweiler.
Happy Training!