an unfair press on an amazing companion (Rottweiler)

Member Name: pania22

Product:	Rottweiler
Date:	05/07/09 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Loyal, devoted and great fun

Disadvantages: require firm training to get the perfect dog.

When I met my ex in 2001 I managed to "inherit" a rottie by the name of raphie. So called as a dubious accolade to the teenage mutant ninja turtle himself, Raphaelo. I kid you not. I have always been a dog lover and have since extended that into the field of training and am hoping to undertake a grooming and microchipping course in the very near future. I have always been a "big dog" person and have helped with lots of police dog training and as such developed an affinity with German Shepherds. Never had I considered a rottie as a pet.

But raphie had me at woof. He really did and I soon fell as in love with our constant companion as I did with his dad. I do not need to mention the poor press that this breed has. The amazing, distressing and uncalled for prejudice that we faced on a daily basis will be covered later and I guess that is my reason for writing this review. That if i can help to adjust even one persons opinion, even slightly, to this breed then I will have fulfilled my job.

Rottweilers have a reputation as being a "guarding" breed. This in itself conjures an image of viciousness, not helped by the oft used image of them guarding a hollywood car lot while the "baddie" actor is being chased over a metal fence by "Fang". Raph, indeed every single rott that I have met has never ever conscribed to this image. The Rott was originally bred and used during the middle ages as a herding breed and even today many members of the breed are used to pull milk carts and take part in cart pulling competitions on the continent. Miles away from the stereotype that we see. Anyway, I digress. Raphie, xoh and I spent many happy years together with young Raph being the poster dog for the breed, loving kind loyal and, as stated, our constant companion. We took him out 3 times a day and although we carried a lead we never had cause to put him on it other than walking along the edge of a road. His heelwork and recall was perfect. He had many many human and doggy friends and due to his sheer size was always recognised when he was out and about. I felt completely safe when I had him by my side, not because he would ever do anything to hurt someone, he'd more than likely lick them to death but due to the sheer deterent of his size. He loved anyone and anything, unless you were a rabbit....

I went to New Zealand for a month and came home to see my two boys. I took one look at Raphie and knew that there was something wrong. Rotts, indeed the vast majority of large breeds, are terribly prone to bone cancer. Raph had a lump the size of a tennis ball on his back hock, a large solid horrible lump that I knew immediately was bone cancer. I gently broke the news to XOH who claimed not to have noticed it (I think he was turning a blind eye to be honest) and we booked an appointment at the vets the next morning.
Following a lovely long walk raphie sat proud as punch in the back of the car enjoying the trip and waiting for his next adventure.

We walked into the vets and was immediately handed a muzzle by the vet. Raph had been to his vets many many times in his life and positively loved the experience. But on this day a locum vet was on that made it perfectly clear that she did not like rottweilers. To keep the peace we put the muzzle on, fully expecting to be able to remove it once he was sedated. we were not allowed to. Raph went and had Xrays, deeply anaesthesised and the devastating news was broken to us that he had cancer and furthermore it had spread. We had no choice but to make the devastating decision then and there to put him to sleep with the memory of a happy walk and car ride in his mind. He was laid flat out on the floor, out for the count, so deeply anaesthesised he was oblivious to the world around him and still fast asleep. We still weren't allowed to remove the muzzle. I shouted at the vet that he was fast asleep and what on earth could he do. I wasn't going to allow our beloved gentle soppy dog to die with a muzzle on. The vet shouted back "that muzzle stays on until he is dead or you find somewhere else to put him to sleep!" Not wishing to put raph through that XOH and I backed down and so our gentle giant died, as he did not deserve, with the indignity of wearing a muzzle. All incase he happened to miraculously fight off the effects of the sedation, leap up and savage the vet!!!! well he is a "vicious breed" dont you know!!!!

It broke our heart and added more trauma to the pain that we were feeling.

Since that moment I have been a massive ambassador for the breed. Educating people wherever possible that it isnt the breed that is vicious, it is the way that the dog is trained and the way that it is raised. ANY breed of dog can be "vicious" I have lost count of the times that my two boys have been attacked by much smaller dogs, looked at them without a thought of retaliation and carried on their way. At my training school I have seen an 8 year old girl doing obedience and agility with any one of her families 4 rotts and the great big galumphing dog grins as much as the child on the way around.

Raphie was such a massive part of our lives that a week after his death we truly did not know what to do with ourselves without him. Our daily routine went to moosh and enthusiam for life kinda wasnt there. 10 days later I found a breeder In Canterbury and thus two wriggling fluffball bundles of rott entered our lives. Litter brothers... Baaaad idea everyone said.. you've got a world of trouble there said others.. why on earth would you buy 2 rotts!!! I wouldn't even buy one! was a response from a colleague. But my goodness what a good decision we made. well, I say that, we are convinced that the boys were born with one brain cell between them and flip a coin for it on a daily basis they are that stoopid! but we love them and they are our boys. Once again we have put a great deal of effort and time into their training. They started puppy classes at 12 weeks old. A firm routine was established and any sign of a challenge for dominance was nipped in the bud quickly. A firm hierarchy between ourselves and them was established and i can honestly say that I have not had one moment where I have been concerned to their temperament or behaviour. Until X and I seperated I trained them in competetive obedience and agility and they proved to excel in their training. Once again they have been subject to prejudice while out and about on local walks and I have on 3 occasions now been told "have those f***ing dogs put to sleep" and been told "you should be ashamed of yourself owning dogs like that!" all for walking down the road with them in a calm and controlled manner. I still see my boys on a regular basis. XOH and I are extremely close friends and although I am not in a position to have them with me currently they are my boys and every time I can get down to kent to take them out I do. I really miss having a dog in my life and once I have more room I will not even hesitate to have a rott again.

This breed is gentle, loyal, affectionate, courageous, bags and bags of laughter and absolutely amazing companions. Please do not believe everything that is in the press and if you see someone out with a rott, be pleasant to them and give the dog a chance.

The rott gets 5 stars for being the perfect companion

Summary: An amazing companion. Give them a try