Sometimes I just don't get it...
I’ve owned Rottweilers for almost thirteen years. As I’ve said before, I think they’re the perfect dog. Charming Billie believes that she was put on this earth for people to pet and make a fuss over and tell her that she's beautiful.
I was in Petco one day with Billie when a man told me about his 200 pound Rottweiler who bit small children. Not what you want to hear about a breed you love. But it bothers me, too, when people come up to Billie and throw their arms around her (it’s never good practice, by the way, to do this to a big dog you’ve never met) and say, oh, they’re so misunderstood, I love Rottweilers, they’re so sweet and gentle and they’d never hurt a fly.
This is what Rottweilers are: protective, strong, and driven. They are not sweet creatures who wouldn’t hurt a fly. If Charming Billie ever caught a fly, believe me, she would hurt it. I think they are a joy. My dogs have never attacked anyone, turned on me, or gotten in a serious dog fight. It is my responsibility to ensure that within the bounds of possibility, they never do. And they are misunderstood.
But, to me, saying they are sweet gentle creatures who would never hurt a fly, is a way of saying that you don’t need to pay attention to them, that people can wander in and out of your yard at will, that loose dogs can stick their nose in your Rottweiler's face, that they would never eat a cat or knock over a child or hurt a baby if they were left in a room alone together. But you know what? It doesn’t work that way. Rottweilers aren’t toys. They’re dogs. Big dogs who don’t understand things the same way you and I do. Who can’t tell friend from foe unless we help them. Who don’t know that cats and kids can get hurt if we don’t teach them. Who could get in big trouble if we don’t watch them.
If you get a Rottweiler be prepared for responsibility and challenges (both physical and mental) and shredded socks and broken windows. Be prepared for a dog that watches everyone who approaches you, who sometimes barks really loudly, who protects your car in parking lots. Who may also be sweet and who may, in the normal way of things, never hurt a fly. But more because you and they together make it possible than because they don't have it in them.
And if you play your cards right, in unexpected ways, there will be joy.
Comments
Another excellent, excellent post about dogs. I hope some Google searchers find it and read it.
Are Rottweilers patient with children in general? Some breeds are, some breeds really aren't. You want to throw your arms around children and say that they're so cute and they'd never hurt a fly, but they have it in them, too, and sometimes it takes grownups and them working together to make kindness the default. Kids can get excited and out of control and don't always recognize the effects teasing can have. (Am I horrible because whenever I hear about a dog biting a kid, I want to know what the kid did to the dog? Heck, it goes for grownups, too.)
Posted by: TM(tm) | October 30, 2002 10:11 AM
Rottweilers can be incredibly patient with children, though not all of them are. It can be a big socialization issue. They're very strong dogs and they don't always realize how strong they are, plus, they like to bump and lean on people, which can just knock a small child silly.
Riley loved kids, but she never really 'got' that they could be knocked over or hit too hard. On the other hand, I took her to elementary schools and my neighborhood kids loved her. John Henry finds kids really difficult because he likes to know exactly what's what and kids are not predictable. Billie is very good with kids, but she's been socialized a _lot_ and is smaller than average.
Posted by: debco | October 30, 2002 09:17 PM