Babies & Rotties - Page 1

Hi All! I need some help. My best friend at work is pregnant with her first baby, a baby her docs never thought she would be able to conceive, & so a small miracle (as are all babies!) Anyway, she has a very large, exuberant Rottie who she has raised from a pup, who protected her from a stalking ex, & has been her best buddy until her husband came into the picture with his Chi. The rottie took to her man like a duck to water (partly how they fell in love, Rottie trusted him, he was OK!) Rottie loves her mom, too, but has knocked her down a couple of times in his joy at seeing her.
You know what's coming. Now my friend's mom has convinced her hubby that the Rottie must go. My friend is (thankfully) being very stubborn & defending her boy, but she's also afraid the stress of this will hurt her pregnancy. She needs our help with this....how do you prepare a BIG dog for a new baby? And does anyone have any positive stories about babies coming into rottie homes? Any pictures? Her husband loves her rottie, but he is a new Dad, too, & wants to do what's right for his kid....so he needs convincing. Her Rottie is 145# of love, she's even brought him to work, he's a dear, sweet dog. He's been obedience trained, but she hasn't kept up with it. So, he gets over-enthusiastic at times. But he doesn't have a mean bone in his body.
I'm not using names on here....her ex is still out there some where....!
Thanks, jackie harris

I would say first take her Rottie back to obedience school, just as a refresher.  He probably isn't getting the working time that he needs.  I didn't have Rotties but we had a house full of Dobies one who was 110# obviously just pet quality at that weight.  the female we had at the time treated our son as if he was hers.  and our males if the baby cried would "come and get you".  we never put the baby on the floor unsupervised, the baby had no worries.  They were all smart enough that they knew they were dealing with something delicate.  Our biggest worry was if someone else came into the house, we had  to put the dogs up because their protection level went through the roof.

Wear him out, make him use manners, and then I would use a stroller and baby doll and act like doing normal everyday care of baby to teach him when the bundle is in her arms he must be careful of her and the bundle and at all times his manners must be used so that he is not exuberant around the pregnant woman either and knocking her. My in laws pitched a fit when I got my first rottie  with small child and later infant but they learned quickly the breed makes a good family dog with proper manners and training on top of a dog with a naturally nice temperament.

I am one of the least knowledge when it comes to breeds other than the GSD, but I feel it is my duty to tell you that people in my country do not and will never trust Rotties near young children, maybe she should think of the safety of her baby after birth.

Ibrahim

I am sad to hear that from you as I have always thought of you as someone who looks into each topic to find a positive and respect. I had major issues with breed discrimination when I used rotties in SAR to save lives. Kids taught to fear this breed from their families who then had to turn to is to save their lives and the fear in those childeren when a loose rottweiler run up to them in the woods to find them was heart breaking. It is the people who train the rotty to do bad not the breed. I would never leave small children alone with any breed.

GSDNewbie,

I will start with apologizing to you and all Rottie lovers, it isn't my intention to discriminate, not at all, please see my post, I clearly said I am not of reliable knowledge on Rotties, here there were so many accidents by Rotties involving young children, moreover many believe Rottie is not child-friendly. If that is not true I am sorry, I felt I had to mention this piece of info for the sake of the child should it be correct, OP: please tell your friend at least to a little more cautious. Again GSDNewbie I apologize and please forgive me, that is what I hear here.

Ibrahim

And here we go again.  Ibrahim was speaking out of concern for the child, nothing more.  Funny that in his country the same concerns arise as do in my neck of the woods; it's more than training, it's poor breeding.

Rottweilers should NEVER be left with small children unattended.  People for heavens sake use common sense when you own a dog.  We just had another baby EATEN by the family Rott here in Canada.  Dogs are dogs.  We can not expect them to understand that a tiny blob that squeeks is even a human.  Yes there are dogs that are amazing with children but do we really have to test the theory with the life of a child??????  Breed prejudice is there for a reason and Rottweilers are KNOWN as one of the top biters in all countries.  We know this , it is well documented.  So why do people get upset when it is brought up?  I really do not care if I am political correct or sensitive to a Rottweiler owners pride.  My buddy a very very well respected dog trainer in French Ring was MAULED by a Rottweiler.  He slipped in the back of his truck and that dogs was all over him. 

A 2000 report issued by the Center for Disease and Control (CDC)1 reviewed a 20-year period to determine the types of dog breeds most responsible for U.S. dog bite fatalities.

 

Study highlights

• At least 25 breeds of dogs were involved in 238 human dog bite related fatalities during the past 20 years. Pit bulls and rottweilers were involved in over half of these fatalities.

Just a small snipet but it should speak volumes. 

I consider Ibrahim a friend and am not attacking him and I think he understands this and I also hope he understands as well that his apology was sweet and of course welcome even though I am still his friend should he not have. Breeding does also bring part of it I fully agree.

   I would never leave children alone with any breed as stated above and not once did I say they should be left alone with a rottweiler. Small dogs are also capable of killing an infant. They are animals first and foremost no matter how domesticated.

        My rottweilers were raised with children and from excellent stock. I never had issues with any of them being inapropriate with my children or uneeded agression to anyone. 

I need to look for a specific photo for someone already so while I do so I will try to find some of my rotty pics to share since lately there have been so many threads concerning them. Mine and my son's lives were saved twice by my first rottweiler. The first incident she was six months old woke me middle of the night quietly led me to see a man at the living room window prying the window lock open with a long knife. He was by the gun cabinet and the only phone outlet. I went and grabbed my 3 month old son and went to the back door to sneak to my neighbors home as my pup stayed at the window silently awaiting the intruder. I tried to get her to come but she would not. I was preparing to go cause the window opened and the man stuck his face in to see teeth and hear growling. He backed right back out the window. At six months old she used a surprisingly forethought and mature thought process and handled everything perfectly. She did not lunge or snap but she rid us of the threat. My husband was out of town and frankly that night taught me always have more than one phone outlet.... this was before cell phones all over. Taught me to keep a gun in the bedroom as well. When the same son was 9, the same rotty saved he an I from  momma blackbear that wondered into our yard while we were tending the garden at our home on the edge of the dismal swamp. This dog was  biddable,obedient, intelligent, courageous, intuitive, great with people yet protective, and all round one of the best animals and family members I could ever had the gift of knowing.  

    My other rotties were not exactly like her but they were good dogs. I also did rottweiler rescue with one of the largest rescue orgs just for this breed in the states and have met more good dogs than bad from all types of breedings and home situations. On the whole, temperments on the rescued rottweilers I came in contact with were more stable than others I have met doing all breed rescue in other breeds. Could have just been coincedence or just the dogs I personally experienced. I do know if someone teaches them to be a vcious killer they will do their best to do it the best. not the dogs fault.

Ditto what you said Brynjulf. (have I got your name right? ;-) )