Rottweiler Leadership

Because rotties are pack animals, having a leader for the pack is paramount. When there is no leader in a pack, there is cause for anxiety. The pack leader is in charge of food, shelter and other important behaviors. Without these essentials, the pack could die.

How leadership affects your rottie's behavior:

Your leadership affects almost everything regarding your rottie's behavior. Rotties who do not have a leader, or do not perceive that there is a leader exhibit behaviors such as dominance, aggression, anxiety, fear and destructive behaviors. They may decide that your ineffectiveness as leader is cause for them to be the leader. These rotties often achieve dominance over the entire household in the blink of an eye!

How to achieve pack order:

Pack order is fairly simple to obtain, especially while the rottie is young. Establishing a routine eating, exercise and bedtime starts the young rottie out on the correct path. Handling exercises such as the "Settle" also inform the rottie that you are a patient yet firm leader. Being fair with your rottie in all areas of his life communicates respect to your rottie and consistent rules of the household will cement your relationship with your rottie.

No rottie is comfortable with a wishy-washy leader who can't decide what the rules are from one day to the next. For instance, allowing the rottie up on the furniture one day, and then punishing for the same behavior the next!

How to retain pack order:

Retaining pack order is actually harder for many people than the initial training. Many owners assume that because the rottie has been to a class or gone through behavior training as a puppy that they are set for the life of the rottie. Nothing could be further from the truth! In the same way you forget a new language if you don't use it, the rottie will forget his place if allowed. In addition, when a new rottie or other animal enters the household, pack order is changed. Likewise, a new baby or a move to a new home
can disrupt the pack order and must be taken into consideration. To maintain pack order, it is often necessary to repeat old lessons such as the Settle. Simple obedience exercises like sit, down and stay or returning to the use of the crate to curb regression in behaviors such as house soiling, chewing, or anxiety may be necessary.

Punishment vs. leadership:

Many people believe that punishing the rottie is the only way to stop or curb behavior problems. Unfortunately, in most cases, punishments only increase fear and anxiety for the rottie. Attitude is everything. Often, the more you yell or become agitated, the more the rottie enjoys it and believes you are not a good leader. Leaders don't lose control. Leaders maintain a calm, quiet attitude and firmly insist that their way is the only way. Rotties respect this attitude much more than violent or out of control behavior on your part. Fear is not respect and violence begets violence in many cases.

Rotties also understand body language and facial and vocal expression more than the actual words you say. A leader stands tall, speaks firmly and according to what they are communicating, makes either a stern or happy face. Sometimes, as in the case of rotties who are challenging the owner, a completely neutral face is the best. As soon as the rottie complies, a huge smile is in order.

Calming Signals:

If your rottie is barking and growling at another rottie, it is human behavior to stroke the rottie and talk soothingly. However, from the rottie's point of view, this is actually a reinforcement. A calm, soothing voice tells the rottie you LIKE what he is doing and petting encourages it to continue. In addition, the action of petting the rottie often produces more adrenalin within the rottie, causing more excitement.

If instead you firmly say, "stop that" and order "down", or change your position so that the rottie cannot focus on the other rottie, this will calm him so that you can then praise for the correct behavior. Behavior that is reinforced WILL continue, so make sure you are reinforcing the correct behaviors.

Keeping yourself calm helps the rottie to remain calm as well. As discussed earlier, if we exhibit out of control or fearful behaviors, the rottie will assume there is something to be anxious about. Signal your control over the situation to your rottie and watch him follow your lead.

Written By Barb McNinch

Tags : leadership rottweiler

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Rottweiler Leadership

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