Are you wondering at what age do Rottweilers become protective? You have come to the right article.
Rottweilers are large strong dogs. A Rottweiler, according to AKC is “a calm, confident and courageous dog with a self-assured aloofness.” Qualities that make them one of the best family dogs.
One of the reasons many people get a Rottweiler is protection. Their large bodies and fearlessness make them a perfect choice for guarding and protection.
Despite not being bred for protection in mind, Rottweilers are protective by nature. However, that’s the case only if your dog loves you and thinks of you as part of his pack. If not, I got some bad news for you.
If you have just adopted a cute Rottweiler puppy, you are probably wondering at what age do Rottweilers become protective. You can’t wait for your baby to fight bad people and protect you. That’s what a lot of people do.
Read on, I’ll explain at what age you should expect your dog to start being protective of you with some care and attention.
Short Quick Answer: Rottweilers become protective around 2 years old.
Rottweilers, and dogs in general, protect only what they consider theirs. It’s a behavior in most mammals. Animals don’t protect what’s not theirs or part of their pack or territory.
In order to be protective, your dog needs to believe that you, and your house, are part of his property.
To reach this realization, your Rottweiler will need some time to bond with you. He needs to like and trust you, and feel your house is his own home, before taking any action.
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To make sure your dog trusts and loves you, extensive care and attention are your best weapons.
Since no dog is the same, and since dogs are unique individuals, we can’t predict at which age exactly your Rottweiler will become protective.
However, we can say with confidence that most Rottweilers start being seriously protective of their owners around the age of 2 years old.
That’s an average based on many Rottweiler owners. It differs from one dog to another. Your puppy may even start barking at strangers at 6 months. It’s totally fine.
You should also keep in mind that it won’t happen suddenly. It will take time and happen gradually. Your Rottie will gain confidence over time. Puppies, like young children, need time to be confident in what they are doing.
If you adopted your Rottie as a puppy, 24 months with you are more than enough for him to start realizing you are his human, and that your house is now his own home.
On the other hand, if you got your dog as an adult, things may be different. If it is not already trained for protection, you’ll need to hire a trainer.
Once your dog absorbs this fact, you can expect him to start doing his best to protect you. Barking at suspicious strangers is the least a dog will do. Most Rottweilers will bark at strangers way before they turn two years old.
Of course, for the best protection, training is needed. Your dog’s instinct is not enough.
All guarding dogs, no matter what breed, need training in order to get the most of their protective qualities. Dog training costs money for a reason. It’s very powerful.
Guarding is no different from protection. In order for your dog to guard your property, he needs to believe the property is his own. Don’t expect any dog to protect what’s not his.
Rottweilers are alpha dogs. They love to control and protect their territory.
The two-year role applies here as well. For the dog to realize your property is now his, he needs some time. It won’t happen overnight.
If you have a big property to protect and guard against intruders, your dog’s instinct isn’t enough. You will have to invest in a training program to make sure the dog protects your property as a professional.
Investing in your dog’s guarding qualities is totally worth it. It eventually pays off.
You may read different methods on the internet, but attention and care are the ultimate way to make your dog protective of you and your property.
As I mentioned above, dogs protect what they deem theirs. Rottweilers are no exception.
Caring for your Rottie and giving him enough attention, will signal to him that you are part of his family now. That you are the leader of the pack and he should do his best to protect you and make you happy.
In return, he will instinctively try to protect you. Don’t expect your dog to protect you if he doesn’t love and trust you.
Take care and spend a lot of time with your Rottweiler. He will pay you back with protection and unconditional love. That’s how dogs’ brains work.
You can expect your Rottie to start being protective, with some training and care, around age 2. At this age, most Rottweilers start to consider you, and your house, as their property and worthy of their protection.
Don’t force your dog to be protective. Just give him enough care and attention, the dog will learn itself that you are worthy of his protection.
If you live in a dangerous area and need a professional guarding dog, I recommend investing in training. Don’t count on the dog’s instinct.
