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Rottweilers => Rottweiler Discussions => : Britz July 05, 2007, 02:24:58 AM
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Well When I first joined I brought up My worry about Zeus being a rotti, and my worry with my kids and him. All the answer every one gave me, gave a little peace at mind. I havent had many worries about it till today.
So from the beginning, Zeus has been great so far with alll childeren. BUt any way I called my grandparent this morrning to see if they could possibly take my kiddos for the day sence i have to be in town early to take zeus to the vet. Well I never even got to ask when my grandfather( who all ready is bullheaded and thinks we shoudl get rid of are dog sence he is rotti) cuts me right off and tells me I need to take my dog back I said well why would you say that.*he has only meet zeus a couple times* Well then he started going off about this rotti attack taht happened and a little girl 17mths old was killed my daughter is 15mths
story here http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/07/03/4308620-sun.html
Well of course after he was going off on me that my dog is going to kill my kids are hurt some one else's. ME trying to calm him down saying that zeus will be raised with the kids etc.. Well then he has to jump in and say something like well what if he bites another child. Of like. He is a guarding breed and protective of his pack. HE will need to be watched and liek someone told me here he cant be the refferie for when the kids play with other childeren. I don't leave Zeus with the childeren alone and dont plan on it even when he is older.
In away Im so tierd of getting ppl being so bullheaded about rotti's. Yes this is my first rotti I had a Husky before this and she was great with ethan. I have known many rotti's all great dogs. I dunno Why i get so worried about this after my grandpa telling me everything and I finding the story I Just now have a giant stomach ache and am just full of worries and wonders. Im not by no means getting ride of my baby just becasue every one thinks it is bad to have around childern. I know what they are capable of the same as any othe r dog. I no longer h ave the tip of my nose due to a Dalmation. (it bit the tip of my nose off) you dont see stories about ppl getting mulled by other breeds why do ppl have to BOld out the rotti's.
So sorry im just stressed today by all this
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Awww ... I know hearing stuff like that can be super stressful. For every bad story out there about any dog breed, you can probably find ten more good ones. Its just that people don't tend to focus on those. If I called up my newspaper today and told them my Doberman had suddenly "turned" and was terrorizing the neighborhood, they'd be all over it. If I called them up and said "My Dobie is so sweet and he likes to give children kisses!" they would just be like, "Um, okay. Thanks for calling crazy lady." :D
Anyway, my point is that YOU know your dog better than all of those people. They don't live with Zeus. They don't understand the dynamics within your home. Don't let them worry you over something senseless. Any animal with teeth can hurt a child ... not just Rotties, or Pit Bulls, or Dobies, or Chows, or whatever. It sounds like you are diligent in watching your children interact with Zeus. And that is a good thing!
Try not to let it bother you. I am sure that Zeus will grow up being best buds with your kids and they will be super happy you stuck to your guns about him.
Thanks Jenn. Im just right stressed about it when we brought Zeus home we didnt even consider all the stories etc.. Then everyone kept yakking off about it. Its really starting to bother me Zeus is already a smart guy . YOU can see his protection streck comethrough everyonce in awile * he will stand guard lol Its so cute though* I guess i just need to try to stop thinking about it all the time. When I hear these stories about dog attacks etc i Just cant stand to read it all it gets me so worried. Know if i Had Zeus before my kiddos I probley wouldn't even be as worried as I am now.. Mommy mode some time drives me nutzo lol
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yes. you will always have that worry.
you will learn to laugh about it though. get Zues a shirt that says "no thank you, i'm not hungry" or "I already had a small child for lunch...I'm full thanks"
you will hear anything from "that's a big dog" to "is he friendly?" or "He sounds hungry!" or "That dog should be put to sleep."
i want the shirt that says either "Don't look. Don't talk. DON'T PANIC" or "It's a rottie thing...you wouldn't understand"
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oh and my favoritest comment to date that came from a guy hiding behind a 6 foot 2 by 4 in my front yard was..."i don't mean to breed discriminate, but they are rotts and you have 2 now."
that was when i lived with my now ex and we had 2, Lady and Grace. now i just have one and i still hear that.
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my favorite response to these stupid comments is "Gosh, i didn't know that!"
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yes. you will always have that worry.
you will learn to laugh about it though. get Zues a shirt that says "no thank you, i'm not hungry" or "I already had a small child for lunch...I'm full thanks"
you will hear anything from "that's a big dog" to "is he friendly?" or "He sounds hungry!" or "That dog should be put to sleep."
i want the shirt that says either "Don't look. Don't talk. DON'T PANIC" or "It's a rottie thing...you wouldn't understand"
LOL i will have to find a shirt like that. I wish ppl would be alittle more less bull headed about them. I was thinking maybe giving my gramps one of the many rotti mags I have that explains them and tells better stories about them BUt knowing him he either wont read it or will pin point parts that arnt good or something. I guess i'll just have to get use to the comments.
LOL "gosh I didn't know that" I amy just use that one. Arggg I have a feeling I will be having a few vents about this subject in the next 10-13 years lol
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yes. you will always have that worry.
you will learn to laugh about it though. get Zues a shirt that says "no thank you, i'm not hungry" or "I already had a small child for lunch...I'm full thanks"
you will hear anything from "that's a big dog" to "is he friendly?" or "He sounds hungry!" or "That dog should be put to sleep."
i want the shirt that says either "Don't look. Don't talk. DON'T PANIC" or "It's a rottie thing...you wouldn't understand"
LOL i will have to find a shirt like that. I wish ppl would be alittle more less bull headed about them. I was thinking maybe giving my gramps one of the many rotti mags I have that explains them and tells better stories about them BUt knowing him he either wont read it or will pin point parts that arnt good or something. I guess i'll just have to get use to the comments.
LOL "gosh I didn't know that" I amy just use that one. Arggg I have a feeling I will be having a few vents about this subject in the next 10-13 years lol
yes you will.
so what. i love my rottie! i know she's a good girl. AND I SLEEP SO WELL AT NIGHT!!!!!!! i left the keys in the door lock last night and didn't lock the door. NO ONE came and took my keys or broke in.
i have a built in alarm and people don't want to sound it. In the apartment complex I am "the lady with the Rott!" no one knows my name or the dogs name. we are the lady with the rott and that rott that lives there.
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I'm sure eventually you won't worry about it anymore..right now he's just a pup and it's probably hard to imagine him grown etc.. The only Rott I've been around is at my inlaws brothers house on holidays, and when my hubby house sat for them and took care of her. She is the sweetest dog ever. Big yes, intimidating, well if it weren't for her body wagging and attention getting tactics and her obsession to play fetch with a tennis ball- maybe. ;) She's just a big baby, not threatening, not scary..just a big hairy baby that likes to hand you slobbery balls. Hahaha. I'm positive there are scarier Labs out there.
The best thing you can do is socialize him with other children, I'm sure that can't be stressed enough. Any dog can hurt someone trying to defend their pack, regardless of breed and unfortunately just because they are children, doesn't mean they aren't seen as a threat. It is the same case with my breed. Mine have been around a lot of people but not kids, it just hasn't happened we come across any..other than sometimes on the street when we walk them. It's hard to imagine them ever not loving everybody like they do now, but I know that will change, in a good way at least!
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Many of us will always have to defend our dogs based on their breed. In all honesty part of the reason I chose a Bully was because their appearance is the deterent, i know his temperment and i know he's VERY socialized but it's that 1 time in 1000 that you will be glad that someone leaves you alone because of your dog's physical appearance.Now if he weren't socialized why would i take him to the dog park, it's annoying to have to reassure people he's friendly there when almost everyone else knows his name and stops to pet him. The problem is in educating those who you want in your life, like your grandparents. Your grandpa is right, that poor little girl was killed by a Rott/Shepherd mix, are all shepherds bad now too? The dog was tied in the backyard which should send up some instant red flags, most dogs who are tied get very protective and will protect "their" space. The dog may be an angel in the house and not feel the need to defend. Also you don't know the full story about that dog or child. It's a tragedy for sure but your dog didn't do it. He shouldn't be blamed. Children should always be watched near ANY dog.
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Thank you guys for your responce's.
I have been trying to get him to meet all the childeren i know. He is great with all them so far a nd hasnt showed any sign of fear from childeren he is a little timid around some new ppl he meets but I have told everyone before they come over not to run up to him walk slowly stop and call him. My one sister in law *not the one with the dog* cane over yesterday she has been gone and Zeus was a little worrysome of her at first but As soon as she got out of her truck and was walking over to me I told her to call his name and as soons as she did he was allright. I have been trying to get him socialized and I hoep that one bad experience with my BIL's dog wont scar him
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I had a home owners insurance company turn us away because we had Great Danes!! They also had GSD, and collies on their mean dog list!!!!
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the socialization is the key. my problem with Grace when she was little was that i didn't have any willing participants in the socialization process. she doesn't like to be approached and she can be leash aggressive.
other than that we're good. she's a gem when off the leash at the farm. the neighbor comes into the house and she scares him. but i told him to tell her in his best authority voice to shut up and now they get along fine.
you have to know your dog too.
but like i've said before...any dog can turn on you...big or little...poodl e, rott or Mastif. it doesn't matter. after all they are dogs and dogs will do what dogs are born to do.
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I had a home owners insurance company turn us away because we had Great Danes!! They also had GSD, and collies on their mean dog list!!!!
WOW I wouldnt think Great danes would be on that list
the socialization is the key. my problem with Grace when she was little was that i didn't have any willing participants in the socialization process. she doesn't like to be approached and she can be leash aggressive.
other than that we're good. she's a gem when off the leash at the farm. the neighbor comes into the house and she scares him. but i told him to tell her in his best authority voice to shut up and now they get along fine.
you have to know your dog too.
but like i've said before...any dog can turn on you...big or little...poodl e, rott or Mastif. it doesn't matter. after all they are dogs and dogs will do what dogs are born to do.
Im hopping if we get in to one of these classes he will meet some pups he will be ok with. Sheldons parents have a golden retriver lab x that zeus gets along with great, My grams has pugs but he hasnt meet them yet they are very hyper and i Dont think he would tolerta them. MY moms yorkie and him get along ok to a point untill zeus wants to play then the yorkie hot shots out of there lol
HE also has got along fine with alot of adult dogs.. A socialization hahaha
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Here's my take: For the entire duration of my childhood, I was susrrounded by no less than 5 Siberian Huskies and/or St. Bernards. The only time I got bit was when I was a stupid kid and tried to break up a dog fight by sticking my hand in the middle of it, not because the dog turned on me.
When it comes down to it, you know your dog and if it was bred resposibly and is being socialized and raised correctly. You shouldn't have any problems.
Unfortunately, you are not going to change your grandfather's mind. Sounds like he is set in his ways. My father in law is the same way...He dislikes Sierra simply because he thinks a Newfoundland is too big for our home. We live in a 3 bedroom bi-level! Anyway, back to your problem...You may want to try putting your foot down with him and let him know that you respect his opinion and his concern for your children, but this is a subject that you will not discuss with him and let him know that if he insists on talking about it, you will politely end your call because you don't want to fight with him. He will start getting the picture after the first couple times.
When it comes down to it, it is YOUR dog, YOUR home, YOUR children and YOUR decision and much to his disappointment, there is nothing he can do about it.
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(BTW, Did you know that when dobermans reach a certain age that their brains swell and they go berserk, killing every human being in their path??) Mine must have skipped that age.
Stella Supposably it's also a rotti thing hahaha We had a couple people come right up to us and tell us that lol I know that it can hapen with bad breeding in a rotti though. ( I have no clue about zeus's background though)
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OH NO!!! Don't even think for one minute that Zues's background is scaring people or your lack of his history. you got him young enough to socialize him and train him and turn him into a lovable baby much like any other fuzzfaced small breed, family friendly, child oriented puppy (who by the way can turn on you just as fast.) I know pit bulls i like better than some poodles or shi zu's.
none of this is Zues' fault or yours. It took me a long time to stop wondering why Grace was so "MEAN" and rude to people and what i could do to "FIX" her. i've learned by watching her and knowing I've gone to every extent in her training that it's not her. She loves the people who don't act afraid of her. she walks by them just fine. the people who reek of fear and anxiety...she reers up at and bullies. She, like most other dogs (Rotts inparticular), can smell your fear. that's why i have no problem walking in the worst part of town at 2 am with my Grace...she can sense your intentions and backs up the bark. :)
I don't foster or encourage this behavior. in fact i tell people when they as "is shs friendly?" or "you gotta hold of that monster!" not to act afraid and you'll be fine...that tends to make it worse. hey, they were warned and coached in the fine art of how to stop breed discrimination . They chose not to listen.
Aues is a good boy...a friendly boy. You can see it in his yes and on his face. people tend to project their fear about a breed onto the breed when the breed reacts (doing what dogs do best) and making it sound like "the dog started it" or it's "the dog's fault" i put my hand in its mouth and it bit me. I don't buy it!!!
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WOW! was i on my soap box AGAIN!!!!!!??
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Maybe this is why i don't meet single guys at the park. :)
i don't see why they would come up to me and say: Hi, I'm John. I like long walks on the beach, cuddling on the couch while watching a tear jerking chick flick, candlelight dinners. I'm 39 years old, have no children and I make a half a million a year all to better shower you with love and affection in a very expensive manner.
By the way, can you get my leg out of your dog's teeth...that hurts! :)
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Maybe this is why i don't meet single guys at the park. :)
i don't see why they would come up to me and say: Hi, I'm John. I like long walks on the beach, cuddling on the couch while watching a tear jerking chick flick, candlelight dinners. I'm 39 years old, have no children and I make a half a million a year all to better shower you with love and affection in a very expensive manner.
By the way, can you get my leg out of your dog's teeth...that hurts! :)
Hee...Heee... Lin, your too funny! Anyway, if Grace has his leg in her teeth than he's probably not worth it...half mill salary or not!!
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When I took Issy to Petsmart, just to walk around different stuff and people, this lady and her son were looking at fish tanks. As soon as she saw us, she grabbed his hand. Now I don't know if that was because she was afraid of Issy or because maybe he's too excited when he sees dogs...I ignored it. I think you're on the right track with what you're doing and it sounds like your family and your husbands just don't like dogs, especially yours for some reason!! So no matter what, they are always going to comment. I ditto everything Lin has said too! And I'm going to need some of those t-shirts but for GSD!!
One side note, because I made this mistake with Navarre. When a pup is about 6months and the owner thinks that they are starting to realize to "protect", they are actually more than likely acting out of fear not protection, Issy is starting some of this now too. I used to tell Navarre, "it's ok" or "good boy" when I probably should have just ignored whatever he was barking at so he would know it wasn't important. But I didn't do that, so for about the next 2 years, any stranger, noise, etc he would bark like mad and not back down!! Which is fine when it's a stranger trying to come in rather than one of my friends, but he didn't know the difference. He did come around and I could take him anywhere and he's ignore just about everybody and everything, except the man who was watching me from the bushes!! Anyway, it looks like you and I will be socializing mamma's for awhile!!!! Don't worry about what anybody else says as long as Zeus is happy with your family and you're happy with him, WHO CARES!!!
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Thank you everyone for your advice.. So far everything has been ok my grandparents have left it alone for awile now and sheldon folks well there just a you know ______________ ___.. ( fill in the blank with something awfull) it bothers me to know end i have had perfect strangers come up to me and zeus and he has done great, but then my FIL he hates.. But I sometimes ownder if he feels my hate for him. MY mom was saying something along those lines it it made sence. Zeus is a great pup he is the most laid back pup you would meet..
As for Socialization it is kinda put off till next month there was a Parvovirus Outbreak in dogs in are area and Around 30 dogs at the shelter had to get put down. Zeus does have his shots and will be getting the 4th at the end of the month.
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I used to have the same problem like you.when i got Zak ( my rottie ) he was 5 months old but very socialized from an early age. i went to my girlfriends home to show her family the dog but he accepted everyone. My girlfriend sister got two little kids but Zak he is so gentle with them. With the boy ( 4yrs old ) he play with him and ran after him when he is riding the bycicle and with the little girl ( 1yr old ) he only go near her and lick her hands.I dont think you have to worry that much as long as you socialize the dog as much as possible.