Rottweilers are a popular breed of dog, but unfortunately, they have a reputation for being unpredictable and aggressive.
Some people even believe that Rottweilers always attack their owners eventually, so is it true?
Do Rottweilers Attack their owners? Rottweilers do not attack their owners unprovoked or without a reason, and Rottweilers do not attack their owners any more than other dog breeds do. All Dogs, including Rottweilers, can attack their owners if they are mistreated, beaten, or abused by them.
To put it simply; all dogs bite their owners because you can’t expect the dog to not bite the hand that beats him.
To understand Rottweiler’s aggression better and find out when do Rottweilers bite their owners, keep reading.
Do Rottweilers attack their owners?
Rottweilers are not any more likely to attack their owners than other dog breeds, and in fact, studies have shown that Rottweilers are not any more aggressive towards their family members than other dogs.
In the article where I’ve discussed if Rottweilers are naturally aggressive, I’ve discussed how Rottweilers are naturally moderately aggressive towards people, similar to Huskies, Dachshunds, and Poodles.
Rottweilers are a tad more aggressive towards dogs of the same sex, smaller pets, and unfamiliar people. Rottweilers are actually less aggressive towards people than Beagles, Chihuahuas, and Jack Russel Terriers.
Given the statistics you might hear in the news, this may be confusing.
If you look at the statistics of dog bites, you’ll notice that since 1982, 796 Rottweilers alone have killed 119 people out of the bitten 627 people (242 adults and 385 children), according to statistics.
According to statistics, Rottweilers, while accounting for less than 2% of the dog population in the United States and Canada, are involved in over 10.4% of all attacks, making them ten times more likely to attack than other breeds and only less aggressive than Pitbulls.
But here is something I’ve learned in my years as an engineer; It’s really freaking easy to make the stats say anything you want it to say. I dug into the truth of these numbers and what they really mean in this article on why are Rottweilers killing people here.
Because of breed preconceptions, biased information from such sources may be incorrect.
At the time, researchers from three institutions in England and one institution in Canada collaborated on a study. The Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ), a validated and reliable test for measuring dogs’ typical and current reactions to a range of common stimuli and scenarios, was used by researchers from more than 30 dog breeds.
what they found was that Rottweilers are not really more aggressive by nature than other dog breeds.
Rottweilers were found to be less aggressive than other small dogs like Chihuahuas and King Spaniels, which will surprise many people.
Because Rottweilers have previously been working dogs, they’ve had to learn to be calm and quiet around people, or they were abandoned.
what is the Truth of Rottweiler’s Aggression, then?
The Rottweiler is a misunderstood and maligned breed. In reality, they are diligent workers with a deep love and devotion for their families. The loyalty, sociability, and playfulness of this breed make it an appealing choice. With adequate training and attention, the Rottweiler may become a member of the family’s closest friend.
The actual blame for violent Rottweilers should be placed on their owners’ irresponsible care and/or mistreatment.
The truth is that since this breed is so popular among dogfight enthusiasts and negligent owners, it has a high rate of biting.
Rottweilers are very active dogs who, if they don’t get enough exercise, may become destructive and frenzied. These aren’t dogs that prefer to sit around. If the owner is unable to give his dog attention or activity, he should not acquire a Rottweiler. Rottweilers should never be left alone for
The Rottweiler is a working dog that needs to keep busy, whether herding livestock or protecting the family. If you can’t offer your Rottweiler one of these activities, he may get bored and mischievous.
Are Rottweilers Stubborn and Difficult to Train?
You might be thinking; it can’t really be the owner’s fault, it must be that the dog is really difficult to train. Wrong, again. Rottweilers are one of the smartest dog breeds, and they are not that difficult to train.
They do have a strong personality that can make them stubborn at times, but this is also true for many other dogs, and with the right attitude and with consistency, this stubbornness will go away.
Rottweilers have a long history of working with people, dating back to their origins as descendant cattle drover dogs who accompanied the Roman armies in what would become German territories more than 2,000 years ago.
In ancient times, these dogs were used to hunt bears and pull butcher’s carts. Rottweilers have been trained for police work, service and therapy tasks, as well as military usage in modern times.
It’s difficult to believe that a breed that can be trained to do so many remarkable things is a difficult one to train. Rottweilers are known for having strong personalities, but they are also clever and eager to learn. When they’ve been taught correctly and on a regular basis, they become quite obedient family pets.
Can you stop your Rottweiler from attacking you?
The answer is yes, but it will take some work.
Like all dogs, Rottweilers need early socialization and training. They should be obedience-trained starting at an early age and exposed to a variety of people, animals, and environments.
Rottweilers also need plenty of exercises; both physical and mental. A tired Rottweiler is less likely to be destructive or aggressive.
If you are not going to give your Rottweiler something to do, you can expect them to turn destructive in the house because they have all this pent-up energy with no where to put it.
Most importantly, Rottweiler needs a strong leader he can respect and trust. The owner must be consistent with rules and commands and provide plenty of love and attention. With proper training, socialization, exercise, and leadership, your Rottweiler will be a wonderful pet who is obedient and loyal to you.
Helpful Resources
Breed differences in canine aggression
Bite Statistics According to Dog Breed
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