While Rottweilers have a reputation for being mean, dog owners have proven that they can be very loveable. Yes, these dogs are incredibly friendly, but are Rottweilers good with kids?
Rottweilers can be very good with kids. These dogs are very friendly, playful, and protective, which makes them a great breed to have around kids. A Rottweiler is also very likely to form a good bond with the kids it spends time with, eventually becoming protective over them.
Are you interested in adopting a Rottweiler but not sure how the dog will be around children? You’ve come to the right page. Today, we’re going to discuss how Rottweilers behave around kids and everything else you should know. Keep reading to learn more.
Are Rottweilers Good With Kids?
Don’t be fooled by Rottweiler’s bad reputation. These dogs are actually very sweet and can be very good companions with kids. One of the reasons that Roties make great family pets is that they are a very loyal breed. These friendly dogs are capable of forming a great bond with every member of your household.
Some people worry about a Rottweiler‘s size when playing with kids. After all, a fully grown Rottweiler can weigh anywhere from a range of 85 to 130 pounds. A Rottweiler won’t purposely hurt a child, but it may accidentally know them over when playing. For this reason, parents should always supervise when small children and Rotties are playing together.
Part of the reason that Rottweilers get along so well with kids is that they share similar energy. Both have an upbeat and energetic attitude. The idea of playing all day sounds fantastic to both kids and Rotties. When you put a child and a Rottweiler together, they can have a lot of fun.
Will My Rottweiler Be Good With Kids?
Every Rottweiler should be judged individually. In most situations, if a Rottweiler has been trained and socialized from an early age, it should be very obedient around children. Socialization is a very important part of a Rottweiler’s early years. The most important part of a Rottweiler’s socialization will take place between the age of 11 and 16 months.
During this point in time, make sure the puppy becomes familiar with meeting different people. This should include people of all ages, so the dog knows how to behave around children. It should also include other dogs so the Rottie won’t be frightened or act aggressively when it sees other animals.
Even though the key parts of socialization start around 11 months, the puppy’s socialization process should begin before this. Ideally, it will start when the puppy is young and still with the breeders. You will need to continue this process when bringing the puppy home so it will be good with seeing new faces.
If you bring a Rottweiler puppy into a house with a child, it will have an easier time adjusting than a fully grown Rottweiler would.
Why Are Rottweilers Good With Kids?
Rottweilers and kids make great playmates. There are a few qualities that these dogs have that make them a great breed to have around children. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why a Rottweiler could be your child’s new best friend.
Easy Going Dogs
One of the reasons that Rotties are a good dog to have around kids is that they are very easy-going dogs. When kids get excited, they can do some pretty silly things. They can also push the boundaries for some dog breeds, causing them to act aggressively.
Rottweilers, on the other hand, can stay cool and collected. It doesn’t matter if the kid is getting too handsy or took the dog’s favorite toy. The Rottweiler will stay mellow and let the kid have fun.
They Can Handle Rough Play
Since Rottweilers have strong physiques, they can handle it when children get a little bit too rowdy. Some kids love to hug their dogs and climb on top of them. While that can be a cause for concern with some breeds, Rottweilers don’t mind one bit. If your kid plays on the rough side, a Rottie is one of the best dogs to keep up with them.
Rottweilers Are Protective
Rottweilers are excellent herding dogs. Even if the Rotties isn’t used for herding, it will still have the natural instinct. When the dog forms a loyal bond with a child, that kid becomes part of the Rottweiler’s herd. This can be good news for parents because they know the Rottweiler will become very protective over the kid.
Another good thing about Rottweilers is that they can sense when there is danger or a threat. For this reason, they will also be on guard to protect your and your family members. A lot of parents find relief in this knowing that when their kid is outside playing with the dog, the Rottie will have its eye on the situation.
If a wild animal or a threatening person approaches, the Rottweiler will act protective of the kid. Since these dogs are large with a mean bark, they are very good at scaring people and animals away.
They’re Smart Puppies
One of the many great traits of a Rottweiler is that this breed is very intelligent. This makes it easier to train the Rottie and end up with an obedient dog. Since Rotties are energetic, they enjoy training that involves physical activity and challenges. Allowing your kid to participate in training the Rottweiler will help them form a better bond and have fun together.
If your kid is an animal lover, you can even get them to help with training the dog to do new tricks or learn a new command. Rottweilers are very intelligent, and most of them are capable of learning a new command with 5 repetitions. Your kid may enjoy teaching the dog something new. There are several commands that are easy for kids to teach Rottweilers, such as:
- Sit
- Lay down
- Shake a paw
- Touch
- Up
- Down
- Come
- Spin
- Take it
Should I Worry About My Rottweiler Around Children
If your dog has been trained and socialized, there generally isn’t anything to worry about when it’s around kids. Especially if the dog is familiar with the children. However, there are a few times in which a dog owner may worry about how the Rottweiler behaves around kids.
Not Used To Children
When you’ve adopted the dog as a puppy, you have full control of the socialization process. However, when you adopt a full-grown Rottweiler, you likely won’t know what type of socialization it had as a puppy. If the dog isn’t familiar with kids, always supervise any interactions it has with children.
Try to make sure the children are calm and not too rough when meeting with the dog. Since Rottweilers are very good at sensing intentions, calm energy is very important to allow an unsocialized dog to become comfortable around kids.
Needs Obedience Training
Some Rottweilers are better behaved than others. If you’re Rottweiler is on the energetic side and you believe it needs more training, it may not be a good idea to allow it to play with kids yet. With proper obedience training, you won’t have to worry about your Rottweiler getting too rambunctious around kids.
When They’re Roughhousing
Your Rottweiler and your child may be the best of friends, but that doesn’t mean all of their interactions are going to be safe. When your dog and kid are playing, they will ride off each other’s energy. If your kid is having fun and getting excited, your Rottweiler will too.
While your dog won’t have any ill intentions, it may accidentally hurt your kids from playing too roughly. Some Rottweilers have been known to bump into the children too roughly, causing them to fall down. Even though the Rottweiler didn’t mean to hurt your kid, the bump can shock and scare a young child.
Strong Prey Instinct
Many Rottweilers have a strong prey instinct. This causes them to chase small animals when they get the chance. Although it’s very rare, there have been times when a Rottweiler has seen a small child running and mistaken the kid for prey.
While that may sound alarming, it’s not something that dog owners will need to worry about it their Rottweiler has been properly socialized. When the Rottweiler is familiar with seeing children, it won’t think of them as prey.
Final Thoughts
Are Rottweilers good with kids? Rottweilers are excellent family dogs that love being around children. When a Rottweiler is adopted by a family, it’s very likely that the dog will form a good bond with the kids of the house. Rottweiller and kids get along well because they both are playful, energetic, and easy-going.
To ensure your Rottweiler will be obedient around children, it’s important to make sure the dog is socialized. While the Rottie is a puppy, it should get the opportunity to interact with people from different age groups. It’s also important to train your Rottweiler so it is well-behaved in situations with children.