Last Updated on April 24, 2024 by Dr. Julie
If you already have a few dogs at home and you’re thinking about getting a Rottweiler, you might be wondering do Rottweilers get along with other dogs. These dogs, favorable by many owners because of their protective instincts, often cause worry for the same reason. In today’s article, we’re going to achieve a deeper understanding of these dogs, how do they act in packs, and whether they’re a good choice for your home.
Table of Contents
Dogs Are Pack Animals
There’s probably little reason to worry about your Rottweiler fitting in with the rest of your dogs at home. Rottweiler, just like all other dogs, are pack animals, and it’s unlikely that they’ll start any trouble with your dogs if you introduce them the right way.
What’s important is to introduce a new dog to the older dogs while the new dog is still a puppy. Be there when the older dogs meet the new dog, and they’ll recognize it as a new baby brother or sister.
When it comes to Rottweilers, their first instinct to new dogs isn’t an aggressive one. They’re alert and vigilant, yes, but as soon as they realize that the new dog is part of their pack and that you brought them home to live with them – they’ll accept the new dog as one of their own.
Learn more about: Do Rottweilers Like Cats?
Rottweilers are highly disciplined dogs if you train them right, and you can even bring a cat home and teach them to accept the cat, instead of pushing it away or scaring it off.
Some owners worry about their Rottweiler meeting other dogs during walks – how will the Rottie react? Many people confuse their alertness with aggression, but this kind of thinking is wrong. If you treat and train your Rottweiler right, they won’t be an angry dog, looking to start trouble.
They can never turn their protective instincts off, and they’ll always be careful when other dogs approach them, but worrying about your Rottweiler starting a fight for no reason is silly. If anything, Rottweilers will avoid approaching other dogs if possible.
Once they get to know one another, a Rottweiler will gladly spend time and play with another dog.
Introducing A New Dog To The Family
If you already have a Rottweiler at home, you’re going to need to introduce the new dog carefully and slowly. The reason for this isn’t that the Rottie might harm the new dog, but the fact that your Rottie will want to sniff around and examine this new puppy.
Although both you and your Rottweiler know that this is harmless, the puppy will certainly find it frightening. This is why you should be there and hold the puppy in your arms, slowly introducing it to your Rottweiler.
Once your dog realizes that this new puppy is another dog, it’ll soon accept it as its own and start playing with it. It won’t be long before defensive instincts take over and your Rottweiler starts feeling protective over the new dog. Try to be mindful when you’re choosing your next dog. In principle, Rottweilers make no difference to large and small dogs, but if you choose a particularly aggressive dog (such as the Chihuahua), your Rottie will respond defensively.
Interestingly, the same practice applies to newborn babies! If you have a baby on the way, you’re going to have to introduce it to your Rottweiler slowly. Very soon, though, your Rottie will recognize the baby as one of its own and start feeling protective towards it.
These dogs are great with kids if they’re trained right and there’s no reason to worry.
Something that should be pointed out is that it’s unwise to keep a Rottweiler in a closed space. If you have an apartment, your Rottweiler will feel confined all the time, which will lead to nervousness and it will be aggravated very easily. If you introduce a new to the apartment, the Rottweiler probably won’t feel good about that, as it now has to share its already-limited space with another dog.
This is why it’s best to live in a house with a large yard if you’re planning on owning a pack of dogs. Rottweilers like open spaces especially, and they’ll be less territorial if they get to spend their time with other dogs in a large yard. A larger yard gives them enough space to run around and play with other dogs, instead of seeing them as a territorial threat.
FAQ
Are Rottweilers aggressive towards other dogs?
No, Rottweilers won't start a fight with other dogs for no reason. If they're introduced properly, Rottweilers will gladly play with other dogs, but they'll be vigilant if they don't know the dog.
Are Rottweilers good around small dogs?
Rottweilers don't differentiate dogs by size and they'll get along with a small dog just as much as they would with a larger dog. They can sometimes be unaware of their size and playtime can get a little rough, but that isn't anything to worry about.
Which dog can live with a Rottweiler?
You can choose any dog to live with your Rottweiler, while another Rottweiler would be the best choice.
How do you introduce a Rottweiler to a new dog?
To introduce your Rottie to another dog, keep them near you and let them sniff one another until they're acquainted. You'll see that your Rottie's mood switches from vigilant to playful once they trust the other dog.
To Finish
Rottweilers are very disciplined dogs, and if you train them right, getting along with another dog won’t be a problem at all. You can easily introduce new dogs to your family and a well-behaving Rottweiler will accept them as one of the pack. Very quickly, these dogs will be acting like a real pack.
Introducing a new dog to your Rottweiler should be done slowly and carefully, as many dogs are intimidated by Rottweilers since they’re so large and powerful. It’s also best to introduce a new dog in an open space, instead of a closed one, as they feel more comfortable there.