Can my Rottweiler ever stop biting?

Question

My Rotty has bitten, at least, 3 people. He's very intimidating and I think the reason he bites is because he's scared of everything. Does anyone know how I can get him to stop biting?

Answer 1

Bitten 3 people already? I am surprised that it has not been put down already. Sounds like your dog is a lawsuit waiting to happen. And a very expensive one at that.  Sorry.

There is NO excuse as to why a dog has bitten three people and still out free to roam the streets. What is going to happen when this dog seriously hurts or kills a little kid?

Answer 2

Fear biters are the hardest to deal with.  If you've tried training and socializing him, then really, you have 2 choices - 1) keep him muzzled or 2) humanely euthanize him.

I know someone who recently had to put down a fear biter - it's not an easy decision, but sometimes, can't be avoided.  Have starred for her.

Answer 3

He's a fear biter. You need help from a professional animal behaviorist or at least a certified and qualified trainer. Positive methods only please. Use of harsh punishment or other corrective techniques will make this problem worse in the long run. Even professional trainers would recommend that you get professional help with this. See Pam Dennison's book Bringing Light to Shadow. She is a professional trainer who rescued a human aggressive Border Collie and worked with him using only positive methods. After 18 months he passed his CGC test (Canine Good Citizen). Success.

Answer 4

This is gross, but a trainer told me that everytime your dog bites or "mouths" something or someone, that you can take your two fingers and push them down the dog's throat for a few moments. This doesn't hurt the dog, but is a very unpleasant experience for him, which he'll begin to associate with misusing his mouth. This technique worked for me -- you might want to first consult with your trainer or vet to see if it may be appropriate in your case.

Answer 5

You need to be very firm and strict with this breed. They can be dangerous if they attack. When he bites you need to dicipline him and put him in a cage for a little while. Also, you may need some kind of professional training.

~MLF~

Answer 6

Rotties are very dominant dogs,, and are not known to stick their tail between their legs and run. They are more dominant based dogs, so I do not believe he is biting because he is scared unless he has been abused.

Rotties will also tend to bully people due to their size. A rottie uses it's size to knock his opponent or someone down first.

You need to get a hold of this dog before he does some real damage. They are pound for pound one of the hardest biters there are. They bite then jerk capable of shredding skin and crushing bones due to their awesome jaw pressure.

I would invest in a muzzle for this dog and put it on him whenever someone comes over or you go out. You can safely and better correct him with it.

I Would also invest in an e-collar for him.

Alpha rolling this dog would be to dangerous due to his size.

Rotties were originally used as cart dogs till the mule and railroad took that job away from them.

They were all but extinct till the german police started using them as police dogs and then the german army started to use them to protect camps and borders.

Aggression was bred into these dogs to make them better protection stock, but mixed in with their size and stubborness makes for an intimidating and hard to control dog.

All dogs bred for protection or have protecting traits tend to be "mouthy", but it is through proper obedience training that it is curbed.

You need to get him observed by a behavior specialist and then get him properly OB trained and then find something for him to do like tracking or Shutzland classes. He is a working dog, and needs to be doing something.

Rotties also make good retrieving dogs. I know people who use them as bird hunting dogs.

You can go to:  www.leerburg.com

their forum would be a good place for you to ask questions. They deal with protection breeds.

Answer 7

If you know when your Rottweiler would start to bite a person like if he growls or anything, take him away quickly and then try to let the person say good things about him so your Rottweiler can see that the person isn't so scary.

I have also heard that Rottweilers were bred to bite. That's the Rottweilers job, to bite. There was this lady telling me you should never let your dog near a Rottweiler because her dog was bitten by a Rottweiler and then died. But I've seen some good Rottwielers in the dog run I go to.

Answer 8

I recently put down a fear biter.  Difference was, she was only 12 lbs.  Your Rottie is an EXTREME danger to the people around him.  

In addition to that, a fear aggressive biter is a miserable dog.  Can you imagine how horrible it would be to live in fear of everything?

I couldn't even walk the one I had without her trembling and scratching at me to pick her up every time she heard a car door slam.  When it got to the point that she wouldn't venture off of the back deck to relieve herself on the grass in the backyard, and growled and barked at the corner, I knew it was time.

I kept her around because I didn't want to deal with the pain I would go through in putting her down.  Stop thinking about yourself, and think about your dog.  He needs to be euthanized.  A dog living in fear will ALWAYS live in fear.  

Answer 9

my cusin has a dog..he is half wolf and half golden retriever... he bites when he is scared... i think you need to do some training and not with alot of other dogs around.. one on one... go to a library or google how to train your dog to stop biting... it will probably take time but if your willing to give the time you will see improvement. also take him out around other people and he will get used to it and hopefully not bite...

Answer 10

Many times severe fear or aggression can stem from an under active thyroid, especially if he seems to be fearful of everything.  Ask the vet to do a thyroid test.  

Answer 11

SHOOT HIM

Answer 12

It sounds like he needs more socializing. Take him out and have people he doesn't know give him a treat and pet him. He will learn that strangers and just people in general are great! And they have that they have treats too:) Hope that helps! Good luck!

Answer 13

Get a dog trainer or plan to put your dog down.  Dogs who bite from fear can be very dangerous.  You need to boost his confidence.  A good dog behaviorist can teach you what you need to know.  Most of the time it is not the dog's fault but the owner that actually needs training.

Answer 14

More info...

How old is he?

Was it play biting or serious biting?

Edit: TDs don't bother me. However, these questions I asked are extremely important. If it is a puppy and it was play biting, then, it is something that basic obedience training could stop. The dog isn't going to stop on his own. He has to be trained. Rottweilers need to be well trained dogs. Well, all dogs do, but, I know I wouldn't have an untrained Rottie.

"Rottweilers are not recommended for people who have little experience with dogs, or understand little about dog psychology and responsible canine ownership."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rottweiler

Answer 15

How old is your pup? If he is still under 2 yrs you can train him just as you would a puppy, older dogs can still be trained also, Ask your vet to recomend a good trainer or obedience class you could get your rotty into, and make sure your pup has plenty of things he can chew and praise him when he chews the correct things and with a stern voice command thats not pleasent for him u can try to correct him when hes doing things wrong... hope this helps a bit