If you have gazed upon an adorable litter of roly-poly Rottweiler puppies, you may have been more than a little tempted to take one home with you. But do Rottweiler puppies make good pets? The answer is that it depends upon the type of dog that you are looking for. Contrary to their appearance and their reputation, Rottweilers can make delightful family pets for many because they tend to be friendly and almost clownish in temperament. However, a Rottweiler that is not properly trained and socialized can become an aggressive dog, which will lead to many problems for the owner. Therefore, it is important to educate yourself about the appropriate training methods that will work with this breed and be prepared to spend some time teaching your dog proper behavior.

Establishing the Alpha-Dog

Dogs are pack animals, which means that they are used to living a traveling with groups of their own kind. When you bring a Rottweiler puppy into your home, he will see you and your family as his new pack. The first step in training your dog will be to establish the alpha-dog – or leader – of this pack. The leader may be you and it may be your Rottweiler puppy, but your life will go infinitely easier if it is indeed you! To establish yourself as your puppy's alpha-dog, there are a few steps that you can take.

First, always eat before your puppy does, since the leader of the pack always eats before allowing the others to enjoy a meal. Never let your dog go through a doorway ahead of you – alpha-dogs always get to go first. If your dog is lying in your path, make him move out of the way instead of going around him. By using these principles consistently, your Rottweiler puppy will get the idea that you are his new leader and will be much more likely to obey and respect you as the training sessions continue. Keep in mind that your Rottweiler puppy is intelligent and stubborn, so the rules of the house may need to be enforced consistently a number of times before your dog may actually succumb to them.

Proper Socialization

Rottweiler puppies are territorial by nature, so socialization will become another essential tool in ensuring that your dog is friendly and not aggressive. Socialization can be done by exposing your pet to people and other animals as frequently as possible so that he can learn proper behavior when he is around them. The earlier in your dog's life that you begin this socialization process, the friendlier your dog will probably be. One trait that is a problem for many Rottweiler puppies is the instinctual desire to mouth objects. This can easily turn to aggressive biting if the behavior is not nipped in the bud. To prevent biting problems, never try to take an item out of your dog's mouth. Instead, make him drop a toy for you. Never allow your puppy to play with his mouth, since this may lead to more aggressive mouthing later on.

With the proper preparation and training a Rottweiler puppy can grow into an adult dog that will bring his family companionship for many years to come. Enjoy your Rottweiler!