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What I Didn't Know About Rotties
Siri
Doing Research
With any long-term purchase, it is important to make sure that you have done enough research before you buy something. An animal is no different. If you feel the way that I do about dogs, then you see them as family. I purchased Siri for extremely cheap, as Rottweiler puppies can go for $2500 and upwards if you're looking for a champion breed. She was a purebred American Rottweiler. I couldn't have been more excited to get her home.
Like Any Other Dog....
Animals require a plethora of time and attention, especially in the beginning months/year of their lives. If you want an obedient, well-mannered animal it is going to take some serious time and training. Rottweiler's are known for being intelligent, strong, territorial over their family and extremely loyal. Siri is all of the above, but sometimes to an extreme. When I purchased Siri a little over two years ago I was starting in a new hospital as a registered nurse. 12+ hour shifts three and four days per week kept me away from her for longer than she needed. She learned quickly about where it was appropriate to go to the bathroom and even wasn't really a "chewer" unless she wasn't given enough attention.... then she would chew things out of spite.
Where I Went Terribly Wrong
Large breeds often get a bad rep for being aggressive, when this is not truly the case. Smaller breeds such as terriers and chihuahuas are actually much more aggressive, but do less damage when they attack. The note that i made earlier about Rottweilers being territorial was something that I did not take into account when raising her initially. I did not do a very good job of associating her with other animals. For this reason, she sees other animals as a threat to her and her family. She has put her head through several glass panes trying to warn other animals that they were encroaching on her land. Luckily, she's never been hurt doing this. I've since taken her to several obedience training classes and even put in hours of work around other dogs. Although slightly better, she still has a long way to go. A raccoon in the front lawn is a sure signal that drives her wild. She's almost gone through our front windows in our house again barking at them relentlessly and jumping on the windows.
Greatest Breed Ever
Although she has this issue, it is not her fault. Had I been a more informed, better trainer/owner I would have brought her around other animals as a puppy much more often than I did. She is extremely smart. The obedience school has taught her several commands that she follows to the letter, but her territorial nature has been something that has been tough to break. I'm almost to the point where I must give her away to a home that is better suited to give her the time and space that she needs to have a better life. I've never been the type to admit defeat, but I feel as though I'm doing her an injustice by having to keep her caged at times to keep her from going through a window and either hurting herself or someone/something else when I'm not home. Would I ever get another breed because of the mistakes I've made? Not a chance. I still believe that these dogs are some of the most useful dogs that you can purchase.