Does anyone own or know anything about Rottweilers???

[gemitygem]

Our nextdoor neighbour has one. He is rescued, she is an alcoholic, serious health problems so dog does not get walked.

She does not know anything about his history.

Today she told me he has bitten her and two other neighbours who help her out in her garden. She said if anyone waves their arms around, uses a lawnmower or chops wood the dog does not like it and this is when he has bitten.

My issue is would the dog be able to get over our fence??? We also have a small part of the fence that was broken at the bottom. Dh has put big boulders and wood there so dog can't get through as we can't afford a new fence.

Does this sound alarming to any Rottweiler owners, can they jump high or would they be so strong they could move the wood a boulders out the way.

We have four children under 6 who make so much noise in the garden and rightly so, i am so worried dog will get over one day.

Help please.

bump

I think you are right to be concerned (not because it is a rottie) as it sounds like the needs of the dog are not being met and it obviously has some behavioural issues. I don't know enough about the breed (other than my sister has one, the most well behaved docile dog I have ever met) but I'm sure someone will be along soon with advice.

Yes they can jump and yes they are strong (spectacularly so! You're talking 50 or 60 kg of muscle)....they do need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation and can become stressed, bored and miserable if they don't receive it.

Speak with your local dog warden if you have concerns, it is your neighbours responsibility to keep her dog contained and a dog warden could help enforce this.

I think I will call the dog warden tomorrow. I have already phoned once as have seen the dog loose out on the street once.

The fence we have is 6 ft, he won't get over that will he??

He is clearly not being looked after as he should be. Trouble is I get on ok with my neighbour and I feel sorry for her. But my children come first of course.

I second calling the dog warden in. Explain all the circumstances and remind him/her that this is a dog which recently got out. Ask for their support on the welfare issue - ie that the dog isn't being walked - as although it SHOULD be a matter for the RSPCA and it IS a breach of the Animal Welfare Act they will do sod all on your request alone. IF your dog warden is very pro-active and IF he has good links with the RSPCA he MAY be able to push them to visit and advise the owner, on threat of a follow up if improvements aren't made. I don't suggest that you hold your breath for this but it's worth at least asking the Dog Warden if he/she can and will take the matter further on your behalf.

I have to ask too, who the fecking hell allowed an alcoholic to rescue him? Where on earth did he come from?

A determined Rottweiler can easily scale a 6ft fence. I have a Rottweiler cross and that's how his litter came about...the bitch's owner assumed the fence would be enough to keep their neighbour's Rottie out. The proof that 6ft will not deter a determined dog is lying on the sofa beside me! They are also incredibly strong...twice mine has snapped his collar by taking off after a cat when on lead.

However, your neighbour's Rottie is unlikely to scale the fence for no reason and I am assuming you don't have a bitch in season on your premises. That said, I would still put a call into the Dog Warden as suggested.

Chances are, the dog won't bother anyone on your side of the fence. They are natural 'guard' dogs and will defend their territory but usually aren't concerned by people outside their space. However, if it gives you peace of mind, reinforce your fencing and perhaps fit another foot or so of trellis on top...if your neighbour is agreeable, you can angle it so that it's leaning towards her garden as that would make it nigh on impossible for a dog to scale.

Thanks guys, I am going to call the dog warden this morning.

Its such a shame as we live in really friendly street and I know this could cause problems between me and my neighbour. Her property is housing association so they may help out with the cost of the fence.

When we first moved in it was only a 4 ft fence, we have since put trelis on it to make it 6ft alothough there is one small area that is still 4 ft. She says dog has bad back legs so can't jump, I don't trust her word for it really, I need a warden now to assess the saftey of the environment the dog is living in.

I want it impossiblethat the dog won't get over the fence, not just unlikely now.

He came from the RSPCA, I think its awful they let her have him.

All I can imajion is that my neighbours health has deteriated alot since they gave dog to her.

WTF?

Bloody RSPCA... IF she's telling the truth that's appalling.

I'm loathe to believe her though - IME in rescue (NOT the crappy RSPCA I hasten to add, but with independent rescues who take in the dogs which the RSPCA won't) the RSPCA won't rehome a dog with aggression problems, they will kill him as basic policy. Additionally Rotties and Staffs and similar dogs are high on the RSPCA's put to sleep list anyway as they are hard to home and therefore cost too much for the RSPCA to feed and provide for over a longer period than they wish to keep them.

But in case she IS telling the truth PLEASE - contact the RSPCA via both their national number and ALSO call your nearest RSPCA rehoming centre and report this as a dog welfare issue. Tell them that a dog THEY allegedly recently rehomed is not being walked, is being allowed to escape into the street when it has temperement problems according to the ALCOHOLIC owner and that if they are responsible for this disgraceful decision their homechecker missed the low fennces and the four infants next door. The rehoming centre should have the decency to follow it up if they rehomed him - but ONLY if he is one of their dogs. Be ready to offer as much information as possible, including getting hold of the neighbour's surname in advance of making your calls if you don't already have it.

Any report you make will be confidential and tbh a neighbour who is alcoholic with an escaping, unpredictable Rottie isn't going to be popular with the majority of those living around her so it could have been anyone reporting her, she's not to know it's you.

Also contact her housing association and ask what their policy is on allowing dogs in their properties and voice your concern. The HA will NOT pay for new fences but they SHOULD visit her and inspect the property, advise and give instruction as to what they want her to do and tell her that they will withdraw any permission to keep the dog if it isn't followed.
It's always possible that she hasn't got permission to keep the dog at all... and if that is the case, please, be ready with the numbers for NO KILL rescue and not the RSPCA if she has to rehome him because I'm 99.999% sure that if the RSPCA DID get hold of him they would kill him.

Unlikely he would get over a 6ft fence, especially with bad back legs - and leg/hip problems unfortunately are quite common so she's quite likely telling the truth about that. Though they are strong and can push their way through obstacles though (mine certainly does!) and the situation is clearly not right or acceptable, either for you or the dog.

You and your children have the right to feel safe in your own garden, and while the poor dog doesn't have many rights at all, he deserves a proper home with caring and experienced owners, not being put at risk of being killed due to his owner's incompetence. I wonder if he's in pain with the leg problems (owner doesn't sound like she'd bother getting proper treatment for him, or nervous because of past bad experiences, which might contribute to the biting :(

Please do take Vallhalla's advice.

Also I know of a Rottweiller rescue in the SE who have worked with 'difficult' dogs, if it comes to her not being able to keep him. Sooner than him be taken to the pound/RSPCA...