Parents dog - nightmare situation

[rjacksmiss]

Hello. Parents bought a Rottweiler puppy about 11 months ago. Always owned the breed, know loads about them. This is 3rd Rottweiler pup Thought they could handle another one. They are late 60's. They can't though. She's a lovely dog but an absolute dementor. They can't get a proper grip on her. She rules the roost. I feel bad for the dog and bad for them. They are being bullied by it. I think my dads actually scared of her to be honest. He can't even sit on the couch without getting absolutely bounded on, mouthed, jumped on, just harassed until he moves. They have tried numerous training techniques. Can't figure out what motivates her to behave.

What kinda options do they have? Can they re home a dog that is so badly trained? They blame themselves completely. They don't know what to do. Bit of a loss as I don't know dogs really or what to advise them. Will she settle with age?

A problem with residential training is that it doesn't really address the issue - which is that your parents are out of their depth a bit here. They are the ones that need the training and support. Otherwise, they will get back a dog that (at best) is a bit better for a couple of weeks until they slip back into old ways.

The dog's just being a teenage dog - albeit it sounds like an especially ethusiastic one

Finding a good trainer locally who can come and see the dog in situ and work with your parents to help change they way they are interacting with this dog, to then help encourage different behaviours in the dog, is going to be more effective long term, I think.

You can waste ££££ on resdiential training - even if it's any good - but undo it within such a short space of time.

Training is something that is lifelong. Not just a 'one and done' thing.

@SirSniffsAlot

A problem with residential training is that it doesn't really address the issue - which is that your parents are out of their depth a bit here. They are the ones that need the training and support. Otherwise, they will get back a dog that (at best) is a bit better for a couple of weeks until they slip back into old ways.

The dog's just being a teenage dog - albeit it sounds like an especially ethusiastic one

Finding a good trainer locally who can come and see the dog in situ and work with your parents to help change they way they are interacting with this dog, to then help encourage different behaviours in the dog, is going to be more effective long term, I think.

You can waste ££££ on resdiential training - even if it's any good - but undo it within such a short space of time.

Training is something that is lifelong. Not just a 'one and done' thing.

This above is very good advice.

Sending the dog to residential training for a week is going to achieve nothing and cost a lot of money that would be better spent on a local 1-1 trainer.

Your parents need to learn to train the dog and understand what makes her tick. That won't happen if they're not there when the dog's being 'trained' and they will also have no control over the methods used, which could be quite aggressive.

Awhhh shite! I've just seen these replies about the residential thing. Not advisable then? This is such a fucking minefield.

That's a great point about the dog walkers though. Might be a shout and have someone come and do in home training.

I’m glad others feel the same about the residential training. Personally I wouldn’t be happy sending my dog away even for a holiday unless to a trusted family member. I’d hate the thought of someone mistreating her and me knowing nothing about it. With a dog like a rottie, mistreatment can have very dangerous consequences.

The thing is.... and maybe she’s worse than it sounds, but in all honesty - she sounds like a very typical teenage Rottie.

They are overly enthusiastic, they’ve got no concept at all of personal space and absolutely no clue how big they are, they’re like owning tigger, with teeth. Either your parents have forgotten that or they’ve had some very unusual rotties.

They’re usually very trainable though, they just need that enthusiasm channelled into something else.

They are overly enthusiastic, they’ve got no concept at all of personal space and absolutely no clue how big they are, they’re like owning tigger, with teeth.

Yep. Look at the family on gogglebox!

Given your parents age, are they exercising her enough? I've got 2 spaniels and they get around 2 hrs walking a day plus games in the garden at home.

I'd try a dog walker who is experienced with large breeds, and get her walked regularly to see if that improves things 1st off. A bored dog is a badly behaved dog, especially in their teenage years.

@BrilloPaddy My parents are in their late 60's and are extremely fit. They literally walk thousands of miles each day, so much so that our little dog has to be walked separately when he is at their house because he wouldn't be able to handle the amount of walking they do.

This is a fantastic opportunity for your parents to increase their bond with their dog and enjoy some training with it.

If you need help finding a trainer pm me your rough area.

If your parents engage with a 121 trainer they will be taught a few easy methods to change the situation very quickly and get back to loving life with their dog again.

A good qualifiied trainer will turn things around very quickly- your parents can do this

They literally walk thousands of miles each day

I’m sure they walk a lot but they don’t literally walk thousands of miles each day.

@MotionActivatedDog oops just saw that! They walk around 20 Km a day, so of course not thousands of miles