When do Rottweilers calm down? Newfound Rottweiler puppy owners may be wondering when their energetic furball will start behaving. Or at least stop chewing the furniture and eating all of the dog food. The good news is Rottweiler puppies will eventually calm down. With good training and patience, your Rottweiler will be an energetic but controlled member of your family.
So, when do Rottweilers calm down? The exact amount of time varies but Rottweilers start calming down around 24 months. The keys to keeping Rotties calm are: lots of exercise and appropriate training.
Rottweilers were originally bred as herding and pulling dogs. This means they have quite a bit of energy to burn off. They are happy to follow you around or show their herding instincts. This usually means your children or other dogs are now being herded by your Rottie. The greatest way to keep your Rottie out of trouble is to exercise them regularly. Rottweilers are an active breed and will find things to do if you don’t. So, to prevent the destruction of your favorite chair, take them on long walks and let them play in an open space.
You do not want your Rottweiler puppy to be bored!
When do Rottweiler Puppies Calm Down?
Ultimately, your Rottweiler puppy will not calm down for more than a few moments at a time. Puppies have tons of energy and Rottie’s have an especially active lifestyle. As they grow older, they will slow down a little.
After 24 months, you will see a decrease in chaotic puppy energy but your Rottie will still have energy to burn.
To keep your sanity, give your Rottie plenty of exercise. The American Kennel Club recommends at least 2 hours of exercise a day for your Rottweiler. If your puppy still refuses to sit still for more than a second, then more exercise or another amusement is needed.
Training will help your puppy remain disciplined. Rottweiler training can start as early as 6 weeks old to help control your hyperactive fluffball. Extra training like agility courses and K9 courses can also help focus your puppy in a positive direction.
Temperament of Rottweilers
Rottweilers come in a variety of temperaments which changes with every individual dog. However, breeding plays a role in temperament.
As Rottweilers are both active and intelligent dogs, they require mental and physical challenges. Rottweilers bred from energetic bloodlines are best for competitions or working roles, rather than family pets.
Even with training, Rottweilers bred for energy are not good pets as they need more challenges and exercise. If you have or are planning on owning a high energy bloodline Rottweiler, we recommended giving them plenty of outlets.
Such outlets include:
- Agility Courses and Training
- Schutzhund (German Protection Dog Game)
- Advanced Obedience Courses
- Hikes or other energy intensive exercise
This will allow your Rottweiler to have outlets for both their physical and mental desires. Keeping your Rottweiler occupied and entertained will lead to a happy dog and owner.
What Causes Hyperactivity?
Rottweilers are a naturally energetic breed, especially at the puppy stage. Their breed is not easily excited when well trained. Instead, they are attentive to unfamiliar sights and sounds when well trained.
If your Rottweiler is hyperactive past the age of 3, it is usually the result of environmental conditions, not a doggie disorder. Poor training, lack of exercise or other outlets are usually the causes of hyperactivity.
To combat hyperactivity, make sure to exercise your Rottweiler often. Avoid long runs to prevent damage to their joints but long walks or slow trots are a good pace to set.
For mental stimulation, toys and games are a good place to start.
Simple obstacle courses or mental challenges like having your dog work for their food are an easy to do activity. This will help your dog remain occupied and start setting good habits. After all, it is much better for your dog to chew a toy than your sofa.
If none of these solutions work, consult your veterinarian.
Your dog may have an anxiety issue or some other disorder. Your vet can recommend personalized care for your pet, ensuring they are happy and healthy.
How to Calm a Rottweiler Down
Sometimes your Rottie will go crazy and be an uncontrollable mess. In cases like this, you will want to know how to calm your Rottweiler down and stop the ensuing chaos.
First, assess the situation.
Is there anything specific that triggered this behavior?
Loud noises like doorbells and blenders can set your dog off.
Are they over-excited by a stranger?
Or are they wound like a spring and need to run around for a bit?
1. Loud Noises
To fix reactions to loud noises, you can use noise desensitization to help your dog to get used to the noises. Search for youtube videos of sounds like thunder, fireworks, power tools etc and play them softly for your dog. Eventually, this will help them get used to it. This is the most effective when your dog is still a puppy.
2. Stranger Danger
To solve the stranger danger reaction, your Rottie should be exposed to lots of people as a puppy. This is called socialization. The more people they are exposed to, the more they can determine friend from foe. This is best done by having your dog meet friends and family first. Once they are used to friendly people, your Rottie will have an easier time figuring out how to act in public. Remember to reward good behavior with affection or treats. Your Rottweiler will begin to have a positive association with new people.
3. Exercise!
Rottweilers were originally bred to be herding and security dogs which means they are very alert to their surroundings.
The key to a calm Rottie is an experienced Rottie, used to their environment and taking cues from their owner.
Rottweiler Training
Rottweilers are intelligent animals and are receptive to training. Training is important to have a calm and collected Rottweiler.
Rottweilers should start training as soon as possible, around 6 weeks old. Training should include obedience training and socialization for the best adjusted dog.
The most important thing to teach your Rottweiler are the basics of obedience.
Teaching your dog who the boss is and what physical contact is acceptable should be the first things to teach your dog. From here, you can instruct your dog to sit, stay, or roll over.
One thing to avoid is physically striking or yelling at your dog. This can lead to discipline issues. This level of training can even be done from the comfort of your home!
Professional training is also an excellent option. Professional training will cost more than at home training but offers more structure and interaction with other dogs. This covers socialization with other dogs which may be difficult to get at home.
Related Questions
As a general rule, socialized and well bred Rottweilers do well with children. Rottweilers are a breed of gentle giants. With proper training, Rottweilers are loyal and will never hurt their family. Rottweilers are known for their herding behaviors and may try to corral small children. This can be fixed with training.
Rottweilers are very receptive to training and are calm dogs. But Rottweilers are not the best dogs for first time owners. Rottweilers require lots of attention and exercise and are overall a higher maintenance breed. Rottweilers are also strong and easily bored so poor training can result in a dangerous and bored dog.
