How to Train a Rottweiler to Hunt

Rottweilers were originally used by the Romans as they began to settle in Germany. No wonder they have a gladiator-like physique! They are humble beings with loyal and calm attitudes. Known for their broad chest and heavily muscled body, they make great working dogs traditionally for farmers and butchers. These pups have a ‘prey drive’ which give them the desire to chase moving objects. This makes your pooch the perfect dog for chasing small animals, such as rabbits or even foxes. 

Rottweiler are traditionally working dogs, and so, need a lot of mental motivation. Their strong and robust form means that they need a lot of exercise in order to keep stimulated and training them in the art of hunting is the perfect way to keep them alert and exercised. Keep in mind, however, that Rottweilers are generally not great dogs for inexperienced handlers or those who are not used to training strong breeds. They require an owner that can provide firm direction and guidance throughout, so remember this when you begin your training. A Rottweiler can do some serious damage if trained improperly. 

These little pups can start training at eight weeks old. At this time, simple obedience training can be used. This is extremely important for Rottweilers because in order to keep them in control , they need to know who is boss. To train your pooch, it may take around seven to nine months with continuous training in order to keep his skills up to scratch. You won't want to skip out on training or take shortcuts, as you'll want your Rottweiler's skills to be airtight. 

These dogs are known to be pack dogs and if not bred well, they may be violent. For this reason, a method of training such as pack hunting may not be a good idea. However, because of their natural instinct to form a pack, they can also be extremely faithful towards humans. This is a benefit as it can make them easier to train. If you can form a good bond with your Rottweiler while maintaining boundaries at the same time, you can see your preferred results in no time.

Firstly, it is very important to have a lot of control and confidence when training a Rottweiler. This is a key skill you need to have mastered before training your little pooch. A really good tip in teaching your Rottweiler obedience and to chase only what you want him to is to start off by teaching him to play fetch with a disc or ball. This will hone in on his attention span and focus him only on objects in which he has the intention to hunt. It will also help to curb his 'prey drive' and direct it into more appropriate activities.