How to Train a Rottweiler to Not be Aggressive

The easiest way to cultivate a relationship and feed it is to learn together by way of teaching your Rottweiler some simple commands, such as 'Sit' and 'Stay'. An added bonus is that these two tricks will show up time and again while preventing or rerouting aggressive behavior.

Once you get a consistent response to 'Sit' or 'Stay', ask for this behavior around distractions. This could mean in front of an audience, or it could just mean randomly requesting the command from him when he least expects it. With distractions present, be it people, a twittering squirrel, or zooming cars, you're now asking for learned behavior in a more challenging environment.

Bringing your pup along with you while running daily errands is part of socialization. Furthermore, this gives him the opportunity to discover the joys of car rides.

While on these walks, your Rottie will come across people of all sizes, shapes, colors, other dogs and animals, and loud noises. All of these experiences are necessary for your dog to get used to. Exposure to the world is the most efficient preventative measure against aggressive behavior.

Chaperone a doggy date with the help of a friend or family member that owns an older, more mild-mannered dog. This is best done at a distance at first and can be worked up to playtime, depending on the severity of the dog or puppy's fear or aggression against other dogs. For safety, an older, non-socialized dog should be kept on the leash and not feel restrained. Once it is obvious the dogs get along, the leash can come off for free play.

Whenever possible, whether by foot or in a vehicle, take your pet with you. The more differing environments they experience, the better off they will be.

Dogs can sense tension when leashed and sense our gripping or tightening of a leash, which are signals to them to be on alert. A dog on alert is more likely to experience a potentially aggressive reaction to whatever is around them, so maintaining a stress-free hold on that leash is important.

In a space that they are comfortable and not easily distracted, gain your Rottie's attention. With your clicker in hand and bag of treats within reach, click the clicker. Directly after clicking, give your dog a treat. Do this 10-15 times, clicking, immediately treating, and repeating. You can also use this time to introduce him to his harness by introducing it slowly.

At a place of your choosing, in an environment your Rott is already familiar with, find a means to expose your dog to the stimuli at a distance. Every time your dog looks at the stimuli, treat your Rottweiler extensively, clicking, treating, and repeating.

Immediately stop treating your Rottie when the stimuli disappears. This teaches him that the reason why he was getting so many yummy treats was because that stimuli was present. Eventually, he'll come to desire the presence of that stimuli which is the key to positive association.

An important distinction between positive association and desensitization is that your Rottweiler is being treated no matter what. That means, even if he's still exhibiting aggression, at least in the beginning of the process, he is still receiving treats.

Keep decreasing the distance of the stimuli each and every time your dog behaves well in order to slowly acclimate to the presence of the frightening object or person.

Repeat the trial run as many times as you can. Rottweilers are an intelligent breed and it's likely that with these tactics, he could become less aggressive towards his stimuli within as little as a few months. Never test your Rott's vulnerability because one negative experience with his stimuli could set him back in a major way.

Within the first few months of this counter-conditioning process, you should try to take your Rottie on as many walks outside the home, and even neighborhood, as possible. If you're willing to put in the work on a consistent basis, your dog will overcome his aggressive tendencies.

On your next walk around the block, really try to focus on what exactly is causing them to misbehave. What may seem commonplace to us could be seen as a threat to your pet. Take a week or two to make notes of these slight differences in environments to really pinpoint what it is that sets your Rott on a barking spree.

Take appropriate measures to desensitize your Rottie to his stimuli. Introduce him to whatever bothers him at a slow pace. Use a clicker to mark good non-aggressive behavior and reward him. Always practice caution with your Rottweiler during meetings with other dogs and make sure everyone involved is on board.

Slowly and consistently introduce these stimuli to your dog, increasing its difficulty or severity in small increments each time. As always, with desensitization, baby steps are of the utmost importance.

If ever you feel your dog taking steps back in his journey to non-aggression, slow down. Stop and reassess. Whatever it takes for your Rottie to successfully become a well-adjusted pet should be your top concern and objective.

You should be rewarding good behavior. Most dogs enjoy treats, whereas others may not be food-motivated. Find out what makes him go 'Oh, wow! Now this is a reward!' and shower him with it whenever he encounters his stimuli without exhibiting aggression.