Different breeds of dogs can serve different purposes to humans. Some can simple serve as best friends while others can perform specific tasks, especially service dogs. From the various breeds of dogs, only a few can become service dogs. How about a Rottweiler? Can a Rottweiler be a good service dog? The answer is a definite yes and we’ll explain to you why.
What is a Service Dog?
A service dog, sometimes called an assistance dog, is a dog specifically trained to help a person or a group of people perform various tasks. Many of them assist persons with disabilities. Others help in carrying objects or pulling sled (like what Siberian Huskies do). The following are the general types of service dogs:
- Guide dogs
- Hearing dogs
- Mobility assistance dogs
- Diabetic alert dogs
- Seizure alert dogs
- Seizure response dogs
- Psychiatric service dogs
- Autism support dogs
- Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) service dogs
- Allergy detection dogs
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Can a Rottweiler Be a Service Dog?
If trained properly, Rottweilers perfectly fit the job of a service dog. They have a loving personality and physical characteristics ideal for a service dog. These characteristics include their friendliness, being loyal, smart, intelligent, size, and their sturdy build.[/box]
Here’s How Rottweilers Are Good Service Dogs:
Unfortunately, most people think that Rottweilers are bullies. This common misconception resulted in less Rottweilers being trained to become service dogs. Contrary to this, Rottweilers actually possess some characteristics that make them the perfect service dogs. These enable them to become excellent in providing people with emotional and physical needs.
1). Rottweilers Have a Big Size and Height.
First, Rottweilers have a big size relative to other dogs. Their sturdy build and large size enable them to help people having trouble with balance and stability, hence people with movement disabilities. These dogs can walk beside these people to provide them with support.
In addition, because of their high stature, Rottweilers can perform tasks such as pressing buttons, turning off lights, and opening and closing of doors.
2). Rottweilers are Smart.
Second, Rottweilers are smart dogs. When they are properly trained, they can be very obedient. They can bring things to people or inform them if there is any danger around.
3). Rottweilers are Loyal.
Third, Rottweilers are very loyal and they can prove that. They stay true to their masters and protect them in case of danger. Because of their unrelenting loyalty, Rottweilers are perfect pets for older people. They will always stay beside their owner and watch over them.
4). Rottweilers are Friendly.
Although society labels Rottweilers as bullies, they are actually very friendly. They can provide great emotional support to their owners. Some people even say that Rottweilers can know if you are having a bad day. When they do, they will comfort you.
And because of these characteristics, Rottweilers can become great service dogs.
5). Rottweilers as Guard Dogs.
Rottweilers were actually originally trained as guard dogs. They can protect people, properties, objects, and other things that need to be looked over. Because of that, the military significantly makes use of them. That is why you often see in movies, TV shows, or pictures that Rottweilers are the common dogs assisting soldiers.
6). Rottweilers as Therapy Dogs.
First trained as guard dogs, Rottweilers became more commonly trained as Therapy dogs over time. Therapy dogs are those that serve to relax, calm, and bring happiness to people. But Therapy dogs are not usually assigned to a specific person. They may work for multiple people at once, much like what a human therapist can do. They usually work on an “on call” basis wherein they get invited into counseling centers, schools, or other large events.
How to Train a Rottweiler as a Service Dog?
As mentioned earlier, the common misconception about Rottweilers is that they are bullies. This stems from some reports saying that a Rottweiler has attacked a person or has acted out of hand. But the only reason why this happens is that those Rottweilers were poorly trained or not trained at all. Had they been trained properly, instances like that would have been avoided.
With that being said, it is extremely important to train a Rottweiler, especially if you want them to become good service dogs. One key aspect of such training is the process of socialization wherein they are exposed into different kinds of environment, people, and animals. It is best to train a Rottweiler to do specific tasks as service dogs. Generally, training time can range from 1 to 2 years depending on the difficulty of the task. If training seems to be difficult for you, it might help if you can seek the assistance of dog trainers who can help you in effectively training your beloved pet.
Important Reminders
If you want to own a service dog Rottweiler, the following are some important reminders that you should keep in mind:
- The size of Rottweilers is usually large relative to other dogs. Hence, they may not be the ideal pets for frail people who might get hurt when their dogs become too excited and jumpy. Because of this, it is important to teach Rottweilers to be calm around people, especially the weak ones. They should be trained not to jump on frail people.
- Loyalty is indeed one of the defining characteristics of Rottweilers. However, if it gets too much, they can become overly protective. When this happens, they can become violent when they feel suspicious. They might bite other people or animals. This is a result of poor training and can be avoided when your Rottweiler is properly trained. You can train your dog not to bite.
Conclusion
Overall, Rottweilers are good service dogs. Their physical characteristics enable them to give the support needed by people, especially those with movement disabilities. They also have emotional characteristics that provide emotional support to their owners. People who want to own Rottweiler service dogs will be lucky to have one. But they should keep in mind to properly train their dogs in order to get the best results and avoid unfortunate events.[/box]
