Rottweiler

wwubben · #1 10/12/09, 09:45 AM

I am getting a two year old female rottweiler and I need to build her a house.Where can I find a good plan for this?Thanks

Tervnut · #2 10/12/09, 11:19 AM

I am not sure where the best place to find plans are - local library might be a good place to start ... I recommend a house large enough to enter, with a 'hall' and the bed around the corner from the entryway. Also don't make a peaked room, make a flat slanted roof (hinged in front) that you can lift to clean and replace bedding. Raise the whole thing off the ground to keep it dry, and use a think bed of straw for bedding. If you live in an area that gets very cold, rotties aren't good outdoors in that kind of weather, but don't bring the dog into the house just on really cold days, as this can cause illness, they're better outside. Make sure if it gets cold that the door to the house has something to keep out the wind (doggy door of some kind). Good luck, and enjoy your new companion, Rotties are cool dogs, and can be wonderful companions if a little on the stubborn side.

W.Bates

PS is she spayed?

wwubben · #3 10/12/09, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tervnut

I am not sure where the best place to find plans are - local library might be a good place to start ... I recommend a house large enough to enter, with a 'hall' and the bed around the corner from the entryway. Also don't make a peaked room, make a flat slanted roof (hinged in front) that you can lift to clean and replace bedding. Raise the whole thing off the ground to keep it dry, and use a think bed of straw for bedding. If you live in an area that gets very cold, rotties aren't good outdoors in that kind of weather, but don't bring the dog into the house just on really cold days, as this can cause illness, they're better outside. Make sure if it gets cold that the door to the house has something to keep out the wind (doggy door of some kind). Good luck, and enjoy your new companion, Rotties are cool dogs, and can be wonderful companions if a little on the stubborn side.

W.Bates

PS is she spayed?

I am going to build a flat roofed house with four inch insulated floor ,walls and roof.This house will be inside an eight foot by eight foot grain bin in my grain building.She will have an opening to the outside all the time.She will have a heated water pan and be on a chain leash most of the time.I will let her run every day and be loose when I am around the yard.I may take her in the pick-up with me but I don't know if this is a good idea.
She will be spayed as soon as she gets settled in here.
I think I will build the house 48" by 42" with a wind wall in there like you said.Thanks for the reply.

7thswan · #4 10/12/09, 12:02 PM

I used to train Rotties and own 3 now. Your dog is going to be happyest with you. They do love to go for rides, inside your truck.

crashy · #5 10/12/09, 12:16 PM

That dog WILL become a part of you be careful when you turn around you will step on her. We have 2 of them we call them snotweilers they are such brats!!! Oh but we love them so they are like our kids. I hope you enjoy her as much as we enjoy ours they are wonderful and VERY faithful dogs.
Sorry I dont have an idea for a house I just wanted you to know that a wonderful dog your getting.

SFM in KY · #6 10/12/09, 12:21 PM

I raised, trained and loved Rottweilers for nearly 20 years and would love to have another. They will tolerate being outside, but much prefer being house dogs ... they are people oriented and prefer being with their people. I had show dogs and raised them, so everyone could not be full time house dogs, but I rotated them. Always had at least one full time house dog, often two, with the others rotating through.

I've posted several photos and memories on my blog about ones I've had.

SFM
http://kaleidoscope-animalfriends.blogspot.com

flowergurl · #7 10/12/09, 01:16 PM

They will tolerate being outside, but much prefer being house dogs ... they are people oriented and prefer being with their people.

Agreed!! This not a dog to be put on a chain.

Wolf mom · #8 10/12/09, 01:48 PM

Rotties are big loves - and as has been said, really house dogs.

crashy · #9 10/13/09, 10:23 AM

Oh lets get real here...... if you let them they will get in your lap LOL ours has their OWN furniture and if Murphy had his way he would sleep in our bed and you know he would sleep between my legs so I am trapped can't move trapped by him and the blankets hes on his back all sprawled out and snoring ever so loudly LOL meanwhile DH is snoozing happily away loving the fact I let this HUGE dog on the bed LOL I would not trade Murphy for the world but come on dog!!! I think he just wants me out of the bed so he can sleep with his daddy I know hes plotting yup hes a sly one. Hes so fun so is the female we have but she is not so clingly as Murphy. Our dogs are outside during the day and sleep in the house at night.

sirquack · #10 10/13/09, 10:37 AM

Having owned Rotts, I could not agree more with the comments here. They are not outside dogs for the most part. They are very close with their people and will hate being separated from you even when you have to work.
While we are very particular about letting out pups on the furniture, they were always at our feet keeping the toes warm. But they are sure good dogs for families and I can't wait to get another. We have held off after losing our last one.

Windy_jem · #11 10/13/09, 10:45 AM

Yep, keep your Rottie with you, you won't regret it!
(If you leave it outside alone 24/7, you will regret it)

cowbelle · #12 10/13/09, 10:56 AM

A good "bed" for dogs are the moving pad/furniture pads. I get mine on Ebay, just watch for the shipping charges. They are quilted, large enough to fold several times for padding and are expendable when finally shredded to much to use. I use large plastic barrels for dog houses and put one in the barrel and one wrapped over for insulation. Wood shavings (used for horse bedding) are 4" thick in my kennels, and they are under a roof. Picking up the droppings is easy with the shavings - they dry out and are easily picked out.

I think a kennel fence, rather than the chain keeps dogs more calm. They tend to really worry on a chain and keep testing it.

crashy · #13 10/14/09, 08:01 AM

What ever you do don't put her on a chain get her a kennel. So sad to see a dog on a chain.

7thswan · #14 10/14/09, 11:04 AM

Baby crib matresses make good beds for big dogs. Mine has his own set of matress pads and sheets. The other 2 sleep in bed with us. They trade places with each other. If the room is warm they will sleep on the floor but the female always sleeps at my feet. One can make a Rottie real mean-Fast- by putting it on a chain.

Kathleen in WI · #15 10/14/09, 04:35 PM

Have to agree with everyone here. They really need to be with their people as much as they can be. If they are outside/alone most of the time, they won't be properly socialized and can be a problem. As was already mentioned, they can become aggressive if they are isolated. Of course, they are such great dogs, once you get to know her you'll want her with you every chance you get.

We've always had Rotties too (we call them Rotten-weilers because ours are always spoiled rotten

) and they are such wonderful family dogs. You don't have to train them to protect; it is natural for them. They do need obedience training and lots of consistency.

A cushion is a good idea for a bed because, being a large breed, they are prone to joint issues. Many people think a dog bed is just spoiling a dog, but really they are an important part of keeping a dog healthy.

Congrats on your new companion.

You're going to love her. I don't know much about dog houses though. Sorry. I want to get one too. Just so my dogs have options if they want to be outside for any length of time. Usually they are next to me, snoring contentedly.