Are Rottweilers Good With Kids? What Owners Need to Know
If you‘re considering adding a Rottweiler to your family, one of the most important questions on your mind is likely whether this powerful breed is a good fit for households with children. With their intimidating size and fierce reputation, it‘s natural to wonder: are Rottweilers safe to have around kids?
The short answer is that with proper training and socialization, Rottweilers can make loving, loyal, and protective companions for children. However, their large size and guardian instincts require special considerations and responsible ownership to ensure a harmonious household.
Let‘s take an in-depth look at the Rottweiler temperament and what you need to know about having a Rottie as part of your family.
Rottweiler Temperament Overview
The American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standard describes the Rottweiler as "a calm, confident, and courageous dog with a self-assured aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships."
Indeed, Rotties tend to be very discriminating about the people they form bonds with. They are deeply devoted to their families but can be standoffish towards strangers. While not typically aggressive without cause, a Rottweiler‘s imposing appearance and no-nonsense attitude serve as an effective deterrent.
So how does this relate to a Rottweiler‘s ability to get along with children in the home? A well-bred, properly trained and socialized Rottie will view your kids as part of their "pack" that they have a duty to look after. Their natural guardian instinct and loyalty make the Rottweiler an excellent choice for a watchful family protector.
However, the Rottweiler‘s size, strength, and bold temperament are also important factors to weigh when young children are involved. According to the AKC, male Rotties can stand up to 27 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 135 pounds. Females can reach 25 inches and 100 pounds.
An adult Rottweiler, even without meaning any harm, can easily knock over a child while playing or romping around. Rottweiler puppies are also known for being exuberant and "mouthy", which could unintentionally injure or frighten a small child. Constant supervision and training are a must.
Additionally, Rottweilers have a very high prey drive as a working breed. They may instinctively chase after running children, herd them, or grab dangling clothing. Again, establishing boundaries and teaching the dog impulse control from an early age is critical.
The importance of training and socialization
According to the American Rottweiler Club, "a Rottweiler with a stable temperament and proper training should present with a sense of controlled power and confidence." This ideal Rottie temperament is achieved through socialization starting from puppyhood and positive obedience training that emphasizes control and leadership.
The sensitive period for puppy socialization is generally from 3 weeks to 3 months old. This is the optimal window for getting your Rottweiler comfortable with being handled by children. Supervise interactions and make them positive with plenty of treats and praise. Let kids feed the puppy and practice basic obedience commands with you to establish their role as leaders.
As your Rottweiler reaches adolescence, it‘s essential to curb any aggressive or dominant behaviors (like jumping up or mouthing) before they get out of control. Keep up with obedience classes and make training a lifelong process. A large, strong-willed dog like a Rottie needs a firm and consistent leader to respect.
Introducing a Rottweiler to babies and toddlers
If you‘re bringing a new baby home to a house with a Rottweiler, you‘ll want to take some precautions. Even if your Rottie has been trustworthy around older children, an infant is a completely new experience for them.
Before the baby arrives, start getting your Rottweiler used to reduced attention and access to certain areas, like the nursery. Train your Rottie to stay calmly on a mat or bed while you tend to the baby. Use baby gates to teach your Rottweiler which spaces are off-limits.
Once the baby comes home, allow your Rottweiler to adjust gradually. Let them sniff items like blankets with the baby‘s scent before the first meeting. When you introduce the baby, keep your Rottie leashed and under your control. Keep first encounters short and positive. Never leave a baby or toddler unsupervised with any dog.
As your infant grows into a mobile toddler, you‘ll need to be even more vigilant. Teach your child to be respectful of the dog‘s space, to not approach when they are eating or sleeping, and to never pull on tails or ears. Always have a responsible adult present to intervene.
Teaching kids to interact with Rottweilers
Regardless of age, all children must learn how to behave appropriately and safely around your Rottweiler. Here are some key lessons to impart:
- Never bother a dog that is eating, sleeping, or chewing a bone/toy.
- Don‘t take things out of a dog‘s mouth or put your face close to theirs.
- Pet dogs gently without pulling their fur or hitting. Only pet a dog that comes to you willingly.
- Avoid yelling, running, or making sudden movements around the dog that could excite or scare them.
- Teach kids to recognize signs that a dog is anxious or doesn‘t want to interact, like walking away, growling, or showing the whites of their eyes.
By teaching kids to be calm and respectful, you significantly reduce the risk of a bad encounter with your Rottweiler. With an adult Rottie, also establish a "safe zone" like a bed or crate that is the dog‘s space to retreat to when they need a break from child activity.
The special bond between Rotties and kids
When raised with care and kindness, Rottweilers can develop incredible bonds with the children in their families. Spend some time on Rottweiler forums and you‘ll find countless stories of Rotties watching over kids devotedly, cuddling up to comfort them, and playing so gently despite their size.
Many owners say their Rottie seems to have an innate sense of just how fragile small children are and will temper their strength and enthusiasm accordingly. Some Rotties are so connected to their juvenile charges that they will alert parents if a child is in distress by whining or barking.
It‘s not uncommon for a Rottweiler to appoint themselves as a child‘s special guardian, following them protectively from room to room. These instincts likely stem from the Rottweiler‘s origins as a drover dog tasked with keeping herds safe on the road. Those nurturing and defensive drives are easily transferred to human "puppies."
Rottweilers‘ silly, playful side also meshes well with energetic kids. Rotties may look imposing, but most are goofy, overgrown lap dogs at heart. Older children can be great exercise partners for fetch, hide-and-seek, tug-of-war, and even swimming if introduced gradually. Just be sure to supervise to keep roughhousing under control.
Know the risks and accept responsibility
There is no denying that Rottweilers have the potential to seriously injure a child if they are poorly bred or improperly raised. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 4.5 million dog bites occur in the US each year, with children being the most common victims.
In analyzing dog bite statistics, it‘s important to note that the breeds most represented generally correlate with breeds that are most prevalent overall. The AVMA emphasizes that "controlled studies have not identified this breed group as disproportionately dangerous."
The fact remains that any dog can bite under the right circumstances. Large, powerful breeds like the Rottweiler can just inflict more damage if they do. That‘s why it‘s so imperative that owners are fully committed to the considerable responsibilities of Rottweiler ownership:
- Investing significant time into training, socialization, and supervision.
- Keeping the Rottweiler mentally stimulated with a job to do, whether that‘s obedience, agility, therapy work, or a similar outlet.
- Never leaving a Rottweiler unsupervised with children. Crating the dog when you can‘t be present to monitor.
- Thoroughly researching breeders to find a stable-tempered puppy that has been raised around kids and continuing that socialization at home.
- Seeking professional help from a qualified trainer at the first sign of concerning behaviors like aggression, over-arousal, or incessant alarm barking.
While Rottweiler ownership is not for the faint of heart, responsible advocates argue that the breed is unfairly maligned as being categorically unsafe for families. Bad experiences almost always trace back to human error: lack of training, abuse/neglect, or failure to anticipate and prevent negative encounters.
Final Thoughts
So are Rottweilers good with kids? They certainly can be in the right hands. Rotties have the potential to be gentle giants that are patient, instinctively protective, and endlessly devoted to their young charges.
But realizing that potential requires extensive socialization, training, and responsible management on the part of Rottweiler owners. If you embrace the considerable work involved, the payoff can be an unbreakable bond and an unshakable guardian for your children as they grow.
No matter how much you trust your Rottweiler, however, never let your guard down when kids are involved. Any dog can be unpredictable, and Rottweilers are simply too powerful to take chances with. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. A child should never be left unsupervised with a Rottie, period.
If you commit to being an involved, proactive, and educated owner, a well-bred Rottweiler can be the ultimate family dog. Those lucky enough to experience the depths of a Rottie‘s love and loyalty say there is truly no better protector, companion, and gentle playmate for a child.
