Rottweilers are truly affectionate, loyal, and loving dogs so it’s no wonder why they are considered one of the most popular family dog breeds in the US. Due to their large size and dominant physical appearance, many parents with small kids and babies may wonder if they would be a good fit for their household.
Are Rottweilers good with kids? Yes, Rottweilers are good with kids despite their large size. When trained and raised properly, Rotties are good-natured, devoted, loving, very protective, and loyal towards his family. Rottweilers are good family dogs that are always friendly and kind towards kids, provided that they themselves are treated with love and care.
However, there are certain things Rottweiler owners should be aware of (a Rottie’s tendency to growl), especially if you plan on bringing one home to your family with small kids. Read on to learn why Rotties are still a great dog to have even if you have small kids. We’ll also discuss the key to a healthy child-dog relationship and how Rotties can get along with other family members as well.
Table of Contents
Are Rottweiler good with kids?
Yes, Rottweilers are good with kids. In fact, Rotties generally love hanging out and being in the company of kids. If you’re expecting a baby soon or already have little ones at home and you want to introduce a Rottie into the family mix, you’ll be glad to know that Rotties are fast to make new friends and will easily get along with your kids.
At their very core, Rottweilers are fun, playful, and silly dogs with gentle souls. This means that they will be perfect playmates for your kids since they are naturally gentle. If you have kids and are wondering, “Is a Rottweiler good with kids?” you’ll be happy to know that Rottweilers are quick to befriend your kids.
However, it’s important to point out that Rotties belong to the medium-to-large dog breed category.
Here is the size, weight, and height of your typical Rottweiler:
| Male | Female | |
| Size | Medium/Large | Medium/Large |
| Height | 24-27 inches | 22-25 inches |
| Weight | 110-130 pounds | 77-110 pounds |
Since Rotties aren’t aware of how big and strong they are, they can sometimes accidentally knock over a child or even an elderly adult and not even know what they just did.
Rottweilers also love to cuddle and when they try to cuddle with your small kids, there could be a high chance of them inadvertently knocking your kids to the ground or smothering your kids with their doggy love.
This is why it’s crucial that parents and Rottie owners keep a watchful eye and supervise the interactions between your Rottweiler and your kids to avoid any accidents.
If you’re worried that your new Rottie puppy may not get along with your kids, don’t fret. Training your Rottweilers early during puppyhood and focusing on socialization training can help.
Socialization training is key since well-socialized Rotties will know how to get along with your kids, other dogs and get along nicely with other members of your family.
Are Rottweilers good with babies?
Yes, Rottweilers are good with babies, however, properly introducing your Rottie to your baby is key. Rottweilers, like most dogs, approach new situations, events, and things with caution.
If you’re expecting a baby, you’ll want to start by introducing your Rottweiler to your baby’s clothes, hat, blanket, and toys even before you bring the baby home. This way, your Rottie pup will get used to the smells and sounds associated with a baby.
If you have a young Rottie pup, it’s crucial that you start training him right away. Training your canine companion at a young age is not only easier but also beneficial in the long term.
In addition to behavioral training and obedience training, you’ll also want to focus on socialization training. This type of training is crucial because it will teach your puppy how to properly socialize with other kids, people, pets in the house, or other animals from a young age.
You’ll want to use positive reinforcement during training by using treats, praises, or belly rubs. This way, your precious Rottie will associate kids and babies with something good.
Not only will your Rottie pup learn to get along with kids from an early age, but also they will start to become comfortable being around kids. They will learn the sounds and smells of kids and know that a crying or screaming baby is normal.
The great thing about training your Rottie and properly socializing them at an early age is that it will stay with them throughout their lives. By the time you bring home your new baby, your Rottie will stay calm since he or she will understand and associate your baby as friendly and a part of your family.
But what about toddlers? Are Rottweilers good with toddlers? Absolutely! Yes, Rottweilers are also good with toddlers.
When Rottweilers have been trained properly and know how to properly socialize with other babies, kids, and pets, they will also feel comfortable around toddlers too.
Rottweiler and Kids
As we can see, with proper socialization training, your Rottweiler and kids will get along just fine.
However, if you’ve just adopted or rescued a Rottie, chances are that he or she may not have received much proper socialization with kids or other pets when they were a puppy. Should this be the case, avoid assuming that he or she is unfriendly towards kids.
Rottweilers and all dogs are never too old to learn proper socialization and it’s never too late to start training them.
If you already have kids at home and are thinking about rescuing or adopting a Rottweiler, keep in mind that you’ll want to gradually and slowly introduce your adult Rottie to your kids (big or small).
Don’t rush the introduction process or expect your cute Rottweiler to immediately become friends with your kids. Rushing them and trying to speed things up will not only overwhelm your four-legged friend but also cause him or her to feel and become uncomfortable.
Thus, the best way is to slowly and gradually introduce your adult Rottweiler to your kids and vice versa and give them both time to become familiar and comfortable with each other.
Since Rottweilers crave your time, attention, and love, you’ll want to make sure they are still receiving that when your new baby comes home. If you suddenly pay more attention to your baby and your Rottie suddenly notices that he is no longer receiving as much attention as before, then he may become jealous or act out.
Again, as mentioned above, it’s best to always monitor your Rottweiler’s interaction with your baby and vice versa at all times. Rotties aren’t aware of their strength and size and may accidentally hurt your babies or kids.
Some babies explore their environment by touching with their hands. If you have babies that like to poke at dogs or at objects around them, make sure this doesn’t bother or provoke your Rottweiler.
Below is a list of guidelines your Rottie should understand when he or she is around your babies or kids:
- Your Rottie pup should know which room he is not allowed in. For instance, a house rule would be that your Rottweiler is not allowed in the nursery room, your baby’s room, or in your children’s bedroom. This could also be any room where your babies tend to crawl on the floor or where your kids tend to lay on the floor.
- Some dogs like to play with babies or jump on them. You’ll want to train your Rottweiler not to do that. When dogs jump on babies, they could cause your babies to fall down or accidentally get smothered.
Some Rotties may experience separation anxiety or may not feel comfortable being alone for more than a few minutes. Once you bring your babies home, you’ll need more time with them so you’ll want to train your Rottie to become comfortable being alone for short periods of time.
Fortunately, Rottweilers are capable of being alone for short periods of time.
Why are Rottweilers good with kids?
- Intelligent, obedient, and fast learners.
- Natural guard dog instincts.
- Loves to play with children and can handle rough child’s play.
- Loyalty.
Let’s go over each one of them below.
Rottweilers are extremely loyal to their human families and kids
If you already have a Rottweiler or have friends who own Rottweilers, you probably already know how loyal this canine breed is. They are fiercely loyal no matter what comes their way and will always stick by their human owners’ side.
The same can be said of Rottweiler’s loyalty toward kids. That’s why it’s not surprising that Rottweilers always make it to the top 10 list of the most loyal dog breeds.
Not only are Rottweilers loyal, but they are also faithful, loving, caring, protective, and devoted to their human family.
However, it’s important to note that Rotties, like other dog breeds, have a “pack mentality.” That’s because dogs or canines are pack animals and they will (if they’re able and given the chance to) try to seek dominance over others in their pack (or your family in this case).
This is why it’s important that dog owners train their Rotties at a young age to show the Rottie who’s the boss or the alpha. Rottie owners need to be firm during socialization training, behavioral training, obedience training, and protection training.
When you’re ready to introduce your kids to your Rottie, be sure to let your Rottie know that your children are members of the pack. This way, your Rottweiler will extend his loyalty to your kids and protect them.
While this may come naturally for most Rottweilers, some Rotties may require proper training, bonding, and human interaction to understand that there’s no need to be aggressive towards the kids and that they should be just as loyal and trusting of the kids.
While loyal Rotties are great for families with kids, you’ll want to keep in mind that this positive characteristic also has its drawback. Since loyal Rottweilers love to spend tons of time with their human families, they can develop separation anxiety whenever they’re alone for an extended period of time.
At the end of the day, Rotties are very social dogs. They love to be around people and love to interact with your kids. It’s a good idea to include them in your family events and activities.
Rotties love to be involved and included so letting them hang out in your house or in your backyard doing nothing at all won’t be ideal since they need plenty of socialization and human interactions to thrive.
Are Rottweilers good family dogs?
Yes, Rottweilers are good family dogs if they’ve been trained properly and raised with love and care. At their very core, Rottweilers are good-natured and unbelievably loyal, affectionate, and loving towards their owners.
Are Rottweilers good with other dogs?
Yes, Rottweilers are good with other dogs. Not only do they get along with other dogs in your home, but also they get along with other pets too, including cats.
Are Rottweilers good family guard dogs?
Yes, Rottweilers are unbelievably good family guard dogs. Their assertiveness, confidence, and powerful (and potentially scary) barks keep all intruders at bay.
If you’re looking for a good family guard dog, you can count on a Rottweiler. Rotties are natural at being a guard dogs since they are always alert and will approach any situation or respond to any event with caution.
Rottweilers typically do not get excited or react easily when they are introduced to something new. Instead, they’re awfully watchful and tend to stay level-headed while sniffing out the situation slowly and cautiously.
So, are Rottweilers protective?
Yes, Rottweilers are protective and many who are unfamiliar with this dog breed’s temperament and personality may wrongly assume their protective nature to be aggressive and dangerous.
In reality, a Rottweiler’s natural instinct is to protect his or her family and that is undoubtedly their number one priority.
While Rotties are naturally calm and stoic, they can start to become dominant and act quickly if they feel their family is threatened or in danger or if they are provoked.
Are Rottweilers velcro dogs?
Yes, Rottweilers are indeed velcro dogs since they love to spend lots of time with their owners and the highlight of their day is when they get to cuddle with their owners and family members.
Don’t be surprised when your cute Rottie jumps onto your bed and tries to cuddle with you or jumps onto the couch to sit next to you. They simply love receiving your hugs, scratches, kisses, and pets.
Again, Rottweilers don’t know how big or heavy they are and they may even attempt to sit or lay on your lap.
If your Rottie is laying on the tip of your bed or sitting next to you on the couch, they could be showing their protective side as they are guarding you and making sure you and your family are safe.
Simply put, Rotties are powerful dogs with a gentle nature and they do require lots of TLC (tender, love, and care). And it is all worth it because the amount of love and affection they bring to you, your kids, and your family are more than tenfold.
Are Rottweilers good farm dogs?
In addition to being protective of your kids and family, Rottweilers are also good farm dogs. As a matter of fact, Rottweilers are also known to be working dogs. Breeders originally bred Rottweilers to help herd cattle and work in the harsh fields.
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rottweiler
With over five years of specialized experience as an animal writer, my expertise lies in dog nutrition, health, behavior, grooming, and training. I am dedicated to delivering helpful and informative content that caters to the well-being of our furry friends. My primary goal is to empower pet owners with knowledge and ensure our canine companions thrive in health and happiness. In my free time, I love volunteering at local dog rescue centers.
