We love our dogs, but sometimes they don’t act like man’s best friend. I remember how frustrating it can be when the dog you love is acting like a maniac, especially if the cause is not clear. What are the reasons why a Rottweiler would act out of control?
An untrained Rottweiler is more likely to act crazy. In addition, a lack of exercise or outdoor time can also lead to hyperactivity in rottweilers. Your dog may also be seeking attention or expressing emotions like fear or boredom. You could even accidentally be rewarding out-of-control behavior!
There are many reasons why your Rottweiler may be acting out of control, but don’t worry! Keep reading to learn everything you should know about common reasons for this and how to resolve them.
Common Reasons Why Your Rottweiler is Out of Control
It is easy to become frustrated at a dog acting crazy. However, a rottweiler will not misbehave for no reason at all; a bigger problem is usually the root cause of a dog that is out of control. Let’s review some common reasons why your Rottweiler is out of control!
1. Attention Seeking
Rottweilers are loyal dogs who love their owners. If your dog feels they do not get enough attention from you, it may begin acting out to make you pay attention. Being left alone all day while you are at work or seeing you at home but not interacting with them may make your dog act out.
Try to determine when your rottweiler begins to act out – is it right after you get home from work or while you are in the middle of working from home?
If your dog begins to calm down after you’ve paid attention to them for a few minutes, then they are most likely out of control because they want your attention.
2. Not Enough Exercise
Rottweilers are athletic dogs, and it is estimated that they need up to two hours of exercise each day. This exercise is essential for their health as well as helping them get rid of their energy. If your dog is not getting enough exercise, they are more likely to act out of control due to excess energy and boredom.
If you are too busy to let your dog outside for walks or play games, they will most likely engage in hyperactive behavior. All of that energy has to go somewhere, and if they can’t run around outside, they will end up doing it inside!
3. Lack of Socialization
As confident pack animals, it is extremely important that rottweilers are socialized as early as possible. This socialization means introducing them to new things slowly (like cars, other dogs, or other people) so that they are not threatened when they see something they don’t recognize.
If your rottweiler is not socialized, they will act out at new things because they are perceived as threats.
My grandmother had a dog who was terrified of men and barked at them often because he was not socialized or exposed to any men while he was growing up.
Your dog is not acting out of control for no reason but rather because they think they’re being threatened.
4. No Training
An untrained rottweiler is most likely to act out. As intelligent animals, rottweilers need to be trained to wait for their owner’s commands, or else they will make their own decisions.
If they are not trained early to abandon bad behaviors like excessive barking, they will not learn, and it will be harder to teach them.
It is important to train a rottweiler not to engage in bad behaviors before those behaviors start happening. Basically, it is much harder to train a rottweiler to stop doing something than it is to train them to never start!
5. Fear
It is hard to imagine a big and strong rottweiler ever being afraid, but it can happen all the time! When your dog feels threatened or afraid, they are more likely to engage in out-of-control behaviors like barking, biting, or running away. This fear can be caused by anything, from a tall person to loud noise.
If you notice a common trend, such as your dog always acting out around cars, it may be that they are afraid. This is especially likely if you got your dog when they were a little older, and there may have been something in their past that frightened them.
6. Lack of Routines
Rottweilers are loyal dogs that were initially bred for work. This means that they are used to and actually need daily routines to keep them satisfied! For this breed, a normal routine is extremely important in establishing what they can expect from a normal day. A lack of routine can leave them feeling anxious and more likely to act out.
Routines such as eating, exercise, and bedtime are very important for rottweilers. They can vary a little bit, but they need to be consistent enough that your dog always knows what to expect.
Ways to Prevent Your Rottweiler from Getting Out of Control
Hopefully, you have learned a few common reasons why your Rottweiler might be acting out of control! Now that we’ve covered the causes, it is time to review the solutions. There are a few main ways to prevent a rottweiler who gets out of control, and they are all equally important.
1. Proper Training
Training your rottweiler sooner rather than later will be a huge help in preventing bad behavior. Early training, such as teaching them not to beg at the table or bark at strangers, can begin as early as two months old!
Outline the behaviors you do not want your dog to engage in (such as leash tugging or car chasing) and train them against it as soon as possible.
2. Proper Diet
Food is one of the most important resources for dogs, and rottweilers, in particular, have special dietary needs. If these needs are not met, they may act out or seem strange.
One need is a high-protein diet since they are incredibly athletic and need proper fuel for their exercise. Rottweilers are also more likely to have allergies, so hypoallergenic food can keep them from acting out due to illness or allergies.
3. Regular Exercise
There is one simple way to prevent bad behavior in rottweilers: tire them out! Rottweilers are very athletic dogs, and a lack of exercise can leave them feeling hyperactive and eager for stimulation.
Regular exercise such as walking and running, games of fetch, and other playtime activities can get rid of excess energy. If you are not able to meet their exercise needs, try hiring a dog walker or asking a friend or family member for assistance.
4. Structure and Routines
Since a lack of routine can cause your rottweiler to act out, the easiest solution is to find routines for both of you to follow consistently.
Structure and the assurance of knowing what is coming next are very important for rottweilers. Try to have consistent routines surrounding food, exercise, going to bed, and waking up. With these established, your dog will be less likely to act out.
Other Important Considerations
Before we wrap up, here are some other things you should consider when you wonder why your Rottweiler is acting out. By giving your dog consistency in these areas, you will be improving its quality of life and reducing the likelihood of acting crazy.
Positive Reinforcement
When training your dog, positive reinforcement, such as giving them a treat when they perform a trick, makes them more likely to behave. On the flip side, you may accidentally provide positive reinforcement when your dog acts out.
For example, if your dog wants attention and gets it from you by barking and acting aggressively, it will keep engaging in such behavior.
It is important you do not reward this behavior and instead use positive reinforcement for the behavior you want to see, such as sitting still.
Mental Stimulation
Sometimes your rottweiler may simply be bored! Look around your home – do they have any companions, toys, or activities to do while you are occupied? If they do not have enough to occupy their minds, they may begin to act out. Make sure to get your dog plenty of toys and other activities to keep their minds occupied as well as their bodies.
Spending Quality Time With Your Rottweiler
Finally, remember that you are the most important person in your dog’s life! They love you and want nothing more than to be around you. Perhaps they are just acting out because they miss you and want your affection! Make sure to spend quality time with your rottweiler each day to encourage this bond.
Final thoughts
To recap, a rottweiler will not act out of control for no reason. Crazy behavior can be linked back to bigger problems like a lack of training, excess energy from little exercise, or a need for attention and quality time. Identify the issue and work to find a solution, and your rottweiler will be back to normal in no time!
