Rottweilers are well known for their large and powerful stature and are often perceived as intimidating and aggressive. So, when it comes to interactions with other breeds, many owners may wonder if Rottweilers get along well with small dogs.
In this article, we will explore the dynamics between Rottweilers and smaller dog breeds, and outline some of the risks this can create for dog owners. We’ll also look at some useful methods that owners can consider when introducing their Rottie to a smaller dog breed.
So, do Rottweilers get along with small dogs?
Rottweilers can get along with small dogs, as long as they are socialized properly and trained from an early age. As this breed has a high prey drive, they may dominate and attack a smaller dog as part of their natural instincts to hunt and chase. This behavior can be prevented through early intervention and through recognizing a Rottie’s natural hunting instincts.
Why Does My Rottweiler Like To Chase Small Dogs?
I’ve seen firsthand on a number of occasions Rottweilers getting over-excited at the sight of a small dog. Once they see them, their eyes light up and they make a beeline for them.
Nothing aggressive though, it was more their dominant behavior and letting the smaller canine know they are the boss! I’d watch as the Rottie would circle the poor smaller breed and excitedly watch them in a stage of fright.
This isn’t an uncommon experience, unfortunately. As most dog owners know, poor socialization and lack of training can result in certain dog breeds showing extreme dominance and poor social skills. Rotties are prone to this if not raised correctly.
On the other hand, you know when your Rottie is enjoying the behavior of a smaller dog breed. They will treat them like any other large breed and naturally play with them without the need to show dominance.
Their tail will wag, and their eyes will light up when they’re enjoying themselves!
Why Does My Rottweiler Like To Chase Small Dogs?
The main reason why Rotties chase smaller dogs is due to their strong prey drive and lack of socialization. Prey drive refers to a dog’s elevated state of excitement or motivation when performing a task that requires hunting-related behaviors (such as chasing an object).
This type of reaction when seeing a smaller dog is often instinctive with a Rottweiler, in that they go into ‘hunting mode’ as soon as they see a smaller canine.
Owners should be aware that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as Rottweiler possess this incredible skill which is often used for military or police training.
Naturally, this can be managed through early socialization and some structured obedience training and shouldn’t be a great concern for dog owners.
How To Introduce Your Rottweiler To A Small Dog?
- Before the introduction, make sure that both dogs are happy and well-fed.
- Pick a neutral location for the meeting – one where neither of them will feel territorial or threatened by the other’s presence.
- Put each on opposite sides of an open door or gate with their back facing it so they can’t see each other straight away and walk them past this point in opposite directions before letting them meet face to face. This way, you’re giving both dogs time to get used to each other’s smell before actually seeing one another!
- Keep your body between the dogs to prevent any confrontations and gently but firmly guide them around each other, keeping a light hold of their collars at all times.
- Once they’re both relaxed and happily accepting of one another’s presence, let them off-lead in a contained space where they can’t hurt or kill each other.
- Gradually, over the next few days, allow them to spend more time together but always supervise their interactions. If you think that they’re getting too excited or physical with each other, separate them by putting them back through doorways in opposite directions and let them calm down.
- If everything is going well, in a few weeks, you should be able to introduce them to one another off lead in your garden or on neutral territory.
What To Do if Your Rottweiler and Small Dog Don’t Get Along
The first thing to watch out for here is the body language of your Rottie and the smaller dog. Some of the classic signs of friction and stress include:
- Growling
- Baring Teeth
- Snapping
- Lunging
- Aggressive body language
If you notice any of these signs, it’s clear there’s an issue between the dogs that need to be addressed.
If the introduction method explained earlier isn’t successful, the following should be looked at (for both breeds) in order to identify the problem:
- Ensure they are getting enough exercise
- Check their diets are not causing the problem (are they eating a lot of table scraps or unhealthy food?)
- Revisit obedience training
- Increase their socialization with other dogs
While this list is not exhaustive, it should help you identify the problem as to why your Rottie is struggling to get along with a smaller breed.
If you’ve tried all of the above to no avail, then it is recommended to visit a professional dog behaviorist who will assist in resolving the problem.
Why Do Rottweilers Dominate and Attack Small Dogs?
As outlined earlier, the main reason is due to a Rottie’s high prey drive and poor socialization skills. The problem with high prey drive is that if it’s not managed, it can easily result in aggression, including attacks on other dogs.
Keeping in mind that Rotties were initially bred in the 1800s to herd and guard cattle on farms. So, their instinctive nature has always been to herd and drive cattle, and chase down moving objects.
Once Rottie owners acknowledge this trait is considered normal and part of the breed’s natural instincts, then training should be organized to manage it the right way.
Methods to Help Rottweilers Get Along with Small Dogs
There are several methods to help a Rottweiler get along with small dogs, and they are typically related to their high prey drive.
While prey drive can never be fully suppressed, it can certainly be managed with the right tools and techniques.
- Recognize and acknowledge your Rottie is behaving a certain way because of their high prey drive
- Find ways to distract your Rottie’s attention and redirect them when their prey drive becomes a problem
- Reward your dog when they follow your commands when distracting them. Include positive reinforcement, treats, and praise to ensure they understand their response is appreciated.
- Never confuse your dog by rewarding prey drive behavior. This includes watching this behavior and failing to intervene.
- Work on your recall with your Rottie. This is crucial and can literally save your dog’s life or that of another dog.
Each of the above techniques can make a big difference in managing your Rottie’s prey drive, and their behavior around smaller dogs.
You’ll be surprised at how effective these methods are once they are implemented. As mentioned, the focus is not to eliminate their natural instincts but to manage them in a way that your Rottie can adapt to many different settings.
Final thoughts
We hope this provides enough context to the question “Do Rottweilers get along with small dogs?” Rotties can get along with any dog breed as long as their owners have invested in proper socialization and training from an early age.
By recognizing a Rottie’s high prey drive and managing this proactively, Rottweilers can get along with small dogs without much issue and become the best of friends.
