Socialization of the Rottweiler is the elimination of fear of unknown phenomena and objects in human society.
This is not about the question “what is the purpose of Rottweiler’s socialization” (to which there are numerous answers about the benefits for the dog, human and human society as a whole).
This is about understanding why a Rottweiler needs socialization. So, it is about the animal’s needs and our understanding of those needs. This is the key to the humane and complete socialization of Rottweilers.
Fears are a normal phenomenon in the growing up of a dog. What can be a problem is whether the dog is dealing with his fear in the right way. The main task of the owner is to provide the Rottweiler with security as it grows and to help it become a self-confident dog, capable of interacting with others. This is quite challenging and not at all easy, but knowing about potential fears, and especially about the triggers for their appearance, will strengthen our ability to deal with them.
In order to have a better understanding, it is necessary to define and clearly separate certain terms.
3 things that should not be equated:
1. Obedience training (learning commands) vs. socialization (acceptance of phenomena)
Let’s see what the definitions say.
Training is the process of improving workforce skills (Oxford dictionary).
Socialization is the process whereby individuals become members of groups or society, sharing common understanding and experiences and learning the values that are considered central to that group or society (Oxford dictionary).
Therefore, we will not say that a person is trained or untrained for life in human society, but that he/she is adapted, socialized or antisocial. The same goes for the Rottweiler. Socialization is not training. Obedience training is training.
-Obedience training is the action of teaching a Rottweiler a certain skill. Rottweiler acting on orders from authority. The trainer shapes the dog’s behavior using commands to create the required response. The goal is the behavior of a Rottweiler that will reliably respond every time the trainer gives him a command. It is achieved through systematic training that develops and improves the dog’s skills.
-Socialization is a layered process that we plan and systematically carry out in order to gradually prepare the Rottweiler for life in human society. The main goal of socialization is the Rottweiler’s adaptation to new living conditions.
Why is this difference important? Since socialization is not training, this process is not command-based, so the focus is solely on encouragement. Commands are disabled!
Note: Socialization and obedience training should not be practiced at the same time.
We cannot expect a Rottweiler to follow our commands before he has mastered the fear of phenomena in the environment. This would cause confusion in the dog. Even if these exercises were previously mastered in home conditions, they will be useless in an unfamiliar environment, because fear will prevail. Obedience training can be carried out in parallel with socialization, but not at the same time.
2. Natural socialization vs human socialization of the Rottweiler
– natural socialization of the Rottweiler is the puppy’s ability to adopt the rules of its species and begins in the transitional period of its life, from the 15th day after birth. It builds affective bonds with his mother, who still nurtures and protects him, and from her he learns behavior and the hierarchy that applies within the pack.
-Socialization by humans develops Rottweiler’s sociability. The dog needs social experiences to get rid of the fear of the unknown – phenomena, beings and objects. The main goal is to bring all aspects of human society closer to the dog.
Why is this difference important? Even as a puppy, the Rottweiler adopted the behaviors of its species, including instinctive fears of self-preservation in the pack (the puppy will retreat in front of another, more dominant puppy or mother).
3. Human fear vs dog‘s fear
-Innate fear in humans is much less intense, due to our evolution! Our brains have evolved to understand phenomena that used to scare us. Because humans are incredibly good at learning, we continue to overcome our fears. The result is that fear can even be fun for people (adrenaline sports, horror movies, roller coasters and the like).
– Innate fear in a dog is much more intense – due to a lack of understanding! In a Rottweiler, it occurs because the puppy cannot realistically see the situation due to cognitive limitations, and thus something that is objectively not dangerous causes fear.
Why this difference is important? Because of patience – with time and dedication, fear can be overcome in a way that will be understandable for the Rottweiler.
SPECIFIC SOCIALIZATION ACCORDING TO THE FEAR LIST
Once we have clarified how and why the Rottweiler is afraid, we can recognize the specific phenomena, situations and things that most often or most intensely cause fear and find practical solutions. Specific fears need specific practical strategies.
#1 SOUND
Rottweiler may experience intense anxiety or panic attacks when exposed to certain sounds, such as loud noises or specific frequencies. This fear can be so severe that it interferes with their daily life and activities.
Solution: Rottweilers should to be exposed to the sounds they fear in a controlled environment, helping them to become desensitised to the sounds over time. Exposure have to be gradually.
Tools and procedure:
-Food bowl
Before feeding the puppy, drop the food bowl onto the floor from a low height. On the following days, repeat the process, increasing the height from which you drop the bowl; that’s how you turn up the volume. It is recommended to use a bowl made of different materials – it will produce more varied sounds. Favorable factors are your proximity, a place that is familiar to the puppy and food. These pleasant associations minimize the fear of a sudden sound. The advantage of this technique is the fact that the puppy can associate the sound with the sound source.
-Sound generators
Use a device that records or plays sound. An easy way is to record sound with a mobile phone or use an online video platform where you choose the appropriate sound. This technique is used for strong, piercing sounds (firecrackers, gunshots, different machines, etc.). That way you can adjust the pitch. In the beginning, the tone should be minimal, and over time it will increase, depending on the reaction of the dog.
#2 OPEN SPACE
Fear of open space, that is, fear of being in public places, of a large number of people, crowds and vehicles is natural for a Rottweiler who is not socialized. It often occurs in combination with panic attacks (this behavior can be observed in owner’s dogs lost in the urban environment).
This kind of socialization is a challenge, because it tackles a large number of fears. Before the socialization process, the Rottweiler is afraid of everyday normal situations such as a simple walk in an open space, standing in line or traffic jams.
Solution: understanding.
We should to understand what Rottweiler fills and help him to understand.
For example, when crossing a street, we look to the left and right for cars and stay put on the sidewalk if we see a car close enough and traveling fast enough to hit us before we’re able to reach the other side. It’s an almost automatic decision, as though we instinctively know how to keep ourselves safe.
Your Rottweiler doesn’t understand that concept. At birth and in the first weeks of his life, as a legacy of his species, he developed an instinct that includes fears that are triggered by predators, which they recognize like rapidly approaching objects.
Technique: We need to help our Rottweiler to recognize objects, places and situations in a different way, and to start using the learned form of behavior over time.
-Leash
For a dog, it is an unknown object on its body. Besides, the fact is that it limits him in movement. The collar creates additional discomfort, as it disturbs the dog’s breathing when it learns to walk on a leash and offers resistance. All this causes stress in the dog.
The solution is in gradualness. Put a soft material collar on the puppy that the puppy will wear for a few days. Then attach the leash, and allow the puppy to drag it freely in a safe area. Later, go for a short walk, with food and favorite toys.
-Vehicle
Get the puppy into your car without starting the engine. Play with him in the vehicle, leave the door open so he can get in and out on his own. Start the engine later. If the puppy feels comfortable, go a short distance with the dog in the car. After that you are ready for longer. relationships. Note – do not feed the dog while getting used to driving; it can cause nausea and vomiting, so the puppy will associate this unpleasant feeling with the vehicle.
-A walk in nature
Choose less urban areas of the city and the countryside. That is why it is important that the Rottweiler is first socialized in terms of driving. So you have a wider choice of places for your first walks. Outings with friends are ideal, and you can ask them to pet the puppy from time to time. Thus, the dog will associate a pleasant experience with people in an unfamiliar but peaceful place.
-A walk through the urban part of the city
So far, the little Rottweiler has had experience with people, unfamiliar spaces and driving. The result will be the best if we also applied the technique of releasing the fear of intense sounds.
#3 SWIMMING
With swimming and water in general, things are somewhat different.
Rottweilers are not afraid of water. In fact, they can swim quite well – if they have to. But they will rarely do it with pleasure, if they are not socialized.
The two most significant benefits of this socialization:
-swimming is important for proper and healthy Rottweiler development;
– being in the water is a great way for the dog to cool down during the summer heat.
Early exposure to water can greatly influence a dog’s comfort level with swimming. Puppies that are introduced to water in a positive and controlled environment are more likely to develop a love for swimming. In contrast, Rottweilers that have had negative experiences with water, or have been exposed to it later age of life, may be more apprehensive.
The most common mistake is to move the owner away from the shore in the hope that the dog will join him. Dogs are terrestrial animals, which means that their natural habitat is land. That’s why Rottweilers don’t understand the concept of swimming on our way – as fun and enjoyment. Rottweilers have a strong instinct to protect their pack members. When you go too far, your dog may sense that you are in trouble, which will lead to anxiety or frantic behavior. Therefore, our job is to show the Rottweiler how to enjoy swimming.
Solution: instinct
To help your Rottweiler feel more comfortable we can use instinct in dogs as a powerful technique. Dog has natural instinct to paddle when placed in water. This instinct is often referred to as the “dog paddle” and involves a coordinated movement of the front and back legs.
To begin with, find the right depth and distance from the shore. It is important that the puppy does not lose sight of the land, and that the depth is barely greater than the height of the dog. Place your palm under his stomach and gradually reduce the support. The puppy will start to paddle. Do it in a place to start so the puppy can feel the resistance of the water. You will soon notice that your support is no longer needed and the little Rottweiler will swim to shore.
This technique is combined with playing in the shallow part of the water surface, using favorite toys.
#4 HEIGHTS
Most animals especially ground dwellers are scared of heights. It’s a survival instinct in many species. Therefore, Rottweilers can show aversion to heights, which can be linked to their survival instincts. In general, they can display cautious or fearful behaviors when confronted with heights, which can vary widely among individuals.
This type of fear is situational – it occurs when coming into contact with very specific places or situations involving heights. Due to such specificity, it happens that the owner does not notice this fear or ignores it, if the dog is not often exposed to such situations.
The problem becomes noticeable when there is a change in lifestyle, for example moving from a house to an apartment on higher floors. Rottweilers with less socialization during puppyhood will more likely show fear of height and that fear can significantly threaten his quality of life. In practice, this is particularly evident when moving to higher floors of residential buildings. According to numerous experiences of the owners, the dogs persistently refused to go up or down the stairs. Others were afraid to go outside and the balcony – they were literally stuck in the apartment. Therefore, accustoming Rottweiler to the height is necessary, in order to make sure that the dog will be able to follow important life decisions of the owner, such as a change of living space.
The solution is to gradually expose the Rottweiler to fear-inducing situations, from least to most frightening. Exposure is applied in a graduated manner, starting with places/situations that cause less fear, so that after they are mastered, exposure to attractions or situations that cause a higher level of fear will follow. Overcoming situation by situation, the Rottweiler relies on its own ability to cope with fear, which subsides/disappears over time.
Solution:
-Low stairs
Sit on the steps, put the puppy on the step that is in the middle. The dog will form an idea of the height, with the possibility of overcoming it by descending. Encourage him to go down to a lower step. The puppy will soon start using the stairs independently.
-Overpasses, footbridges, bridges
Intensify the walks in places where there are such facilities. When possible, stay on the bridge for a while, and let the Rottweiler survey the surroundings.
-Elevator
Intensify elevator rides. At first, hold the puppy in your arms.
-Escalator
You can use the escalators in shopping centers, also hold the puppy in your arms at first.
BENEFIT – PREVENTION OF ALL OTHER FEARS
This guide contains 4 strategies, according to frequency (outdoor space, sound), benefits for the dog (swimming) and difficulty level (height). These 4 techniques, properly and consistently applied, will serve as prevention for the appearance of other forms of fear, related to certain objects, places, activities or situations.
The ultimate goal of this 4-steps strategy is not only security – a sense of comfort in the present, but also self-confidence – a sense of security in the future.
ULTIMATE BENEFIT-TRUST
This is for those dedicated to excellence, there is no better path in life than life-long learning and continued pursuit of knowledge about dogs. We believe in the fundamental value of the special relationship between dogs and humans. The basis of such a relationship is trust.
The Rottweiler’s trust in man should be clearly defined due to a proper understanding of the benefits it brings. The word trust is usually associated with an emotional relationship, and rightly so. However, trust is more than that. It also has its social component (this is about socialization, that’s why that aspect is important to us).
Additionally, trust is a characteristic of human relationships (we are unlikely to say that our dog trusts the neighbor’s dog, or any other animal). That’s why developing trust in Rottweilers is delicate.
Let’s see what trust really is. It should be clear: trust it is not the orientation we take towards the natural world – it belongs to human, not natural discourse. Trusting someone frees us from making assessments about some future occurrence, because we rely on the experience of the person we trust.
In other words, trust is a decision rule, based on someone else’s experience, which we do not have ourselves. That’s why trust, in a sociological sense, is our essential strategy to “fight” against uncertain and uncontrollable the future. In this way, we simplify adaptation to a complex social environment.
When we trust someone, we suspend our disbelief, and the possibility of a negative outcome regarding an unknown situation is not considered at all. Why is it important for Rottweiler Socialization? Although trust is a phenomenon typical of human society, research shows that many animal species, under controlled conditions or due to coexistence with humans, are capable of adopting our behavior. This is especially true for dogs, which have been sharing our living space for 20,000 years, as the first domesticated animal.
Therefore, a Rottweiler will develop a trusting relationship with its owner if properly socialized. Trust will be how he decides if something is safe or not. In practice, this means that the Rottweiler will evaluate unknown phenomena based on our experience, not on his own.
Basic 4-steps socialization excludes the need to accustom the dog to each new phenomenon using the exposure technique. A socialized Rottweiler, when in the company of the owner, no longer assesses the risk of an unknown situation, but relies on the owner’s assessment of the existence of danger.
For example, if the Rottweiler meets the plane at the airport together with us, he will confidently follow us, despite the fact that he has not had such experience before.
Notes: do not mix love and trust – the dog certainly loves us, but that is not enough to overcome instinctive fear. Trust is!
ONE MORE STRATEGY
The basic 4-steps strategy is applied in a modified form with Rottweiler who will become working dogs-trained to perform various tasks, most often related to helping people (defense of persons and property in the broadest sense).
The basis of socialization is the same, with the intensification of socialization to sound, height and water, and restriction in one segment of open space. Working with a Rottweiler is a broad topic, which will be discussed more in one of the following columns.
This is about the socialization of the working Rottweiler, as a basis for future training. Working Rottweiler puppies are recognized and separated from the litter after the first vaccination. Then the adapted socialization begins. A puppy with predispositions for professional work in the first days and weeks of life shows extraordinary activity: it growls, barks, as a rule dominates, shows a desire for an object, seeks the owner’s company – because it wants to work.
#1 Sound
After basic socialization to sounds, move on to working with weapons. It is recommended to connect with hunting associations – hunters are persons trained in handling weapons and experienced in working with dogs when it comes to the sound of gunshots.
#2 Open space
As part of basic socialization, contact with people is limited. The task of a protection dog is to recognize and assess danger, which often comes from humans. In such a dog, the natural instinct should not be corrected by creating the belief that all unknown people are benevolent. That is why it is not desirable for every passer-by who wants to pet the dog while walking. We will allow some and not others. In this way, the puppy will develop a sense of evaluation, which will be guided by future training.
#3 Water
Working Rottweiler puppies will show a tendency to dive when their toys are below the surface of shallow water. Intensify their will by playing in shallow water. In this way, the Rottweiler best masters the breathing technique. This is the basis for bite-work (one of the reasons why the dog does not want to bite the sleeve or is weak is the breathing that he has not mastered in such a situation).
#4 Height
Working Rottweiler is trained to work in any situation. As part of the training, he will cross specialized beams, and that is why it is advisable to introduce benches and similar flat surfaces at a height in the socialization of the puppy.