People give up their Rottweiler dogs for a number of reasons. The Rottweiler is a large breed of dog, and some owners who move to smaller living spaces think it would be unfair to move their Rottweiler to such a confined area. Other Rottweiler owners, through circumstances perhaps beyond their control, may move from owning their own home to renting an apartment in a building with restrictions on the size of dog permitted. Other owners become ill or die, and there may be no one among their friends or family members willing to take on the care of a Rottweiler.

Whatever the reason, every year hundreds of Rottweilers find new homes through the assistance of Rottweiler rescue organizations. Rottweiler rescue groups get to know every single dog they place and match each new home carefully with a dog. The groups match abandoned dogs with new homes where they are loved and thrive.

The Rottweiler is a confident breed, and a strong-willed owner needs to show the dog who is in charge. An adult Rottweiler weighs eighty to one hundred thirty-five pounds, and an out-of-control Rottweiler can be harmful to itself and its human companions. Rottweiler puppy training should begin at eight to ten weeks of age. However, owners of rescue dogs often know little or nothing about the training their dogs have received, so they can’t assume their dogs were trained as puppies. Depending on the circumstances, the Rottweiler rescue group may not have information about what kind of training a dog has already completed.

Rottweilers are big dogs, weighing eighty to one hundred thirty-five pounds, and they have great strength. It is essential that such a strong, confident dog be properly trained, for the safety of the dog and the people around it. Obedience training for Rottweiler puppies should begin at an early age, preferably eight to ten weeks. With a rescue Rottweiler, though, you can’t be sure what kind of training the dog has already had. Owners of rescue dogs should be prepared to go through obedience training with their dogs, to correct any problems with the dog’s behavior and to introduce the dog to the structure and authority Rottweilers crave.

Confidence is a trait of most Rottweilers’ personalities, but the Rottweiler longs for a pack leader. A rescue dog owner should provide the Rottweiler with enough exercise to fulfill the dog’s need for vigorous recreation and with enough discipline to establish the owner as the leader of the pack.

Rottweiler rescue organizations screen dogs and their prospective owners. All dogs surrendered must be current in their vaccinations and health treatments, and they are required to undergo tests that assess their physical condition and their temperament. Owners who surrender their dogs pay a nominal fee to cover the screening process. The fee also serves to discourage owners from dumping dogs on the rescue group.

Prospective Rottweiler rescue dog owners must apply to adopt a dog and must provide proof of home ownership or written permission from the homeowner where the dog will live. Applicants must also get the written permission of all other adults in the household. These restrictions are meant to ensure that the dog can stay in its new home. Rottweiler rescue dogs enjoy the companionship of other dogs, but any other dogs in the household must have current vaccinations and be temperamentally disposed to living with an additional dog.

If your application is approved, you will be paired up with a rescue dog and asked to foster the dog for a temporary trial period. The result is worth the wait because your Rottweiler rescue dog will be a faithful companion for the rest of its life.