So, I’ve been messing around with this idea of training my Rottweiler to be a service dog. It’s been a wild ride, let me tell you. I started out thinking, “Hey, my dog’s pretty smart, maybe he can do this.” Little did I know what I was getting myself into. But I’m getting ahead of myself, let’s go back to the beginning.
I did some digging online, and from what I gathered, Rottweilers are actually pretty good candidates for service dogs. They’re smart, eager to please, and strong enough for tasks like helping with mobility.
So, I started by setting up a training schedule. I read that consistency is key, so I made sure to work with him every day. It was tough at first. My dog’s a big softie, but he’s also got a stubborn streak. We started with basic obedience stuff – sit, stay, come, that sort of thing. I made sure to always use positive reinforcement, lots of treats and praise when he did something right.
- Day 1-7: We worked on “sit” and “stay.” It was a mess. He’d sit, then immediately get up. Treats were flying everywhere.
- Day 8-14: “Come” was added to the mix. He seemed to enjoy chasing me around the yard, so that was a plus. We also started leash training, which, surprisingly, he took to pretty well.
- Day 15-21: I started introducing him to different environments. We went to the park, the store, just to get him used to different sights and sounds. He was curious but a bit anxious.
After he mastered the basics, I moved on to more specific tasks. Since I have some mobility issues, I focused on training him to help me with that. I taught him to open doors by nudging them with his nose, and to pick up things I dropped. He also learned how to brace me up from the floor. That was a big one. It took a lot of patience, but eventually, he got it.
The next step was getting him used to being around other people and in public places. That was a whole other challenge. Rottweilers can be a bit intimidating to some folks, so I had to make sure he was on his best behavior at all times. We practiced walking calmly through crowds, ignoring distractions, and staying focused on me. It was a lot of work, but we made progress. Every day, I saw him getting better and better.
Next, I had to do some research on the legal stuff. Turns out, there’s a lot of rules and regulations about service dogs. I learned that they need to be trained to perform specific tasks that help with a disability, and they have to be well-behaved in public. I made sure to document all of his training, just in case anyone ever questioned his legitimacy as a service dog.
The Results
After months of hard work, my Rottweiler is now a fully trained service dog. He helps me with my mobility, picks up things for me, and even helps me get up if I fall. He’s also a great companion and a beloved member of our family. It wasn’t easy, but it was definitely worth it. Seeing him by my side, ready to help, it’s a pretty amazing feeling.
I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished together. It just goes to show that with patience, dedication, and a whole lot of love, anything is possible. And yes, Rottweilers can make excellent service dogs.
