The breed of dogs is a large Rottweiler, belongs to the fighting. Before buying such a pet, it’s worth a hundred times to think about whether you can raise and maintain it. In the framework of this article we will give recommendations on care and maintenance, we will also talk about how to feed a Rottweiler puppy so that it grows up as a strong and healthy dog.
What you need to buy a pet
Preparing to take a cute puppy into the house, you need to prepare yourself without missing a single trifle. You can’t just bring an animal into the house, put a plate in front of it, from which you yourself eat, play with it. All this is wrong! Before acquiring a puppy, visit a pet store where you will need to buy the following items:
- Bowls on a stand with adjustable height. The puppy should immediately eat from its dishes. Height adjustment is necessary for the dog to eat, taking the correct body position. Improper posture when eating becomes the cause of curvature of the spine and paws.
- Toys, bones from veins. The kid will grind and scratch his teeth on furniture, shoes and other things, if he does not have objects suitable for this occupation.
- Muzzle. Rottweiler is a serious breed of dog, it scares many passers-by. The pet must be accustomed to walking in the muzzle from a very young age. If this is not done, the older dog will refuse to wear it, will pull it together with its paws, feeling discomfort.
- Collar, leash and harness.
- A lot of disposable diapers. These things help to train the puppy to relieve the need on the street, and not spoil the floors and rugs in the house.
- Litter. The baby should immediately have its place in the house, otherwise it will be mastered on the couch or in the chair.
What to do with the tail
Docking the tail with a rottweiler was previously considered a mandatory procedure. Now two options are considered the norm - short and long tail. If you have agreed to purchase a puppy in advance, the breeder will ask if your pet needs this operation.
Why was the tail stop at the Rottweiler generally made? We will deal with this issue.
In ancient times, a part of the tail was removed from a dog of this breed in order to protect it from damage that other animals could inflict. Rottweilers were previously kept for the following functions:
- Protection of the host family and property.
- Cattle driving.
- Participation in dog fights banned in many countries today.
- Harassing wild animals.
Today, stopping is not considered mandatory. The standard allows a full tail. Many refuse this procedure, others say that with a long tail, the familiar exterior of the dog is lost.
If you start a rottweiler not only for the soul, but also for participation in exhibitions, it is better to choose a cupping. The fact is that Rottweilers have a genetic predisposition to twist their tail into a ring, which is considered a marriage by standards.
At what age do stopping
Dogs need to remove part of the tail before the age of ten days after birth, because during this period the babies do not feel pain. If you need a rottweiler with a docked tail, then it is better to warn the breeder in advance from whom you will get the puppy.
If the decision to buy a dog came spontaneously, you chose a breeder and a puppy, but he has a whole tail, then this problem can be solved. Rottweilers stop tails up to six months of age. This procedure is very painful, so you have to resort to anesthesia. Next, postoperative adaptation and care will be required, a second visit to the veterinarian to remove the sutures.
When to vaccinate rottweiler puppies
The question of vaccinating a dog should be of interest to every owner of such a pet. Some vaccinations can lead to complications that are dangerous to the health and life of the animal. The dog should only receive vaccinations that are really required for its health and safety.
The first rottweiler should be delivered at the age of 6-8 weeks. Usually breeders do this. As a rule, they sell already vaccinated puppies. But the process does not end there, as revaccinations will be needed every three weeks until the puppy reaches the age of twenty weeks.
Adult dogs also need annual vaccinations.
From what they put
Puppies are given a comprehensive vaccination that protects against the following dangerous diseases:
- Rabies.
- Enteritis.
- Parainfluenza virus.
- Leptospirosis.
- Adenovirus.
Revaccinations from 20 weeks to 2 years are done by the rottweilers from plague, parvovirus and parainfluenza virus.
Next, you need to discuss with the veterinarian a schedule of annual vaccinations that strengthen the dog’s immunity, protect against diseases.
Monthly Weight
All owners are interested in the norms of weight of the Rottweiler. Adult males, according to the standards, should weigh 50 kilograms, and bitches - 42 kilograms. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the data in more detail by examining the standards at each stage of life. Every owner needs to know this. For example, if at the age of five months the baby weighs less than or more than the norm, this indicates that he is not properly fed, do not pay due attention (walks, physical activity, and so on).
Many people want to know how to feed a Rottweiler puppy so that it does not hurt. It is important not only the animal’s menu, but also the number of meals during the day. With age, these indicators will change. What is necessary for a puppy is not suitable for an adult dog. Compliance with the established rules in the diet allows the animal to grow healthy. Consider the norms of weight from month to year.
- Rottweiler per month should weigh from 2 to 4 kilograms. At this time, he is very different from a newborn baby.
- A Rottweiler puppy at 2 months old weighs from 5 to 7 kilograms (girls) and 8-10 kilograms (boys).
- At the age of three months, females weigh from 12 to 14 kilograms, males grow from 15 to 17 kilograms.
- At the age of four months, a puppy-girl has a weight of 15-17 kilograms, a boy - from 21 to 23 kilograms.
- A five-month-old girl weighs 22-24 kilograms, and a boy - even more so, from 29 to 31 kilograms.
- A six-month-old female - from 28 to 30 kilograms, a male - 33-35 kilograms.
- By seven months, girls weigh 32-34 kilograms, and boys weigh from 38 to 40.
- At eight months, the weight of the rottweiler is 36-38 kilograms for bitches and 46-48 for males.
- At nine and ten months, females weigh 38–40 kilograms, and males 48–50.
- By the age of eleven months, girls should gain in weight up to 42 kilograms, and males - up to 50 kilograms.
The figures are approximate. Small deviations do not mean that the puppy is sick or does not eat well.
Puppy in a new house
The owners are thinking about how to feed a Rottweiler puppy when they take it away from their mother. The previous owners should tell what was included in the baby’s diet, how to accustom him to a new feed, and so on.
If the puppy was fed natural food, and you want to continue as well, then follow the rule: food from the table is not for the dog! Next, we will offer a list of allowed and prohibited products, tell you in what form to give them.
If you decide to transfer the dog to specialized food, then choose only premium and elite classes for rottweiler food. Immediately pour a full bowl of such food is impossible, you need to transfer the animal from natural food to dry gradually, so as not to disturb digestion, which can turn into a twist of the intestines. On the packaging with food there should be translation instructions. Dry food is given together with natural food in small proportions, gradually increasing the amount of feed and reducing the amount of porridge / soup.
Also, you can’t immediately transfer the puppy from dry food to natural food. As in the previous version, gradually increase the portion of porridge / soup, reducing the portion of food.
The optimal menu of natural food
A rottweiler puppy appeared in the house. What to feed the baby? This is of most interest to people who first decided to get a dog. There are no difficulties here, you just need to remember the allowed and forbidden products.
A puppy, like a human child, needs nutritious, tasty, healthy, rich in vitamins and nutrients food. The diet should contain meat - lamb, rabbit, poultry, cereals, dairy products, offal, dairy products, vegetables, herbs, chicken and quail eggs. Bones scalded with boiling water can be introduced into the diet no earlier than 3.5 months. It should be medium-sized beef moslaki. In no case do not give the bones of a bird and fish, not only a puppy, but an adult dog can hurt and choke with them.
The dog must be given meat. Its norm per day should be approximately 40% of all food.
From four months, low-fat marine fish is introduced (river fish is not recommended). It needs to be boiled, remove the bones. You need to pet your pet once a week. Also from this age, you can add lamb and boiled offal to the diet. They are given no more than twice a week.
Rottweiler porridge can be cooked from buckwheat, rice, oatmeal, oats in milk, meat or vegetable broth, or just in water. It is good to cook such a dish with the addition of meat, yogurt, milk and sour cream, vegetables, herbs and cottage cheese. Salt is by no means added.
Once a week, you need to give a raw egg to feast on. Boiled eggs can be given twice a week.
It is advisable to season vegetables with vegetable oil so that beneficial substances are better absorbed. Of the daily intake of vegetables should be at least 20%.
With any diet, the dog needs a full bowl of clean water.
What can not be fed
In no case do not give food to the dog from your pan, as there is salt and seasonings. You can’t feed the Rottweilers sausage, smoked and salted products, pork and pork bones. Barley and millet are poorly digested, causing bloating. Therefore, they should also be excluded.
Dogs cannot have sweets, pastries and bread. Potatoes and beans are also not welcome.
If digestion occurs due to milk in the dog, replace it with kefir.
How many times a day to feed a dog
Puppies from month to six months are fed 6 times a day. Next, the number of meals is reduced. At 8 months, there should be no more than three. By the year the dog can and should be transferred to two meals a day. Be sure to ensure that the dog does not overeat, but does not remain half-starved. If the puppy very quickly emptied the bowl, and then carefully licked it, increase the portion.
To accustom a dog to a diet, do not leave food in its bowl. Eliminate snacks. Give her food on time. With two meals a day, fill the bowl after a morning walk and an hour and a half before bedtime.