Question
dog
im a first time dog owner...i am going to be getting my puppy in about 2 more weeks as it will be 6 weeks old...my question to you is I am unsure of the breed...the mother is a pitbull mastiff and the male was a rottweiller...most people i know tell me its more pitbull since it is brindle and has some agressiveness and is tougher and throws around the other puppies when it comes to food etc. i will attach a picture and you can let me know what you think
questions:
1. can i leave it in the cold(I live in Canada and it gets cold here in the winter or will I have to keep him inside for his first winter since he will be very young
2. do you have any tips on dealing with these dogs since i have heard they are aggressive
3. im a first time owner so basically anything you can fill me in on would be great
thank you
AnswerHe looks like what you said- mostly Rottweiler, he has that body style. 6 weeks old is too young to get a puppy, they have to be 8 weeks before you take them from their litter. Pit Bulls are not aggressive dogs, Rotts might have more tendency to be a bit dominant or tough, but it depends on the dog. I suggest crate training the dog to housebreak it and prevent it from chewing things up when you're gone. Also starting obedience training early, around 4-5 months of age. There are also many books you can read about dogs. The Monks of New Skeete have books on raising dogs.
You cannot leave a dog (or puppy) outside in the Canada winter. Dogs are pack animals and they want to live in the house with their family, not alone outside. This dog will also have a short coat. They should only be outside for going to the bathroom and exercise, then back in. Dogs can get frostbite on their ears and paws, and can lose the tips of their ears. If they are outside, they need to have a dog house to keep warm.
If you can hire a dog trainer as the dog is growing up, and start training at 5 months old, that would be ideal.
