7 week old rottweiler

Question
QUESTION: hi henry,
i bought a female rottweiler 6 weeks old.it has been one week since i brought her home.my questios are
1.i took her to my frnds place where they have a male rottwieler around 8-9 weeks old.they both sniffed each other and then SHE started biting and growling i dunno whether its play or dog fight.i took her to a 2 year old female lab same condition.what to do?
2.she is too small when shud i start leash training her and start walking her? this is my first puppy and my knowledge on puppies is nearly zero.pls help me out.

ANSWER: Obedience and socialization should start immediately. Females can be alpha dogs, often more than males, so her instinct may be to dominate the male.  Unless you are going to breed your dog, it should be neutered as soon as you vet feels it is safe to do. At her age, there is still a lot of puppy play that includes fighting and other dog to dog communications from which they learn dog to dog socialization skills. Unless the dogs are getting hurt, there is no reason to be afraid. Dogs will play fight at jusdt about any age. Just make sure it doesn't get beyond that.

regards,

Henry Ruhwiedel
www.dogkennel.org

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: 1.I TAUGHT HER THE SIT COMMAND AND THE COME COMMAND AND SHE LISTENS PERFECTLY WHEN I HAVE HER FOOD IN MY HANDS.(I TRAIN HER BEFORE HER MEALS)AFTER SHE IS FULL,SHE DOENT LISTEN AND ITS AS IF SHE DOENT WANT ME TILL THE NEXT MEAL.COMPLETELY IGNORES ME.WHAT TO DO TO MAKE HER LISTEN TO COMMAND ALWAYS.I TRAIN HER COMMANDS 4 TIMES A DAY AND I STARTED 5 DAYS BACK.I PRESUME THAT SHE KNOWS THE COMMAND BY NOW.

2.I BOUGHT HER AT 6 WEEKS.I KNOW THAT SHE HAS MISSED VALUABLE LESSONS FROM HER MOTHER AND LITTERMATES BUT I COULDNT HELP IT.
HOW CAN I TEACH HER THE SOCIAL ORDER OF THE PACK AND MAKE HER KNOW THAT I AM ALPHA AROUND THIS PLACE?I EAT BEFORE SHE DOES WALK OUT IN AND OUT OF THE DOOR FIRST DOESNT ALLOW HER TO SIT ON COUCH OR SLEEP WITH ME IN BED.BUT THESE THINGS ONLY WORK WITH DOGS WHO HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THE PACK ORDER BY THEIR MOTHER RIGHT?"

Answer
Training begins by understanding whatthe dog wants. Thus if you just give treats, attention, it learns it does not have to work to get what it wants. WIIFM  what's in it for me?  Thatis what the dog is asking. So reward comes after the dog "works" for what it wants. It may want a toy, treat or attention. Your job is to make it work  (follow a command) before it gets what it wants. Second, reward is intermittant. As a slot machine, it doesn't pay off every time. No fun. If it pays off every time, no fun, if it never pays off, no fun. So intermittant reward is stronger than constant reward. Find what the dog wants most, that is the biggest key.

When the dog wants to please you, it will please you. The opposite of reward is no reward, not punishment. Training is school but it needs to be play/fun for the dog.

Obedience commands
sit, stay, down, down stay.
heel, about turn, left about turn.
sit stay return to your dog
sit stay come
sit stay come heel (to starting position, called finish)
sit stay recall
sit stay running recall
sit, come, down
stand for exam
figure 8, auto speed adjustment
heeling: normal, slow, fast.
over,
through
under
take it
leave it
off
3 min sit stay
3 min down stay
wait  (for action as taking a treat, dog waits till the treat is on the floor before it is told take it.
obstacles: round stick, swuare stick, low hurdles, jump, tunnel, crate
shyness issues: bicycle, people, other dogs, cats, noises, motion,


regards,
henry ruhwiedel
www.dogkennel.org