{"id":541,"date":"2021-02-25T23:26:30","date_gmt":"2021-02-25T23:26:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/notabully.org\/?p=541"},"modified":"2023-12-11T22:58:47","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T22:58:47","slug":"can-rottweilers-be-service-therapy-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/notabully.org\/can-rottweilers-be-service-therapy-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Rottweilers Be Service or Therapy Dogs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you picture a service dog, what breed of dog do you think of? Most likely it was a Lab or a Golden Retriever. Probably not a Rottweiler.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A service dog is a dog who is specifically trained to help a person with a disability. There are service dogs for all different kinds of disabilities, including visual impairments, hearing loss, mental disabilities, or even seizures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A good service dog should be calm, brave, smart, and people-focused. Many Rottweilers have all of these traits. Rottweilers have been used as both service and therapy dogs in the past, and many Rotties still serve in these capacities today!\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Rottweilers can make great service dogs. Let\u2019s take a look at why.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reason 1: Their size is an asset.\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

For some types of service dogs, size doesn\u2019t necessarily matter. But for dogs who are trained to help a person with a physical disability, size is definitely a factor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Oftentimes, a person with a physical disability <\/span>will depend on their service dog for support<\/span><\/a> in walking or moving, guidance, or performing everyday tasks such as opening doors or retrieving objects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rottweilers tend to be big dogs. Full-grown males can grow up to <\/span>27 inches tall and could weigh over 130 pounds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rotties are muscular and solidly built, which makes them very dependable for people who may need to lean on them or who may need assistance moving.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reason 2: Their personalities are built for service and work.\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Rotts are genetically wired for work. They were originally bred as <\/span>cattle dogs and guard dogs<\/span>. Although work as a service dog is obviously very different, Rotties still enjoy having a job to do. They are extremely smart, and they\u2019ll understand the importance of their job.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Around their families, Rotties are known for being kind, loyal, and gentle. A properly trained service dog absolutely needs to have all of these traits when serving their human.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last but not least, Rotts adore being around their people! If you own a Rott, they probably frequently follow you around the house. Since a disabled person will need their service dog to be on duty most of the time, a people-focused dog is a must for service dogs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you train a Rottweiler to be a service dog?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Training for a service dog is long, detailed, and rigorous. These service dogs need to be able to serve their humans consistently and without error. Let\u2019s take a look at some of these steps for training.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n