my 13 week old rottie pup screams if a stranger touches her

by Wendy
(uk)

Hi,
I have a 13 week old rottie pup who I bought from a show kennels.

i have noticed that if a stranger touches her she screams, is this normal. but she doesn’t do it if a stranger comes in to my house, only if we are out. She also did it at the vets when she had her vaccinations. I have her in a puppy training class she has only been once but was very unsure of all the other dogs there and refused to walk around with them.

she also doesn’t eat her kibble very well, so i have changed the brand as i was worried as she was only eating chew sticks. i am a first time rottie owner and have tried to read everything on them and i am trying to get everything right as i do not want her to become aggressive.

Hi Wendy
It sounds as though you have a pup who is a bit anxious and sensitive, but it seems that you are doing things the right way so far.

She will need more time than a more confident pup in order to feel comfortable around strange people, dogs, places etc. but with lots of love, attention, patience, socialization and training, she will get there.

A rottie pup isn’t any more likely to become aggressive just because she’s not the most confident of puppies than any other breed. These are not dogs that are hard-wired to aggression or ‘fierce’ behavior so don’t worry about this.

I’d recommend that you take her socialization and training slowly but surely, don’t rush her or force her into situations where she’s scared, allow her to take it at her own pace as much as possible. With regular exposure to other dogs, people and places she will become more confident. Always make these positive experiences for her with treats and praise when she doesn’t scream or try to run, but don’t ‘baby’ her or fuss over her as that will encourage this type of behavior.

I’d recommend that you take a look at this webpage… Socialize Your Puppy for tips and advice on doing this properly. Do also remember that she is especially vulnerable to Parvo so should have had 3 sets of puppy vaccinations before she gets out and about where other unvaccinated dogs may have been. It’s also recommended that Rottweiler pups have a fourth shot for Parvovirus as parvo in puppies can be deadly, even in a pup who has been partially vaccinated.

As for her appetite and eating habits – I wouldn’t worry too much about those either at this point. Puppies go through phases and stages where they are really hungry, and then they’re not, then hungry again… it’s a normal part of their development. The best thing to do is to choose a premium puppy food that will give her the nutritional balance that she needs (see my Best Puppy Food page for some recommendations) and then offer her that twice a day.

It’s your responsibility to give her a good, nutritious diet but it’s her responsibility to eat it! Rottweilers can be picky eaters and if you try to pander to her whims or keep changing her food etc., it will only increase the problem. Check out my Feeding Puppies page for more tips and advice too.

Rottie pups are just like puppies of any other breed – they need love, attention, patience, loving discipline, positive rewards-based training and regular socialization. If you have a pup from a reputable breeder and you follow these guidelines she should grow up just fine.

Hope this helps, best of luck with her!

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