[katsarecool]

I was the proud owner of Rottweilers for over twenty years. My last one passed away over a year ago. Originally I purchased his grandfather for protection after being sexually assaulted in Atlanta back in 1988. He was protective of me from day one as a seven week old puppy.

My vet told me that "we" must be obedienced trained. LOL He said the dog would listen to my commands up to a point; the point where he felt I was being threatened and then the dog would take over. Luckily, it never came to pass. Just the site of that 120 pound dog sitting on my feet facing a person he felt threatened by growling at him and baring his teeth was enough.

Many vets told me that the personality of dogs was determined by more than one factor. The breed somewhat. The amound of breeding with a dog with a gentle personality with another dog of similar traits. Or visa versa. He always advised gentle with gentle dogs. And the last is how the dog is treated by its owner. All comes into play.

My Rottie family were the most gentle and loveable of dogs. They were from a reputable breeder and when I bred my dogs I made sure the stud was a kind soul. We treated them like the little kings and queens they were.

I would however remind everyone that they should never allow a small child to be alone with any dog no matter how much you trust them. My nephew was left alone with his Rottie; began pulling the dogs whiskers out one by one was warned repeatedly by the dog it hurt(he was four) and the family dog did bite him in the face. My brother in law is a bit of a jerk like that; left the child alone with the dog despite repeated warnings.