by Deborah Messner

Created on: June 18, 2008

I am the owner of a beautiful 10-month-old neutered male Rottweiler. I purchased him from a breeder back in November 2007, after about 4 years spent dreaming of owning my first Rottweiler. As I type this, my Rottie is laying upside down on the kitchen floor, his new red Kong Wubba toy hugged happily between his front paws. He is in the throes of doggy bliss. He's happy, content, and playing like any other puppy of his age would.

I spent a long time researching Rottweilers before I actually owned one myself. I have dozens of books, e-books, and bookmarked web sites representing many hours of research, learning about the breed as a whole. By the time I purchased my puppy, I felt that I had a pretty firm understanding of the commitment I was making to this dog.

When I told my family and friends that I was the proud new owner of a Rottweiler, I don't think there was a single one of them that didn't automatically cringe and say "Well, we won't be visiting your house anytime soon!"or "I'll make sure I call first when I visit so you can have that thing locked up before I get there". Of course I knew that Rottweilers carry the "killer" stigmata, but I was actually kind of surprised that the little guy got this kind of reaction. Even my insurance company specifically wrote a clause into my Homeowners policy, stating that they would not cover dog bites of any kind. Huh.

I have owned many animals over the course of my lifetime, and I have always done my best to be a very responsible animal owner. I have never feared any animal, and have always done my best to train and care for my animals to the best of my abilities. I have owned horses all my life, and taking responsibility for a 1000-lb animal is a task I don't take lightly.

Taking on this Rottweiler has taught me a lot of things. He is by the far happiest dog I have ever come in contact with, which actually surprises me. He is constantly playful, full of energy, and loves to chew just about anything he comes in contact with. He loves praise, and responds quickly to discipline. But I have noticed that he's extremely sensitive to change, untrusting of some new situations, and instantly wary of anyone who backs away from him and shows any fear. In essence, I can definitely see how the mishandling of these dogs, particularly in their early formative time, could lead to disaster.

I honestly don't think any dog is born mean, regardless of their breed. Pit bulls, German Shepherds, Dobermans, and Rottweilers often get the automatic

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