Rottweiler Puppy Potty Training Tips

There’s an upside and a downside to training a Rottweiler puppy. As a breed, Rottweilers are intelligent and eager to learn, yet they can be incredibly willful, even stubborn, with strong alpha tendencies. Potty training a puppy is an important part of his development, and is most successful if you quickly establish your alpha role in the household and your personal relationship with the dog.

  1. Consistency

    • Give your puppy the thumbs up when she goes outside.

      One of the most important elements of training any dog of breed is consistency. Given their willful nature and natural alpha tendencies, this is especially true with the Rottweiler; if you give her an inch, she’ll take the proverbial mile. When house training a Rottweiler puppy, act visibly upset with her if she decides to use the living room rug as a bathroom. Don’t shout and flail, but make it clear you’re disappointed by firmly saying things like "No" and "Bad Dog." Similarly, when the dog goes to the bathroom outdoors, praise her to the high heavens. Consistency will help reinforce the desired behavior.

    Positive Reinforcement

    • Treats will be your closest ally in the fight against peeing in the house.

      Positive reinforcement works wonders with dogs. Puppies, who are developing adult personalities and mentalities, respond especially well to this. When potty training your Rottweiler puppy, reward the dog with treats if he uses the bathroom outside. If you catch him inside sniffing around in a corner like he’s looking for a nice, quiet space to do his business, place him outside. Reward him with a treat once he’s gone to the bathroom.

    Anticipation and Routine

    • Refereeing your dog's routine and potty activities is a positive step.

      By anticipating when your Rottweiler puppy will use the bathroom and creating a routine based around that anticipation, you’ll be on your way to a quickly trained dog. When your puppy wakes up from a nap or in the morning, take her outside. Just after she’s had a meal or some water, take her outside. When you can see that the dog is ready to use the bathroom, use a phrase like “go potty.” The dog will learn to associate this phrase with defecating.