Puppy Profile: Rottweilers

Rottweiler puppies grow rapidly, with their weight doubling from ~30lbs at 3 months to ~60 pounds at 6 months. Some new puppy owners decide that it's easiest to go without a crate at first, until the puppy "grows big enough," which can hinder house training and potty training.

Starting your puppy early with crate training is a major advantage to the growth and wellbeing of your puppy. Crates do come with a divider panel so you do not have to buy separate sizes and retrain with a different crate. The general rule for picking the right size crate for your puppy is, picking one that is just big enough for your pup to go in comfortably, turn around, and lay down. Anything larger can create potty training issues.

Rottie puppies do reach a full size at over 90 pounds around 13 months so you want to make sure to invest in a crate that is strong enough to support their strength and crate train early to prevent any problems like chewing. Typically, 48" long crates are about 33" in height which will support your full grown Rottie's size.

In our store, we have the right size crates for your pup as well as a crate cover and pad set that will help create a cozy environment for your Rottweiler. Unlike blankets, the pads are fastened securely onto the crate itself and is water-resistant so it doesn't soak up any potty accidents and trap odors in.

See our selection of 48" Crate with the Crate Cover and Pad Set:

• iCrate (48" L x 30" W x 33" H)


• Lifestages 2 Door (48"L x 30” W x 33” H)


• Precision Pet 2 Door (48" L X 30" W X 33" H)

Source: Von Keiser Wappen - Rottweiler Growth Chart

Picture: Rottweiler Puppies Blog

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How to keep WeatherTech floor mats clean?

As a protective barrier for your carpets, WeatherTech can collect dirt and mud which would otherwise stain your carpets. Luckily, the floorliners are easier to clean without the use of harsh chemicals.

For caked on mud and dirt, you can spray the mats down with water and use a simple glass cleaner that foams up to remove dirt from the ridges.

For dark scratches on the floorliner, you can use an all-purpose cleaner and buff out the marks and scratches. You may also opt to use Magic Erasers that are commonly used for vinyl flooring that can also help remove black marks from the floorliner.

Does anyone else have any other tips to share?

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Question of the Week: How do I keep my dog warm inside a crate?

When the temperatures are high, you'll notice that your dog will often sit or sometimes even sprawl across the kitchen floor to cool off. But what do you do when you need to keep your pup warm during the colder months of the year?

Fortunately, most dogs have a thick coat of fur that'll keep them warm, but there are also other ways to help keep your dog at a comfortable temperature. Crate pads, for example, offer insulation which keeps them off cold, hard bottoms of the crates. Unlike blankets, they are water resistant so they do not soak up any potential accidents and give your pup the wrong message on where the appropriate place to potty is. Also, a potty blanket may create a generalized association that can cause your puppy to mistake your bed or your clothes for a potty blanket!

It is also ill advised to simply throw a blanket over the crates because blankets aren't designed to allow sufficient air to go through. Imagine the suffocation when you are completely under a blanket. AnimatedPet Crate Covers are coated with polyurethane which is known for its breathable waterproof and windproof properties and is widely used in outerwear clothing.

A little protection from cold with breathable material is better than stuffing the dog's crate with blankets that can quickly turn into chew or potty blankets. AnimatedPet Crate Covers and Pads provide the needed support and protection for a comfortable pup.

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Puppy Training: Pads vs Crates?

No matter how you train your dog, the inevitable fact remains that you will have to clean up after them when they go potty. Some pet owners are immediately drawn to using puppy pads or training pads because it seems like an appropriate target that will teach a new puppy to go potty. However, puppies can very easily "miss" the pad or mistake a rug for a pad.

Properly house training a puppy extends beyond just your own home. What if you bring your puppy over to another home? A puppy pad trained pup may find a rug or a piece of furniture so exciting that it will soon be too late to catch him and stop him before it's too late. Overall, the puppy pad becomes a very confusing mechanism since it makes it okay for the puppy to go potty indoors. After learning how to go potty inside, it is difficult to correct if you ultimately want to teach your puppy to go outside for potty.

Training pads are appropriate to use as an aid for puppies if they haven't completed their shots yet, or for dogs who are ill or in recovery who aren't able to go outside. For training purposes, pads are of great use, but if your goal is to properly housebreak your puppy, it is best to ditch the pads for crate training.

The crate provides more than a durable and environmentally friendly alternative, it is also something that dogs are intrinsically drawn to: a den-like environment. They want to be in their own sheltered space when they are winding down and catching a snooze.

The crate can be also be used as an aid in potty training. Quickly, your puppy can learn where each appropriate potty spot is. A crate where your pup sleeps, eats, and plays would not be as enticing to soil. By creating these associations, your puppy can understand the message you are sending to them.

Overall, puppy pads can have a negative affect if used as a crutch in potty training. Pads should only be used when there is a vulnerability involved and your dog cannot be let out to go potty. Crates not only double as a cozy den for your dog, but it can also be a positive association in properly potty training and housebreaking your dog.

Whichever method you choose, it is important to stick with it. Most dog owners have a difficult time because they try too many methods, take too much unsolicited advice, and end up with a confused dog who doesn't know any better. Remain consistent and use positive reinforcement.

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Question of the Week: Why does my dog keep crawling and hiding under the bed?

When I first noticed this behavior in my roommate's beagle, I thought it fell right in with his feline characteristics. After all, he is a very dainty lap dog rather than a typical beagle. Then I started reading of other people's experiences and realized that it is not a feline characteristic but a canine trait.

Dogs are den creatures who like to burrow in a tight and cozy space. You may notice that if you give bed access to a dog, he may move around pillows and blankets to create some sort of fort. He likes to morph just about any place into his own little fort, including under my bed. When he crawls out, it's almost like he's in the army, crawling through the ditches.

Whenever there are loud noises like fireworks or thunder and lightning, he resorts back to this type of behavior of hiding. It makes him feel safe and secure.

It is important to note that this can be a behavior trait or possibly an illness. If your dog is hiding under the bed and not coming out for food, water, or going outside, it may be a sign of a health problem and your dog should be taken in for veterinary care.

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Summer Heat Warning

Temperatures are rising and reaching triple digits. You simply cannot get away with running into the store and leaving your dog or your child inside the car. The car heats up twice as fast and can inside your car, it can reach temperatures up to 200 degrees.

The best thing to do is to leave your pet at home. Properly ventilate your home or turn on the air conditioning. If you keep your dog in a crate, make sure you do not cover it completely.

You can also cool off your dog by placing a cool wet towel on the floor for him to sit on. It'll cool them off quicker from their bottoms.

This may seem like common sense, but lots of pet owners are not aware of the differences in their pets safety and comfort. Take good care of your pets and have a wonderful summer!

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5 Tips On Introducing Your Dog To A Crate

1. Make sure the crate has enough space for your dog to move around. Crates are not meant to be confining. Your dog needs their own personal space to hang out, especially when you are away.
   
2. Use a crate cover to protect your dog. Dogs are easily distracted and can get overwhelmingly excited when they sense motion. It is important to protect your dog by blocking out any distractions within the environment.
3. Tie your dog's favorite toy in the rear of the crate so your dog can concentrate in a laying position on the toy.
4. Make the crate comfortable for your dog. Crate mats offer padding for your dogs to lay on comfortably. Padding provides insulation to protect the dog's bones and joints from a hard surface. Pick a crate pad that is easily washable to keep your pet's crate clean.
5. Encourage good behavior with treats. Dogs are conditional learners who need constant positive reinforcement in order to promote good behavior.

Adapted from material originally developed by applied animal behaviorists at the Dumb Friends League, Denver, Colorado. All rights reserved

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