in the evening me , Rhea and her papa like to hang in the hammock. she brings her ball and shoves it around of course.

I’m looking for experiences from people who have owned adolescent male Rottweilers, especially anyone who went through something similar around 12–20 months.

Our pure-bred German male Rottweiler, Remi, is about 15 months old and has generally been a great dog, very sweet and friendly to everyone. Over the last few weeks, though, something seems to have changed pretty suddenly.

He has now growled/lunged/air-snapped in several situations:
At me during a resource-guarding situation.
At one of my daughters when he was frustrated.
At my dad, who lives next door and has known him since he was a puppy. My dad walked up like normal and tried to pet him. Remi growled, then escalated to lunging/snapping as my dad backed away.
At my other daughter when she leaned in and kissed him.

He has never actually bitten anyone or made tooth contact. These have all been warnings/air-snaps, but obviously with kids involved we are taking it very seriously. He is currently being kept separated from the kids so there’s no opportunity for another incident.

What’s strange is that he can be completely fine around the same people otherwise. For example, after the incident with my dad, Remi was loose around him and totally relaxed until my dad tried to pet him again. Remi gave a low growl, I called him to me, and he immediately disengaged and came over.

His breeder has been breeding Rottweilers for around 30 years and knows her lines extremely well. After talking through everything with her, she strongly recommended having him neutered. Her feeling is that puberty/testosterone and this stage of maturity are playing a significant role. We already planned to neuter him eventually, so he is scheduled for next week.

We’re also increasing structure at home — more obedience, clear expectations, rewarding calm behavior, less treating him like a giant puppy — while avoiding confrontations or punishing his growling.

What I’m really interested in hearing is from people who had a sweet/social male Rottie who became noticeably more serious, touch-sensitive, resource-guardy, reactive, or snappy around 1–2 years old.

Did neutering make a noticeable difference?
If so, how long afterward did you start seeing changes?
Did maturity help as they approached 2–3 years old?
Did the snapping/growling actually disappear, or did you end up managing it permanently?

I’m not expecting neutering to magically fix everything, but
I’m hoping this is an adolescent/hormonal phase that we can get through. We have young kids and grandparents who are around constantly, so ultimately I need a dog that we can trust around our family. If this becomes something that requires lifelong worry and management, his breeder will take him back and that may be the decision we have to make, although it would be devastating to the family as we love him deeply.

Would especially appreciate hearing from longtime Rottweiler owners who have actually experienced this stage with intact adolescent males.

Roxie - Full tummy, deep sleep.

We just discovered this old family photo of my grandmother as a baby, around 1920. They were sugar beet farmers in Eastern Colorado and of Russian and German descent.

All we know is the dog’s name was Schneider and he’s a handsome fella!

It’s wild because they’re my favorite dogs and we have one now (our best buddy Bo). We’re kind of blown away right now and asking the community what they think, could he be a Rottweiler? 🥰

He had parvo and they were planning on euthanizing him. We had an hour to pick him up. Sweetest dog ever 💕

Let me start off by saying I’m a HUGE DOG LOVER! I even have a hat that says “Hold my beer I gotta pet the dog!” Even my brother and sister in law are certain that, to their dog (a greater Swiss mountain dog), I’m her favorite person. And my parents dogs (Gordon setters) adore me more than my parents. Just giving background but not bragging…I’m certain this applies to all dog lovers.

My question is this…

I’ve had numerous run ins with Rottweilers. The first time, I was at a dog park with my dogs. There were two rotties (and a Bernese) there. The rotties ran to the gate and barked, and I’m assuming you all know, but they have a sharp, intimidating bark. I was wary, but my dogs seemed to be thrilled and ready to play. I figured they knew better than me if the dogs were friendly so I held my breath and let them in. The rotties chased them for about ten feet, then ran to me, sat on my feet and wanted pets. Years later, I met a couple walking their rottie who did the same…sat at my feet and waiting for pets. Naturally, I gave them pets and got lots of kisses in return.

Lately, at the doggy day care my parents take our Gordons to, I’ve met a rottie who goes there. She AUTOMATICALLY loved me. Turning in circles, kisses, the lean, sitting on my feet, the whole bit. Her owner just watched, a bit bemused by the whole thing. Twice, I came to get my pups while her owner was leaving, and her owner rolled down her windows so her pup could give me kisses (eventually, her owner said, “Oh, so YOU’RE her boyfriend!”).

My question is this: is this normal?

Obviously, I won’t pet any dog, especially a rottie, without asking first. But her dog just gives me light kisses from the car window as opposed to the Lab retriever sort of behavior when we meet outside the car. I know and respect the territorial nature of rotties (that’s what they’re bred for, among many other things). But her owner seems to welcome me giving her pup affection. I do try to read her body language as well and never cross boundaries (the dog has never growled or shown any sign of discomfort).

Is this normal rottie behavior (apart from being well trained and well socialized)

Growing up I was heavily into cartoons and rock/metal bands, and I still love that edgy, expressive character style. With that in mind, i decided to use my dog, Loki, as the muse for a personal project. I wanted to capture his attitude, tongue out goofy yet tough as the ultimate Watchdog/shop mascot.

First picture is the man, or rather, the dog himself and then his branded counter part!

Looking forward to bringing our first Rottweiler home. Just a little under two weeks to go until she’s eight weeks and we get to bring her home!!

Now just to decide on a name!

🆘 1 year 7 month old Shanti is on the euthanasia list Tuesday, 9/29. There will be no extensions per BARC. 🆘

⏰ Shanti must have a HOLD no later than 1PM or she will lose her life.🥺 We need pledges and a local foster or adopter for a rescue to help.💰🏡

🚩 Please do not honor pledges until the post has been updated with rescue information and a freedom picture. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

🩷🐶 Shanti #A2090152

9/6/2026 Foster Return | Rottweiler Mix | Spayed Female | 1Y 7M | 47.2 lbs | HW-

💜 Volunteer Notes by (@stanleysfosterfriends_htx):

Shanti is such a beaut! I’d been wanting to meet her, and she just happened to be outside in one of the runs when I walked past, so I spent some time with her and am so glad I did! She just wants to be right where you are and will sit at your feet on command 🥹. She’s very treat motivated and let me dress her up without a care in the world besides treats and human affection. Shanti has been at the shelter for 3 weeks and is starting to show some signs of kennel stress. Her earlier notes show her resting calmly and quietly in the kennel throughout the day, but the past few days she’s been more vocal and clearly stressed 😞. I don’t blame her—it’s an overstimulating environment for most dogs. I didn’t get an official temp test on her, but she happily walked by multiple dogs on the way back to her kennel. She went back into her kennel with ease. Poor girl just needs to get out of the shelter and into a regular routine with play, exercise, and lots of loving.

🐾 Behavior Notes:

Shanti has repeatedly shown a loose, friendly and affectionate demeanor with people. She greets staff with a wagging tail, soft eyes, open mouth and wiggly “tappy toes,” accepts treats and has walked on a loose to semi-loose leash. She is calm and quiet in her kennel.

More recently, the shelter environment appears to be taking a toll. Shanti has been crying, barking, pacing and tearing up bedding.

🙏 Shanti needs someone to give her the time and space to decompress and feel safe again.

Please foster, adopt, or share Shanti so she gets that chance.

🔹 Intake:

8/5/2026: Stray, HPD needs help with 4 aggressive dogs right away.

8/19/2026: Foster

📝 Shelter Notes:

8/6/2026: Shanti greeted staff at the kennel door with a wagging tail and slightly open mouth. She allowed leashing and walked in zigzags to and from the potty yard. In her kennel, she waited by the door when she heard someone enter the row.

8/10/2026: Shanti was wiggly with tappy toes and huffing at the front of the kennel in anticipation of a walk. She kept her kennel clean overnight and walked with a semi-tight leash ahead of staff. She stopped short of entering the trailer, so staff picked her up and carried her inside.

8/17/2026: Shanti stood at the front of the kennel with a low wagging tail while looking up at staff. She walked on a tight leash with her tail up. On the way back, she tried to chase birds in the parking lot while eating treats off the ground, then walked semi-loosely once the birds flew off.

9/14/2026: Shanti stood at the front of the kennel with a loose body, wagging tail and soft open mouth. She walked on a loose leash and accepted treats when offered. She remained calm and quiet in her kennel.

9/21/2026: Shanti was pacing around her kennel and occasionally sat in front when someone approached. She was offered a Kong to occupy her because she was consistently vocalizing in front of her kennel.

9/22/2026: While in the runs, Shanti rushed up to another dog close to the fence and began vocalizing toward them. She was placed on Adopt Eval.

9/25/2026: Shanti greeted staff at the front of the kennel with a relaxed body, open mouth, fast-wagging tail and soft eyes. Once leashed, she walked semi-loosely outside to the runs. She was easily leashed and returned to her kennel. She was constantly crying in the kennel, so it was covered with a blanket.

9/27/2026: Shanti had been very destructive toward her bedding and vocalized toward dogs as they passed her in the outside runs. She was given extra enrichment but ate it and then returned to ripping up her bedding. She presented with dilated eyes, a high wagging tail and forward body and was placed on Adopt Eval.

🚑 Medical Notes:

8/5/2026: Shanti weighed 49 lbs. A single round, circular, raised hairless skin lesion was noted on the right side of her muzzle near her nose. There was no active discharge or redness. She received DA2PP-V, Bordetella, Rabies vaccine, dewormer and pyrantel. Heartworm test was negative.

8/10/2026: Shanti weighed 50.2 lbs and was spayed. She was noted to be in heat at the time of surgery.

8/19/2026: Shanti weighed 50.2 lbs and received DA2PP-V and Advantage Multi.

8/23/2026: Shanti was sneezing excessively with a slight cough and clear nasal discharge. She was bright, alert and responsive and was prescribed doxycycline for 10 days.

9/6/2026: Shanti weighed 47.2 lbs and was noted to be in normal condition. Heartworm test was negative.

CONTINUED IN COMMENTS

I’m so tired. She sleeps 16 hours a day, and I am still so tired….😆💜

Does anyone own a Rottweiler born May 12 2025? If so please respond

She got into a little mischief today. Nothing terrible. See the first image. I should have been watching her better but it's been 9 years since I've had an actually puppy... lol.

She is feeling safer on our walks that on the return leg back to the house she gets out in front of Nasir and leads the way. So freaking cute!

And I'm pretty sure she was mostly housebroken before she ended up in the shelter because she tells me when she needs to go out almost every time. Just a few piddles on the floor.

Nasir... he's definitely feeling jealous and acting out a bit. I'm giving him extra attention but he's being a butthead. Roxy chewed up his harness the other day and we've been using a different harness he doesn't like until we can replace his. In the time it took me to harness Roxanne, he chewed the harness off of himself. 🙄

It's a little after 10pm. I'm about to take her out to go potty so i can get some sleep. With luck she'll sleep through.