andypress said:
My neighbors rotweiler, honestly, its the nicest dog I've ever seen
A friend's family had a rottweiler, and I swear it was the most well-adjusted and social dog I had seen until I got my boxer. I guess I shouldn't be surprised since I think boxers and rotts have similar lineage. I think the difference is that the Rottweiler feels more loyalty to friends and family, thus having reactions to strangers that some may (mis-)construe as aggression.
Funniest thing, I took my boxer puppy to his first obedience class yesterday. All of the puppies in the class are timid and not social (or "sweet" as the owners called them). Everyone was shocked at Gatsby, who loves anything that breathes. He was jumping up and down, whole backend wagging and doing all of the boxer dances that their owners love. One couple tried to say that we had an aggressive dog (wtf? no growling or attacking or dominance attempts = aggressive?) when the instructor flat out told them they were idiots, and that they'd better introduce their cowering Border Collie to him in hopes that they could socialize their puppy and make it less nervous.
I guess the point that I was trying to make in that pointless story is that anyone considering getting a dog should look into it and read a little. Learn to recognize unhealthy forms of aggression and submission and what you can do about it. Take the time to socialize your puppy starting at about 3-4 months old (after your major shot panels). It makes your experience with them so much more fulfilling. Oh yeah, and don't trust regular people who give their .02 on training a dog. If you wouldn't trust them with your child, don't even surmise that they know anything about a puppy (unless they are an experienced breeder or a professional who has been working with dogs a LONG time).
Jim