If your Rottweiler has been behaving as if it hates you, this post will show you a number of possible reasons why it might be doing it and what you can do about it.
So, why does my Rottweiler hate me? It is likely that it does not hate you and that it shows affection in ways that you are not aware of. It could also be that a lack of exercise, illness, injury, fear or depression are causing it to behave differently.
There are a number of possible reasons why your Rottweiler might be behaving like it hates you and it could be the result of a combination of reasons. However, there are a number of things you can do to get it to behave better.
Why your Rottweiler hates you
Below are some common reasons why it might be behaving that way and what would make them more likely to be the main reason.
It doesn’t actually hate you
The first thing to consider is that it is not likely to be the case that it actually hates you.
Some Rottweilers will like it when you pet them but others will not. If your Rottweiler doesn’t like it when you try to pet it but you try to pet it a lot, it could be causing it to avoid you (source).
It might also be the case that your Rottweiler does not show its affection overtly. I have written about ways that your Rottweiler might be showing its affection towards you in this post.
Previous owners
The cause could be that previous owners mistreated it and it now does not show as much affection. This would be more likely if you adopted it from a shelter.
In this case, it might begin to improve over the course of a few weeks as it gets more comfortable in its new environment. If it does not begin to improve then consider getting the help of a dog behaviorist in your area.
Illness or injury
The reason why it has been behaving that way might be that it has gotten ill or injured. This would be more likely if it has started behaving that way suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of being ill or injured. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet.
Fear
It might also be the case that something has been causing it to be fearful. This would be more likely if it has started doing it suddenly or if it starts acting differently when something might be frightening it. Things that could frighten it could include fireworks, construction works or someone being around that it does not like.
Boredom
Rottweilers are meant to get exercise on a daily basis. When Rottweilers do not get enough exercise it can cause them to behave abnormally and it might be a part of the reason why yours has been behaving like it hates you. This would be more likely if it behaves worse when it has not been able to get any exercise.
Generally, it is recommended for adult Rottweilers to get at least an hour of exercise per day when they are healthy.
The reason could be that it was not able to socialize a lot as a puppy. When dogs are puppies they develope many of their characteristics. If a puppy does not get many opportunities to interact with people, it will not have as many chances to learn to be interested in them.
Depression
Dogs can also become depressed and it might be the case that your Rottweiler has not been showing much affection towards you because something has been causing it to be depressed. This would be more likely if it started acting differently after an event such as an owner leaving home or another pet dying.
In this case, it might begin to improve over the course of a few weeks. It would help to give it lots of training, exercise and to play with it. If it does not begin to improve then it would help to seek the guidance of a vet.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider when trying to understand what might be causing your Rottweiler to behave like it hates you.
If it is aggressive
If your Rottweiler becomes aggressive towards you then the best option would be to get help from a certified dog trainer or behaviorist in your area so that you can see how to train it safely and why it is doing it.
When it first started hating you
If your Rottweiler has not always behaved like it hates you, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it.
If it has only recently started to behave that way then it would make it more likely that it is due to things such as:
- Being mistreated by someone
- Being mistreated by another dog
- Being ill or injured
- Being depressed perhaps due to another dog or family member not being around anymore
- Being in a new location
- A change in its diet
When and where it seems to do it
If it behaves like it hates you more at certain times, it could also be the case that the timing has something to do with it.
For example, if you notice that it changes its behavior before and after getting exercise then it might be a sign that it needs more exercise. Whereas, if it does it more after being fed then it might be a sign that there is an issue with its diet or it could be ill.
How to get your Rottweiler to like you more
Below are some options you have when getting your Rottweiler to stop behaving like it hates you.
Give it lots of exercise
As mentioned above, it is important to make sure that your Rottweier is able to get daily exercise if it is a healthy adult. Generally, it is recommended for them to get at least an hour of exercise per day.
Positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement training is where you encourage your Rottweiler to behave the way you want and reward it when it shows signs of behaving that way.
If you want to get your Rottweiler to be more affectionate then you would reward it with a treat when it does things that show signs of being nicer to you. For example, you might reward it with a treat for coming and sitting with you.
Avoid encouraging the behavior
It would also help to avoid rewarding it when it behaves like it hates you. Instead, it would help to reward it when it shows signs of affection and to wait for it to stop behaving like it hates you before rewarding it.
Avoid punishing it
If you punish your Rottweiler for hating you or not being affectionate then it would help to avoid doing so. The reason for this is that it is unlikely to know why you’re punishing it and it could cause it to develop feelings of resentment it could also be making it hate you more.
Instead, it would help to interact with your Rottweiler in a calm manner and to use positive reinforcement training to get it to behave the way that you want it to.
Ensure that its diet is right
It might also be the case that an issue with its diet has been contributing to the behavior. This would be more likely if it behaves that way when it eats certain foods or if it has started doing it since a change in its diet.
It would help to make sure that you have been feeding it correctly and that no one else has been feeding it without telling you.
Get expert help
If you cannot figure out why your Rottweiler has been behaving that way, it would help to get help from a vet or dog behaviorist. By doing so you will be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular Rottweiler.