If grooming is new to your Rottweiler, don’t despair. Like anything else, it is best to start slow and progress at a rate that is suitable for the age and mental maturity of your dog. If you own a grooming table, begin by teaching your Rottweiler to stand on the table. For a puppy, any sturdy surface, such as a bench or crate top, covered with a nonskid, nonslip surface is sufficient enough. Sitting or kneeling on the floor with your Rottweiler works as well.
In addition, it is prudent to have all the grooming tools out and within easy reach before you start the grooming process. You never want to turn your back or leave your Rottweiler on a grooming table unattended. A young Rottweiler can easily be injured should he fall or jump.
Puppies have limited attention spans, so do not expect your Rottweiler to stand still for extended periods of time. In the beginning, you want progress—not perfection. Your goal is for him to stand still for a few seconds while you praise him. Harsh handling during these learning stages will only build resentment toward the necessary chore.
Progress to the point where your puppy will accept having his body stroked with your hand, then gently, slowly, and calmly brush him all over. In the beginning, your Rottweiler may be frightened, nervous, or unsure. Patience and kind handling will help to build his confidence and teach him to accept and enjoy the grooming process.
A common problem arises when owners make grooming a game, or allow the dog to make it a game. Grooming should definitely be a positive and pleasant experience, but a dog who decides grooming is a game is likely to become overstimulated and nip or bite at the hand that grooms him. It is best to stop that behavior right away, because it can become an established behavior that is difficult to break.
The Grooming Table
It’s quite easy to get your puppy on and off a grooming table while you are getting him used to grooming. However, a full-grown Rottweiler is too heavy for most people to lift—but don’t discard the grooming table! Teach him “feet up”—which is to put his front feet on the grooming table, then you can boost his back legs up and onto the table. (This works great for boosting large dogs into SUVs, vans, and larger cars.)
Most dogs learn “feet up” when owners pat the table and say the command “feet up.” When the dog puts his feet up—praise and reward. If he doesn’t get the hang of “feet up”, simply lift his front feet onto the table then hoist his rear legs up.
Getting off is a bit trickier. Most owners employ a lifting and jumping combination. Put one of your arms between the dog’s front legs, and your other arm wrapped under the dog’s chest/stomach area. As the dog jumps, your arm positioning helps guide him and cushion a hard landing. You certainly don’t want him jumping off the table by himself onto concrete and hurting himself.
Some companies manufacture ramps specifically for loading dogs into and out of cars, onto grooming tables, and other hard-to-reach places. If you are handy with a hammer and nails, you can make your own ramp or build a couple of stackable boxes on which he can climb up and down.
If you have a Rottweiler puppy, it is important to teach him to accept grooming as part of the daily/weekly routine. A puppy who is exposed to positive and delightful grooming experiences will grow into an adult dog who takes pleasure in the regular routine. Few things are as frustrating as trying to wrestle down a 100 pound Rottweiler who hates to be groomed.