Service dogs are truly man’s best friend. These dogs are trained to help people who struggle with mental and physical disabilities, and some of them will even go above and beyond in their roles. While service dogs are some of the best companions, there are a lot of dog breeds out there, so it can be difficult to determine which dog breed is the right option for you.
The good news is that we’re here to help, and if you’ve been considering a Rottweiler service dog, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we help you determine if a Rottweiler service dog is the right choice for you. Read on to learn more below.
What Is a Rottweiler Service Dog?
First things first, we have to address the elephant, or dog, in the room, and that’s understanding what a Rottweiler service dog actually is. Simply put, a Rottweiler service dog is a Rottweiler that’s been trained to help someone who has a physical or mental disability. Their goal is to provide support for their handlers, and this can come from deep pressure therapy (DPT) to calm someone down or even provide support for someone during a seizure. In fact, you’ll find that there are many types of service dogs that can be trained to help someone with just about anything a dog can handle.
While elite training is cool and all, you’re probably wondering if this training offers unique benefits. Luckily, the good news is that it does, and Rottweiler service dogs enjoy a lot of privileges that your average canine companion simply doesn’t have. This is due to the fact that service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While this act covers a lot of things, it’s relevant for service dogs because it allows them to go into public spaces.
That said, the ADA isn’t the only act that protects service dogs. The Fair Housing Act (FHA) allows service dogs to live in your home with you, even if your landlord doesn’t allow pets. Service dogs are also protected by the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). This act allows service dogs to accompany you on flights.
Rottweiler Service Dog Advantages
When choosing a service dog, every breed has some advantages and disadvantages. The Rottweiler is no different, and we focus on the advantages of a Rottweiler service dog in this portion of our guide. Learn more about why a Rottweiler service dog may be a good choice below.
Trainability
Trainability is arguably the most important factor to consider when choosing a service dog. After all, if you’re dealing with a rebellious dog that doesn’t want to listen to you, good luck training them to become a service dog. So, are Rottweilers trainable? Fortunately, the answer to that question is a solid yes.
You’ll find that Rottweilers are easy to train due to their intelligence. As one of the smarter dog breeds around, your Rottweiler shouldn’t have any problems learning tasks and commands to help with disabilities. Rottweilers are also happy to please their handlers, so you’ll find that they’re eager to train and make you happy.
Size and Strength
If you need a service dog to help you with physical tasks, you can’t go wrong with a Rottweiler. As one of the larger dog breeds around, Rottweilers are great at pulling things, pushing wheelchairs, and even opening doors or clearing paths. Rottweilers are also strong enough to fetch most items, so you don’t have to worry about any limitations on that front.
Another benefit of a Rottweiler being big and strong is that they can support heavier people. For larger people who have physical disabilities, this helps Rottweilers get the job done with ease, especially when compared to smaller dog breeds.
Things to Consider About Rottweiler Service Dogs
We know that we just heavily praised Rottweiler service dogs for a handful of attributes, but they’re not perfect, and they’re not the right fit for everyone. To help you determine if a cane corso is suitable for you, we cover the most common disadvantages the breed may have.
Temperament Matters
The most important factor to consider when choosing a Rottweiler as a service dog is their temperament. Every single Rottweiler is unique, so it’s important that the Rottweiler you train has the right personality. While it may be hard to tell when they’re a puppy, you can usually determine if they’re a good fit as you train them.
If you want to avoid this issue entirely, the good news is that there are reputable breeders who can set you up with a Rottweiler service dog who’s already trained and ready to go.
Size Matters
When it comes to the size of a service dog, there’s a lot to consider. Sure, a large dog is helpful for many physical tasks, but what if you live in a small studio apartment in a busy city? Or what if you have to fly often? In these situations, you may prefer a smaller service dog, especially if you don’t need physical support.
The size of a Rottweiler service dog can also be scary or intimidating, especially if you don’t like large dogs. If you don’t train them, this can also result in barking and aggression that may scare other people.
Training Complications
We know that a Rottweiler’s trainability can be a positive trait, but it can also come back and bite you – literally. This is because Rottweilers are trainable and smart, but sometimes they can be stubborn or disinterested in training. Ultimately, this comes down to their temperament and your skill as a trainer, so if you’re unprepared, you can end up in some trouble.
Steps You Can Take to Get a Cane Corso Service Dog
Are you ready to take action and get yourself a cane corso service dog? If so, you have a few options. First and foremost, you can skip the process of finding and training a cane corso service dog yourself by finding one available through a breeder or an organization that trains service dogs.
You’ll need to make sure that they train service dogs to help with your specific disability. So, if you need a guide dog, you’ll want to work with organizations that train guide dogs, and there are many foundations.
That said, you can also purchase a Rottweiler puppy or adopt one and then train them yourself. This is more affordable, but it tends to be more time-consuming, and Rottweiler service dogs aren’t always easy to train. If you want to train a cane corso service dog yourself, you can follow the steps below.
- Determine if you have a disability that qualifies for a service dog. We recommend consulting with a medical professional.
- Determine if a cane corso is the right service dog breed for you.
- Find a cane corso puppy in a shelter or through a reputable breeder.
- Train your cane corso puppy to help you with a specific task for your disability.
After you follow these steps, you’ll be able to have a cane corso as your service dog companion.
Alternatives to a Cane Corso Service Dog
Cane corso service dogs are great canine companions, but that doesn’t mean they’re the right dog for everyone. In fact, some dog breeds work better for psychiatric service dog (PSD) work than a cane corso. Other breeds may be better at picking up chemical changes in the body or fetching items, and the amount of space you have is also a limiting factor.
Some of the best service dog breeds to consider as an alternative include:
- Labrador retriever
- Golden retriever
- German shepherd
- Poodle
- Border collie
- Great Dane
- Boxer
- American Staffordshire terrier
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Pomeranian
- Bernese mountain dog
- Doberman pinscher
Of course, this list is not exhaustive, and you’ll find that most dog breeds can become service dogs if you train them properly.
As you can see, there are many dog breeds that can be a suitable alternative, so you don’t necessarily have to choose a cane corso. For this reason, we recommend speaking with a professional to determine which service dog breed may be right for you.
Is a Rottweiler Service Dog Right for You?
Whether or not a Rottweiler service dog is right for you comes down to your needs. If you’re someone who needs physical support, assistance with physical tasks, or assistance moving through crowds, a Rottweiler service dog may be right for you. Rottweiler service dogs are also a good fit for some mental health disabilities, but it’s important to connect with a licensed medical professional to determine if a Rottweiler is the right breed for you.
It’s also important to consider the factors we covered in this guide before you choose a Rottweiler. If you live in a small apartment, travel often, or don’t prefer big dogs, you may want to consider a different breed.