I would never put a pitbull in the same house as a Rott...you are seriously asking for trouble.
I've been showing dogs and competeing/training in competitive obedience for 25 yrs (put my first CD on a poodle when he was 10 and I was 10)...and Meech and I had a long discussion about Bella, who she is and what her temperment is like. She has a very good temperment for a pitbull, but thats because meech really works hard at soocializing her...and the second she sees even a hint of dominance, or aggressive play she ends it. Rotts themselves can be great dogs, but I think a rott would definitly push that level of dominance that Bella has to a point that it may become a problem. I personally wuld stick with something much more passive. A dog who will not challenge Bella, but understand the pecking order and repect it.
Nicole
I should have been more clear - I'm assuming that Meech would want to get a puppy, not an adult dog. And if she gets, say, a Rottweiler puppy, I don't think it would be a problem. :cheers:
While I don't have the same level of experience as you do, I'm talking from experience as well. Raised a rott, had her go through several trainings, been a member of the dog clubs and all... Lots of friends with rotts, too, since my dog gave birth two times.
My take is that 99% of getting the dogs to live together depends on the training and proper socializing at young age. I've seen some aggressive and dominant ones and I've seen some shy rotts. Yes, most rotts are dominant, but it's compensated by the fact that most of them are also very laid back. I've had friends/relatives bring various dogs to our house, including very small ones like a toy terrier and very large like a great Dane and we never had a problem. Yes, it is different from having them live together but... Our neighbors had two large Rizenschnauzers, large mastiff, huge king poodle and a Great Dane. All adult, all bitches. They had some occasional quarrels, but never serious problems. The secret was that they didn't bring new adult dogs to the house - all the new dogs they bought were puppies. An adult dog with normal psyche will never intentionally hurt a puppy. And when a puppy grows up with an adult dog, typically they will get along well.
Like I said, I don't have that much experience. But I think that if Meech will get a puppy, not an adult dog, any breed is will work. With adult dogs, yes, I agree - getting a rott and pitt that haven't been raised together and having them live under the same roof is a bad idea. :cheers:
