Your Rottweiler Puppy's First 30 Days

The first month sets the tone for the next ten years. Rottweilers are smart and eager, which means good habits stick quickly, and so do bad ones.

Before the puppy comes home

• A crate sized for an adult, with a divider for now
• The same food the puppy has been eating here
• Stainless steel bowls
• A flat collar, ID tag, and 6-foot leash
• Durable chew toys and a few puzzle feeders
• Enzyme cleaner for accidents
• A vet appointment booked for the first week

Week one: settle in

Keep things calm. Show the puppy the crate, the potty spot, and the water bowl, and stick to a schedule: out after waking, after eating, after play, and before bed. Expect a night or two of crying while the puppy adjusts to being away from littermates.

Weeks two and three: socialize

Introduce new people, surfaces, sounds, and safe, vaccinated dogs in short, positive sessions. Carry the puppy in public spaces until your vet clears it for the ground. This window shapes the confident, friendly adult you want.

Week four: start real training

Sit, down, come, and loose-leash walking, a few minutes at a time, with food rewards. Enroll in a puppy class. A Rottweiler grows into a big, strong dog, and polite manners matter more for this breed than for most.

Further reading: AKC puppy registration