The Dog I Wasn’t Ready For

By chance, a Rottweiler entered my life.

And honestly, at that time it was one of my least favorite breeds.

Back in the 1990s, aggressive-looking guard dogs were extremely popular. Unfortunately, many people who owned these powerful dogs were not truly prepared to raise, train, or control them properly.

As a result, there were many cases of uncontrolled aggression and many sad incidents connected not only with Rottweilers, but with several other breeds as well.

Because of that, I also had a very stereotypical opinion about the breed.

But life had different plans.

And this exact dog ended up in my home.

And not just any Rottweiler.

He wasn’t a softer show-line dog with an easy temperament.
He was a real working-line male.

His ancestors successfully worked in protection, and he came from the famous Soviet working dog kennel “Red Star,” whose dogs were known for strong drives, tough temperaments, and serious character.

And that was exactly the kind of dog I got.

The Difficult Beginning

At that time, I was still very young, and my experience with large working dogs was mostly theoretical.

A poodle is a completely different type of dog.
It’s a softer breed that requires a very different training approach.

But this dog was different from the very beginning.

Joy immediately challenged for leadership.

He was aggressive toward other dogs, suspicious of some people, stubborn, independent, and extremely dominant by nature.

And honestly, the first two years of living with him were incredibly difficult for me.

I constantly asked myself: why was I so unlucky?
Why did I end up with a dog I constantly had to prove myself to?

I wanted to train, work on obedience, and enjoy life with my dog.
Instead, I spent most of my time managing aggression and control issues.

Even walking into a dog show ring with him could sometimes feel stressful.

The Turning Point

But despite moments of frustration and despair, I refused to give up.

I kept reading, training, consulting experienced handlers and trainers, and trying to learn as much as possible.

And eventually, something changed.

One day during a walk, I suddenly realized something important.

My dog was still strong, serious, intense, and full of powerful working instincts.
But now, I was fully in control of it.

I became the leader.
My dog respected me.
I learned how to manage that power instead of fighting against it.

And from that moment, our life together completely changed.

That was when I truly fell in love with the breed.

And I realized that I no longer needed to dream about German Shepherds 🙂

Because for me, the Rottweiler turned out to be an extraordinary dog — powerful, intelligent, deeply loyal, and incredibly honest.

That was the moment I found my breed.

And in the next part, I’ll share a few more interesting stories from my life with Joy.