Rottweiler

Rottweiler Appearance

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The strength and power of the Rottweiler breed is clearly evident in their heavy bone structure, muscular build, and broad features. Rottweilers have very smooth midnight-black coats with distinctive mahogany markings that are typically found above the eyes and around the muzzle, paws, and chest. An average Rottie will stand between 22-27 inches tall and weighs in around 85-130 lbs. They have an average lifespan of 9-12 years with proper care. This breed has been typically shown with docked tails and clipped ears, but these practices have been banned in some countries. Shortening the length of the tail or reshaping a dog’s ears through an operation or tape training is a purely aesthetic choice. These practices usually yield a more intimidating look and is common in unethical practices such as dog fighting, to protect the dog’s extremities from injury. These formidable titans carry a strong enough prescience in their unaltered state and make excellent guard dogs as well as loyal family companions.

Rottweiler Grooming

Rottweilers are a very low maintenance breed as far as grooming goes; they have short, sleek double coats that require little care. They only display heavy shedding during their transition between seasons when they trade their summer coat for winter and vice versa. A weekly brushing is usually sufficient to help with excess fur and to distribute their natural oils. An occasional bath will keep your Rottweiler pal fresh, but their double coats do an excellent job at helping keep dampness and other odor-causing issues at bay. Brushing their teeth weekly is also recommended to deter tartar buildup. A weekly nail trim is also needed to prevent painful snags and broken nails. It’s important to start grooming practices early in puppyhood, especially with an assertive breed, and to keep the experience positive with lots of praise and rewards to help sessions run smoothly.

Rottweiler Temperament

While often depicted in the media as ferocious beasts, the typical Rottweiler loves their family and will be very silly during playtime. These dogs are very confident and loyal to their families, seeing themselves as protector over them. They also tend to attach themselves to one member of the family and will follow them from room to room, simply wanting to keep them in sight. They are a very sociable breed who crave attention and thrive on positive family interactions. Despite their large size, these dogs love to cuddle and will jump into their owner’s lap or bed for attention. A Rottie will fiercely guard the home and will not welcome strangers if they have not been properly introduced. Positive and frequent socialization is key in helping the pup learn how to behave with new people. While they have an average level of aggression, they don’t always get along with dogs of the same sex. They harbor herding and guarding instincts which may lead them to steer other animals and their owners around the house.

Rottweiler Training

Rottweilers are a dominant and assertive breed who desire to be at the top of the pack, so obedience training is crucial for the owner to assert authority. Group obedience training are very beneficial in helping learn how to interact with other people and dogs. They are quite intelligent and love to please their owners, never missing an opportunity to show off. These characteristics will help training sessions go smoothly as long as the owner/trainer is using reasonable training methods. This breed tends to express large bouts of energy in puppyhood and daily exercise and training are crucial in avoiding problematic behaviors. A bored or anxious Rottie will turn to destructive activities and can wreck a lot of damage with their powerful jaws and impressive size. Keeping up daily exercise and training is important throughout their lifespan to keep them happy and the house intact.

Rottweiler History

While no absolute trail of the Rottweiler’s origin has been established, it is likely that they descend from ancient Roman drover dogs. Drover dogs traveled with Roman soldiers to protect them as well as the travelling livestock. It is believed the Roman’s excursions led them through modern-day Germany and traded some of the dogs for supplies. A town in the area called Rotweill became an important trade center and the dogs proved their worth many times over. A sturdy, dependable breed, these dogs have been utilized as herding and guard dogs throughout their history. Their great intelligence and sense of loyalty to their owners make them excellent at their jobs of protecting livestock from potential thieves and wild animals. While typically a companion dog now, Rotweilers still harbor their long-rooted instincts of herding, guarding, and devotion.