A natural-born protector, the Rottweiler is often labelled as dangerous – but with a responsible owner to act as their pack leader they are an obedient and playful companion…
The Rottweiler (once called the “Rottweil butcher dog” but now more commonly nicknamed the “Rottie”) is a powerful dog that is a natural protector and is also widely considered to be a dangerous breed – though it’s true they have caused the second most fatalities of any breed in the United States, any aggression is almost guaranteed to be a result of irresponsible ownership and not a problem with the breed itself. The breed officially first appeared in the Middle Ages in Germany, and they were originally raised for the chief objective of guarding cattle and protecting butchers’ money pouches.
Several of their most unique features are often seen in their muscular and powerful physicality as well as an intolerance to strangers they sense have ill intentions and high level of obedience when properly trained – which all help in making the Rottweiler a regular selection for a guard dog to protect the home and family, police and security work, herding, guide dogs for the blind or as search and rescue dogs. Here are a handful of fast Rottweiler facts:
Trainability & Intelligence:
Friendliness With People:
Compatible With Animals:
Daily Exercise Required:
Grooming Requirements:
Suitable For A Family Pet:
Suitability As A Guard Dog:
Origins Of The Rottweiler
The Rottweiler has origins dating back to the times of the Roman Empire and was first bred by Germans in the town of Rottweil during the Middle Ages for the function of protecting cattle and guarding butchers’ money pouches – which led to them being known as the “Rottweil butcher dog”. They are understood to be a descendant of the Italian Mastiff.
Average Size Of The Rottweiler
Rottweilers are classed as a large-sized breed. The recommended standard size for the Rottweiler male is 24-27 inches high from paw to shoulder and a weight of 95-135 pounds, whereas the recommended size for female Rottweilers is 22-25 inches tall from paw to shoulder with a weight of 80-100 pounds.
Temperament Of The Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is famous for their alert and imposing disposition. They are usually slow to form friendships with visitors, which often makes them highly suitable as a guard dog.
The Rottweiler is also accepted to be highly intelligent – ranking 9th compared to other dogs in terms of their capacity to be taught obedience commands. They are also recognized to be protective and playful with kids if they are provided with proper training and leadership – which makes them quite suitable as a family pet. The Rottweiler is very friendly with other animals such as cats and smaller dogs so long as they are introduced at an early age.
Grooming Requirements Of The Rottweiler
Grooming the Rottweiler is a pretty easy mission. They need a small level of brushing and bathing only when it’s necessary and full grooming every 8 to 10 weeks to maintain a strong and clean-looking outline. The method for properly grooming the Rottweiler can be described as:
- Cut the nails by removing the tips and use a file to smooth any rough edges.
- Clean the ears using a liquid cleaner on a cotton ball and wipe away any dirt and wax inside.
- Brush the entire coat with a slicker brush to remove dead hair.
- Bathe using your chosen shampoo and conditioner and if desired use a rubber brush to remove any excess hair and lather the dog.
- Use a towel to dry them and then finish using a cage dryer.
- Do a small amount of trimming using blending shears to even up the hair on the backs of the legs and ruff on the neck.
- Finish by spraying conditioner or coat gloss over them and use a cloth to polish the coat until it shines.
Living Requirements For The Rottweiler
The Rottweiler can be kept happy with a small yard given they aren’t very active when inside the home, so they are suitable for living in an apartment just as long as they are given enough exercise. They enjoy cooler climates and are known to overheat easily if it gets too hot.
Health & Life Expectancy Of The Rottweiler
Similar to a number of large-sized breeds, the Rottweiler is normally shorter-lived having a life expectancy of 8-13 years. The largest health concern for Rottweilers is widely known as hip dysplasia, though they are a relatively healthy breed with few serious problems. They can also be vulnerable to conditions which include cancer in some lines due to overbreeding, a higher susceptibility to parvovirus as a puppy (which can easily be prevented with vaccinations) and obesity if they are overfed or under-exercised.
Exercise Needs For The Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is made happy with hobbies such as being given a job to do, exploring the woods, swimming and chasing after balls. They possess a medium degree of energy but require daily exercise in the shape of long walks or runs alongside your bicycle to put a stop to excessive weight gain.
Who Should Own The Rottweiler?
The Rottweiler could make the ideal dog breed for a confident owner who is strong enough to provide leadership and consistent discipline. They are appropriate to anyone that is able to commit to a small amount of grooming and take time to give them early obedience training and socialization with both people and other animals in addition to take them for long walks every day and bestow a high sum of company and devotion (they most definitely do not like being left alone in the backyard all day). Though they might be fairly inappropriate with less confident owners and those who are not going to provide adequate training, if you are able to act as a responsible owner and pack leader to them then the Rottweiler may well be the ideal dog breed for you.
Posted by Brent McCoy on November 22, 2011