Basic Facts About Rottweilers

By Kathryn O'Neill

Looking for some quick Rottweiler dog facts? Here's a quick rundown of basics facts about Rottweilers.

The Rottweiler's Vital Stats:

Colour: Black with distinctive tan markings over cheeks, muzzle, chest and legs as well as over both eyes

Coat: straight, coarse and of medium length. Rottweilers are double coated and tend to "blow out" their undercoats twice a year.

Size: Medium-large, Males range from 95-135 lbs, Females tend to be smaller from 80-110 lbs

Types: American Rottweilers tend to be taller and slimmer through face and body whereas German Rottweilers tend to be shorter, stockier and more muscular.

Rottweiler History:

It is thought that the ancestors of this breed (a mastiff type dog) originated in the Roman Empire and that many of them accompanied the Roman army over the Alps as the loyal protector and drover of cattle that were used as the army's food source.

According to historians, the next appearance of this mastiff type dog was in the beautiful little town of Rottweil nestled in the southern mountainous region of Germany, where the Roman armies had left them as they continued their travels.

The Rottweiler was used by farmers to pull carts in their daily milk deliveries, as well as to help herd the cattle. Butchers used these dogs to guard their down-stairs shops during times of rest and to carry pouches of money to the banks.

The Rottweiler then grew in popularity with law enforcement agencies and eventually as guard dogs in domestic settings.

Rottweilers today excel in such sports as herding, Schutzhund, carting, agility and flyball. They are also proving to be outstanding therapy dogs and recognized as excellent service dogs for the physically challenged.

The exceptional characteristics and versatility of the Rottweiler has made it the 2nd most popular breed in America for the past two years.

The Rottweiler dog is loyal, intelligent and desires to please. They are often described by owners as 'characters', 'gentle bears' and display a fun-loving sense of humor. However they are a working dog and as such are happiest when they are busy or working on a task.

Rottweilers can also be aloof and stubborn at times. They are known to be extremely protective of their owners' possessions and property, which is why they are often used as guard dogs.

If a Rottweiler is not well-socialized and trained properly in obedience, they can become a bully and this can lead to other behavioral problems.

Rottweiler Health Concerns:

Hip and/or Elbow Dysplasia - a malformation of the hip and/or elbow joint which can cause serious problems for the dog and expense for the owner. Both are thought to be hereditary which is why you should ask the breeder about the history of your Rottweiler.

Bloat - stomach swells from gas, fluid or both. It becomes serious when the stomach distends and then flips over, causing torsion. This is caused by over-eating, drinking large amounts of water after eating, and/or vigorous exercise after a meal.

Help prevent bloat by feeding several small meals a day, crating the dog for several hours after eating, and monitoring water intake.

Cancer - becoming more common in Rottweilers, with bone cancer the most common type. Investigate any suspicious lumps, moles, sores or unexplained lameness IMMEDIATELY.

Heart Diseases- most common is the is sub-aortic stenosis which can be mild or result in sudden death.

Where To Find A Rottweiler/Rottweiler Puppy:

1) A Reputable Rottweiler Breeder: A reputable breeder will be happy to answer any questions you have about the Rottweiler line and health. They will NOT push you into buying their dogs, but will probably be more concerned to see if YOU are suitable for THEIR puppies.

They will, if possible, allow you to meet the parents and spend some time with the puppy of your choice before deciding to buy.

2) A Rottweiler Rescue: Most, if not all, Rottweiler rescues screen the rottis that they take in to make sure they are trainable and will adjust well in normal domestic settings.

A Rottweiler rescue is an excellent place to find an older Rottweiler if training a rottweiler puppy is not your preference.

This is also a chance to make a difference in the life of a Rottweiler who has probably been mistreated and abused through no fault of it's own!

About the Author: Kathryn O'Neill is a Rottweiler lover, owner and chief editor for Rottweiler Training. For more tips and information about training your Rottweiler, check out: http://www.RottweilerTraining.homestead.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Hi, I am Buddy the Rottweiler...

The True Temperament of Buddy the Rottweiler


Looking at the Rottweiler, there's no doubt that this dog has some Mastiff in his ancestry. The Rottweiler breed dates back at least several centuries and was probably used in several capacities during the Middle Ages. There's no real evidence as to why, but it seems that The Rottweiler breed became less popular about a century ago, and was probably fairly near extinction when efforts to save the integrity of the Rottweiler breed finally came about.

In those early years, the Rottweiler was probably used mainly for herding. Today, Rottweilers are most often used as guard and watch dogs, though Rottweilers can also be trained to herd, hunt and to perform in obedience trials. Rottweilers are also sometimes used in police, military and rescue work.

The Rottweiler has a reputation for being aggressive. Remember that the early breeders sought to enhance the protective nature of the dog in order to ensure the safety of the herds Rottweilers were responsible for. That means there are some aggressive tendencies in this dog, but socialization and training can make them a very safe animal.

By the same token, a Rottweiler like our buddy can be trained when to bring those aggressive tendencies to the forefront. Poor training, mishandling and mistreatment may also make this breed a very aggressive animal. When engaged in a fight, the Rottweiler seems impervious to pain. This has made them a very popular dog for dog fights. The reputation as a dog that will attack has prompted some cities to ban the animals from the city limits.

The Rottweiler is typically a large dog and adult males may attain a weight of 120 to 130 pounds. The Rottweiler also has a very compact body, large neck and squared off head. As a rule, the Rottweiler will be black with some brown markings on the chest, face and legs. Most breeders dock the tails and dewclaws (if present), depending on the region in which the Rottweiler breeder lives. Some countries (thank God!) have banned docking and clipping ears, like the Netherlands, where we live, so Buddy didn't have to worry about that and he's still véry happy about it...besides, he looks much better and more natural like this. It's just a matter of getting used too, that's all.

Anyways, when socialized well and trained properly, the Rottweiler is a very calm dog, but also véry protective of his family and territory. Rottweilers like Buddy love to play, but are usually content to leave playtime outside - making them a good choice for the person with limited indoor space who wants a larger dog. As long as Rottweilers're given the chance to get outdoors often to work off their energy, Rottweilers'll usually be happy laying around inside.

Though territorial to a great degree, the Rottweiler will tend to greet those he knows with great affection. These are dogs that don't like to be left alone for great periods of time. Rottweilers like Buddy really need interaction with their people, whether it's walking, swimming, playtime or naptime (like the picture above ; ) The natural intelligence of the Rottweiler breed and their tendency to be anxious to please make them ideal for obedience training and for learning new tricks.

Training is everything with a Rottweiler and most who regularly handle Rottweilers seem to agree that firm training must begin véry early. Because rottweilers like our buddy achieve a very large size fairly early, it's easy to let a Rottweiler's natural aggressiveness take over his personality and you wouldn't want that to happen now would you...? So start training your Rottweiler as soon as possible!