Description

Sometimes called “Rotties”, Rottweilers are a social and loyal breed of dogs. They are also related to mastiffs. An adult male Rottweiler can be 27 inches tall and weigh up to 130 pounds. The females of this breed can reach the weight of 120 pounds. Rottweilers are large dogs that have a skull of medium length. The Rottweiler has black skin with distinct markings on tan or mahogany color. These markings are seen on the cheeks, eyebrows, legs, and chest. They have a life span of about 12 years.

Rottweilers have strong thigh muscles and they are very active. They have stronger hind feet. The neck of a Rottweiler too is quite muscular. Rotties have black lips, large nostrils and strong upper and lower jaws. An alert Rottweiler may also show wrinkles on its forehead. Its ears are medium in length and triangular in shape. Rottweiler ears do not droop from the side but rather extend at the frontal part of the skull.

Coat

Rotties have double coats. Its top coat is straight and not wavy. In fact, a wavy top coat in a Rottweiler is considered to be a defect. The top coat has a coarse feeling. The undercoat, on the other hand, covers the neck and the thigh regions. However, Rottweilers that are bred in the countries with a hot climate do not have the undercoat. It is not much difficult to maintain the coat of Rotties. These dogs do shed quite a lot on a seasonal basis.

History

The Rottweiler is believed to be one of the earliest herding dogs. The origin of Rotties could be traced back to the glory days of the Roman Empire. This breed was bred in the town of Rottweil where these dogs were used to protect and herd the cattle. Rottweilers have the traits of Roman droving dogs, some local dogs of that time and those dogs having molosser appearance. This variety of dogs has come from countries like the Netherlands and the UK.

Rottweilers were also used by butchers of that time as the protector of their money and this is the reason that they are still called Butcher’s Dog. During the First World War, Rotties were used as police dogs. They also left their own mark during the two World Wars as messenger and guard dogs.
It was in the year 1907 that the Deutscher Rottweiler Club or the German Rottweiler Club (DRK) started functioning. This was the first ever Rottweiler club in that country. It was on April 27 of the same year that the Suddeutscher Rottweiler Club or South German Rottweiler Club came into being. Later, both these clubs merged to create the International Rottweiler Club or IRK.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized Rottweiler in the year 1935. Rottweilers started to participate in various shows in England from the next year itself.

Temperament

Rottweilers are known for their loyalty and love for their owners. Generally they are very active and intelligent. Though they are not aggressive by nature, lack of proper training may turn them into having a destructive attitude. Rottweilers are also known for their ability to tolerate physical pain.
Rotties often develop a bit of possessiveness regarding a toy or a piece of furniture. You will need to stay aware of this fact. You should train it in a way so that it knows about the toys that really belong to it. Rottweilers are excellent guard dogs and will guard your family and property with energy and seriousness.

Another good thing about Rotties is that they do not bark without any reason. They will bark to alert you about the arrival of strangers. Even children can be safe around a well trained Rottweiler.
These dogs are obedient and are very eager to please their owners. Rottweilers are happy and love a lot of activities. Their intelligence helps them to learn commands or tricks quite quickly. They are also very social. While training, you should make sure that it gets enough time to socialize with all your family members. This socialization will also keep the dog happy.

Health

Rottweilers have some health issues. As with any other big dog, Rotties too suffer from elbow dysplasia. This disease attacks the elbow regions of the dog and can turn it into a cripple. It can also turn into OCD, which affects the cartilage. Only regular physical exercise can prevent this disease.
Rottweilers can also suffer from separation anxiety. Remember - they are social dogs and love the company and attention of their owners. In case they miss this for a long time, they may develop a kind of psychological complication. If affected by this disease, they can have irritable bowels. They may also start destroying things. Too much salivation and self mutilation is often noticed during this situation.
Separation anxiety can also create other health problems like blindness, deafness, and arthritis. So, make sure that your dog does not feel ignored or lonely for a prolonged period. You may like to consult a vet for more information and guidance.

Feed your Rottie according to its need. Make sure that you do not over feed it. This may create obesity problem. Do not change the dog’s diet all of a sudden. The feeding should match the age of the Rottweiler. If your Rottie is 12 months old, you can easily give it adult food.

Rottweilers may have some allergies. Look out for the things that your dog is allergic to and keep it away from those substances or things.

Grooming

Rottweilers need regular brushing. They shed quite often but the short length of their hair makes the maintenance less tiresome. You will also need to bathe your Rottie to keep it clean. However, don’t overdo it. The purpose is to keep your dog clean, which will help it stay in good health. But too frequent baths can rob its skin of moisture.

Take a look under its pads and clean the area. This will keep the pads free from mud or any other kind of obstacles. Clip the nails but be cautious so that you do not cut off the quick. If you accidentally cut the quick, give the wounded area a good compress for five minutes. You may also use some styptic powder on the wound.

Brush your pet’s teeth twice a week as this is a minimum requirement. Don’t forget to check the gum too. Rottweilers often get tartars. If your dog has such a problem, take it to the vet.

Exercise

Regular exercise prevents a Rottweiler from obesity while keeping its powerful thigh, leg, and neck muscles in shape. Take it for a brisk walk or indulge it in a game. Rottweilers love to play. You can command them to fetch sticks or balls. This is a very active dog. Running and jumping are other exercises that it would love to participate in.
However, as a puppy, it should not be stressed too much as the same can damage its developing bones or muscles.

Training

Training a Rottweiler is important to keep it happy, help it socialize and to avoid any behavioral problems. It is through proper training that you can keep in check its aggression problem. Only ill trained or untrained Rotties will show unnecessary aggression.

Rotties love to please their owner and they are pretty intelligent. You can easily teach them a few tricks. Start the basic training as soon as possible. They are inquisitive so be alert. Make sure that your house is safe for the new pup. As a pup, Rotties need attention so that they do not destroy important stuff and injure themselves.

You should train your pet to do the regular eliminations outside the house. This is one of the most important trainings that you should give to your dog as soon as you bring it home. Let the Rottie know about the unacceptable behaviors. Do not spoil it and at the same time, don’t be too harsh on it.
A well trained Rottweiler is an asset. It will guard the family and your loved ones with life. However, do not lose patience. These dogs are intelligent and will pick up the commands very quickly. Reward the dog whenever it achieves your desired result. Punishing the dog is a big no-no. In case you think the dog has done something that is undesirable, just ignore it. This ignorance will prevent it from repeating the same. Be consistent about this and ask your other family members to follow the same disciplinary pattern.

To understand a Rottweiler better, you can also consult a vet or get in touch with the nearby kennel club. You should also teach the dog commands like “Leave it” or “Drop it”. This way, it will be easier to take harmful things away from it.

Make sure that the dog understands who the leader is. You can do it by controlling its food tray as well as patting on its head.
Rottweilers can be a great pet provided you give it enough attention and train it with love and care.