Rottweiler

Rottweiler Facts

Rottweilers as pets:

general health

energy level

Detachability

trainability

intelligence

chewing tendency

size

family and kid friendly

happy/barking

low

separation anxiety

ease

preferred temperature

warm climate

exercise needs

ease

be friendly with other dogs

ease

Thoroughbred Cost of Ownership

$1,150

pack of dogs

Serving

male weight

110-132 lbs

female weight

77-105 lbs

According to the American Kennel Club, it is the 8th most popular dog, one of the 10 smartest dogs, and one of the most loyal breeds. Originating from ancient Roman shepherd dogs and related to the Italian mastiff, the Rottweiler is considered one of the oldest dog breeds. It was developed in Rottweil, Germany, where Roman troops settled in the 2nd century. It was used to herd cattle, hunt bears, or pull carts.

During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, butchers hired Rottweilers to carry money in their neck pouches as they went to market. Today, working dogs make excellent police dogs, service dogs, guard dogs, or family pets.

You can check out incredible facts about Rottweilers.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Rottweiler

Rottweiler Size and Weight

The Rottweiler is a medium to large short-haired dog with an average height of 25.5 inches for males and 23.5 inches for females. Adult males weigh about 121 pounds, while females weigh about 96 pounds. Rottweiler puppies weigh an average of 13.5 pounds at 8 weeks of age and are considered adults at 24-36 months of age.

Common Rottweiler Health Problems

Purebred Rottweilers have some common health problems. The most common are eye problems such as progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts. A type of heart disease called aortic stenosis causes abnormal rhythms that can lead to a heart attack. Joint and bone problems such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and osteochondritis are also unique to the breed. Finally, cancer complications were responsible for 43% of deaths in a group of Rottweilers in a recent study. The breed is prone to cancers of the liver, spleen and bone, as well as lymphoma. In summary, the most common health problems for Rottweilers are:

• eye condition
• aortic stenosis
• joint problems
• cancer

Rottweiler Temperament

The Rottweiler is known for its loyal, affectionate, sensitive and protective disposition. Due to its calm and quiet temperament, it is a popular choice for families, including those with children. It is no more dangerous than any other dog breed, but its behavior can become rebellious if not properly trained or socialized.

But that doesn't mean they can't be trained. They are very intelligent and quickly take on obedience training. Both males and females are characterized by loyalty, adaptability and a desire to work as well as hunting and herding instincts. However, a 2008 study found that men had higher levels of self-confidence, sharpness, defense, and play drive than women.

How to Care for a Rottweiler

Rottweilers are not recommended for novice or inexperienced dog owners. Regardless, they have unique needs, especially if they are puppies. Whether it's teething, training, or health issues, Rottweilers have breed-specific issues that must be considered.

Best Dog Food for Rottweilers

Rottweilers need nutritious food that will give them the energy they need without causing excess weight. Therefore, they require a high-protein, meat-based diet. Since the breed can suffer from heart disease aortic stenosis, owners should educate themselves about soy-free dog food and discuss the health hazards of soy with their veterinarian.

Rottweiler puppy food: Rottweiler puppies need plenty of protein to develop muscle and strength, and to meet the high energy demands of puppyhood. Their diet should contain 24-28% protein and 14-18% fat.

Adult Rottweiler Dog Food: As with puppy food considerations, pet owners should feed their adult Rottweiler a high-protein, low-fat diet. It should contain 22-26% protein and 12-16% fat.

That's why, at AZ Animals, we believe the best dog food for Rottweilers is Royal Canin Breed's specific Rottweiler formula.

The protein and fat ratio of this food is suitable for large dogs such as Rottweilers, and it does not contain soy ingredients such as peas and lentils, which are not good for the dog's heart. Your dog's joints will benefit from glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate from high-quality turkey and chicken. In addition, taurine has the dual benefits of maintaining eyes and vision as well as a healthy heart, in addition to being an antioxidant that promotes overall health.

We have different recommendations if your Rottweiler is a puppy, a senior dog, or if you are looking for a more affordable alternative recommended by Royal Canin. Read our complete Rottweiler dog food guide for more information.

Rottweiler Care and Grooming

The German breed has a short to medium length, coarse, dense and flat outer and undercoat. The undercoat thickens as needed, depending on the surrounding climate, and also seasonally thickens in winter and thins in summer. As a result, it replaces its coat in spring and fall, so it sheds more hair than usual and requires more frequent grooming. Some dogs that live in hot climates do not have an undercoat.

Fortunately, this breed is easy to care for. It only needs a monthly bath and grooming every 4 to 8 weeks, with a weekly coat brushing and more frequent brushing in the spring and fall.

rottweiler training

Due to its size, the Rottweiler needs obedience training early on – it's a lot of dogs to care for. You should start training your Rottweiler as early as 6 weeks of age but no later than 6 months of age. A strong handler can establish dominance as a leader and is patient enough to provide socialization and positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior around strangers and other dogs.

rottweiler sport

Rottweilers need daily exercise, but it's not demanding. A short walk or a long walk is fine. Indoors, he enjoys chew toys and games or other mental stimulation.

rottweiler puppy

Rottweiler puppies are much like puppies of any other breed, and as such are energetic and playful. They start teething between 6 weeks and 6 months, during which time they will chew on anything, so they need to get used to chew toys early on. Needs may be evident in early puppies along with separation anxiety.

rottweiler and child

Rottweilers are patient and gentle with children and become more protective the longer they are around them. Since young children are rowdy, they should be supervised around Rottweilers and taught to be gentle with the dog.

type

While you might see a headline claiming that there are three types of Rottweilers—German, American, and Roman—on closer inspection you'll find that there aren't actually three distinct types. The American Rottweiler was simply born in the US, where breeding regulations are looser than in Germany, so the dog may have been a mix of other breeds, and mostly German.

The Roman Rottweiler, also known as the Gladiator or Giant Rottweiler, is the result of breeders mixing German Rottweilers with larger breeds to create the larger "Rottweiler" . This type is not recognized by the AKC or other kennel clubs responsible for maintaining the breed standard. In other words, there's really only one type of Rottweiler, and that's the German. Everyone else is a pretender.

dogs similar to rottweilers

Other breeds that are similar to the Rottweiler are the Italian Mastiff, Doberman Pinscher and Bernese Mountain Dog.

• Labrador – Similar in training, but have different socialization needs. It is also a popular variety.
• Boxers – German breeds such as Rottweilers are slightly shorter, live longer and are easier to train.
• Bullmastiff – Similar to a Rottweiler, but from England, less expensive to own, less playful and less intelligent.

famous rottweiler

A lot of bad movies have been on TV. These large dogs have won over many fans with their cute, friendly demeanor and goofy antics. Movies like The Omen, Lethal Weapon 3, Entourage, Man's Best Friend, and Half Baked are just a few examples, and their stature makes them favorites for on-screen characters.

Popular Names for Rottweilers

Popular names for Rottweilers include:

• Rosie
• Bella
• Bear
• maximum
• zeus

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