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Home > Dog Breeds > Adopt a Rottweiler

Adopt a Rottweiler


Rottweiler Dog Breed

Picture: Robert Dowling/Corbis

Family:

livestock dog, sheepdog, mastiff (draft/cattle)


Area of origin:

Germany


Original function:

cattle drover, guardian, draft


Average size of male:

Ht: 24-27, Wt: 85-135


Average size of female:

Ht: 22-25, Wt: 80-100


Other names:

none


  • ••••

    Energy

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    Exercise

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    Playfulness

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    Affection

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    Friendliness towards dogs

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    Friendliness towards other pets

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    Friendliness towards strangers

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    Ease of training

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    Watchdog ability

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    Protection ability

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    Grooming

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    Cold tolerance

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    Heat tolerance

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Rottweiler Dog Temperament

Confident, bold, alert and imposing, the Rottweiler is a popular choice for his ability to protect. As befitting his self-assured nature, he tends to be headstrong and stubborn and is often domineering. He can be reserved, often wary, toward strangers. He may be overly protective if he perceives that his family is being threatened, and he may also attempt to "herd" children. This is a powerful breed that needs socialization, consistent training and daily exercise to be the best he can be , a loyal family member and guardian.

Rottweiler Dog Care

The Rottweiler needs daily physical and mental activity, either in the form of long walks or jogs, or a vigorous game in a safe area, as well as obedience lessons. He enjoys cold weather and may become overheated in hot weather. He needs to spend significant time inside with his human family, however, so that proper bonding can occur. Coat care is minimal, consisting only of occasional brushing to remove dead hair.

Rottweiler Dog Health

Major concerns: CHD, elbow dysplasia, SAS, osteosarcoma, gastric torsion
Minor concerns: OCD, entropion, ectropion, vWD, panosteitis
Occasionally seen: PRA, cataract, epilepsy
Suggested tests: hip, elbow, cardiac, blood, (eye)
Life span: 8-11 years

Dogs Related to the Rottweiler

Bernese Mountain Dog
Boxer
Bullmastiff
Doberman Pinscher
Great Dane
Great Pyrenees
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Komondor
Kuvasz
Mastiff

Interested in the history of the Rottweiler dog breed?

The Rottweiler's ancestors were probably Roman drover dogs, responsible for driving and guarding herds of cattle as they accompanied Roman troops on long marches. At least one of these marches led to southern Germany, where some of the people and their dogs settled. Throughout the succeeding centuries, the dogs continued to play a vital role as cattle drovers around what was to become the town of Rottweil (which is derived from red tile, denoting the red-tile roof of the Roman baths that had been unearthed there in the eighth century). Rottweil prospered and became a center of cattle commerce. Their dogs drove and guarded cattle, guarded the money earned by the cattle sales and served as draft animals. So evolved the Rottweiler metzgerhund ("butcher dog"), an integral component in the town's industry until the mid-19th century. At that time, cattle driving was outlawed, and dog carting was replaced by donkey carts and railroads. With little need for this once vital breed, the Rottweiler fell into such decline that he was nearly lost. With the realization that the breed was teetering near extinction, dog fanciers formed a club in 1901 and set about to revive him. Even though the 1901 club was short-lived, it did formulate a breed standard. Two subsequent clubs were formed in 1907, one of which promoted the breed as a police dog. The two clubs merged in 1921. The breed continued to grow, and by the 1930s he was competing in AKC competitions. The Rottweiler has recovered from his brush with extinction to become the second-most popular breed in America.

Copyright © 1998, 2005 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. based on
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF DOG BREEDS by D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D.

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