Rottweiler

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Rottweiler Profile

The Rottweiler is a medium-large, robust, powerful dog. Their build denotes great strength, agility and endurance. They are rather thickly built, with more muscular than lean features. The Rottweiler is a working dog, they are the happiest when there is a job to do whether it is herding, competing in obedience, tracking, search and rescue or retrieving the newspaper. They are an effective guard dog, but need firm handling and proper training. They are naturally very dominant animals, and need to be corrected even into their adulthood as to who is boss. Rottweilers will defend their family and property to the end, but do have a tendency to become loyal to one person. An inexperienced owner should not consider owning a Rottweiler. The normal Rottweiler is calm, courageous and hard working. They are affectionate with family and friends, but very wary of strangers and very unwelcoming of them. They respond well to kind but firm training, and are good at tracking if trained to do so. The Rottweiler makes a fine pet and exceptional guard if properly trained, socialized and cared for.

Type: Guardian Dog

Height: 23 - 27 inches.
Weight: 90 - 110 lbs.

Colors: Black with clearly defined tan or rust markings. Rust is always on the muzzle, top of the  neck, chest, insides of the legs and on the fronts of the legs, as well as two dots on the eyebrows. They have the typical "Doberman" pattern.
Coat: Medium length, coarse and lying flat with undercoat on neck and thighs.

Temperament: Rottweilers are protective and determined. They are calm, courageous, hard working, and affectionate with family. They are wary of strangers, and usually do not prefer them. They are good guard dogs, excellent watch dogs and deterrents of strangers. Rotties are strong-minded, dominant, and stubborn. They are trainable, but it may be a challenge. However, they love to have a job or activity to do.
With Children: Yes, but does better with school aged children.
With Pets: Needs early exposure, may show some aggression towards other dogs.
Special Skills: Watchdog, guard dog and family pet.

Watch-dog: Very High. Strangers are not welcome.
Guard-dog: Very High. The Rottweiler is very capable and willing to defend its owners and property to the end.

Rottweiler Care and Exercise: Minimal grooming of Rottweilers consists of brushing with a firm bristle brush or massaging their coat with a damp towel. Bathe only when necessary. Rottweilers need plenty of vigorous exercise.
Training: Training should be kind, patient and consistent as a Rottweiler is dominant in nature. Females tend to be more gentle than males and require less forcefulness in training.
Learning Rate: Low. Obedience - Low. Problem Solving - Low.

Activity: Indoors - Low. Outdoors - High.
Living Environment: A home with a fenced yard is essential. Rottweilers do well in a kennel, but should not be left alone all day long in the yard. The best owner for this breed would be a dog-experienced owner living in a rural or suburban home.

Rottweiler Health Issues: Elbow and hip dysplasia, eye problems kidney problems, and neurological disorders.

Life Span: 8 - 9 years.
Litter Size: 4 - 10 puppies.

Country of Origin: Germany
Rottweiler History: Known in Europe as the Rottweiler Metzgerhund, they were named after the town of Rottweil. The Rottweiler is thought to have come from two different origins: either it descended from the Tibetan Mastiffs that were brought by the Romans from their quests, or it is believed to be a descendent of the early German Shepherd Dog. They were originally bred to control livestock. In the early European days of this dog, he was used to pull the meat carts, as well as to guard and protect valuables and cattle. When the cattle were eaten, the Rotties were left on their own. Later, owners began to use this breed to guard their money. Butchers pulling cattle and wares to the market had a dangerous trip, with people lying in wait to jump out and steal their money. Therefore, owners would tie their money belts around the necks of their Rottweilers, thus greatly protecting their possessions. When roads and other inventions began to permeate the towns, dogs of their size were no longer needed, and began to be more burden than bounty. Smaller dogs were much preferred then, as they wouldn't take up as much resources. The breed almost disappeared around 1900, but soon after fanciers set out to revive the breed, like so many others on the verge of extinction. In the 1930s the breed was backed by enthusiasts and obtained CKC and AKC recognition. During the First World War the Rottweiler proved to to be an intelligent police and guard dog. In 1936 the breed was brought to England, but it took another 30 years before it was accepted by the British Kennel Club. Today the breed has gained great popularity, and has been used as a police, guard, military, cattle drover, search and rescue and companion dog.

First Registered by the AKC: 1931
AKC Group: Working Group
Class: Working
Registries: AKC, ANKC, CKC, FCI (Group 2), KC (GB), UKC

Rottweilers

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