Rottweiler Breed Information, Facts, And Pictures
The Rottweiler is also known as the Rottie, the Rott, or Rottweil Metzgerhund (German for “Butcher’s Dog”).
The Rottweiler was originally dogs bred to drive cattle to market. Later they were used to pull carts for butchers. They were among the earliest police dogs and serve with honor in the military.
It’s important to remember that dogs of any breed can suffer from health issues throughout their lives. A good pet insurance plan can help you prepare to give your dog the care they need at any age.
Most important, they are popular family guardians and friends. Novice pet parents should beware, as these dogs are strong and intense. They need experienced care and training. Consistent, energetic pet parents will find a loving, faithful, and intelligent friend for life in a Rottie!
It is the 8th most popular dog according to the American Kennel Club, one of the 10 smartest dogs as well as the most loyal breed. Descended from the ancient Roman drover dog and related to the Italian Mastiff, or simply Mastiff, the Rottweiler originated in Rottweil, Germany, and dates back to Roman times. It was used to herd cattle, for bear hunting, or for pulling small carts. Today, the working dog makes an excellent police, service, guard dog, or family pet.
3 Pros and Cons of Owning Rottweilers
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| It’s a great guard-dog. This breed is famous for its protectiveness towards its family around strange people. It is also wary of strange dogs. | It has a tendency to chew. After the normal puppy teething phase, an adult Rottie can resort to chewing on furniture and other items in the house if it is bored or anxious |
| It’s very intelligent. This breed was tested and can learn a command after only 5 times. It is adaptable and can even go hunting, as long as the size of the game is appropriate — its strong bite can crush small game. | It may have a shorter lifespan than other breeds. Compared to other dog breeds of similar size and weight, its lifespan is shorter. This is due to the prevalence of cancer in the breed. Otherwise, it would have a normal healthy lifespan. |
| It’s adaptable. Although it’s used to being a strong working dog, the Rottie can easily get used to lounging around on the couch with family at home. Just remember to give it daily exercise and mental stimulation so it doesn’t resort to destructiveness. | It’s more expensive. The Rottweiler is one of the oldest dog breeds originating from Roman times. It is also one of the most expensive dog breeds, whether you are getting a pet or show quality. However, the more expensive the puppy and responsible the breeder, the stronger health-wise the dog will be. |
Rottweiler Size and Weight
The Rottweiler is a medium large to large size short hair dog with an average height of 25.5 inches for males and 23.5 for females. Males weigh about 121lbs fully grown, while females weigh about 96lbs fully grown. Rottweiler puppies weigh on average 13.5lbs at 8 weeks of age and are considered adults between 24-36 months.
Rottweiler Common Health Issues
Purebred Rottweilers have some common health issues. The most common are eye issues such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy and Cataracts. A heart disease called Aortic Stenosis results in abnormal rhythm and can cause heart attacks. Joint and bone issues such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and osteochondritis dessecans are also unique to the breed. Finally, cancer complications was the cause of death of 43% in a group of Rottweilers in one recent study. The breed is prone to liver, spleen and bone cancer along with lymphoma. In sum, the most common health issues with Rottweilers are:
- Eye conditions
- Aortic stenosis
- Joint problems
- Cancer
Rottweiler Temperament
The Rottweiler is famous for having a loyal, affectionate, sensitive and protective personality. 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 it is not trained or socialized properly.
This does not mean they cannot be trained, though. They are very intelligent and take quickly to obedience training. Traits of loyalty, adaptability and eagerness to work with the instinct to hunt and herd are common to both males and females. However, a 2008 study found that confidence, sharpness, defense and play drives were higher in males than in females.
The Best Dog Food for Rottweilers
Rottweilers need nutritious food that gives them the energy they need without resulting in excess weight. As a result, they need a high protein, meat-based diet. Since this breed can suffer from the heart disease aortic stenosis, owners should educate themselves about legume-free dog food, and discuss the health dangers of legumes with their vet.
Rottweiler puppy food: Rottweiler puppies need a lot of protein to develop muscles and build strength as well as fulfill the high energy needs of their puppyhood. Their diet should contain 24-28% protein and 14-18% fat .
Rottweiler adult dog food: Like puppy food considerations, pet owners should feed their adult Rottweiler food that is high in protein and low in fat. It should contain 22-26% protein and 12-16% fat.
This food has a good ratio of protein and fat for large dogs like Rottweilers, without the legume ingredients like peas and lentils that aren’t good for dogs’ hearts. Your dog’s joints will benefit from the glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate that come from quality turkey and chicken. Plus, the taurine has the dual benefit of maintaining the eyes and vision as well as a healthy heart, plus antioxidants for overall wellbeing.
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