Videos Rottweiler Breed Information
Country of origin -
Germany
Common nicknames -
Rottie,
Rott,
Weily
Classification and breed standards
FCI:|Group
2 Section 2 #147|Stds
AKC:|Working|Stds
ANKC:|Group 6
(Utility)|Stds
CKC:|Group
3 - Working|Stds
KC
(UK):|Working|Stds
NZKC:|Utility|Stds
UKC:|Guardian
Dog|Stds
A Rottweiler is a large dog breed originating in
Germany as a guard dog. The breed is almost always black
with clearly defined tan or mahogany markings on the cheeks,
muzzle, chest, legs, and eyebrows. The coat is medium length and
consists of a waterproof undercoat and
a coarse top coat. Rottweiler coats tend
to be low maintenance, although they experience shedding during
certain periods of the year. The skull is typically massive, but
without excessive jowls. The forehead may be wrinkly when the
Rottweiler is alert, but otherwise the skin should be relatively
fitted, or "dry." The ears are small drop ears whose
inner edges are flush with the head. 'Flying' ears are
considered undesirable.
Naturally, Rottweilers are a tailed dog. There are at least two
different explanations as to why tails were originally bobbed. One
version is that tails were originally removed to prevent breakage
and infection that would occur when the tail became covered in mud
and other debris collected from pastures and livestock. Another is
that as working dogs they were bobbed to avoid a "tail
tax" (the method used to count livestock being driven to
market was to count tails). Today, many owners in U.S. decide to
have the tails removed soon after the puppy's birth for purely
cosmetic reasons. The tail is usually docked to the first joint, and in
general should give the impression of a lengthened topline. In the
past docking was a commonly accepted practice, but it has been
banned in many European countries and Australia as well as
Mexico.
The chest is deep and should reach the dog's elbows, giving
tremendous lung capacity. The back should be straight, never
sloping. According to FCI standard, the Rottweiler stands 61 to 68
cm (24-27 inches) at the withers for
males, and 56 to 63 cm (22-25 inches) for females. Average
weight is 50 kg (110 pounds) for males and 42 kg (95 pounds) for
females.
1. Temperament
In the hands of a responsible owner, a well-trained and socialized Rottweiler can be a
reliable, alert dog and a loving companion.
However, any poorly trained dog can become a danger in the wrong
circumstances. In general Rottweilers are fond of children, very
devoted, quick to learn, and eager to please. They are typically
very bright dogs. Rottweilers are playful animals who may
frequently demand attention from their owners. However, if they are
not receiving the mental stimulation they desire, they will find
creative and sometimes destructive ways to elicit it. Such
behavioral problems as chewing, barking for attention and eating
less can be a result of lack of human interaction. The Rottweiler
is a good working dog that is also good for protection of children,
as well as guard duties.
The Rottweiler is a steady dog with a self-assured nature, but
early socialization and exposure to as many new people, animals,
and situations as possible are very important in developing these
qualities. The Rottweiler also has a natural tendency to assert
dominance if not properly trained. Rottweilers' large size and
strength make this an important point to consider: an untrained,
poorly trained, or abused Rottweiler can learn to be extremely
aggressive and destructive and, if allowed to run at large, may
pose a significant physical threat to humans or other animals. They
can be strong-willed (bull-headed) and should be trained in a firm,
fair, and consistent manner - the owner must be perceived as the
leader. If the owner fails to achieve this status the Rottweiler
will readily take on the role. However, Rottweilers respond readily
to a clear and benevolent leader. Aggression in Rottweilers is
associated with poor breeding, poor handling, lack of
socialization, natural guarding tendencies, and abuse.
The Rottweiler is not usually a barker. Male dogs are silent
watchers who notice everything and are often quite stoic. Females may become problem
barkers in order to protect their den. An attentive owner is
usually able to recognize when a Rottweiler perceives a threat.
Barking is usually a sign of annoyance with external factors (car
alarms or other disturbances) rather than a response to actual
threats.
The Rottweiler Welfare Association offers the following advice
for would-be Rottweiler owners:
2. Health
Rottweiler; puppies that are a typical of the breed standard are
often sold by breeders as family pets.
The Rottweiler is a tough and hardy breed, but potential owners should be aware of
known health issues that can affect this breed. The most serious
genetic health risks a Rottweiler faces are canine hip dysplasia (CHD), subvalvular aortic stenosis
(SAS), elbow dysplasia, and
osteosarcoma. Other conditions which
may affect this breed include hypothyroidism, gastric torsion (bloat), and allergies. Rottweiler owners should
have their dogs' hips, elbows, heart, and eyes tested by a
veterinarian before breeding.
DNA tests should also be performed to screen
for von Willebrand's
disease (vWD). Rottweilers typically live
between 8 and 11 years.
3. History
The breed is an ancient one, and its history stretches back to
the Roman Empire. In those times,
the legions traveled with their meat
on the hoof and required the assistance of working dogs to herd the
cattle. One route the army traveled was through Württemberg and on to the small market
town of Rottweil. The principal
ancestors of the first Rottweilers during this time was supposed to
be the Roman war dog, local sheepdogs the
army met on its travels, and dogs with molosser appearance coming from England and The
Netherlands.
This region eventually became an important cattle area, and the
descendants of the Roman cattle dogs proved their worth in both
driving and protecting the cattle from robbers and wild animals.
However, by the end of the 19th
Century, the breed had declined so much that in 1900 there was only one female to be found in the
town of Rottweil. But the build up to the World War I saw a great demand for police dogs, and that led to a revival of
interest in the Rottweiler.
From that time the breed has become popular with dog owners, and
in 1935 was officially recognized by the
American Kennel Club. In
1936, Rottweilers were exhibited in Britain
at Crufts. In 1966,
a separate register was opened for the breed.
The first Rottweiler club in Germany, named DRK
("Deutscher Rottweiler-Klub" — German Rottweiler
Club) was created the 13 January 1907, and followed by the creation
of the SDRK ("Süddeutscher Rottweiler-Klub" —
South German Rottweiler Club) on the 27 April 1907 and became the
IRK (International Rottweiler Club). The DRK counted around 500
Rottweiler, the SDRK 3000 Rottweilers. The goals of the two clubs
were different. The DRK wanted to produce working dogs and did not
emphasize the morphology of the Rottweiler. The main stud dog of
this club was Lord von der Teck. The IRK tried to produce a
homogeneous morphology according to their standard. One of the main
stud dogs of this club was Ralph von Neckar.
A popular misconception about the Rottweiler is that the
breed was bred for dog fighting.
Copyright (c) 2008 Kitt Killion Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
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