The Rottweiler Dog, also known as a Rottie, is an extremely popular dog. They are a large working dog breed that is strong and powerful, yet their friendly and kind-hearted nature also makes them an excellent companion dog! These pups love to play and can thrive in a family environment, too.
The Rottweiler has a bite force is 328 pounds per square inch, which is around half the strength of a shark’s bite! For this reason, these dogs are often seen as aggressive and dangerous, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. If you’re interested in learning more about this dog and seeing whether this large breed might be the pup for you, keep reading below.
Breed Origin
The Rottweiler originates from the town of Rottweil in Germany. These dogs are one of the oldest ever recorded dog breeds and their ancestors can be traced back to Ancient Rome. They were originally used as working dogs by the Romans for driving livestock and pulling meat carts.
By the 19th century, the Rottweiler was almost on the verge of extinction. People didn’t need to use Rottweiler’s anymore because they had found smaller working dogs that were easier to take care of.
Luckily, a small group of German breeders wanted to save the breed and unofficial breeder clubs were formed with the intention of reviving the breed. They were successful and the first Rottweiler was seen in the United States in the 1920s when they were brought over with German immigrants.
Appearance
The AKC classifies the Rottweiler as a large breed. Male Rottweilers usually stand 24 to 27 inches tall and weigh between 95 to 130 pounds. Females are smaller and usually stand between 22 to 25 inches tall and weigh 85 to 115 pounds.
Their bodies are well defined and muscular and they have a broad chest. Their head is also broad and looks large in comparison to their bodies. Their ears are level with their head and their eyes are almond in shape and are dark brown in color. Sometimes, you may see a Rottweiler with yellow eyes, but this is considered a fault in the breed standard.
Coat
Rottweilers have a short to medium length double coat that is straight and coarse. They shed only moderately but will shed more twice a year, during which time you will need to brush them more regularly to loosen hairs. We will go into more detail about grooming your Rottweiler later on.
Color
The Rottweiler dog does not have many coat color combinations. Their coat is limited to black with tan to mahogany markings. The markings appear over the eyes, on the cheeks, on each side of the muzzle, on the chest and legs and beneath the tail.
Temperament
The Rottweiler is a loyal and friendly dog that loves their humans! Although they can look aggressive and have a bad reputation for being a dangerous dog due to their powerful bite, these pups are extremely loving and just want to be around their people. It is for this reason that they don’t like to be left alone and they can suffer from separation anxiety when left alone for hours at a time.
An intelligent breed, the Rottweiler needs lots of mental stimulation otherwise they can become bored and destructive. They love playtime and get on very well with humans of all ages. They can be wary of those that they don’t know, which is why early socialization from a young age is so important. They normally just want to protect you from any danger they see!
While the Rottweiler is highly trainable and sociable, you must be patient and be able to dedicate time to them until they learn. They are large breed dogs that are very powerful and so you shouldn’t think about buying one of these pups unless you know you can take the time to raise them into well-rounded dogs. Depending on the dog, they can also have a high energy levels and will love to accompany you while you exercise.
Lifespan
The Rottweiler has a life expectancy of between 8 and 11 years.
Known Health Issues
Rottweilers are a generally healthy breed, but, like all dogs, they are also prone to some health problems. We have laid out the main health concerns below.
- Hip Dysplasia — this is when the thighbone doesn’t fit snugly into the hip joint. Some dogs show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs, but you may not notice any signs of discomfort in a dog with hip dysplasia.
- Elbow Dysplasia — this is a common condition in large breed dogs. It can be caused by different growth rates and can cause lameness. It can be fixed with surgery.
- Hypothyroidism — this can be caused by a deficiency of the thyroid hormone and may produce signs that include infertility, obesity, mental dullness and lack of energy. It can be treated with medication.
- Gastric Torsion (Bloat) — this is potentially fatal. You need to know the symptoms of it. Feeding your dog smaller more frequent meals instead of one big meal can help to reduce the risk.
- Allergies — this is common in dogs and allergies can vary greatly from dog to dog. The cause can be airborne allergens such as pollen, dust and mildew, or other factors such as foods or bedding.
Remember — buy from a reputable breeder and the chances your dog will suffer any health conditions will be greatly reduced.
Food And Diet
Rottweilers require between 4 to 10 cups of high quality dog food a day, split into two meals. The exact amount you feed them should be based on their weight, and you should always double check the back of the food packet to see how much of a certain food you should be feeding them.
Ensure that the food you give your dog meets all their nutritional requirements and remember not to overfeed them as this can lead to obesity, especially as the Rottweiler loves food. Take a look at the food we recommend below.
