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Rottweiler

The rottweiler takes its name from Rottweil in south-west Germany, where the descendants of Roman drover dogs worked cattle to market and hauled butchers' carts.

The breed nearly died out when railways replaced droving, and was rebuilt in the early 1900s as a police and working dog.

It is a large, powerfully built dog, black with clearly defined rust markings and a broad head. The correct temperament is calm and self-assured rather than sharp — a confident dog that watches first. Size and strength mean training and socialisation are not optional extras, and this is a breed that rewards a handler who is consistent.

Origin
Rottweil, Germany
Size
35–60 kg, 56–69 cm at the shoulder
Lifespan
8–10 years
Coat
Short, coarse double coat
Temperament
Calm, confident, watchful, strongly bonded
Exercise
At least an hour daily, plus training

1 rottweiler photo, newest first

Rottweiler feed
  • Zeus, a rottweiler

    Zeus

    Zeus finds every puddle on the street and goes through the middle of each one.

    FrostyOtter · 5 days ago

Living with a rottweiler

The short coat is easy but sheds more than it looks like it will; a weekly brush and a heavier one twice a year.

Structured training from puppyhood matters more here than in most breeds, simply because of what an unmanaged 50 kg dog can do without meaning to. Broad socialisation produces the confident, indifferent adult the standard describes.

Hip and elbow dysplasia should be scored in any breeding line. Rottweilers are also prone to osteosarcoma and to aortic stenosis, and being deep-chested they are at risk of bloat. Growing puppies should not be over-exercised on hard surfaces.

General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.

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