Rottweiler - The Ultimate Protector
History | Appearance | Grooming | Health
History
Rottweilers worked to herd & protect cattle on the way to market in Rottweil. Once cattle made their way into Rottweil, butchers would prepare meat for sale. Farmers & tradesmen traveled to the town's popular marketplace for meat, grain & livestock.
Money earned at the marketplace would be tied to purses around the dogs' neck to protect from thieves.
The dogs were named Rottweiler Metzgerhund which translated to Rottweiler Butcher Dog.
After herding cattle was outlawed, Rottweilers continued to be used as working dogs on the railroads & pulling carts.
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Rottweilers also became the 1st in many areas in which dogs continue work in today. The excelled in police service, guard dogs & military dogs. Rottweilers were also one of the 1st breeds to become guide dogs for the blind.
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The first Rottweiler is believed to come to the US with a German emigrant in the late 1920s.
AKC fully recognized the breed in 1931. Since 2017, Rottweilers have been ranked as the 8th most popular AKC breed.
Appearance
&
Temperament
Male: Height 24-27 inches | Weight 95-135 pounds
Female: Height 22-25 inches | Weight 80-100 pounds
Color: Black with clearly defined rust/mahogany markings on their cheeks, muzzle, throat, chest & legs, as well as over both eyes & under the base of the tail.
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Look: Broad & strong!
Broad head & chest. Neck is strong, well-muscled & slightly arched. Body is straight, strong & firm. Loins short, strong & deep. Tail, as of 2018, is natural/no longer docked. However, we were always fond of the docked tail therefore most of our litters will have tails docked unless otherwise requested.
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Temperament: Protective companionship!
Rottweilers are extremely protective, devoted, obedient & eager to please their family. They are also calm, confident & fearless.
They need an owner who is stable & firm. An owner must regularly work to control territorial aggressiveness.
Grooming
Brushing & Trimming
Rottweilers will shed a little all year although most shedding will occur in Spring & Fall. You can reduce the amount of shedding by keeping your pup brushed. We suggest at least 1-2 times a week.
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As a puppy we start with a slicker brush. As their hair thickens we occasionally use a deshedder
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Trimming is not necessary.
Bathing
Rottweiler skin can easily become dry. Purchase a moisturizing shampoo. We have used Burt's Bees & Vet's+Best. These are very reasonably priced.
Tip - if your dog gets itchy, try adding a tiny bit of coconut oil in their food bowl.
Bath every 4 weeks. Between baths you can use deodorizing bath wipes.
It's understandable you may need to bath more often through the puppy stages. We use Burt's Bees Tearless Puppy Shampoo with Buttermilk.
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Nails & Ears
Toenails can be trimmed once weekly or as needed to keep them tidy. Try introducing a nail grinding tool for best results. If you trim nails yourself, be very careful not to cut the vein that runs through the nail. Keep some doggy styptic powder on hand in the event mild bleeding occurs.
Use ear wipes to clean ears weekly. We clean the ears when we brush.
Health, Exercise
&
Nutrition
Rottweilers are relatively healthy & disease free. The largest concern is hip dysplasia & joint problems. Rottweilers are also prone to bone cancer.
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Rottweilers can easily become overweight therefore exercise & nutrition are very important for the breed.
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Your pup will be very active for their first 2-3 years. Owners should be prepared to provide lots of exercise. You should have a large, fenced yard where you are able to play fetch & allow your pup to burn energy. They also enjoy swimming & going on runs. Trust us, they will be much easier to manage/train if given regular exercise!
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Feed your pup high-quality, age appropriate food. While treats are important for training, keep treats to a minimum. Break treats into small pieces.
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Keep clean, fresh water out at all times. Being a large & active breed, Rottweilers will require lots of water!
