| Appearance: The breed is black with clearly defined tan markings on the cheeks, muzzle, chest, legs, and eyebrows. The markings on the chest should form two distinct upside-down triangles; a tiny patch of white in between is not acceptable for show dogs.
The cheeks should have clearly defined spots that should be separate from the muzzle tan. The muzzle tan should continue over the throat. Each eyebrow should have a spot. Markings on the legs should not be above a third of the leg. On each toe should be a black 'pencil' mark. Underneath the tail should also be tan.
Nails are black. Inside the mouth, the cheeks may have
black patches, although the tongue is pink. The skull is
typically massive, but without excessive jowls. The forehead
is wrinkly when the Rottweiler is alert.
A Rottweilers's eyes are a warm, dark brown—any other
color may not be acceptable as part of the "pure
breed". The expression should be calm, intelligent,
alert, and fearless. The ears are small drop ears that lie
flat to the head. 'Flying' ears are considered undesirable by
some breeders. The coat is medium length and consists of a
waterproof undercoat and a coarse top coat. It is low
maintenance, although experiences shedding during certain
periods of the year.
Naturally, Rottweilers are a tailed dog. 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. 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. In the past, this was a commonly
accepted practice, however recently many people, organisations
and states of the USA have recognised it is cruel and
unnecessary - e.g. it has been banned in the European Union.
The chest is deep and should reach the Rottie'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 lbs) for males and 42 kg (95 lbs) for females.
Temperament: A well-trained and socialised Rottweiler can provide the right owner with a great deal of exercise and loving companionship. They are usually quick to learn and have a strong desire to please their owners. They are intelligent, to the point that they shouldn't be left to their own devices, and are happiest when mentally stimulated.
Despite this, they can also be strong willed at times, and should be taught in a firm, consistent manner. This is generally a calm breed. That said, they are playful animals, usually very excited at the first sign of fun. Rottweilers thrive on attention from their owners and need their people to be happy. If a Rottie has been neglected excessively, it will usually strive, creatively, to get the owner's attention.
The Rottie is not usually a barker: males are silent
watchers who notice everything and are often quite stoic.
Females, however, may become problem barkers in order to
protect their den. In the event a dog feels threatened, they
tend to go very still before attacking, and there is no
warning growl. This is one of the breed's characteristics that
lends itself to the reputation of being unreliable. An
observant owner, however, is usually able to recognise when
the Rottie perceives a threat. When the dog barks, it is more
of a sign of annoyance with external factors (car alarms or
other disturbances) rather than threats.
The Rottweiler is typically a dominant dog, and they can
resort to aggressiveness in unfamiliar situations. The
Rottie's large size and incredible strength make this an
important point to consider, and for this reason the
Rottweiler is a breed that only experienced dog owners should
consider. Early socialisation with as many people, animals,
and situations as possible is very important in order to
produce a dog that is tolerant of strangers.
History: The breed is an ancient one, and its history stretches back to the Roman Empire. In those times, the legions travelled with their meat on the hoof and required the assistance of working dogs to herd the cattle. One route the army travelled was through Württemberg and on to the small market town of Rottweil.
This region eventually became an important cattle area, and
the descendants of the Roman cattle dogs proved their worth in
both droving and protecting the cattle from robbers and wild
animals. It would be a brave villain who would try to remove
the purse around the neck of a Rottweiler Metzgershund
(Butcher's Dog of Rottweil).
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 in interest for the Rottweiler. Its enormous strength, its intelligence, and its ability to take orders made it a natural weapon of war.
From that time, it has become popular with dog owners, and in 1935 the breed was officially recognised by the American Kennel Club. In 1936, Rottweilers were exhibited in Britain at Crufts. In 1966, a separate register was opened for the breed.
Famous Rotties:
- Muzzle/Scout and Gerta from
Road Rovers
- Good Dog Carl
- "Snot" (from the
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation movie)
- "Missy" of Joss
Stone
- "Max" from the
Punisher comic book
- "Dracula" of Phil
Anselmo
- "Kofi" from the
movie Amores Perros
- The unnamed satanic
Rottweiler which protected Damien in the horror film The
Omen
- The unnamed Rottweiler
guarding the cemetery in Pet Semetary
Dog attacks: In recent years, the breed has received some negative publicity, primarily due to a lack of understanding of the breed and canine nature on the part of the owner, and indiscriminate breeding on the part of the breeder. Unscrupulous breeders have produced dogs with highly aggressive tendencies and some owners have used the dogs to boost their macho images. Other owners may acquire a Rottweiler for a family pet, but neglect to properly socialise and train the animal, resulting in a dangerous, unpredictable dog who makes the rules.
The portrayal of Rottweilers as evil dogs in several fictional films and TV series, most notably in The Omen, has contributed to this negative publicity.
Despite the media's fascination with Rottweilers who run afoul of canine behavioural standards, people who have experience with properly raised individuals can attest to the Rottweiler's friendliness and often clownish nature. In fact, the FCI standard calls for a dog that is fond of children. Nevertheless, this breed is not for the inexperienced or uninvolved dog owner, or anyone who lacks the physical strength to handle the Rottweiler.
As a result of bad press, some German Länder put the Rottweiler on an index of so called "dangerous dogs". This includes Bavaria, Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia. Visitors and residents must obey the local muzzling and leash-length laws.
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