Looking for a dog
book? We have hundreds of dog books listed, Titles
include works on individual breeds, activities,
health and nutrition. You can find the best in dog
training, behavior, natural health, agility,
clicker training, problems, and other dog related
topics.
A Rottweiler is a medium large, robust and powerful dog breed originating from Germany. The Rottweiler, or Rottweil Metzgerhund,is a large dog breed originating in Germany as herding dogs. It is a hardy and intelligent breed. Early Rottweilers worked as beasts of burden, carrying wood and other products to market. During the first and second World Wars, Rottweilers were put into service as war time guard dogs. Currently they are frequently used as guard and police dogs. The Rottweiler was first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1931.
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. Rottweilers that are well trained and cared for can be as well behaved as any other dog and in general they are fond of children, very devoted, quick to learn, and eager to please. However, if they are not receiving the mental stimulation they need, they will find creative and sometimes destructive ways to elicit it. Such behavioral problems as chewing and barking for attention can be a result of lack of human interaction. The Rottweiler is a 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 is 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, can pose a significant physical threat to humans or other animals. They can be strong-willed and should be trained in a firm and consistent manner. The owner must be perceived by the dog as the leader. If the owner fails to achieve this status the Rottweiler will readily take on the role. 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 that notice everything before they attack. When the male attacks, he tends to go very still, there's no warning growl or movement 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.
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.
In recent years the breed has received some negative publicity, possibly related to the fact that in the US, the Rottweiler is the number two breed of dog named in fatal human attacks from 1979 to 1998 in a report by the CDC. Rottweilers are a powerful breed with well developed genetic guarding and herding instincts, and prey drive. Dangerous behavior in Rottweilers potentially results from irresponsible ownership, abuse, neglect, or lack of socialization. This tendency may extend towards other animals as well.
Often injuries and maulings occur when an owner or passerby tries to separate fighting dogs, or unintentionally triggers a guarding behavior in a dog. The portrayal of Rottweilers as evil dogs in several fictional films and TV series, most notably in The Omen, has added to their negative publicity and popularity among backyard breeders. Rottweilers are banned in many municipalities, some scattered countries, and are sometimes targeted as dangerous dogs by legislation, such as in the Netherlands. Many owners of Rottweilers are forced to obey state leash/muzzle laws, as in Germany, France and Venezuela. Rottweilers are not recommended for people who have little experience with dogs, or understand little about dog psychology and responsible canine ownership.
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)
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.
HeyDogs is an easy to use site that keeps both dog professionals and dog enthusiasts up to date on the latest information on dogs. You can find the best in dog training, behavior, natural health, agility, clicker training, and other dog related topics
Looking for the perfect
Dog name? Dogs names for your new Puppy.
Browse thousands of Dog names, names for both male
and female dogs, Start looking by clicking on a
letter!
Hi Cats is a website you can find extensive information on all Cat Breeds, Articles, Health, Books, Photos, Desktop Wallpapers, Posters, Training, Cats names, Links and more.
Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home3/boxistc/public_html/heydogs/breeds/r/rottweiler.html on line 1134
Warning: include(http://www.heydogs.com/footer.html) [function.include]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home3/boxistc/public_html/heydogs/breeds/r/rottweiler.html on line 1134
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.heydogs.com/footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home3/boxistc/public_html/heydogs/breeds/r/rottweiler.html on line 1134
HeyDogs.com Dog Breeds Information
Guide menu 
