Breed Profile: Rottweiler

The Rottweiler has working-dog origins. Romans were believed to have used Rottweilers to herd the sheep and cattle that fed their armies, and Germans were said to have used the dogs for herding their cattle to market and as guard dogs. Rottweilers served as herding and drover dogs until the mid-1800s.

The Rottweiler was brought to the United States by German breeders in 1928 and was first recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club in 1931. Today, Rottweilers still serve as guard dogs, but they also work as police dogs and registered therapy dogs. Many Rottweilers participate in competitive events such as conformation, agility, and obedience trials.

The following description is of an “ideal” Rottweiler. Not all Rotties fit the description exactly, but that’s not an issue unless you want one who can participate in dog shows.

A Rottweiler is loyal, strong, courageous, and has a zest for life. He should not be nervous or aggressive but should have natural guarding instincts and an inherent desire to protect his home and family.

Here are some traits to consider when determining how well a Rottweiler will fit in with you and your family.

Rottweilers are most concerned with pleasing their owners. Although many Rottweilers can be stubborn, and even clownlike at times, they are impressively focused. They may not warm up to strangers quickly, but once they offer theirfriendship, it will probably be for keeps. A properly socialized Rottweiler can get along well with children, as long as they are taught the proper way to interact with a dog. However, given Rotties’ strong prey drive and desire to herd, they should always be supervised when around children.

Rottweilers are highly adaptable and can live happily in a big city, the suburbs and the country. But regardless of where they live, they are not a breed that does well unattended. Rotties need frequent social interaction.

Exercise is vital for stimulating your Rottweiler’s respiratory and circulatory systems and for building strong bones and muscles. If he doesn’t get enough exercise, he could become overweight—or, in his attempts to burn off excess energy, destructive. By taking him for daily walks, you’ll give him an opportunity to spend valuable time with you and remain fit in the process. However, Rottweilers don’t do well in hot temperatures, so it’s best to restrict exercise and training sessions to the cooler hours of the day.

In general, Rottweilers are highly intelligent and can learn typical basic obedience commands easily. Training is especially time-sensitive with this breed, because a Rottie puppy will reach a formidable size within just months of joining a household. If he isn’t taught how to behave properly while he is young and relatively small, training will be more difficult down the road.