Rottweiler Dog Breed

Dog Group: Working Group

Class: Working

Description

The Rottweiler is a very strong, muscular and robust dog. This powerful breed has a black and tan coat, which is sleek and short. Its dark eyes are intense and give it a very intelligent and understanding expression. The Rottweiler has a large muzzle and soft, pendant ears. The tail of this breed is usually docked early on in life. A Rottweiler can make a good family pet, but its size can make it difficult for novice dog-owners to handle, and the breed has been branded as vicious by some people, although this is only down to poor upbringing and lack of training.

Temperament

This breed is very protective of their owner or family, and will go to any lengths to guard their family from danger. Brave and loyal to the end, the typical Rottweiler is also very loving and makes a good, reliable companion when properly socialized and trained. Despite the reputation this breed has gained as being aggressive and savage, a properly trained and socialized Rottweiler will get on with children and other household pets such as cats, although it may be aggressive with other dogs – perhaps due to its instinct to guard and protect.

Height and Weight

A male Rottweiler may average 24-27 inches in height, with females averaging around 22-25 inches. The weight of a male is approximately 95-130 pounds, with females growing to approximately 85-115 pounds.

Common Health and Behavioral Problems

As with other larger breeds, hip dysplasia is common in the Rottweiler, and the affected dog can suffer mobility problems, discomfort and swelling. The breed can also be affected by eye problems and snoring. An untrained, unsocialized Rottweiler can become aggressive and unpredictable.

Ideal Living Conditions

Rottweiler's are big, energetic dogs and do require exercise. They can be housed in an apartment, but will need to be taken for regular walks. A fenced yard or garden is the most suitable environment, as this will give the Rottweiler sufficient space to exercise and play.

Exercise Requirements

This breed loves exercise such as running, swimming and retrieving, and regular exercise is an essential part of a Rottweiler’s lifestyle. Strong and energetic they are suited to vigorous exercise and have plenty of stamina.

Diet and Nutrition

The Rottweiler is a large, powerful dog with lots of energy, and therefore required a well-planned, nutritious diet. This breed should be fed twice daily in adult-hood, and complete dry food is recommended as the main diet. This can be made up with around twenty percent meat. Clean, fresh water should always be available.

Life Expectancy

A healthy Rottweiler can expect to live for around ten to twelve years. A balanced diet, plenty of exercise and a healthy lifestyle will help to maximize this dog’s lifespan.

Grooming Requirements

The Rottweiler is a dog that is easy to care for and maintain in terms of grooming. His short coat simply requires brushing with a firm bristle brush, and baths should be given only as and when necessary. Dry shampoo can be used occasionally to keep the coat glossy.

Origin

The Rottweiler originates from Germany, and the name of the breed comes from the German town of Rottweil. The Rottweiler is thought to be a descendant of the mastiff or German Shepherd Dog, and was originally bred as a herding dog for livestock. The breed actually almost reached extinction in the nineteenth century, but German breeders helped the breed to re-emerge in the 1900s. The American Kennel Club first registered the breed in 1931.

Secrets to Dog Training: Consultation

Secrets to Dog Training offers a free consultation with every order! Here is one submitted by Paul about his Rottweiler's problem with chewing gum...

Paul's Consultation

Daniel, Please help!

I have a problem with ubiquitous chewing gum on our Rottweiler’s coat. Friends of our boy (or my wife’s nieces when they visited) have been chewing gum and throwing it on the paved area in front of our house. “Ron” has been rolling on the ground and has got it on his shoulder and more seriously, on the side of his face about an inch from his eye. Ordinary dog shampoo won’t touch it, his coat is short haired so I can’t cut it off, and I have also tried rubbing alcohol. No success!

I definitely don’t want to try petrol or paraffin near his eye so please can you recommend something which I can use to remove/breakdown the gum – which might be available at a hardware store or ”local” corner shop.

We are in East Indonesia so our choice of materials/available ordinary chemicals is not like it would be in a “civilized” metropolis.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Many thanks and Regards,

Paul

Secrets to Dog Training Reply:

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your email.

It seems that you have tried a couple of things to remove the gum in Ron's coat with little success. Fortunately I have another couple of suggestions.

You could try freezing the gum with ice cubes. This will cause the gum to harden, and when that happens, you can break or lift the gum off.

Or you could try using Peanut Butter (full fat version) or salad oil to remove the gum. This is a much safer option than using a chemical substance, because it’s likely your dog will lick himself afterwards! Work the peanut butter or oil thoroughly into the gum using your fingers to soften it. Then, shampoo your dog, and if there is still some gum left in his coat, repeat the process.

Good luck Paul!

Kind regards,

Margaret Gardner
Secrets to Dog Training Team
http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining

More Resources

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About The Author

Daniel Stevens is the renowned dog trainer and author of Secrets to Dog Training: STOP Dog Behavior Problems!, one of the leading dog training guides on the market today selling over 25,743 copies (and counting). He currently heads the Kingdom of Pets dog training team.