Description And Temperament
This popular working/guard dog is a very powerful animal and should be given a great deal of respect. It originates from Germany and is named after the town of Rottweil. It was bred for herding livestock because of its size and temperament. It has a black and tan short haired coat and a large muzzle. Its ears should be soft, drooping down and its eyes are very intense showing the dog's high intelligence. The tail used to be docked, but this is now regarded as not being politically correct. The male dog should grow to about 24-27 inches high and weigh approximately 95-130 pounds. The female is usually smaller, weighing 85-115 pounds.
With good breeding and training, the Rottweiler can make a good family pet. They are a very protective breed of dog and will be brave and loyal to the end, protecting their family from danger. They can be very loving and will get on well with children and other pets if trained properly, but it must be stressed that they are still animals and so like any dog, they can be unpredictable if upset. Because of its sheer size, the Rottweiler can cause terrible damage if it does attack.
Exercise And Diet
Rottweilers need regular exercise and plenty of space to play. They love to run, swim and retrieve. A healthy Rottweiler can live to about 12 years with a good balanced diet and plenty of exercise. They should be fed twice a day, supplementing a complete dry food with about 20% meat. As with all pets, fresh clean water should be available all day as this breed in particular drinks a lot. This is especially important if you feed your pet dried food. Do not soak the food, just make sure there is a bowl of water easily accessible.
Care And Health
Because of the short coat, the grooming requirements of the Rottweiler is very easy. It should not need bathing very often and a dry shampoo can be used, brushing this through the coat with a firm bristle brush.
Hip dysplasia is a common health problem with the Rottweiler, which of course can cause mobility problems. If a dog becomes overweight, this can increase with discomfort and swelling of the leg joints. An untrained, unsocialized Rottweiler can become aggressive and unpredictable. If you see any signs of this, you are advised to consult a good vet. It could be that the dog is in pain and needs treatment, or it may be that there are more serious implications.