Rottweiler One Of The Oldest Breeds
Did you know that Rottweiler has one of the oldest origins, as its predecessors were present at the time of the Roman empire? Rottweilers originated from a type of an Italian Mastiff. This mastiff predecessor was used to fight in the arena, to protect soldiers and livestock.
The Rottweiler as we know it today was bred in the Rottweile region of Germany. There he was used mostly to gather livestock and trained to drag small cargo carts. However, the breed almost disappeared in 1905, with only one female dog left! They brought it back in 1910. At that time, Rottweilers became popular as police dogs.
Character And Temperament
Despite the rocky appearance, Rottweilers have a loving nature. However, they are territorial and can be over-protective with their families. You can regulate this behavior with proper, early, and extensive socialization.
This breed is far from evil, but they will often protect their owners from potential danger. With proper socialization, they are very loving and loyal dogs. They are also intelligent, fast learners, active, obedient, reliable, hard-working, brave, and calm.
Sometimes Rottweilers can be stubborn, over-protective, disobedient, and aggressive when feeding. It’s important to socialize them around food from a puppy.
They get very attached to the whole family and can be very good with children.
Socialization And Training
The owner needs to be strong, decisive, consistent, patient, unwavering, and have enough time for socialization. Socialization needs to begin when the dog is still small. They love to play with balls and ropes. The best motivation for this breed is food and play. When properly socialized, these dogs will be loving and loyal.
If the dog is forced to live in a small enclosure/cage, or he wasn’t properly socialized, they can become aggressive. They are also reserved around strangers and can be aggressive with other dogs or pets, if not socialized from the beginning.
Since Rottweilers were also used to kill livestock, they shouldn’t be left around other animals unattended.
They require a lot of exercise and training, so this is not a breed for people who don’t have time and patience. They are working dogs, so their need for activity remains.
Compatibility With Children
This breed loves children, and when socialized properly, they can be perfect family dogs.
However, even if the dog is peaceful and loving, he should be monitored around children. Due to their size and strength, they can bring people on the floor while playing, especially children and the elderly.
Teach the children to be respectful to the dog, and not to annoy him.
Some dogs can be over-possessive of toys and food, and this should be monitored as well.
Exercise Requirements
This breed requires a lot of exercise in the form of walks, play, etc. Perfect activities would be hiking, long walks, exploring in the forest, jogging, and similar. They love to swim or run with you when you are rollerblading or cycling. They require 1.5 to 2 hours of activity per day. As mentioned before, the owner needs to have a lot of free time and has to be physically active.
General Health
This is a generally healthy breed but can be prone to certain conditions. If you get a puppy from a responsible breeder, they should have certificates for hip and elbow dysplasia, eye certificates, and other certificates for specific conditions.
Hip and elbow Dysplasia
You can usually prevent this problem when you get your dog from a certified breeder.
Aortic Stenosis
Aortic Stenosis is a heart defect that is also inherited. You can’t completely avoid it, even when getting the dog from a certified breeder. However, the chances for any of the hereditary diseases will be smaller.
Osteosarcoma
It’s a form of bone cancer. You can treat it and the dog can live for years to come.
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat)
A serious condition more common in large breeds.
Hypothyroidism
Caused by a deficiency of a thyroid hormone. The dog can be obese, lacks energy, and can be mentally slower.
You treat it with medication.
Grooming
Rottweilers have a shiny double coat. They don’t shed too much, and brushing them 1-2 twice a week is more than enough to keep the coat shiny and healthy.
Do not bath them too often, as you can destroy the coat’s protective layer (only when it’s really necessary).
Sources for more information: A rich source on dog breeds is the American Kennel Club. This is the link to Rottweilers.
