ROTTWEILER

Temperament: Loyal, Loving, Confident Guardian

AKC Breed Popularity: Ranks 8 of 197

Height: 24-27 inches (male), 22-25 inches (female)

Weight: 95-135 pounds (male), 80-100 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy: 9-10 years

Group: Working Group

ABOUT THE ROTTWEILER

The Rottweiler was originally dogs bred to drive cattle to market. Later they were used to pull carts for butchers. They were among the earliest police dogs and serve with honor in the military.

Rottweiler is a dog who is loyal to his people and wants to be with them. If you give him the guidance and structure he needs, you’ll be rewarded with one of the finest companions in the world.

PERSONALITY

The ideal Rottweiler is calm, confident, and courageous, never shy.

He has a self-assured aloofness and doesn’t make friends with people immediately or indiscriminately. Instead, he takes a wait-and-see attitude with new people or situations.

NUTRITION

The Rottweiler should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval.

Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to getting overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level.

HEALTH

There are health conditions that Rottweiler can be prone to:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dyplasia
• Aortic Stenosis/Sub-aortic Stenosis
• Osteosarcoma
• Gastric Dilatation-volvulus, also called Bloat or Torsion
• Panosteitis
• Hypothyroidism
• Allergies

CARE

Rottweilers love swimming, walking, and trotting, especially with their people. The breed is muscular and athletic, and should have the opportunity to exercise on a daily basis.

If there are jobs to do, Rottweilers learn easily to cart and are excellent workers in herding, tracking, and obedience. There is no limit to the canine activities that the Rottweiler can learn to do.

GROOMING

The Rottweiler has a straight, coarse, medium-length outer coat that lies flat. The undercoat is present on the neck and thighs. He should be brushed weekly and bathed regularly.

He sheds only very moderately for most of the year, although he will shed more profusely twice a year, usually in the spring and fall.

His teeth should be brushed and nails trimmed weekly. The use of a grinding tool such as a Dremel is especially effective in trimming the nails.

Source: dogtime, akc.