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Rottweiler
Recommended for: Active individuals and families
Maintenance Level: Medium
Lifespan: 8-10 years
Temperament:
Loyal, energetic
Loyal, energetic
Health Risk:
High probability of health issues during its lifetime, hence it is one of the more expensive breeds to insure.
High probability of health issues during its lifetime, hence it is one of the more expensive breeds to insure.
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Get a quick quoteBreed Overview
The Rottweiler (a.k.a. the “Rottie”) is a loyal, brave and intelligent dog breed that is known for its unwavering devotion to its owners, whom it will defend at all costs. The American Kennel Club (AKC) describes the Rottweiler as “a calm, confident, and courageous dog with a self-assured aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships.”
Rottweilers are renowned for their large, muscular build and their unique coat colours. Originally bred as herding dogs, today’s Rottweiler is often used as a guide dog, guard dog, police dog, and search & rescue dog. As a big, energetic dog, the Rottie needs at least one walk per day; the breed is suited to active individuals and families who have enough time to give their dog an adequate amount of exercise.
Rottweilers are fiercely loyal companions. Despite some negative publicity in the media, they are not generally dangerous dogs. As with most breeds, the Rottweiler has potential for aggression if its owner fails to train and socialise it from a young age or assert his or her position as the “pack leader”. In general, however, it is a docile and laid-back breed who makes a great playmate for other pets and children.
Healthy male Rottweilers weigh between 50 and 60 kg and stand at 61 – 69 cm tall. Females weigh in at about 35 – 48 kg and stand at about 56 – 63 cm tall.
The average lifespan of the Rottweiler is around 8-10 years, but some have been known to live up to 16 years.
Personality and Temperament
In general, Rottweilers are good-natured, calm, loyal and obedient dogs who are eager to work. Known for their work ethic, they are natural gatherers with a strong desire to control. When herding livestock, they take advantage of their ability to intimidate, and often seek out the dominant animal in the herd and challenge it. They are also very alert, which is unsurprising given their popular use as guard dogs.
Rottweilers are inclined toward dominance and often test their position in the family. Firm, consistent training and clear boundaries and rules are required in order for the owner to achieve “pack leader” status; the dog needs to know that it is beneath its humans in the pecking order.
Though clownish and playful around family and friends, Rottweilers are protective of their “pack” and territory, and are very wary of strangers until introduced. While they are fiercely devoted to their owners, they may have a tendency towards aggression when meeting strangers. However, as with all dog breeds, if the Rottweiler is trained and socialised with other people and animals from a young age, aggression should not be an issue.
Aggression in the breed usually grows out of abuse, neglect and irresponsible ownership. According to the CDC, Rottweilers and pit bulls were responsible for 67% of fatal dog attacks in the USA, concluding that these attacks were “breed-specific”.
Common Rottweiler Diseases & Conditions
Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
- Hip and elbow dysplasia, in which the ball and socket of the affected joint do not fit together properly, can be an issue, and many clubs have tried to combat this by instituting x-ray testing regimes. Breeders should have the hips and elbows of all breeding stock x-rayed and analysed regularly by a specialist and be able to provide paperwork to that effect.
- Osteochondritis dissecans, which affects the shoulders, can also be a problem for Rottweilers because of their fast growth rate. It is caused by inflammation and lesions in the shoulder joints, causing swelling, irritation and pain. Symptoms include limping, favouring one paw, swelling and pain when extending a joint. Surgical and conservative treatment options are available.
- Cancer is among the most common causes of early Rottweiler death, and this breed is more susceptible than others. Osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer, is one of the most common cancers in Rottweilers. The first sign is lameness, but x-rays are needed to determine if cancer is the cause. If so, it is treated aggressively, often with chemotherapy and amputation.
- Parvovirus. Rottweilers are more prone to parvovirus infection, a highly contagious disease responsible for the deaths of many puppies and young dogs, but which can be prevented with a vaccine. It has an 80% fatality rate and can kill within days of infection. Symptoms include loss of appetite, depression, fever, dehydration, lethargy, bloody diarrhoea and serious vomiting.
- Other Issues. Overfeeding and under-exercising can cause obesity in the Rottweiler, and this in turn can cause serious health issues such as arthritis, breathing problems, diabetes, heart failure, skin disease and a compromised immune system.
- Breeders should have certificates indicating that their dogs have a full and complete dentition with a scissor-bite and do not have the eyelid abnormalities entropion or ectropion.
Not all conditions are covered by Pet Insurance. For details of Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance cover, refer to the Product Disclosure Statement.
What do Rottweiler owners claim for the most?
History
It is thought that the Rottweiler dates back to the Roman Empire as a descendant of ancient Roman drover dogs. During their conquests, Roman soldiers would take herds of cattle with them in order to have a source of fresh food. Rottweilers were brought along to herd the cattle and keep watch during the night.
Around the 1st century, the Romans and their Rottweilers made their way to Germany. The Romans were driven out but their dogs remained. There they were named after the town Rottweil, in which the dogs drove cattle to the market and protected them from thieves and other animals.
During the Middle Ages, it is said that butchers made use of Rottweilers at the markets. They tied money pouches around their dogs’ necks, effectively keeping robbers at bay.
Once railroads were introduced, the need for Rottweilers declined and the number diminished severely.However, the years leading up to World War I saw a resurgence of the breed in which they were used as police dogs, guard dogs, messengers and ambulance dogs.
The Rottweiler was officially recognised by the AKC in 1931, and in 2020 it was ranked as the 8th most popular breed in the USA.
Rottweiler Facts!
- Despite their handsome looks, Rottweilers have some not-so-handsome quirks – namely, drooling and farting. They tend to slobber a lot after eating and drinking – especially big males and females with droopy jowls. Their farts generally call for evacuation of a room, and can be made worse with a diet of corn, grains and high-fibre foods.
- While Rotties have a relatively bad reputation, they have an incredibly goofy side. They are an incredibly affectionate breed who often forget how big they are and have no worries climbing on your lap and pretending they’re smaller.
- Rottweilers have one of the strongest bite forces of all breeds – wolves can issue 406 pounds of pressure with their bite, and Rottweilers are only just behind with 328 pounds.
- We all know about “dog years” (7 for every human year), but did you know that Rottweilers are considered adults after their first year of life (equivalent to 16 human years)? They are equivalent to a 24-year-old when they’re 2 years old, and at the age of 3 they’re equivalent to a 30 year old. Each year after is worth 5 human years.
- Famous Rottie owners include Will Smith, who owns two, David Beckham, who also owns two, Alicia Silverstone, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Eva Longoria each own one, and Miley Cyrus recently adopted a Rottweiler-beagle mix.
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Further Information:
Rottweiler Club of NSW: http://www.rcnsw.com.au/
National Rottweiler Council of Australia: http://www.nationalrottweilercouncil.com/
