Rottweiler

Rottweiler likes working with people and new challenges, but if the owner does not provide him with many activities and is not a strong personality, it will be difficult for him to keep him in line. Although he is distinguished by a strong drive for fighting and a great sense of ownership, properly brought up and treated like a full family member is predictable.

Nature

Rottweiler is a confident, balanced dog with temperament and passion for work, who doesn’t like inaction. He is not afraid of prolonged physical and mental effort, and at the same time is able to focus on the task.

Although he is distinguished by a strong drive for fighting and a great sense of ownership, properly brought up and treated like a full family member is predictable. He loves the owner, is loyal to his family and will also accept guests. He will easily give the owner a bone or favorite toy, but with determination defends his things and his area against strangers. The high arousal threshold means that it cannot be easily disturbed, but when it does, it reacts quickly and violently.

It happens that representatives of this breed tend to dominate. This feature is particularly evident in males that are trying to get the highest position in the herd. Males can also show dominance over same-sex individuals.

Rottweiler gets along well with children. It is in his nature to protect weaker members of the herd, so in his company, the toddlers will not fall off their hair. However, this also has bad sides, because it can be overprotective and may consider bystanders a threat. Remember to make contact with children always under adult supervision, which means that they cannot walk alone on their own.

Rottweiler surrenders only to a consistent, calm and assertive owner who can impose his will on him without resorting to violence. There is a large sexual dimorphism in the breed. Bitches differ from dogs not only physically but also mentally – they are generally calmer and easier to raise.

Skills

In the past, the rottweiler helped protect herds and was also a guard and train dog. Today he is a companion and protector of the family. The police and army in some countries use it as a service dog. Single quadrupeds of this breed work in rescue, and in the United States, they are used in dog therapy. Rottweiler will work in training PT (companion dog) and IPO (guard dog).

Rottweiler. Training and education

The representative of this breed is intelligent and it is easy to contact him. He is happy to learn, likes working with people and new challenges. Quickly assimilates commands, but requires an individual approach and positive motivation. Due to his size and strong character, he should learn the basic rules of obedience as early as possible, preferably in dog kindergarten.

From the beginning, puppies need simple and understandable rules. You have to bring them up consistently, but not hard. Correct socialization is important. They need to get to know different places, new situations, people and other dogs.

Until the first year of life, avoid stairs and slippery surfaces, forced movement (e.g. running by a bicycle), or intense games with grown-ups. It is worth teaching him how to rest after eating (risk of stomach twist), in which the cage will help. It will also be useful at exhibitions, competitions or while traveling.

Under the guidance of an experienced helper who knows the specifics of the breed, you can practice with the dog of this breed IPO, if the owner has full control over the mentee.

Who is this race for?

Only a responsible, aware and consistent person who has experience in raising dogs can become the owner of a rottweiler. He must have time to train his pet and provide him with the right living conditions.

Rottweiler. Advantages and disadvantages

Disadvantages

• may have a tendency to dominate
• males may be aggressive towards members of the same sex

Advantages

• faithful and devoted to the family
• excellent guardian and defender
• durable and resistant
• intelligent and balanced
• happy to learn, ideal for training (PT, IPO)
• easy to care for

Rottweiler. Health

Rottweiler is not disturbed by frost, snow or humidity, but he doesn’t like hot weather. In the summer he enjoys spending time playing in the water – he swims great – and looks for cooler places to rest. It is better to do training early in the morning or evening.

Like most large dogs, rottweiler has a predisposition to hip and elbow dysplasia. Breeding requirements include x-rays of the hip joints for this condition (acceptable results are A – normal hip joints, and B – almost normal hip joints). X-ray of elbows is not required, but more and more breeders are also choosing this test.

During adolescence – especially in males – enostosis, or juvenile osteitis, may occur. There are defects in the eyelids – entropy (collapse) and ectropion (collapse), which often require surgical correction. Sometimes there is an ear infection. Occasionally, gastric dilatation, torsion, skin problems, and cancer appear (osteosarcoma, or osteosarcoma) is most common.

Rottweiler puppies are more sensitive to parvovirus (viral enteritis) than other breeds, so it is important to follow the vaccination calendar.

Feeding

Rottweiler usually has a good appetite and often a tendency to gain weight, which is why we adjust food to its age and lifestyle. You can give high-quality dry food for large breeds with the addition of chondroitin and glucosamine (food for this breed is also available) or prepare food yourself, supplementing it with appropriate calcium-vitamin, mineral and joint-protecting preparations.

Puppies must be well-fed, but you must ensure that they do not gain weight too quickly, because it can have a negative effect on bones and joints. The menu of a growing representative of this breed should be rich in protein and preparations supporting the development and protection of articular cartilage. In turn, feeding offal or boneless beef raises the level of phosphorus in the body, which leads to a disorder of mineral metabolism.

Therefore, it is worth doing check-ups of calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood and, if necessary, make up for deficiencies after consulting your veterinarian.

The daily portion for an adult rottweiler should be divided into at least two meals, which are served at fixed times. After eating, the dog should rest for at least an hour.

Care

The short coat of the rottweiler is easy to care for. This dog molts moderately twice a year, although small amounts of fur may be lost at all times. It is enough to comb it once a week, it is worth doing it every day during the haircoat replacement period.

It’s best to start with a hard bristle brush, which removes dust and small impurities and then uses a fairly dense metal comb.

After the procedure, you can wipe the dog’s coat with a damp towel. We bathe Rottweiler in good quality shampoos for short-haired dogs. You can use hypoallergenic cosmetics. You also need to regularly check your ears, rinse your eyes, remove tartar and shorten claws if the dog does not rub them alone.

You should not bathe the quadruped just before the show, because the shampoo deprives the hair of a natural layer of fat and, as a result, it may seem too soft. We put an adult rottweiler in a chain and on a tight leash. In the ring, he should present the working dog’s temperament, efficient trot and a well-muscled body.

Accessories

We take the Rottweiler for walks in a chain or collar (ordinary or half-clamp) and on a strong leash. He will be interested in every toy, but it must be large enough so that he cannot swallow it.

History

Rottweiler is considered one of the oldest breeds, its history dates back to the times of Roman conquests (2,000 years ago). The progenitors of these dogs were Roman dogs derived from powerful mastiffs from India and Mesopotamia, which came to Europe with the troops of Alexander the Great. They were crossed with Celtic war dogs and British fighters. The Roman army used the ancestors of the rottweiler to herd cattle, maintain discipline in the herd, and protect animals from predators and thieves.

The first mention of these dogs comes from the first century. In 74, the eleventh Roman legion set up camp on the Neckar River (today it is the area of ​​southwest Germany). This settlement received the status of the city of the Roman Empire. They were named Arae Flaviae in honor of the Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian family. In 260, the Romans withdrew from there, but left their dogs, which went to the local population.

The city later adopted the name Rottweil and in the 15th century it became a center of grain and cattle trade. Merchants from Germany, Hungary and France came to him. To help in the care of herds, traders used rottweilers, then known as ‘butcher dogs’. They were also the terror of thieves, so pouches with large sums of money were tied to their collars.

Around 1890, cattle trading ceased to be profitable, and thus the rottweiler lost its primary occupation. He was in danger of extinction, but fans of the breed decided to save her from oblivion. The first rottweiler was shown at the exhibition in Heilbronn in 1882.

In 1907, the first German Rottweiler Club (DRC) was founded in Heidelberg. At the same time, the South German Rottwieler Club (SDRK) was founded, which evolved into the International Rottweiler Club (IRK). They merged in 1921, and the Universal German Rottweiler Club (ADRK), which still exists today, was founded by Emil Stiefel. Every year, the club organizes an exhibition that breeders and rottweiler owners from all over the world come to.

This is how the long-time breeder of this breed and international judge Jan Borzymowski wrote about the main assumptions of ADRK in the book “Rottweiler, friend and defender”: “Rottweiler is and will remain a working dog – that is how the club’s motto was formulated. This meant that the purpose of breeding would be to balance the overall appearance and utility values. This keynote is also present in current ADRK activities. One of the first steps was the announcement of a uniform Rottweiler pattern, which, as amended from time to time, forms the basis of the current FCI pattern. “

The breakthrough for the breed was 1910, when the Rottweiler was considered a police dog. Service quadrupeds were demanding – they had to be strong, durable, brave, tenacious and have a predisposition to olfactory work. More attention was also paid to their appearance, and the type that was created at the time resembles modern representatives of the breed.

Template

Rottweiler – group II FCI, section 2.1, reference number 147

• Country of origin: Germany
• Size: height at the withers of the dog 61-68 cm, bitches 56-63; dog weight approx. 50 kg, bitches approx. 42 kg
• Coat: medium length coat, stiff, dense, close fitting, the undercoat should not protrude above the coat; the hair on the hind legs is slightly longer
• Color: black with a pronounced dark red tan over the eyes, on the cheeks, muzzle, chest, limbs, under the neck and tail
• Maturity: 1.5 years – 3 years
• Lifespan: 9-12 years
• Weather resistance: high

Interesting facts

Rottweilers were the terror of thieves, so pouches with large sums of money were tied to their collars to guard what was most precious.