Dog
Group:
Working 
Rottweiler Champions
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Pronunciation:
rot-wahy-ler
Breed Description:
The Rottweiler breed of dog is a large sized breed of dog that should be muscular and substantial in size without appearing overweight or course. They should be well conditioned and proportioned and they should be slightly longer than they are tall. Their head should be broad with a medium length, boxy muzzle and the medium length ears should hang down the side of the head. The topline should be slightly sloped and the tail should be long, however, it is commonly docked.
The coat of the Rottweiler should be a double coat with a dense, short undercoat. The top coat should be slightly longer but still short and it should be very dense. The hair should lay flat on the dog to create smooth lines and the coat around the neck and shoulder should be slightly thicker. The Rottweiler should be black with tan markings on the cheeks, over the eyes, on the side of the muzzle, beneath the tail and on the chest and legs.
Temperament:
The Rottweiler breed of dog is a calm and affectionate breed that can be a wonderful family dog. While they are known for being even tempered, the Rottweiler is not the breed for everyone. They can be very stubborn and really need an owner that can set firm rules. In addition, ample socialization is needed with this breed and consistent training is a must. The Rottweiler is not recommended for new or timid owners. The breed can do very well with children but do much better with older children. The breed is very loyal to their family and tend to be over protective. They are naturally suspicious of strangers and can take a fair amount of time to warm up to any new people. They can do well with other dogs and pets but proper socialization is key for this to happen.
Height:
The average height for a Rottweiler is between 22 to 25 inches for a female and 24 to 27 inches for a male.
Weight:
The average weight for a Rottweiler is between 85 to 115 pounds for a female and 95 to 130 pounds for a male.
Health Problems:
The Rottweiler breed of dog is considered to be a healthy breed, however, there are a number of health problems that can affect them including Hypothyroidism, Aortic Stenosis/Sub-aortic Stenosis, Panosteitis, Elbow Dyplasia, Hip Dysplasia, Allergies, Osteosarcoma and Gastric Torsion, which is also known as bloat.
Living Conditions:
The Rottweiler breed of dog can do very well in apartments, especially with proper exercise, however, the ideal home is one with a large yard. The breed does need a fenced yard since they tend to be very protective and may attack anyone they feel threatens their home or owners.
Exercise:
The Rottweiler breed of dog can differ when it comes to energy levels since some tend to be more active than others. Generally, the breed should get between 30 to 60 minutes of exercise each day to keep them healthy. This breed can be very lazy at times and can gain weight easily so exercise is important. In addition to exercise, the breed should have some mental stimulation since they can become bored very easily.
Life Expectancy:
10 to 12 years
Grooming:
The Rottweiler breed of dog is a very easy breed to groom and they require little to no maintenance to keep their coats healthy. On average, you should expect to brush your dog on a weekly basis to remove dead hairs and dirt. A wipe down with a damp cloth will keep them clean and they should only be bathed when it is absolutely necessary. Ears should be cleaned on a regular basis since they can be prone to ear infections and nails should be clipped once or twice a month.
Origin:
The Rottweiler breed of dog was developed in Germany and is believed to have been developed when molosser breeds brought by Romans were bred to breeds that were already present in the area. Although the breed is considered to be a very old breed, the actual development has been centralized to the town of Rote Wil. The breed was commonly used as a farm and guard dog and were commonly used for herding cattle to market. The breed became versatile in its roles and soon became a popular dog for butchers and were often seen pulling carts. The breed began to decline in numbers after the industrial revolution and the Rottweiler faced extinction. However, a few dedicated breeders continued the line and proved the versatility of the breed by training them for both police and service work. The breed was brought to the United States in the 1920`s but it did not become popular until after World War II. By the 1990`s, the Rottweiler was one of the most popular breeds in the United States and suffered under the popularity through improper breeding practices. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
