Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is a domestic dog breed that is medium-to-large or large in size. The dogs were introduced in German as Rottweiler Metzgerhund (Butchers' dogs). The Rottweiler was mostly used for herding cattle and pulling carts loaded with butchered meat to the market. This continued until the mid-19th century when railways replaced droving. However, the dogs are still in use for herding stock in many parts of the world. Now the dogs are also used for protection in the categories search and rescue dogs, guard dogs, and police dogs.
According to FCI standard, the typical height of medium-to-large size Rottweilers ranges between 24 to 27 inches (61 to 69 cm) at the withers for males, and 22 to 25 inches (56 to 63 cm) for females. The average weight of Rottweiler ranges between 50 to 60 Kg (110 to 132 lbs) for males and 35 to 48 Kg (77 to 105 lbs) for females. The weight must be relative to the height.
Coat
The coat of Rottweilers contains an outer coat and an undercoat. The outer coat is of medium length, rough, solid and flat. The undercoat should be present on the neck and thighs and must not show through the outer coat. Rottweilers living in hot environments may have acclimatized and may be missing the undercoat. The coats of Rottweiler require low maintenance, while they experience heavy shedding before their seasons (females) or seasonally (males). According to AKC breed standards, a Rottweiler's coat is short and straight.
Color and Markings
The color and designs of a Rottweiler are very typical. A Rottweiler is always black with distinct mahogany or rust-colored markings that do not take up more than 10% of the dog's body color. All Rottweilers standard to AKC specifications have one mahogany dot above each eye on the inner brow ridge, on the cheeks, one strip on each side of the snout; cheek markings do not cross over the bridge of the nose, the top of the nose should remain black.
The markings on the face should move down onto the dog's throat. On the chest, the dog will have two downward-facing triangular marks. On each front leg, the marks will stretch from the forearm to the toes. On rear legs, the patterns will begin on the inside and move outward onto the stifle, then out onto the hock stretching to the toes as well. American Kennel Club standards identify that the black base color is not completely voided on the rear pasterns. There is a patch of rust or mahogany beneath the tail that looks like a triangle. A reedy strip of black should be present on each of the dog’s toes.
Temperament
The Rottweiler is a good-natured, calm in personality, much dedicated, obedient, compliant, and enthusiastic to work. The dog’s appearance is natural and rustic, the behavior is self-confident, steady and bold. They respond to their surroundings with great vigilance. The male Rottweilers have great confidence, sharpness, defense, and play drives than females.
The breed is the best in the world but the dog is not common for everybody as they need a calm, stable and strong ‘pack leader’. They want socialization, exercise, and inspiring mental challenges. With these things, you will have an ideal companion.
The Rottweiler is a strong breed with sturdy genetic herding and defensive nature. Possibly dangerous behavior in Rottweilers generally comes from reckless possession, abuse, negligence, lack of socialization or exercise. However, the excellent specialty of Rottweiler is an additional risk factor not to be neglected.
The breed specialists state that formal obedience training and wide socialization are essential for all the Rottweilers. The Rottweilers love their owners and may act in a befitting manner toward their family and friends. The Rottweilers are very defensive in their area and don’t welcome the strangers until they are well acquainted.
The Rottweiler is a very territorial dog. So the owners must have to work regularly to control the territorial aggressiveness of the dog.
The ownership of Rottweilers in few countries such as Singapore, Ireland, Malaysia, Romania, and Portugal is restricted. Rottweilers are also banned as pets in Ecuador.
Parts of Body
2. Head (eyes)
3. Snout (teeth, tongue)
4. Dewlap (throat, neck skin)
5. Shoulder
6. Elbow
7. Forefeet
8. Highest Point of the Rump
9. Legs (thighs and hips)
10. Hock
11. Hind feet
12. Withers
13. Stifle
14. Paws
15. Tail
Working style
The Rottweilers have a natural gathering elegance with a strong desire to control. They usually show a loose eye and have a great power while working well off the stock. They make much use of their skill to intimidate. The Rottweiler, when working cattle, searches out the dominant animal and encounters it. Upon proving its control over that animal it settles back and tends to its work.
Some farmers have found that Rottweilers are particularly suitable to move stubborn stock that simply ignores Border Collies, Kelpies, and others. The Rottweilers use their bodies to physically force the stubborn animal to do its bidding if necessary. When working with sheep, the Rottweiler shows an attractive style, reams directions easily, and drives the sheep with ease.
In some cases, Rottweilers have started herding cattle without any practice or experience. The dogs are also very suitable for and are commonly used in the dog sport of Schutzhund.
Service Dog
The Rottweilers have also been used as service dogs. The dog named ‘Stinky’ saved a previous soldiers life, just by being there for an ex-soldier experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. The Stinky was introduced as service dog of the year at Purina Animal Hall of Fame in 2011.
History
The Rottweiler is one of the oldest of herding breeds. With a history possibly dating back to the Roman Empire, the Rottweiler may be a successor of early Roman drover dogs; a mastiff-type dog that was a reliable, rugged dog with great wisdom and safeguarding natures. During their quest to conquer Europe, the Roman legions traveled in large numbers across the continent. The lack of refrigeration meant soldiers brought herds of cattle for food. Drover dogs kept the herd together and guarded it at night. Around A.D. 74 the Roman army traveled across the Alps and into what is now southern Germany. For the next two centuries, the Roman drover dogs were continually used in herding and driving cattle for trade even after the Romans were driven out of the area by the Swabians.
A town in this region was eventually given the name Rottweil. It became a significant trade center and the offspring of the Roman cattle dogs proved their worth by driving the cattle to market and safeguarding the cattle from robbers and wild animals. The dogs are said to have been used by traveling butchers at markets during the middle ages to protect money pouches tied around their necks. The dogs were eventually known as Rottweiler metzgerhunds, or ‘butcher dogs. As railway became the primary method for carrying stock to market, the demand for Rottweiler breed declined, as did their numbers, so severely reduced by 1882 that a show in Heilbronn, featured only one very poor representative of the breed.
The buildup to World War-I saw a great demand for police dogs, which led to a revival of interest in the Rottweiler. During the First and Second World Wars, Rottweilers saw service in various roles, including as messenger, ambulance, draught, and guard dogs.
The Deutscher Rottweiler-Klub (DRK, German Rottweiler Club), the first Rottweiler club in Germany, was founded on 13 January 1914, and followed by the creation of the Süddeutscher Rottweiler-Klub (SDRK, South German Rottweiler Club) on 27 April 1915 and eventually became the IRK (International Rottweiler Club). The DRK counted around 500 Rottweilers and the SDRK 3000 Rottweilers. The goals of the two clubs were dissimilar. The DRK intended to produce working dogs and did not accentuate the morphology of the Rottweiler.
Many German Rottweiler Clubs merged to form the Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub (ADRK, General German Rottweiler Club) in 1921. This was officially recorded in the register of clubs and associations at the district court of Stuttgart on 27 January 1924. The ADRK is renowned internationally as the home club of Rottweilers.
In 1931 the Rottweiler was formally documented by the American Kennel Club. In 1936, Rottweilers were presented in Britain at Crufts. In 1966, a separate register was opened for the breed. In fact, in the mid-1990s, the popularity of the Rottweiler reached an all-time high with it being the most registered dog by the AKC. In 2013, the AKC ranked the Rottweiler as the 9th most popular pure-breed in the United States.
Also see: Cute Photo Gallery of Rottweiler Puppies