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Rottweiler

Breedgroup of the Rottweiler

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History of the Rottweiler

The Rottweiler has origins that are unknown, however it probably descended from the Italian Mastiff. During the Middle Ages, the Rottweiller was commonly used as a herd dog. The Rottweiler became nearly extinct in the 1800's, but made a wonderful comeback in the early twentieth century by breeders in Stuttgart. The Rottweiler today is used for a variety of things such as tracking, herding, watch dogging, police work, obedience trails, as well as guarding which he does exceptionally well in.

Temperament of the Rottweiler

The temperament of the Rottweiler can vary. Some can be very affectionate and somewhat of a clown, while others can be bullies. It is critical that this breed is socialized at an early age. Rottweilers can do well with children if raised around them, but should be supervised around small children due to their sheer size and power. The Rottweiler can do well around other dogs, however can be somewhat combative and can show aggression if not socialized properly as this is a very protective breed of both their family and their territory.
The Rottweiler can be a very fun loving dog, however he is very powerful and can be serious at times. Early obedience training and socialization is a must. This breed can be very territorial and protective of their family and their environment. Rottweilers can be very intimidating, still retaining an undeserving reputation as a vicious and/or mean dog, however they do extremely well in a family environment.

Breedstandard of the Rottweiler

The Rottweiler, or Rottweil Metzgerhund, is a large dog breed originating in Germany as herding dogs. It is a hardy and very intelligent breed. Early Rottweilers worked as beasts of burden, carrying wood and other products to market. During the first and second World Wars, Rottweilers were put into service as war time guard dogs. Currently they are frequently used as guard and police dogs. The Rottweiler was first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1931.

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Description

Appearance

The breed is almost always black with clearly defined tan or mahogany markings on the cheeks, muzzle, chest and legs. The coat is medium length and consists of a waterproof undercoat and a coarse top coat. Rottweiler coats tend to be low maintenance, although they experience shedding during their periods. The skull is typically massive, but without excessive jowls.

Size

According to FCI standard, the Rottweiler stands 61 to 68 cm (24-27 inches) at the withers for males, and 56 to 62.5 cm (22-25 inches) for females. Average weight is 50 kg (110 pounds) for males and 42 kg (95 pounds) for females.

Temperament

In the hands of a responsible owner, a well trained and socialized Rottweiler can be a reliable, alert dog and a loving companion. Rottweilers are very affectionate, good natured and family oriented. However, any poorly trained dog can become a danger in the wrong circumstances, especially a strong dog. Rottweilers that are well trained and cared for can be as well behaved as any other dog and in general they are very fond of children, very devoted, quick to learn, and eager to please. However, if they are not receiving the mental stimulation they need, they will find creative and sometimes destructive ways to elicit it. Such behavioral problems as chewing and barking for attention can be a result of lack of human interaction. The Rottweiler is a working dog that is also good for protection of children, as well as guard duties. Rottweilers are truly happy with a “job”.

The Rottweiler is a steady dog with a self-assured nature, but early socialization and exposure to as many new people, animals, and situations as possible is very important in developing these qualities. The Rottweiler also has a natural tendency to assert dominance if not properly trained. Rottweilers' large size and strength make this an important point to consider: an untrained, poorly trained, or abused Rottweiler can learn to be extremely aggressive and destructive and, if allowed to run at large, can pose a significant physical threat to humans or other animals. They can be strong-willed and should be trained in a firm and consistent manner. The owner must be perceived by the dog as the leader. If the owner fails to achieve this status the Rottweiler will readily take on the role. Aggression in Rottweilers is associated with poor breeding, poor handling, lack of socialization, natural guarding tendencies, and especially abuse.

The Rottweiler is not usually a barker. Male dogs are silent watchers that notice everything before they attack. When the male attacks, he tends to go very still, there's no warning growl or movement and are often quite stoic. Females may become problem barkers in order to protect their den. An attentive owner is usually able to recognize when a Rottweiler perceives a threat. Barking is usually a sign of annoyance with external factors (car alarms or other disturbances) rather than a response to actual threats.

Aggression

In recent years the breed has received some negative publicity, possibly related to the fact that in the US, the Rottweiler is the number two breed of dog named in fatal human attacks from 1979 to 1998 in a report by the CDC. Rottweilers are a powerful breed with well developed genetic guarding and herding instincts, and prey drive. Dangerous behavior in Rottweilers potentially results from irresponsible ownership, abuse, neglect, or lack of socialization. This tendency may extend towards other animals as well. Because of their size, power and weight, an aggressive rottweiler can cause a higher level of damage than a smaller, weaker dog. Often injuries and maulings occur when an owner or passerby tries to separate fighting dogs, or unintentionally triggers a guarding behavior in a dog. The portrayal of Rottweilers as evil dogs in several fictional films and TV series, most notably in The Omen, has added to their negative publicity and popularity among backyard breeders. Rottweilers are banned in many municipalities, some scattered countries, and are sometimes targeted as dangerous dogs by legislation, such as in the Netherlands. Many owners of Rottweilers are forced to obey state leash/muzzle laws, as in Germany, France and Venezuela. Rottweilers are not recommended for people who have little experience with dogs, or understand little about dog psychology and responsible canine ownership.

Health

The Rottweiler is a tough and hardy breed, but potential owners should be aware of known health issues that can affect this breed. Rottweilers are highly prone to be affected by serious diseases mainly to its hips. The most serious genetic health risks a Rottweiler faces are canine hip dysplasia (CHD), subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS), elbow dysplasia, and osteosarcoma. Other conditions which may affect this breed include hypothyroidism, gastric torsion (bloat), torn crucial ligament and allergies. Rottweiler owners should have their dogs' hips, elbows, heart, and eyes tested by a veterinarian before breeding. DNA tests should also be performed to screen for von Willebrand's disease (vWD). Rottweilers typically live between 10 and 11 years.

History

The breed is an ancient one, whose history stretches back to the Roman Empire. In those times, the legions traveled with their meat on the hoof and required the assistance of working dogs to herd the cattle. One route the army traveled was through Württemberg and on to the small market town of Rottweil. The principal ancestors of the first Rottweilers during this time was supposed to be the Roman war dog, local sheepdogs the army met on its travels, and dogs with molosser appearance coming from England and The Netherlands.

This region eventually became an important cattle area, and the descendants of the Roman cattle dogs proved their worth in both driving and protecting the cattle from robbers and wild animals. However, by the end of the 19th Century, the breed had declined so much that in 1900 there was only one female to be found in the town of Rottweil. The build up to World War I saw a great demand for police dogs, and that led to a revival of interest in the Rottweiler. In fact, in the mid 1990s, the popularity of the Rottweiler reached an all time high with it being the 2nd most registered dog by the AKC.

From that time the breed has become popular with dog owners, and in 1935 was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club. In 1936, Rottweilers were exhibited in Britain at Crufts. In 1966, a separate register was opened for the breed.

The first Rottweiler club in Germany, named DRK ("Deutscher Rottweiler-Klub" — German Rottweiler Club) was created the 13 January 1907, and followed by the creation of the SDRK ("Süddeutscher Rottweiler-Klub" — South German Rottweiler Club) on the 27 April 1907 and became the IRK (International Rottweiler Club). The DRK counted around 500 Rottweiler, the SDRK 3000 Rottweilers. The goals of the two clubs were different. The DRK wanted to produce working dogs and did not emphasize the morphology of the Rottweiler. The main stud dog of this club was Lord von der Teck. The IRK tried to produce a homogeneous morphology according to their standard. One of the main stud dogs of this club was Ralph von Neckar.

A popular misconception about the Rottweiler is that the breed was bred for dog fighting.

The Rottweiler in media

Richard Dawkins (noted atheist) has been referred to as "Darwin's Rottweiler" due to his defense of the Theory of Evolution.

Books

Bruiser, from the Burke series of novels by Andrew Vachss.Carl, from Good Dog, Carl."Hoot," from "Carl Hiaasen."Tracy Beaker's imaginary pet Rottweiler.Cupcake, from the Mercy Hollings series of novels by Toni Andrews

Film and television

In the UK tv series Dog Borstal  a pet rottweiler appears in a programMarylin Rexroth's guard dogs in the film Intolerable Cruelty.Reggie,  from Las Vegas.Arnold,  from Entourage.Cofi,&#

Care of the Rottweiler

The Rottweiler has a short and glossy coat that is relatively easy to groom. An average shedding breed, brushing with a firm bristle brush regularly should remove any excess hair or dead hairs. Bathing too often will remove the natural oils from the coat and/or skin. Dry shampooing is used by many Rottweiler owners as well as breeders so they are not to remove the essential oils in this breeds coat.
The Rottweiler has an outer coat that is short, straight, dense and of medium length. The coat should always be coarse to the touch. The undercoat should be present around the neck and thighs. Coat should never be wavy or curly. The Rottweiler has one of the most noticeable coats with the distinct black and bright rust coloring along their legs, underbelly and muzzle.

Training of the Rottweiler

Rottweilers are very eager to earn and will excel if given the opportunity. Obedience training is a must as this breed can become destructive without enough stimulation. A firm and dominant hand must be used when training this powerful breed. The Rottweiler is extremely intelligent and does well in many different sports and trials, but can also be stubborn. Obedience classes are recommended, but not always required.

Other information on the Rottweiler

The Rottweiler should have at least a large sized yard. They aren't really active indoors, so they need plenty of exercise outdoors, off lead preferably. This breed loves long walks and should have at least two long walks per day totaling at least two hours of exercise per day.

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