Rottweiler

Most kennel clubs class the Rottweiler as a "working dog". Despite that utilitarian name, nowadays the great majority of the members of this breed are kept as pets (companion dogs). None-the-less, well-bred specimens retain the qualities that made them suitable for the traditional work that Rottweilers were bred to perform. That work, now and in past centuries, has included guarding and herding cattle, and police work. The strength, protectiveness, and herding instinct in this breed allow for employment in guard, search and rescue work, as cart-pullers, and as livestock herders. The strong affections of the Reitweiler for "its people", and natural protectiveness of this powerful dog has also made it relatively popular among the working breeds as a family companion dog.

History of the breed

The breed was probably originally used to herd cattle. The legendary origin of the Rottweiler is that its ancestors were the Roman legions' canine cattle drovers- in particular, dogs left behind in what had been the Roman Provinces in Germany, in about 200 AD. One Roman army encampment on the Meckar River, in what became the state of Swabia in Southern Germany, flourished as a trading center, and came to be called Rottweil (for "red tiled roofs"). Oral history has it that, in this area, the Roman cattle dogs were interbred with local dogs and used to drive cattle until the coming of the railroads. With rail transport established, driving of cattle across the land was forbidden. Apparently, the butchers of Rottweil used their dogs to herd cattle to market locally; then, after the cattle were slaughtered, the dogs pulled the butcher's carts to deliver the meat. When the beef was sold, the money was put in a purse tied around the dogs' necks to keep it safe, and the empty carts were pulled back to the business place.

Are these legends true? There is no doubt that ancient dogs existed in Rome, and that dogs that looked very much like those depicted in Roman artwork were found in the 19th century Germany, in the regions that had once been settled by the ancient romans. The legends, then, may be true- but are not fact. Canine genes bestowing that same physical appearance might be procurred from the right mix of other dogs,and so the link between the old Roman herding mastiffs and the modern German dog could only be proven with a record of continuous pedigree, one that established a direct line through thousands of generations. This evidence will never be available, as Rottweiler stud books only go back to the early 20th century. Canine pedigrees were not recorded, as far as anyone knows, until the late 19th century. There are no records, in artwork or documents, that indicate these dogs existed through midieval times in Germany. So, whether these modern German dogs that so resemble the dogs in the art of Ancient Rome are descendents of those Roman dogs is likely to remain unproven. Doubtless, though, this breed was found in Rottweil, Germany; a part of Ancient Rome, in th epast, and an area used to breed cattle.

Location of the town of Rottweil in Germany

Rottweilers were a rare breed in Germany in the early part of the 20th century, not as established or poulous there as the German Shepherd Dog (called also the Alsatian) or Doberman Pinscher. Those latter two breeds were used especially for police work. However the breed became recognized for special excellence in police work.

In the UK, the breed was first shown at Cruft's in 1936, and in 1966 a separate register was opened for them. In the USA, the American Kennel Club (AKA) first registered the breed in 1931. It became a very popular breed by the 1990's, when it was in the AKC's top ten breeds registered annually for nearly a decade.

Robust and muscular, these dogs are not squat. Large, but not giant, they are typically 55-69 cm high at the shoulder, and weigh between 90-110 pounds. Rottweilers show what is called sexual dimorphism, there are “two forms”, one each sex (or gender). Male Rottweilers are generally taller and heavier, and there are also differences in the facial features. Female Rottweilers are not delicate, but do have a more feminine appearance than males.

A black coat with red-brown markings in a characteristic mask is a hallmark of the breed. There are three accepted shades of the reddish contrasting color: Mahogany, Rust, and Tan.

The Rottweiler's tail was traditionally docked in Germany, but, currently docking of the tail is not advocated in the European Union, In the United States, the tail is routinely amputated. .

Field Tests

Although Rottweilers are not classed as herding dogs, they can often be trained to be good herd dogs, and are eligible for field competition in livestock herding by the AKC.

A dangerous dog?

Rottweilers are very strong dogs, easily able to knock a full-grown and muscular man to the ground. This strength makes the dog an excellent police dog, as well as rescue dog – with the right training. Rotties are predisposed to inherit a territorial instinct and to discriminate between known "family" and "strangers'. The breed is also known for its intelligence, and is characterized as one of the breeds of dogs that is able to learn commands after only a few trials.

Its temperament, in combination with physical prowress, make the dog a natural watchdog for the home. However, when the dog is not properly socialized these very same attributes can cause serious injuries and even death to human beings who approach the dog in its territory without an "introduction" from the owner. A good and typical specimen of the breed has the physical power of body and limb to bring down a man, a lacerating bite, and an instinctual capability of attacking large prey in a lethal manner.

Rottweillers pose a danger that smaller and weaker dogs do not. A toy terrier may regularly threaten, and even snap at or nip, visitors to the home. That behavior may be annoying, but a 120 lb rottweiler behaving in the same way would not be perceived in the same manner, and, if allowed to nip, would be more than an annoyance. The organized clubs of the rottweiler fancy throughout the world urge responsible ownership of these dogs, which includes a commitment to socialization of puppies and to obedience training.

Birth, growth and development of puppies

The first 6 weeks

Further reading

• The New Rottweiler by Jim Pettengell ISBN 0-7938-0080-3

External Links

• American Kennel Club: Rottweiler Breed Standard
• American Rottweiler club
• UK Rottweiler Club [1]
• Rottweiler Discussion Forums