Rottweilers: everything you need to know

The Rottweiler: a somewhat controversial breed, these territorial powerhouses have certainly made quite a name for themselves over the years. It’s safe to say they’re not for everyone, or the faint hearted. But with strong leadership, consistent training and early socialization, Rottweilers can make loyal family pets and certainly successful working dogs.

Thriving on heaps of exercise, obedience training and herding challenges, Rottweilers are quick learners with minds that crave tasks, stimulation and the company of their pack. As one of the smartest breeds around, they take an equally strong-willed caregiver to keep them in line. So if you’re thinking about house sitting a Rottie or welcoming Rottweiler puppies into your life, read up before you decide where your next adventure will take you.

Rottweiler characteristics 

Origin: Germany (and their ancestors were popular in the Roman legions for protecting and moving their herds). Head to our section on Rottweiler history for the full story!

Size: Male Rottweilers grow up to 27 inches tall and weigh up to 135 pounds, while females grow up to 25 inches and weigh up to 100 pounds.

Character: Rottweilers are strong-willed, independent dogs. They can be aloof towards strangers (which is why they’re popular guard dogs), and can get aggressive towards them. With early socialization and consistent training though, Rottweilers can make for loyal family dogs, but should always be supervised around children.

Grooming: Your Rottweiler’s fur and teeth will need to be brushed once a week. Trim their nails around that too if they’re not worn down naturally. Brush especially regularly during their shedding seasons.

Health needs: Rottweilers are generally healthy dogs, but are prone to a few different health problems - take a look below for the full list.

Energy levels: Once adults, they’ll need up to two hours of exercise per day. Rottweilers will also need mental and social stimulation - without these basic needs being met, destructive behaviors may follow.

Training: While Rottweilers are intelligent dogs, they’re strong willed enough to act off their own accord. That’s why Rottweiler puppies need to be consistently trained and socialized under strong leadership so that they can grow into happy, friendly adults.

Intelligence: Highly intelligent.

Lifespan: 9-10 years.

Noise levels:  Rottweilers aren’t inherently noisy dogs, but will bark as a response to frustration or their environment.

Rottweiler appearance

Weighing up to 100 pounds and growing up to 25 inches tall, it’s safe to say that the Rottweiler’s stature lives up to their reputation. Stocky, sturdy and strong-looking, it’s no wonder these broad-chested hounds are categorized as ‘working dogs’ by the American Kennel Club.

Rottweilers are one of the most recognizable breeds - they’re large dogs with sizable skulls to match and a broad, up-turned grin. Probably most well-known about these powerhouses is their markings. Rottweilers are covered in a short, glossy coat that’s topped with patches that vary from rust to mahogany. Their markings are predictable, appearing in cute spots above their eyes, over their cheeks, on both left and right side of their muzzle, beneath their tail, across their chest and down their legs. 

Those famous tan markings are faintly there from birth, too. Rottweiler puppies are just as stocky and dumpy as you’d imagine - short-limbed and ever so slightly fluffier than their adult counterparts, these cuties are covered in black fur and recognizable Rottweiler markings over their body and face.

Rottweiler personality

There’s a bit of an elephant in the room - the Rottweiler temperament. Over the years, they’ve built up a reputation for aggressiveness, and have even been banned in some areas. Before deciding whether a Rottweiler is right for you or dismissing the breed altogether, it’s important to read up and tell fact from fiction. 

Rottweiler dogs have a naturally protective instinct and can be quite aggressive when feeling the need to protect their pack. When their tendencies towards protectiveness doesn’t kick in towards those they don’t know, they can simply come across as aloof - trust has to be earned with these dogs.

To raise Rottweiler puppies who can tell the difference between friend and foe, early, rigorous socialization and training is key. They’ll remain self-assured and probably a little aloof towards the outside world, but a well-trained Rottweiler can make a loyal, playful addition to your pack. Rottweilers are working dogs, so with the consistent training they need, firm leadership and a job to do, they can become an affectionate addition to your household.

What’s the ideal home for a Rottweiler?

Due to their history as guard dogs and the prejudice around them as aggressive, tough dogs, some might assume that Rottweilers are happier outside. In reality, it’s quite the opposite! Like any domesticated dog, Rottweilers like to feel they’re part of the pack, and one way to do that is to welcome them inside your home. 

When it comes to the home itself, a home with a garden big enough for your pup to run around in is important. They’re large dogs, so being stuck in a small space like an apartment is likely to encourage destructive behaviors like furniture scratching and barking.

Rottweilers also aren’t huge fans of extreme temperatures, which makes sense if we think about their history (take a look below to find out about their ancestors!). So, if you live in a seriously chilly environment or near a desert, welcoming Rottweiler puppies into your home isn’t the best idea.

Rottweilers also need to live in a home where they’ve got a role to play - as well-known guard dogs and herding dogs, these pups are used to having a purpose. So, if you’re thinking about adopting a Rottie, be sure to consider whether you’ve got the time that your new pup will need from you.

And despite their reputation, Rottweilers can get along well with children if they’re raised with them from puppyhood. Rotties will need strong leadership when it comes to teaching them what’s right and wrong around children. Sometimes without meaning to hurt little ones, Rotties can easily knock them over. Not only due to their sheer strength and size, but also because of their instinct to ‘bump’ children, in an effort to herd them. Plus, Rottweilers have a strong prey drive and could get over stimulated when children run and play. 

So, if you’re wondering whether a Rottie is right for your family, consider waiting until your children are large enough to not get knocked down every two minutes. And at whatever age, you should always supervise your Rottweiler with your children - never leave them alone together.

And when it comes to other pets, it’s important to introduce other animals with caution. While a well-trained adult Rottweiler can be aloof towards human strangers, they can be aggressive towards new dogs. With caution, care and strong leadership though, there’s nothing to say that Rottweilers can’t peacefully coexist with other dogs.

What’s the ideal human for a Rottweiler?

As you’ve probably figured by now, a happy, healthy Rottweiler will need to be raised by a firm but fair leader. These dogs have the confidence to make their own decisions, which makes sense if we think about their history. When protecting herds in Germany, butchers and farmers would need to rely on their dogs to make the right choices when keeping their stock in line. But it’s different for pet parents of today - you need a pooch who’ll follow your house rules and get on with your pack. So, to combat this self-assured nature, your Rottweiler will need to be given a strict set of rules that never waver.

As large ex-working dogs and police dogs, Rottweilers will need a pack that’s willing to exercise just as much as they do. These active pups love to swim and walk, plus they’ll thrive when challenged with herding, tracking and obedience. Rotties can put on weight easily, so it’s vital they get up to two hours of exercise per day to avoid obesity.

Along with daily exercise, your Rottie will also crave your company - if they’re left alone for too long, it’s likely they’ll become destructive. So, if you work away from home for hours on end each day, welcoming Rottweiler puppies into your life isn’t the best idea. And one last thing - Rottweilers are known for their snoring, so if you’re not willing to invest in ear plugs, a Rottie isn’t right for you!

Feeding a Rottweiler

Like with any dog - Rottweiler puppies and adults need a diet of high quality dog food that’s right for their age and any health issues they might be experiencing (see below for these). While raw diets and homemade diets are becoming more popular, know that your pooch can be perfectly healthy on high quality, commercially-available dog food. If you’re more of a DIY pet parent, be sure to run any homemade diet plans through with your vet. Why? Well the nutritional needs of your pup are far different from our own, so feeding your dog isn’t always as intuitive as it might seem at first. Partly due to their sheer size, Rottweiler dogs are prone to obesity, and can get there pretty easily with too much overeating. So, watch your pup’s portion sizes, and stick to them. 

You might also be wondering about giving your pup treats during training. Treats can be a great way to reinforce positive behavior in your dog, but know that too many will cause them to pile on the pounds. So to be on the safe side, choose lighter treats for your pup, and consider rewarding them with not only food, but also their favorite toys. 

And just one last thing on feeding your Rottweiler - if you’re ever concerned that your pooch is over or underweight, make an appointment with your vet. An unhealthy weight could be a sign of another, more serious health problem outside of their eating habits, so it’s important to get them checked out as soon as you can.

Grooming a Rottweiler

Despite their short, always glossy black coat, Rottweiler dogs do need a little grooming, but it’s nothing high maintenance. Before we get into their grooming needs, let’s talk a little about their coat itself. Rottweilers have a double coat - the overcoat is straight, coarse, medium in length and lays flat. Their coat sheds twice a year (usually in the spring and fall), so be sure to brush your pooch more regularly over that time to help release the fur (and to avoid following your Rottie around with a vacuum!). 

Now onto the day to day - brush your Rottweiler weekly to prevent shedding all over your house, and release any hair that’s ready to come out. Also bathe them on the regular, especially if you live in a particularly muddy or sandy area. You should also brush your pup’s teeth and trim their nails weekly, but if you’re not comfortable with doing this yourself, get your Rottweiler puppy used to trips to the groomers from a young age - socialization is key!

Training a Rottweiler

Rottweiler puppies will need to be trained and socialized as soon as you welcome them into your home. As you’ll know by now, Rottweilers can be aggressive and particularly self-assured if they don’t receive consistent training and socialization from a young age. So, be sure to find a puppy training class near you - it’ll help you to learn how to take charge as a firm yet fair leader while giving your Rottie time to meet new furry and human friends.

Due to their strong-minded nature, some pet parents might be inclined to be a little rough with their Rottie, but this approach will only encourage aggressive behavior. Instead, take a positive reinforcement approach to training, and give them the chance to experience as many new situations, pets and people as possible right from day dot.

And if their past as working dogs is anything to go by, it’s clear that Rottweilers always need a job to do, and need to be around their humans as much as possible. So, only welcome a Rottie into your home if you’re prepared to engage in canine sports, lots of exercise, and heaps of quality time with your four-legged companion.

Rottweiler health

If you decide to welcome a pup from a Rottweiler breeder, make sure they’re responsibly and ethically breeding dogs. Just one of the key things to know about your breeder is whether they have potential mother and father dogs tested for common Rottweiler health problems, so that these issues don’t get passed onto the next generation. In their health statement, the American Rottweiler Club recommends that dogs should get a hip evaluation, JLPP DNA test, elbow evaluation, cardiac exam and an ophthalmologist evaluation before breeding.

Rottweilers are generally healthy dogs, but like with any dog breed, they’re prone to a few different health problems. Not all dogs will experience all or any of these, but it’s worth getting in the know about them before deciding whether to welcome a Rottie into your home. Here are the common complications Rottweilers experience:

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Osteosarcoma 
• Gastric Dilatation-volvulus (GDV)/bloat/torsion
• Panosteitis
• Aortic Stenosis/Subaortic Stenosis (AS/SAS)
• Hypothyroidism
• Allergies

Rottweiler history

You’re in for a treat with the Rottweiler’s history - according to the American Kennel Club, it dates all the way back to the times of the Roman Empire. The ancestors of the pups we know and love today were once working dogs who accompanied the Roman legions to protect and move the herds the soldiers marched alongside. Originally Asian mastiff dogs, the Romans continued to breed these reliable hounds to work alongside them during their times of conquest. The Romans fought against multiple Germanic armies on the Roman Empire’s most northern borders, and it wasn’t just the armies that left their mark on these lands. It turns out that the mastiff dogs left behind by Roman soldiers were incorporated into the breeding in northern Europe.

Centuries after the Roman Empire’s collapse, the descendents of the mastiff dogs originally used by the Roman army were taken in by cattle farmers in the town of Rottweil. It was here that the dogs found work protecting and moving cattle from the fields to the market. While it may not have been amidst a war, the role these dogs played wasn’t dissimilar to the duties of their ancestors in the Roman army. During their time as working dogs in Rottweil, the German Rottweiler was born - the dogs earned their name Rottweiler Metzgerhund, which translates to Butcher’s Dog of Rottweil.

Their cattle work continued well into the 1800s, when they were made redundant by the railroad cattle cars. Still useful, strong and reliable working dogs, Rottweilers were taken in as police dogs, guard dogs and working dogs of a variety of heavy-duty roles. Since then, they’ve worked as guide dogs and even search and rescue workers.

Getting a Rottweiler

Due to various awful incidents, improper training and fear around the dog breed, there might be some restrictions to welcoming a Rottweiler into your home. In some areas, there are local restrictions around having a Rottweiler, while others have completely banned the breed. So, if you’re thinking about becoming a pet parent to a Rottie, be sure to find out your local laws first.

Once you’ve decided that welcoming a Rottweiler into your home is right for you, carefully consider whether going down the breeder or Rottweiler rescue is the best option for you. While rescue is always encouraged as many pups are left without forever homes, there is a risk involved in Rottweiler adoption. Depending on the pup’s age and background, they might have already been socialized and trained, or not at all. So, be sure to find out as much as you can about your prospective pup’s past before welcoming them home. The training and socialization that Rottweilers have from their puppy years strongly determines their temperament and character as an adult, so be sure to make an informed choice before saying yes to a new pooch.

If you decide that approaching a breeder is right for you, make sure they’re reputable. There are many Rottweiler breeders out there that will breed their dogs, no matter whether they’re carrying genetic diseases or not. So, make sure they’re practicing ethically before you say yes to an adorable Rottweiler puppy.

Recently welcomed home your own Rottweiler puppy? Explore over 200+ Rottweiler names for your new pooch right here.

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