Author: Dan Stevens
Getting to know your dog starts by getting to know its breed,
and that includes getting a better idea about its appearance,
personality, and health requirements. Here's what you need to
know about the Rottweiler:
The Rottweiler dog, often referred to as a "Rottie," is an
amazing creature that has been given a bad name over the years
due to it getting into the wrong hands. This large dog is
indeed powerful and robust but also sweet and eager to please.
The Rottweiler originated from Germany although it has also been
linked to Roman Empire days as well. With people traveling long
distances with cattle, this breed of dog was helpful with
herding duties, along with protection from prey or robbers.
Sometime around the end of the 19th century, the Rottweiler's
popularity had dramatically declined. However, with the start
of WWII, this breed's popularity level again began to climb, as
the need for a strong, obedient, and intelligent dog was needed
for police work. The Rottweiler fit the need perfectly. But
something else happened. People also discovered that this
breed of dog had an extremely loving and loyal side, which now
made them a popular choice for families. By 1935, the American
Kennel Club had official recognized the breed for show.
Sadly, we still see bad publicity associated with this breed of
dog - not because the breed is ferocious or evil but because
irresponsible owners get their hands on the breed, sometimes
teaching them to fight. All of this has caused a serious
misunderstanding about the Rottweiler, which is a real shame.
The truth is that while this breed does tend to be protective,
if the dog is socialized young, handled with a firm hand, and
introduced to various situations it will make a wonderful,
devoted pet that is great with children and other animals.
Physical Appearance
This breed of dog looks strong, proud, and almost like royalty.
The Rottweiler is black with beautiful tan markings on the
muzzle, cheeks, chest, eyebrows, and legs. When you look
closely at the chest markings, you would notice upside-down
triangles. Sometimes, a Rottweiler will also have a small
patch of white in between these triangles. For a family pet,
this marking is fine but for showing, it is not. Then, the
breed's muzzle would be tan, with the color going down the
throat. Over each eye, there would be a brown dot, which
serves as the eyebrows. Other markings include any color on
the leg not going up more than one-third, each toe should have
a small black mark, and the area under the tail would be tan.
The Rottweiler also has black nails and there are even black
splotches on the inside of the mouth. The one most prominent
feature of this breed is the head, which appears to be a little
over-sized. Giving the dog its look of being alert, the
forehead is wrinkly. This dog also has teddy bear eyes, often
with a calm but alert expression. In comparison to the head,
the Rottweiler has small ears, laid close to the head. Even
the coat of this breed is special, being of medium length with
an undercoat that is waterproof.
Although a Rottweiler is born with a tail, these are generally
docked extremely short. The reason is that Rottweilers used
for working can have problems with the tail breaking and then
getting infected from being in the field. In most cases, a
reputable veterinarian will perform the minor surgery while the
dog is still in the puppy stage, which allows less pain and a
quicker healing.
Finally, this particular breed has a broad, strong chest.
Because of the extra room, the lungs have much more capacity
than that of other dog breeds. According to the American
Kennel Club, the dog's back needs to be straight (no sloping)
and for males, a height of 24 to 27 inches with the female
hitting about 22 to 25 inches. Weight also varies, males
averaging around 110 pounds with females around 95.
Temperament and Personality
If a Rottweiler is socialized when young, introduced to various
situations, loved, played with, fed properly, exercised, and
trained, it would make an outstanding addition to just about
any home. However, because there are strong personality
traits, people have taken an innocent dog, teaching them to
guard drug houses, and even attack people.
Yes, the Rottweiler can be a little stubborn sometimes, even
those carefully raised but overall, this dog is calm and they
live off the attention of owners. The size and strength of the
breed makes them a great watchdog. Even though this dog does
not bark often, when feeling threatened or afraid, the powerful
voice is heard. Keep in mind that this is a strong breed so you
want the Rottweiler to be handled by an experienced dog owner.
Health
Fortunately, the Rottweiler does not have too many health
problems. The things you want to keep your eyes open for or
even have the puppy of interest tested for would include Hip
and/or Elbow Dysplasia, Bloat, various forms of cancer,
Inflammatory Bowel Disorder, Von Willebrand's Disease, thyroid
problems such as Hypothyroidism, and eye problems. Also keep an
eye on their weight.
About The Author: Daniel Stevens is the renowned dog trainer
and author of SitStayFetch, a leading dog training guide having
sold over 21,000 copies. See
http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/dogbreeds/rottweiler.php
for more on dog breeds.
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