Bad Dog? The Rottweiler Reputation

Article Title: Bad Dog? The Rottweiler Reputation
Author: Sharon A Davies

The modern day Rottweiler dog breed developed in Rottweil,
Germany and is named for that city. The breed had experienced a
decline in popularity in the 1800s so much that only one
Rottweiler was shown in the Heilbronn, Germany dog show in 1882.
In 1901, a Rottweiler Club was formed in Germany and by 1935 the
breed had been recognized by the American Kennel Club as a
purebred member of the working dog group.

The Rottweiler has an illustrious though unconfirmed history.
The breed is thought have descended from Roman mastiff dogs
almost two thousand years ago. These dogs were a viable part of
the conquering Roman army. They were used to herd cattle to feed
the army and also as watchdogs. By 700 A.D., the Romans had been
ousted from the city of "das Rote Wil" (the red tile) but
ancestors of their dogs remained and were used as beasts of
burden and for herding in the city, which later became Rottweil,
Germany.

The Rottweiler was once the most popular family dog in America.
Currently, they are in the top five but reports of bad behavior
have made many potential owners wary of the breed. Tales of
aggressive and even violent behavior are due in large part to
bad owners, not bad dogs. Rottweilers have inherent personality
traits that can manifest in negative behavior if they do not
receive proper care and training from an early age.

Surprisingly, the American Kennel Club, which judges purebred
dogs on not just physical traits but also behavioral
characteristics, defines the breed standard for Rottweilers as
calm, confident, and courageous. Rottweilers are actually known
more for their laid-back nature than aggression. Problems in
behavior may stem from Rottweiler dogs' natural tendency to
protect their owners and families. These dogs can become
aggressive with other dogs and that is also recognized in the
breed standard. However, aggression becomes violence when
Rottweilers feel that they or their families are being
threatened. Potential for violence is enhanced if their owners
either early in life or as adults mistreat dogs and also when no
training has been completed.

Potential Rottweiler dog buyers should research the breed
before buying. Rottweilers are large, strong, active dogs and
they require adequate room to run, loving discipline, and the
opportunity to be put to work. Rottweiler buyers should also
research Rottweiler breeders. Buying a purebred dog of any kind
is a tricky business and there are many unethical breeders in
the market to make money. There are several signs to look for in
a good Rottweiler dog breeder. All good breeders should maintain
a clean, adequate kennel, allow visits so potential buyers can
see the environment where puppies are raised, interview the
buyer to determine whether puppy and buyer are a good match,
provide pedigree and other registration papers, provide medical
records, have puppies and parents evaluated for genetic
disorders common to the breed. Breeders should also be willing
to provide advice, Rottweiler information, and training tips and
will have buyer sign a contract to give the dog back to the
breeder if the buyer cannot keep the dog

About The Author: Sharon Davies has owned several large dogs
including German Shepherds and is a supporter of large dogs
including the Rottweiler dog breed. The
http://www.officialrottweilerguide.com/ may have descended from
mastiff-type dogs in ancient Rome. The Rottweiler dog is
renowned for positive and negative personality traits. In this
article http://www.officialrottweilerguide.com/Rottweiler.php is
provided. The behavioral traits of the Rottweiler dog breed are
also explained.

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