Once nearly extinct, the Rottweiler has become one of the most popular dog breeds. The Rottweiler is, perhaps also, one of the most misunderstood. Like the mythical Greek hero Hercules, the Rottweiler is strong and true, with a loving heart. Affectionately called Rotties or Rotts, a well-bred Rottweiler is calm and confident. He’s a natural guard dog with a mellow disposition who is successful, not only in police and military work, but also as a family friend and protector.
Today we discuss the active, intelligent, muscular, and confident Rottweiler.
10. Rottweilers are one of the most ancient breeds. Rottweilers, a working dog breed, descended from the Molossus, a mastiff-type dog, which marched to Germany with the Romans, driving the cattle that sustained them, as they conquered the known world. Many were left behind and, in the town of Rottweil in southern Germany, they became the breed we know today. Rottweilers were working dogs from the start, driving cattle to market, pulling carts, guarding the homestead, and even carrying money to and from the market in money belts tied around their necks.
9. The Rottweiler had almost gone extinct near the turn of the 20th century when smaller dogs took over many of their functions and were easier to maintain. Luckily, dedicated breeders revived the breed, and it ranks as one of the most popular breeds in the United States today. A best-selling series of beautifully-illustrated children’s books, by Alexandra Day, is about a Rottweiler named Carl and his adventures. Titles include Good Dog, Carl, Carl’s Birthday and Carl’s Afternoon in the Park. You can find links in the description below.
8. They Are Known for Their Affection and Loyalty. While they may appear intimidating at first, Rottweilers are known by their owners to be fiercely loving, loyal, affectionate and even playful. Despite their large size, Rottweilers haven’t the slightest idea that they may be hard to cuddle with so don’t be surprised when yours tries desperately to climb into your lap. Keep in mind, though, that the breed tends to be reserved when confronted with strangers and proper training from early puppyhood is necessary to teach them social skills and harness their natural, protective instincts.
7. Even if you train and socialize your Rottweiler, expect to be subjected to sometimes unfair advance judgments about your dog, maybe even having untrue allegations made about him and his activities. Because of the current prejudice against dogs such as Rottweilers and claims that they can be dangerous, you may have to carry extra liability insurance to own one, depending upon the ordinances in your town. In some areas, you may not even be able to own a Rottweiler or may be forced to give up any that you have. This is called breed-specific legislation, the blanket term for laws that either regulate or ban certain dog breeds, often based on fear and media hype.
6. The official Rottweiler Breed Standard was established in 1921 and has remained largely unchanged since then. The Rottweiler Breed Standard usually describes them as being a ‘medium to large-sized dog’. Today many people think of the Rottweiler breed as a ‘giant breed’ and some breeders strive unwisely to breed extra-large dogs. According to the standard, a male Rottie should measure between 24 and 27 inches (at the shoulder), and a female between 22 and 23 inches. Weight should fall somewhere between 75 and 130 lbs. Females being toward the lower end of the range.
5. Everyone knows a celeb’s best friend is their pet – and rightly so. The Rott has gained considerable popularity in the celebrity world. Some celebs who’ve had Rottie companions include Will Smith, LEONARDO DICAPRIO, BRUNO MARS, MILEY CYRUS and Sir Elton John. Hey, check us out on Twitter and Facebook. Links can be found below. 4. Rottweiler life span is on the shorter end of the scale, partly because of their size and partly because of the health problems this breed is predisposed to. The average life expectancy for a Rottweiler is somewhere between 7 and 10 years.
3. Rottweilers shed – A LOT! They may have a short coat that looks like it’s wash-n-wear, but don’t let that fool you. You’ll need to groom your Rottie regularly and loose dog hair will become a part of your life. Rottweilers are always black with the same brown markings on their chest, face, and paws. According to the American Kennel Club, the brown spots can come in three different variations: Rust, tan, and mahogany.
2. Thanks to the Rotties history as a herder, the dog has a habit of bumping into people, animals, and things when it wants them to fall in line. While trained Rottweilers are gentle, breeders don’t recommend the dogs for households with young children or the elderly.
1. Thanks to their large head, Rottweilers have an impressively strong bite. Their jaws are stronger than German shepherds and pit bulls with a bite force of 328 pounds that’s about half of a sharks bite force, at 669 pounds. Well, there ya have it.
Ten impressive facts about a misunderstood breed. What other facts could we have included? What’s YOUR favourite dog breed? Let us know in the comments below.