Rottweiler: description of the breed, standards, training, character, features of keeping at home

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Russian media often write about this dog, and, as a rule, in a negative format. She is called aggressive, angry, uncontrollable, capable of attacking and causing serious injury to a person for no apparent reason. A powerful, strong, harmoniously built dog will not make anyone want to pat him on the withers or treat him with some kind of treat.

Rottweiler owners have a completely different opinion. They consider their pets to be smart, infinitely loyal animals that never show unmotivated aggression, get along well with all household members, including children. Which of these statements is true and which is fiction - we will try to find out in this article.

A bit of history

Despite the fact that the description of the Rottweiler breed can be found in almost all publications on cynology, history has not preserved information about where this dog came from to Germany. There is a version that the coal-black molossians settledlater in Europe, are the offspring of the Tibetan Mastiff. Some researchers of the breed believe that the ancestors of the black Rottweiler were aboriginal dogs and dogs of the Phoenicians.

According to another version, the history of the breed originates in Rome, but from shepherd breeds. Interestingly, historical documents mention dogs that look very much like Rottweilers. They participated in the Seven Years' War, one of the largest conflicts of the 18th century.

It is easy to guess that the name of the breed comes from the German town of Rothville, although it is believed that these dogs have two homelands. By the time the breed was born, two types of large black dogs lived in the vicinity of Rothville. Some of them were muscular and powerful - they were mainly used to transport heavy loads, but they were not suitable for helping shepherds: they fell during the haul from fatigue, and when angry, they could seriously damage the cattle.

The second species was much smaller, faster and more enduring. They were used by shepherds. Judging by the description of Rottweilers in dog guides, the second homeland of this breed is the town of Rottenburg. The basis of its economy was also cattle breeding. It is interesting that the butchers of this city were not averse to “sip” after hard work. It would be more accurate to say that most of the city's men suffered from alcoholism, and feasts often ended in brawls and disappeared wallets. To save their money, butchers put cash in special wallets that were hung around the necks of Rottweilers: not a single sane person tried to rob a four-legged helper.

In the 19th century, rail transport began to be widely used in Germany, dogs were replaced by calmer and more enduring donkeys. The number of Rottweilers was dying out, melting literally before our eyes. When the Germans realized that they had actually exterminated the valuable breed, and began to think about its restoration, only a few purebred Rottweilers remained in the country. Only one dog was presented at the national cynological exhibition, and its purebredness caused serious doubts among specialists. At that time, there were no breeders in the country who were ready to do such a difficult job as restoring the breed.

Only at the beginning of the 20th century Rottweilers received their second birth. Numerous breed clubs began to appear. The abilities of these strong and hardy dogs came in handy in the police. After the war (1941-1945) the National Breed Club (ADRK) kept the bulk of the dog population. Today, ADRK works closely with the FCI, but is not subordinate to it.

The standard of the Rottweiler breed, the refinement of its exterior, the work to strengthen the psyche of animals, the preservation of working qualities are controlled and dictated by ADRK.

External Features

It should be noted that the FCI and ADRK breed standards differ somewhat in wording, but due to the fact that the organizations work closely together, the description of the Rottweiler breed in these documents is identical. If you are not too familiar with the characteristics of these animals, you should refer to the FCI standard, as it is intended for a wide range, including hobbyists.

AdultRottweiler is a large or very large animal with a strong skeleton, well-developed muscles, not very long limbs, a strong head proportional to the body. The weight indicated in the standard must be taken into account as a guideline. When assessing the external data of an animal, the growth and proportions of the body in relation to it are more important.

The weight of a male Rottweiler is 50 kg, height ranges from 61 to 68 cm. Bitches are slightly smaller: weight - 42 kg, height - from 56 to 63 cm. The main proportion that judges take into account when evaluating an animal at shows is length body to height at the withers: it should not be more than 15%. The body of the Rottweiler is powerful and strong. In a dog in a stance, it clearly fits into a rectangle. The neck is muscular, rather wide, of medium length with a bend. Wrinkles and dewlap on the neck are considered a fault. The sternum is voluminous, the ribs are well developed, convex. The pronounced withers are massive, turning into a flat, wide and strong back. Too straight or sloping croup is a serious fault.

Limbs

The front paws of the dog are set slightly wider than the line of the body, wide, strong and even. The shoulder blades are set at 45 °, the forearms are adjacent to the sternum, powerful. The elbows are tightly pressed to the chest, not littered or twisted, pasterns are strong and springy. The hind legs are slightly drawn back, set fairly wide. The thighs are muscular, the hocks are strong and flexible. The back toes are slightly longer than the front.

Head

Large but in proportion to the body. Forehead moderately convex, wide, dividedshallow furrow. The transition from the forehead to the muzzle is well expressed, which is equal in length to the frontal part and tapers towards the nose, but without points. The muscles of the head are well developed, the silhouette is emphasized by wide cheekbones. Lips do not fit very tightly, but do not sag. The teeth are even, large, complete. Scissor bite without gap. Both jaws are strong and wide.

The nose is black, slightly elongated with developed nostrils. Eyes - almond-shaped, large, with black edging on the eyelids. The irises are dark brown. The ears are semi-erect, turned forward, triangular in shape with rounded tips, medium in size, set wide apart.

Wool

In accordance with the description of the Rottweiler breed in the standards, the dog's coat is short, two-layered with a coarse awn, uniform in length, very dense. The coat is somewhat longer only on the hind legs, shorter on the ears and muzzle. The undercoat is thin and dense. It is completely covered by the outer hair.

Color

From time to time there are reports of golden, white and black Rottweilers being born in the dog publications. Such animals are an exception: they are culled and are not allowed for breeding. According to the standard, the color of the Rottweiler is only black and tan, without white spots or any other marks.

Yellow-red tan markings are strictly outlined according to the pattern typical for this breed: cheeks, eyebrows, neck, muzzle, knee-highs, chest, area under the tail.

Rottweiler personality

What do they say aboutthis animal owners? Judging by the reviews, the Rottweiler is endowed with an ideal character: friendly to familiar people and a calm dog. Such a pet does not bother the owner during the rest, but peacefully procrastinates his toy, without distracting anyone. Interestingly, these dogs always know how to entertain themselves. Even a Rottweiler puppy does not tend to gnaw on the corner of the sofa or the master's slippers, you will not find destruction in the house from a pet left alone for the whole day.

By nature, these are pronounced optimists, merry fellows and sanguine people. Dogs of this breed have a unique sense of humor and are very fond of participating in noisy and active games. They do not have a manic desire to dig holes or damage flower beds on the site, they do not see intruders in any passerby.

The character of the Rottweiler allows you to keep an animal in the city: once in a crowd of people, the dog behaves completely calmly, carefully examines passers-by. However, if someone attacks their owner, do not expect mercy from this dog. The power of these animals is so great that ill-wishers do not have a single chance to escape, and the swiftness of the attack of a truly angry Rottweiler can stop even a crowd of intruders.

Due to the high level of intelligence, this dog is easy to train. The Rottweiler instantly remembers commands, really wants to please and please his master, loves to work very much. When kept at home, the Rottweiler is happy to carry bags from the store, ride children on a sled, perfectly understands words and whole phrases,addressed to him. The more often the owner speaks, communicates with his pet, the higher the intelligence of the animal becomes. To other pets that live in the house, this dog is quite friendly. At the same time, it is very important to show your four-legged friend in time that you will not tolerate quarrels and fights in the house.

Rottweilers may be aggressive towards their own breed or larger animals when walking. They do not take small dogs seriously as opponents, they treat them completely indifferently or kindly. It must be said that the character of the female Rottweiler is softer and more pliable. They are best for beginner dog breeders who have no experience with such large animals.

Care and feeding

Caring for a Rottweiler is easy due to its relative smooth coat: the dog almost does not shed, but from time to time it needs to be combed out with a stiff brush to prevent the appearance of wool in the apartment. Otherwise, grooming a dog involves the usual procedures: regular examination of the eyes and ears and cleaning them with cotton swabs dipped in water.

If everything is very clear with the care of an animal, then special attention should be paid to feeding such a pet. What to feed a Rottweiler? Every day, such a dog eats quite a lot, while trying to be cunning and get food for itself in all available ways: if a Rottweiler finds food lying unattended, you can assume that it was never there.

If you consider that Rottweilers are not very active whenkept at home, it is easy to assume that they are prone to obesity. Therefore, a balance is needed. The diet should be based on the recommendations of the veterinarian, especially if you decide to feed your pet with natural food. As for ready-made dry food, they contain all the necessary vitamins, minerals, substances necessary for the growth and development of the animal. Only the owner, after consulting with the veterinarian and after listening to the recommendations of the breeder, should decide how to feed his pet - natural food or ready-made food.

Training

Training a Rottweiler can have several directions: protection of the territory, escort of the owner, grazing, and also hunting. At first, the dog can show leadership qualities, so during this period it is better to turn to professional cynologists who will help you get through this stage easier. Even without professional training, Rottweilers by nature are wonderful watchmen and guards. Excellent hearing and excellent coordination in space will not allow an unwanted guest to pass unnoticed.

At home, it is easy to teach a dog simple things aimed at the safety of the animal itself while protecting the territory entrusted to it. The owner should take into account that dogs of this breed have a somewhat delayed reaction. In other words, the transition from one state to another is slower for them. You need to know this in order not to get annoyed during training. Otherwise, there is a high risk of unknowingly developing bad habits in the animal, for example, aggression.

Having given the command to the dog, wait for it to be carried out. You should not move on to the next one until the previous one has been studied. Jumping from one team to another will only confuse the animal. In this case, for a dog of this breed, the command will lose its meaning, and the Rottweiler will refuse to fulfill it. If your pet does something wrong, it does not mean that he is not smart enough or naughty. In most cases, this is the result of improper training of the Rottweiler.

During classes, monitor the mental and physical condition of the animal. Any unusual behavior of the dog (excessive excitability or anxiety) should be a reason to skip the lesson, allowing the animal to rest. In case of Rottweiler illness, training is continued only two weeks after the animal has recovered.

Communicate with the dog in a language that is well understood by her, indicating the need to complete the task. Commands should be clear and short, with a certain intonation. Rewarding a correctly completed task will tell the Rottweiler that he will be rewarded if he obeys. Do not deceive the dog during training. Commanding a Rottweiler to "walk" and giving a shot instead is likely to lose the animal's trust. Training will turn into a heavy burden for the owner and his pet.

Choosing a puppy

Probably not worth saying that such a dog is not worth buying at the bird market if you want to have a purebred and he althy animal. It is best to contact a specialized nursery, where the baby will be provided with good care,the necessary vaccinations were carried out and all the necessary documents were issued.

Pay attention to the conditions in which adult animals and puppies are kept. The room must be dry, clean, free of unpleasant odors. Look at the parents of the baby: you can imagine what your adult pet will look like.

The best age to buy a Rottweiler puppy is 2-3 months. At this time, rock defects and shortcomings are already clearly visible. In addition, this age is most favorable for introducing a four-legged family member to a new home. When choosing a puppy, pay attention to the cleanliness of his ears and eyes, and also to ensure that the baby does not have an umbilical hernia. Males should have fully descended testicles. The skin should be clean, without any rash.

Prepare for your pet's arrival in your home. Despite the fact that the owner's bed is the best sleeping place for a Rottweiler puppy, this should not be encouraged. The dog must have and know its place. If you allow a charming baby to do what he wants several times, then the owner will very quickly lose his authority, and the animal will become uncontrollable.

In addition to the mat for sleeping, the puppy should have bowls for food and water, toys. Anyone who wants to get a Rottweiler puppy needs to know that at first the puppy will need a lot of attention from the owner, so if everyone in your family works, you need to take a vacation in advance.

Lifespan

How long do Rottweilers live? This question worries everyone who plans to start suchsmart, strong and beautiful dog. The lifespan of these animals is affected by their size. It is known that all large dogs do not live very long. On average, their life expectancy is between 10 and 12 years.

Knowing how long Rottweilers live, the owner, who provided his pet with a balanced diet and feasible physical activity, will be able to extend this period to 15-18 years. Be sure to follow the vaccination schedule. This will protect the animal from dangerous diseases.

We have presented you with a description of the Rottweiler breed. If you need a faithful and devoted friend and protector, then the Rottweiler is the best fit for this role. He will remain faithful to his master until his last breath and stand up for him in any situation.

Owner Reviews

Overwhelmingly, owners are very happy with their pets. In the first months of life, a puppy needs a lot of time and attention. Families with small children should not get such a dog: under no circumstances will a Rottweiler rush at a child, but given the size of the animal, it can be assumed that in the game the dog can accidentally push the baby, and he will hit hard.

All your worries about the little Rottweiler will be more than compensated when your pet becomes a big, strong and loyal friend.