Rottweilers are very popular in India and they are readily available here. They are moderately tolerant towards heat and can survive in the harsh hot climate of the country. But, they are not an ideal choice for a first-time dog owner as they require a good amount of handling and training. They also require a much bigger space for them as they are fairly large in size, hence, small apartments or houses which are common in India might not be suitable for the Rotties. But, a dedicated owner/trainer that can provide a reasonable amount of space for Rottweilers can help the Rott in adapting and getting trained easily.
The official breed standards for Rottweilers were established in 1921. These standards usually describe them as ‘medium to large sized dog’. They are very well built with a robust structure and a powerful body. General breed standards are given below:
According to the standard, a male Rottie should measure between 24 & 27 inches (at the shoulder), and a female between 22 & 25 inches. Weight should fall somewhere between 45-60 kg for the males and females being toward the lower end of the range, generally weigh anywhere between 35-48 kg.
|
GENDER |
WEIGHT |
HEIGHT |
|
MALE |
45-60 kg |
24-27 inch |
|
FEMALE |
35-48 kg |
22-25 inch |
Rottweilers have a flat-lying dense coat of medium length. Their coat requires no trimming and is quite short on legs, head and ear region. A Rottweiler’s coat is mostly found in black color with distinct rust markings on the various parts of the body like throat, forelegs, around each side of the muzzle, over the eyes and more.
Rottweilers are quite a well-built breed of dogs that are very powerful and strong. Their chest is broad and deep followed by a straight and solid back. The neck region is decently muscular without any loose skin. Their legs are sturdy and bony with thick and hard pads supporting from underneath.
Their head is of medium length with average sized eyes which are commonly found in dark brown color. When the Rottie is alert, some wrinkling might appear on the forehead region.
Rottweilers have a strong jaw region. The muzzle is straight with a broader base and ends in a well-developed chin. They have 42 teeth in total (20 upper, 22 lower) which are precisely placed in the mouth region.
The Rottweiler is a highly intelligent and compliant breed with a good nature and courageous personality. They act fearless towards any aggressor and also alerts their master in case of any intruders. Rotties will protect and defend their owner in case of any harm. They are good-natured, devoted and obedient breeds and are steady and fearless. Key temperamental traits of Rottweilers are:
Commonly known as Rottie or Rott, the Rottweiler received its name from a German town called Rottweil. Their history dates back to Roman empire as they are believed to be the descendants of Roman drover dogs. Back then, they were used for herding cattle.
After successfully surviving and developing for such a long time, Rottweilers have now become one of the most popular pets in the world. They are among the most loyal and loving breeds but are often the most misunderstood dog breeds also. They are unfairly judged due to their sheer stature and built.
Rottweilers are moderately adaptable and require low maintenance and grooming. They are quite easy to handle, if trained properly, and requires a modest amount of exercise to maintain their shape and health. They are less prone to health issues but still requires some level of cautionary attention.
The Rottweiler is a very bright and trainable breed with a good amount of watchdog ability. They are cooperative and eager to learn but, the trainer must be calm, consistent, fair and firm. The obedience training is an absolute requirement but it also yields some sweet results in the form of its watchdog ability.
Rottweilers can be distinguished on the basis of their appearance and structure. And, as a result of that, they can be divided into various types:
All these different types of Rotties have slight differences between each other in the appearance front. Some might be tall and leggy, others might be bony and heavy, but all the core characteristics of all these different Rottweilers remains the same.
Rottweilers are mainly found in three colors which Black, tan and mahogany. Rare occurrences of blue color are also found in some cases.
Generally, Rottweilers are fairly easily available in India and it is quite hard to tell or predict the type (above mentioned) of Rottweiler because of how trivial the differences are. Also, black and tan/rust colored Rotties are very common in the country.
|
Adaptability |
*** |
Sensitivity Level |
**** |
|
Affection Level |
*** |
Potential for mouthiness |
*** |
|
Apartment Friendly |
*** |
Drooling Potential |
**** |
|
Barking Tendencies |
** |
Energy Level |
**** |
|
Friendly towards dogs |
* |
Health Issues |
*** |
|
Friendly towards other animals |
*** |
Intelligence |
**** |
|
Child Friendly |
** |
Playfulness |
*** |
|
Exercise Needs |
*** |
Shedding Level |
*** |
|
Grooming |
* |
Social Needs |
***** |
|
Good for novice owners |
* |
Stranger Friendly |
* |
|
Trainability |
*** |
Watchdog Ability |
***** |
|
Tolerates Heat |
*** |
Tolerates Cold |
** |
A full grown Rottie can weigh up to 60 kgs, hence, it requires a considerable amount of dog food to maintain its health and energy. But, it is also required to be careful while feeding the dog so that it might not become over-weight as that may lead to some health issues.
Rottweilers require a decent amount of exercise to be in good shape. A daily walk for about 15 – 20 minutes combined with other physical tasks like playing in parks, running etc. will do the trick. Apart from physical exercises, a Rottie also requires some mental exercises that help to increase its intelligence and other abilities. Obedience training can come in handy during his mental growth.
Every dog requires some degree of training to be able to efficiently exist in this society and, a Rottie is no different. They were once used for cattle herding and guarding, so it is well known that a trained Rottie is a great asset. But, they are very sensitive from the inside and the trainer must keep that in mind. He should be gentle and calm towards the dog to make him learn easily.
Rottweilers require a good brushing several times a week as they shed a lot. But that’s not the case with bathing. Rottie should be bathed only when it’s necessary as excessive bathing may result in flaky skin.
Maintenance against the various health issues a Rottweiler can develop, if not cared for properly, is a must. Aortic Stenosis and Hip Dysplasia are quite common in Rotties but these health issues can be easily avoided if the necessary and precautionary steps are taken earlier. Because of their size and bulk, they can develop various bone issues, but it can also be easily rectified with a proper exercise schedule.
Rotties require the attention or need of a vet very rarely. They remain healthy, if taken care properly, and are not hyperallergic. Hence, requires minimal visits to the vet.
As mentioned earlier, Rottweilers are derived from a mastiff-type dog known as Roman drover dogs. Ancestors of Rotties provided great help to the Roman legions when they traveled across the continent in their quest to conquer Europe. The soldiers had to bring huge herds of cattle for their food requirements and these dogs were used to keep the herd together and also were used for guarding purposes.
When Romans were driven out by the Swabians, the dogs were then used to protect the cattle from other animals and robbers and also drive them to the market. They were also used to protect the money pouches which were hanged around their necks.
When the need for the drover dogs declined in the 1880s due to the emergence of railroads which were slowly becoming the only mean for moving the stock, there was a huge decline in their numbers. But, by the time World War I started, demand for police dogs raised, and the Rotties saw a revival as they were needed in lofty numbers.
They were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1931. Their popularity was also gradually risen to enormous heights especially in the 1990s. This fine breed of dog is still very relevant and is consistently placed in the top ten most popular dog breeds list by the AKC for the past five years or so.
