COUNTRY: Germany
WEIGHT: 90-110 pounds
HEIGHT: 22-27 inches
COAT-: Short, smooth
COLOR: Black/tan only
REGISTRY: FCI, ARC, UKC, TKC, CKC
GROUP: Mastiff
As Roman soldiers marched across Europe, they were accompanied by their food "on the hoof." With the armies came specific types of mastiffs used for driving and guarding the cattle; the dogs also changed the minds of would-be thieves and army deserters. As the cattle were eaten, dogs were discarded along the way as excess baggage. Others were left as guardians at the various outposts established by the Romans. Since the main route of travel was over the Alps through St. Gouhard Pass, these dogs figured in the background of many of the Swiss breeds. The northern boundary of the army's ventures traced through southern Germany, including the town of Rottweil, which became a major European center for livestock commerce during the next 18 centuries.
The Roman's canine contribution to Germany produced the "butcher" dogs of Rottweil, driving cattle and pulling wares to market. The trip was dangerous, with highwaymen lying in wait for the unwary, and traders tied their money belts around the Rottweilers' necks.
AppearanceHead: Broad, with rounded forehead and strong muzzle Teeth: Scissor bite, 42 teeth. Eyes: Dark, or an orangey brown Ears: Triangular, carried forward, occasionally folded slightly Tail: Natural bob tailed or if present the tail was usually docked. Docking is banned in Germany and U.K. An un-docked Rottweiler tail is usually around 4-6 inches and thick. Limbs: Straight, with heavy bone Feet: Round, compact, webbed, with thick, hard pads. The breed is always black with clearly defined tan or mahogany markings above the eyes, on the cheeks, muzzle, chest and legs. The coat is medium length and consists of a waterproof undercoat and a coarse top coat. Rottweilers living in hot climates may have aclimatised and be missing the undercoat. Rottweiler coats tend to be low maintenance, although they experience shedding prior to their seasons (bitches) or seasonally (males). The skull is typically massive, but without excessive jowls.
SizeTechnically a "medium / large" breed, according to the FCI standard the Rottweiler stands 61 to 68 cm (24-27 inches) at the withers for males, and 56 to 62.5 cm (22-25 inches) for females, and the average weight is 50 kg (110 pounds) for males and 42 kg (93 pounds) for females.
TemperamentAccording to the FCI Standard, the typical Rottweiler is "good natured, placid in basic disposition and fond of children, very devoted, obedient, biddable and eager to work. His appearance is natural and rustic, his behaviour self assured, steady and fearless. He reacts to his surroundings with great alertness."
The Rottweiller ranks 9th in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, being one of the brightest 10 dogs ranked by obedience command trainability.
Rottweilers are a powerful breed with well developed genetic guarding and herding instincts. Consequently an aggressive Rottweiler can cause a higher level of damage than a smaller, weaker dog. Rottweilers are not recommended for people who have little experience with dogs or understand little about dog psychology and responsible canine ownership. Obedience training and socialization are essential. As with any breed, potentially dangerous behaviour in Rottweilers results from irresponsible ownership, abuse, neglect, or lack of socialization and training rather than from any inherent breed characteristic. Injuries may occur when an owner or passerby tries to separate fighting dogs, or unintentionally triggers a guarding behavior in a dog.
The breed has received some negative publicity. In the US, the Rottweiler was the number one breed of dog named in fatal human attacks in 2000, in a report by the CDC. These reports must be read in the context of the breed's popularity as it was the most popular breed in the United States in the same period.
The portrayal of Rottweilers as evil dogs in several fictional films and TV series, most notably in The Omen, and sensationalist media hysteria has added to their negative publicity. This hysteria has led to Rottweilers being banned in some municipalities and are sometimes targeted as dangerous dogs by legislation, such as in the Netherlands and Portugal. However, some films have portrayed the gentler side of a Rottweiler's personality, including Lethal Weapon 3 where a Rottweiler guarding a gun smuggling operation is placated by one of the main characters with dog treats, and later rescued and de facto adopted.
