The Rottweiler dog is an ancient breed, and the oldest known Rottweiler dog information dates back to the Roman Empire. The Roman Army had to bring their own food during conquest marches, and the easiest method was of course to bring live animals that could be slaughtered to provide a constant source of fresh meat. To keep the animals under control, they used herding dogs. The herding dogs used by the Roman Army are believed to have been a mix between the brave Roman war dog and local sheep dogs that the war dogs met during their travels, and these mixed war-sheep dogs became the ancestors of our modern Rottweilers. If you are in the process of getting a Rottweiler and need more Rottweiler dog information than provided by this article, do not hesitate to contact your local Kennel Club or Rottweiler Organisation.

Rottweiler dog care

The Rottweiler is not a very demanding dog when it comes to coat maintenance, and weekly care and grooming is normally enough. Rottweiler dog care does not only involve brushing out the coat of your dog, but also checking its eyes, ears, teeth, feet and nails. As soon as you bring your puppy home, you should get it used to frequent Rottweiler dog care, because otherwise it can become very hard to manage when it becomes a strong adult. Regular Rottweiler dog care will also give you a chance to bond with your dog.

Rottweiler dog puppy

Unfortunately, the Rottweiler dog puppy has tendency to end up with owners that should never been allowed to get a Rottweiler – or perhaps not even dog – in the first place. If you are an insecure person trying to boost your own low self-confidence by owning a fearsome dog that can scare other people, getting a Rottweiler dog puppy is definitely not a good idea. If you on the other hand are a stable and confident person, perhaps with previous experience in dog training, that wants to spend a lot of time training your Rottweiler and integrating it into your family, a Rottweiler dog puppy is an excellent purchase.

The Rottweiler Welfare Association offers several valuable guidelines for those interested in purchasing a Rottweiler dog puppy. To begin with, they advice you to refrain from getting a Rottweiler dog puppy unless you are absolutely sure that you know how to control an adult Rottweiler. You must also have enough time on your hands to train your dog and teach it good manners. It is extremely important to remember that Rottweilers are exceptionally protective of their family, and without proper training they can for instance attack the playmates of your children if they perceive the play as being violent. The Rottweiler Welfare Association also cautions against rough play, since this can enhance the already strong guarding instinct in the Rottweiler. Rottweilers should never be left with a person that cannot control them, e.g. a child. Last but not least, it is always a good idea to take out third party insurance before you bring home your Rottweiler dog puppy.

Rottweiler dog training

If you are willing to devote your self to proper Rottweiler dog training, you will end up with a reliable, relaxed and highly affectionate dog that goes along well with both children and other pets, even though it will most likely always be suspicious of other dogs. Obedience training as well as extensive social training is very important. The Rottweiler is an intelligent dog that normally grasps new commands in no time, and it is very eager to please its pack leader. Make sure to give your Rottweiler mentally stimulating experiences throughout its entire life, otherwise this intelligent dog can become depressed and start engaging in destructive activities. Chewing on forbidden items and extensive barking are often brought on by lack of mental stimulation. Females are especially prone to this type of behaviour.

Rottweiler dog breeding

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the aim of Rottweiler dog breeding should be to create calm, confident and courageous dog that shows a natural self-assured aloofness. The ideal Rottweiler should respond quietly to new impressions and have a stable wait-and-see attitude. Rottweiler dog breeding should also strive to preserve the high intelligence, extreme hardiness and remarkable adaptability displayed by this breed. When it comes to the physical, Rottweiler dog breeding should produce medium large, robust and powerful dogs with great strength, agility and endurance.

Rottweiler dog breeders

When you chose between the various Rottweiler dog breeders, it is important to pick one that has already started to make the puppies well socialized. A non-socialized Rottweiler puppy is much harder to care for than a well socialized one. It is also important to stick to Rottweiler dog breeders that actively promote good health in the breed by carefully screening for hereditary disease before letting any dog breed. The Rottweiler is a hardy breed, but there are a few health problems that prospective owner should be aware of, such as canine hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, subvalvular aortic stenosis, and osteosarcoma. Responsible Rottweiler dog breeders always let a qualified vet check their dogs’ hips, elbows, heart, and eyes before using the dog for breeding, and will also make sure that a DNA test screening for von Willebrand’s disease is carried out.

Rottweiler dog price

The Rottweiler dog price varies a lot between different breeders and different parts of the world, and it is therefore hard to provide any general guidelines. The most important thing is to investigate what you actually get for you money. Will you get a well-socialized puppy with healthy, vet-checked parents or will you get a puppy that has spent its first essential week with its exhausted mother at a puppy mill? Has the puppy been vaccinated, de-wormed and thoroughly examined by a vet before purchase? The expected life span for a Rottweiler dog is 8-11 years and trying to save a few bucks on the purchase price by getting a low-quality dog from an unskilled breeder is certainly not worth it.