Rottweiler

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Dog Breed Group

Working Dogs 

Origin of Breed

Germany for guarding 

Life Expectancy

10 to 12 years 

Color

Black with a rust marking above the eyes, on the muzzle, throat, chest, legs, feet and below the tail. Also has narrow streak on 

Coat

Short, coarse, flat outercoat; short undercoat. Tail is docked; ears hang down. 

Exercise Needs

Does best with 4 periods of exercise for a total of 2 hours per day. 

Temperament

High energy level. Bold, determined, and confident. Fiercely loyal and protective of family. 

Good with Children

Good with children if raised with them. May be aggressive to other dogs. 

Grooming Needs

Moderate Shedder. Brush 2 times per week. 

Average Size - Male (in)

24 - 27 

Average Size - Female (in)

22 - 25 

Average Weight - Male (lbs)

90 - 110 

Average Weight - Female (lbs)

90 - 110 

Health Issues

Rottweilers are particularly vulnerable to hip dysplasia, eye problems, bloat, cancer, and disorders of the nervous system such v

Living Conditions

Thrives in suburbs or country. 

Breed Description

The Rottweiller is a working dog that descended from a cattle dog left by the Roman legions in Rottweil, Germany. The Rottweiler accompanied local butchers on buying expeditions from the Middle Ages to about 1900, carrying money in a neck pouch to market. It has also served as a guard dog, a drover's dog, a draft dog, and a police dog. The Rottweiler is still referred to as the Rottweiler Metzgerhund (Rottweiler Butcher's Dog) in its native Germany. Some accounts have the Rottweiler descending from the early German Shepherd Dog and others consider its ancestor to be similar to the Tibetan Mastiff, brought as a guard by Roman soldiers. The dog was prevalent from the Swiss canton of Argovie to the Nacker and Rottweil distincts to the south of Wurttemberg, wher the Romans had a military camp.