Rottweiler

Most kennel clubs class the Rottweiler as a "working dog". Despite that utilitarian name, nowadays the great majority are kept as pets (companion dogs). All well-bred specimens retain the qualities that made them suitable for the traditional work that Rottweilers were bred to perform. That work, now and in past centuries, has included guarding and herding cattle, and police work. The strength, protectiveness, and herding instinct in this breed allow for employment in guard, search and rescue work, as cart-pullers, and as livestock herders.

History of the breed

The breed was probably originally used to herd cattle. The legendary origin of the Rottweiler is that its ancestors were the [[Roman Roman legion's canine cattle drovers- in particular, dogs left behind in what had been the Roman Provinces in Germany, in about 200 AD. One Roman army encampment on the Meckar River, in what became the state of Swabia in Southern Germany, flourished as a trading center, and came to be called Rottweil (for "red tiled roofs"). Oral history has it that, in this area, the Roman cattle dogs were interbred with local dogs and used to drive cattle until the coming of the railroads. With rail transport established, driving of cattle across the land was forbidden. Apparently, the butchers of Rottweil used their dogs to herd cattle to market; then, after the cattle were slaughtered, the dogs pulled the butcher's carts. When the meat was sold, the money purses were tied around the dogs' necks to keep it safe, and the empty carts were pulled back to the business place.

Are these legends true? There is no doubt that the ancient dogs existed, and that similar appearing dogs were found in the 19th century. As canine genes bestowing the physical appearance of the Rottweiler can be procurred from the right mix of other dogs, the link between them could only be proven with a record of continuous pedigree, which is not available. Such pedigrees were not recorded, as far as anyone knows, until the late 19th century. So, whether these modern German dogs that so resemble the dogs in the art of Ancient Rome can be claimed to have any of those Roman dogs as a dircet ancestor- or not -is likely to remain unproven. However, there is no doubt that this breed was found in Rottweil, Germany, and that particular town was both a part of Ancient Rome and an area used to breed cattle.

Location of the town of Rottweil in Germany

Rottweilers were bred in Germany in the early part of the 20th century, but even there it was not as established as the German Shepherd Dog (called also the Alsatian) or Doberman Pinscher, especially for police work. However the breed became recognized for special excellence in police work.

In the USA, the American Kennel Club (AKA) first registered the breed in 1931. It became a very popular breed by the 1990's, when it was in the AKC's top ten breeds registered annually for nearly a decade. The breed was first shown at Cruft's in 1936, and in 1966 a separate register was opened for them.

Robust and muscular, these dogs are not squat. Large, but not giant, they are typically 55-69 cm high at the shoulder, and weigh between 90-110 pounds. Rottweilers show what is called sexual dimorphism, there are “two forms”, one each sex (or gender). Male Rottweilers are generally taller and heavier, and there are also differences in the facial features. Female Rottweilers are not delicate, but do have a more feminine appearance than males.

A black coat with red-brown markings in a characteristic mask is a hallmark of the breed. There are three accepted shades of the reddish contrasting color: Mahogany, Rust, and Tan.

The Rottweiler's tail was traditionally docked in Germany, but, currently docking of the tail is not advocated in the European Union, In the United States, the tail is routinely amputated. .

Field Tests

Although Rottweilers are not classed as herding dogs, they can often be trained to be good herd dogs, and are eligible for field competition in livestock herding by the AKC.

A dangerous dog?

Rottweilers are very strong dogs, easily able to knock a full-grown and muscular man to the ground. This strength makes the dog an excellent police dog, as well as rescue dog – with the right training. Rotties are predisposed to inherit a territorial instinct and to discriminate between known "family" and "strangers'. The breed is also known for its intelligence, and is characterized as one of the breeds of dogs that is able to learn commands after only a few trials.

Its temperament, in combination with physical prowress, make the dog a natural watchdog for the home. However, when the dog is not properly socialized these very same attributes can cause serious injuries and even death to human beings who approach the dog in its territory without an "introduction" from the owner. A good and typical specimen of the breed has the physical power of body and limb to bring down a man, a lacerating bite, and an instinctual capability of attacking large prey in a lethal manner.

Rottweillers pose a danger that smaller and weaker dogs do not. A toy terrier may regularly threaten, and even snap at or nip, visitors to the home. That behavior may be annoying, but a 120 lb rottweiler behaving in the same way would not be perceived in the same manner, and, if allowed to nip, would be more than an annoyance. The organized clubs of the rottweiler fancy throughout the world urge responsible ownership of these dogs, which includes a commitment to socialization of puppies and to obedience training.

External Links

• American Kennel Club: Rottweiler Breed Standard
• American Rottweiler club
• UK Rottweiler Club [1]
• Rottweiler Discussion Forums