Rottweiler: the complete breed guide

The Rottweiler needs no introduction: his presence is the warning. This guide was written by a kennel that breeds a different guardian, the Doberman, which means we can describe the Rottweiler without selling one.

Where he comes from

The breed comes from Rottweil, in southern Germany, where dogs of this type drove cattle and guarded the butchers' money, tied around their necks on the journey home. When cattle began travelling by rail in the late nineteenth century the breed nearly vanished. Police work saved it, recognising a rare combination of strength, composure and willingness to obey.

Breed data

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Temperament: calm that carries weight

A balanced Rottweiler is confident and quiet. He is not the dog that barks at everything; he is the dog that watches, measures and acts only when he judges it necessary. That serene self-assurance is what the standard asks for and what good breeders select.

With his family he is affectionate in a clumsy way, the sort that sits on your foot convinced he is a sixty-kilo lap dog. With strangers he is naturally reserved: he accepts them when you do, without fuss.

The point to watch is size combined with stubbornness. A poorly handled Rottweiler does not become aggressive by accident, but he does become hard to manage, and fifty kilos that are hard to manage is a real problem on a leash.

Health: what to ask the breeder

• Hip and elbow dysplasia. The number one concern. Both parents need official radiographic scoring.
• Osteosarcoma. Bone cancer occurs above average in large breeds, and the Rottweiler is among the most affected.
• Subaortic stenosis. A congenital heart condition only an echocardiogram will reveal.
• Gastric torsion. A risk in any deep-chested dog. Split meals and no exercise straight after eating.

Rottweiler or Doberman

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The long version of that comparison is in Doberman or Rottweiler, and seven guardian breeds are compared in Best guard dog.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Rottweiler aggressive?

Not by nature. The standard calls for a self-assured, even-tempered dog. Aggression almost always traces back to unselected breeding, missing socialisation or poor handling. Size only makes the consequences larger.

Is he good with children?

With the family's own children he is usually patient and protective. The real caution is physical: sixty enthusiastic kilos knock a child over with no ill intent at all.

We breed Dobermans, not Rottweilers. If after reading this you conclude the Rottweiler is your dog, good: choose a breeder who shows hip and heart testing on both parents.