Rottweilers are one of the oldest herding breeds, and their origins date back to Roman times. Used as cattle drovers and cattle guardians, they were also companions and protectors to merchants traveling in Europe. From the start, the main traits of this breed were bravery, intelligence, athleticism, strength and faithfulness. And though the Rottweiler has experienced many up and down turns in appreciation over time, these characteristics are as robust today as they were centuries gone. Casual aggression should not part of the Rotty personality and the first German breed standard describes the Rotty personality this way. ‘Good natured, calm in basic disposition and keen on children.

The North American Kennel Club places it this way ‘calm, confident and courageous… With a self-assured indifference’. Well-bred Rotties today fit this outline completely. Sadly, as with all breeds, powers in renown have led straight to poor breeding practices in several states, at times manufacturing frightened, afraid and assertive dogs. In Germany, there are stern customs and rules in place for breeding, and the average quality of German Rottweilers is so way higher than it is in other nations. Naturally, there are some superb dogs produced around the planet, by moral responsible breeders, but if you are thinking about adding a Rotty to your folks, you have to do lots of very comprehensive research and find the right breeder and the right dog’s therefore  Rottweilers makes a good family dogs? Yes and no! All families are dissimilar, and Rottweilers are not sometimes suggested for first time dog owners or for families with small children or fragile, aged members. The reason is because the Rottie is a massive, powerful, smart dog who, as a puppy and adolescent, has the inclination to be clutzy, bouncy and occasionally unyielding. As adults they’re typically calm and have a reasonably relaxed angle, but it is crucial that family members are physically powerful enough and psychologically assured enough, to manipulate a 120lb dog when mandatory.

Rotties like to ‘lean’ (a throw-back to their days as cattle herders), and they can incidentally topple a little kid. As puppies or adults, Rottweilers like to think of themselves as lap-dogs, and will happily climb into any lap that is handy (naturally you will not be ready to see the Television, but they do not care).

They also have a superb practice of ‘talking’ to their human family members, and many of us unfamiliar with the breed can confuse this ‘grunting / grumbling’ sound with growling. It’s extremely different, and I have a tendency to think about as a similar sound to a pussy’s ‘purring’ – it means they are chuffed and content. This breed is really clever and raring to please. I have owned and trained many breeds during my lifetime and can truthfully say that Dog puppies learn quicker than many others.

They like to achieve success and lap up rewards and attention. But it is imperative to only use positive, non-punitive coaching methodologies with them as they are incredibly delicate and do not reply well to raised voices or punishment of any sort. Many folks make the error of thinking that such big dogs need loud voices and an overbearing angle – absolutely wrong in my experience! Also, once your puppy is teen or older, this type of angle is probably going to trigger an intrinsically determined reaction in the dog, and coaching will turn into a struggle and far less pleasurable for everybody concerned. Just like every other breed, Rottweilers have their own health problems. Being big dogs, as puppies they’re in danger of too-rapid expansion and the successive joint / bone damage that happens.

Feeding a top notch puppy food designed for big breed dogs and avoiding additions is the only way to help a Rottie puppy grow up robust and healthy.