Interested in Owning a Rottweiler? Here’s What You Should Know (2024)

Interested in Owning a Rottweiler? Here’s What You Should Know (1)

If you’re interested in owning a Rottweiler, you should first acquaint yourself with the characteristics of the breed to make sure that it is a good fit for you. While Rottweilers are popular family pets, it is important to understand both the positive and negative characteristics of this breed before deciding to own one.

When choosing a breed, it is best to consider such factors as size, temperament, compatibility and health problems, and to see how this breed would (or would not) fit into your family lifestyle.

About Rottweilers

A Rottweiler is a medium to large dog. Just remember, that cute little puppy will grow into an adult that is about 22 to 27 inches high with an average weight of between 90 to 135 pounds. That’s a lot of dog, and most of it is muscle. The Rottweiler possesses great strength and has a broad, deep chest. It lives for about 10 to 12 years and is genetically predisposed to hip dysplasia.

Rottweilers have short, coarse hair and should be brushed about twice a week. Brushing encourages the growth of new, healthy hair and removes older hair that is ready to shed. Brushing also allows you to bond with your Rottweiler. Beginning this regimen while your pet is a puppy is an excellent way to begin a close, trusting relationship.

Rottweilers are prone to obesity. It is important that your Rottweiler gets enough exercise and eats a healthy diet.

The Rottweiler is an intelligent dog. They are strong, powerful and fearless, making them good watchdogs. The Rottweiler is an extremely loyal dog and will instinctively guard his family and territory.

With the right training, the Rottweiler is a wonderful companion. But without continued socialization, companionship, supervision and obedience training a Rottweiler can be too much dog for many households.

The breed is considered a working dog and guardian, and it is believed to be a descendant of the herding drover dogs of the ancient Romans. This is a breed that needs a job to be happy. They do well as police dogs and therapy dogs. You have to keep a Rottweiler entertained with physical activities, especially walks, exercise and outdoor activity. Without these needed distractions, a bored Rottweiler may become destructive.

With Rottweilers it is important to remember that they need extensive and continuous socialization to be good family companions. Training should start as a puppy, as early as six weeks of age.

Rottweilers have a reputation for being a dangerous dog, but this dog will only become vicious if it is trained to be that way. Still, certain regions have passed legislation banning this breed; so make sure to check for local regulations before you purchase a Rottweiler. In addition to legal regulations, you may also have trouble getting renting a home or getting a homeowners insurance policy if you own a Rottweiler.

Owning a Rottweiler

If you’re interested in owning a Rottweiler, do your homework. Buy from a reputable breeder. Learn all that you can about the breed. When looking for the right Rottweiler, do a careful search to avoid over-aggressive or unstable lines. Observe the dog’s behavior and ask the right questions.

Raising a Rottweiler from a puppy allows you to train and socialize him. If a Rottweiler puppy is raised with children, friends and other pets it is more likely that he will become a well-socialized dog.

It is important that you commit to training your Rottweiler and that you be very consistent. Most Rottweilers are inclined to be dominant but they will respect an assertive owner who knows how to lead a strong-minded dog. You’ll need to teach your Rottweiler puppy social skills and to harness his natural territorial instincts in a positive way.

Young Rottweilers can be very rambunctious. They are rowdy and enthusiastic jumpers. Unsupervised, they can become nuisance barkers and diggers.

If a young Rottweiler is raised with other pets in the home, they are usually good with them, but Rottweilers can be very aggressive toward other dogs of the same sex – and they can see cats as prey.

A Rottweiler may not be a good choice for first-time dog owners. If you are fully committed to training and socializing your Rottweiler puppy, it can become a very loyal and loving companion and a great family pet.

If you are interested in owning a Rottweiler, take the time to familiarize yourself with characteristics of this breed and make sure they are a good fit for you and your family. Owning a Rottweiler requires a commitment to training and socialization, so make sure that you are prepared to put in the required effort.

Learn More About Rottweilers

To learn more about this amazing breed, go to:

  • Rottweilers – Choosing a Rottweiler
  • Are Rottweilers Good Family Dogs?
  • What You Need to Know About Rottweiler Temperament
  • How to Avoid Rottweiler Behavior Problems Fixed
Interested in Owning a Rottweiler? Here’s What You Should Know (2024)

FAQs

Interested in Owning a Rottweiler? Here’s What You Should Know? ›

It is important that your Rottweiler gets enough exercise and eats a healthy diet. The Rottweiler is an intelligent dog. They are strong, powerful and fearless, making them good watchdogs. The Rottweiler is an extremely loyal dog and will instinctively guard his family and territory.

What do you need to know about owning a Rottweiler? ›

Rottweilers are intelligent and active dogs that require plenty of things to keep them active in body and mind. Consistency is key with training. They are incredibly strong so shouldn't be left unsupervised with children. You'll need to have plenty of time to spend with your dog if you're considering this breed.

What kind of person owns a Rottweiler? ›

You're calm, confident, and assertive.

You're a take charge person who knows what you want out of life. While a strong, self-assured dog might sound like a helpful contrast to those with timid personalities, a Rottweiler needs to know their owner is the “alpha” from day one.

What does owning a Rottweiler say about me? ›

Owning a rottweiler means you have an active lifestyle and want to share it with your Rottie. You are likely a big animal lover that doesn't mind getting dirty or messy and has a tendency for living on the edge. You are tough on the outside and soft on the inside, and focused on keeping your family home protected.

What are Rottweilers weaknesses? ›

Despite being sturdy and resilient, the Rottweiler is susceptible to various health complaints, ranging from mild to more serious. These include optical disorders, including cataracts, entropion and progressive retinal atrophy, as well as hip dysplasia and association orthopedic complaints.

Do Rottweilers bond with one person? ›

Rottweilers: Rottweilers have a reputation for being loyal and protective, which can lead to a strong bond with one person and potential aggression toward unfamiliar individuals.

What two dogs create a Rottweiler? ›

The breed's ancestors were the mastiff-like, cattle-herding dogs of the ancient Romans who accompanied their armies as they swept across Europe. Some of these dogs were left behind when the army moved on, and in Germany, they bred with local sheepdogs and produced the Rottweiler.

Are Rottweilers messy dogs? ›

While all dogs, like all children, create a greater or lesser degree of household mess, many other breeds of dog are less troublesome than the Rottweiler in this respect. The Basenji is perhaps the cleanest, due to its cat-like habits. DON'T BUY A ROTTWEILER IF YOU DISLIKE DAILY PHYSICAL EXERCISE.

Are Rottweilers high maintenance? ›

Rottweilers are fairly easy to keep for such large dogs and, in fact, have a tendency to obesity if not exercised enough. Coat care is minimal a quick, weekly grooming will suffice most of the time. Some rottweilers do drool a fair amount, especially large males with loose flews (lips).

How clingy are Rottweilers? ›

Rottweilers are loyal dogs that often form close attachments to the humans they perceive as part of their 'pack'. This means they can be prone to separation anxiety and tend to be happiest in households where someone is around for most of the day.

Why are Rottweilers so special? ›

They are well known to be powerful, protective, and loyal, famous for their instinct for guarding. But Rottweilers are also easily trained, making them loyal, loving, and confident guardians.

What does it mean when a Rottweiler licks you? ›

Licking is a natural and instinctive behaviour to dogs. For them it's a way of grooming, bonding, and expressing themselves. Your dog may lick you to say they love you, to get your attention, to help soothe themselves if they're stressed, to show empathy or because you taste good to them!

What to do if your Rottweiler growls at you? ›

If you're not sure whether a growl is aggressive or not, or if you think it might be – stop what you're doing and back off, or remove your dog from the situation, as appropriate.

Why do Rottweilers like to sit on you? ›

Your dog sitting on you may be his way of saying he loves you, he feels safe around you, or that you are his territory. As long as he isn't acting aggressively towards you, other people, or other animals, and as long as you're okay with it, this kind of behavior doesn't present a problem.

Are Rottweilers difficult to own? ›

The best Rottweilers are versatile working dogs, capable of learning a great deal. But they are not pushovers to raise and train. Some individuals, especially young males, are so dominant and bossy that training is a true challenge; those dogs will make you prove that you can make them do things.

Are Rottweilers hard to have? ›

They need human contact, good training and firm, consistent handling from birth – they must always know who's boss. Rottweilers also need a large amount of space and exercise – they are playful and enjoy chasing games.

Are Rottweilers hard to insure? ›

A few types of dog breeds that insurance companies consider more high risk than others include: Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, any wolf breeds, chow chows, doberman pinschers, German shepherds, Great Danes, pit bulls, Presa Canarios, Rottweilers, Siberian huskies, and Staffordshire terriers.

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