Rottweiler: Temperament, Training, Grooming, Nutrition (2024)

Training tips

• Rottweiler puppies can be taught simple commands from eight weeks old.
• Safely exposing your Rottweiler to lots of new experiences and people at a young age will ensure they grow into happy, confident and sociable dogs. Puppy training classes can be a good place to start when it comes to socialising your dog.
• As this breed’s natural instinct is to protect their families, it’s vital to channel their defensive capabilities from early on with good socialisation and positive reinforcement

Keeping them happy

• Rottweilers are highly energetic and can stay just as playful as puppies well into adulthood so make sure you have plenty of time to play with your pup!
• 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.

Exercise

• It’s important to start introducing exercise slowly from around the time a Rottweiler puppy is four months old, so that their growing bones and joints strengthen gradually and aren’t overexerted.
• To help your Rottweiler keep both physically and mentally fit, experts recommend at least two hours of exercise and interactive games daily, with plenty of secure space to run free.

Game ideas

• This strong and smart breed will love figuring out new challenges. Test your Rottweiler with an obstacle course to challenge their mind as well as their body.

• Their black and tan coats are short, thick and prone to shedding. You may also come across longer-haired Rottweilers, although this variation is slightly less common.
• Brushing is needed at least once a week to remove any loose hair and keep their coat shiny and healthy

• Check their ears often for tell-tale signs of infection, such as a strange smell or black or brown wax.
• Whilst grooming, check their bodies for any lumps or signs of parasites
• Regular tooth brushing helps reduce the build-up of tartar, keeping their gums healthy and ensuring that bad breath stays away

• Vets recommend that the best food for a Rottweiler is a high-quality pet food and to use your pet's food packaging for guidelines, keeping in mind their age, size and activity levels.
• Rottweiler puppies can occasionally have tummy trouble, but initially sticking to the same feeding schedule and routine as your breeder will help to prevent any upsets.

• If you change your dog’s diet, at any stage of life, make sure to do so gradually. Slowly increase the amount of new food you add over the course of a few weeks, decreasing their previous food accordingly
• If you notice any digestive issues, speak to your vet straight away