Rottweiler

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Rottweiler
The Rottweiler, shown in an alert stance.
Country of origin
Germany
Common nicknames
Rottie
Rotty
Rott
Classification and breed standards
FCI: Group 2 Section 2 #147 Stds
AKC: Working Stds
ANKC: Group 6 (Utility) Stds
CKC: Group 3 - Working Stds
KC (UK): Working Stds
NZKC: Utility Stds
UKC: Guardian Dog Stds
This article is about the dog breed. For other uses of the word, see Rottweiler.

A Rottweiler is a large, robust and powerful dog breed originating in Germany.

Contents

[edit] Appearance

The breed is black with clearly defined tan or mahogany markings on the cheeks, muzzle, chest, legs, and eyebrows. The markings on the chest should form two distinct upside-down triangles, a tiny patch of white in between is not acceptable for show dogs. The cheeks should have clearly defined spots that should be separate from the muzzle tan. The muzzle tan should continue over the throat. Each eyebrow should have a spot. Markings on the legs should not be above a third of the leg. On each toe should be a black 'pencil' mark. Underneath the tail should also be tan.[1]

Nails are black. Inside the mouth, the cheeks may have black patches, although the tongue is pink. The skull is typically massive, but without excessive jowls. The forehead is wrinkly when the Rottweiler is alert.

A Rottweiler's eyes are a warm, dark brown — any other color may not be acceptable as part of the "pure breed". The expression should be calm, intelligent, alert, and fearless. The ears are small drop ears that lie flat to the head. 'Flying' ears are considered undesirable by some breeders. The coat is medium length and consists of a waterproof undercoat and a coarse top coat. Rottweilers tend to be low maintenance, although they experience shedding during certain periods of the year.

Naturally, Rottweilers are a tailed dog. Tails were originally removed to prevent breakage and infection that would occur when the tail became covered in mud and other debris collected from pastures and livestock. Today, many owners in U.S. decide to have the tails removed soon after the puppy's birth for purely cosmetic reasons. The tail is usually docked to the first joint. In the past this was a commonly accepted practice, but it has been banned in the European Union.

The chest is deep and should reach the dog's elbows, giving tremendous lung capacity. The back should be straight; never sloping. According to FCI standard, the Rottweiler stands 61 to 68 cm (24-27 inches) at the withers for males, and 56 to 63 cm (22-25 inches) for females.[2] Average weight is 50 kg (110 pounds) for males and 42 kg (95 pounds) for females.






[edit] Temperament

A Rottweiler bringing his vet bill
A Rottweiler bringing his vet bill
A Rottweiler barking and displaying large teeth
A Rottweiler barking and displaying large teeth
A male runt Rottweiler; its face is noticeably less flat than a normal male, and its body shape, weight and muscular structure is more akin to that of a female Rottweiler or even a male Labrador
A male runt Rottweiler; its face is noticeably less flat than a normal male, and its body shape, weight and muscular structure is more akin to that of a female Rottweiler or even a male Labrador
A female Rottweiler
A female Rottweiler

In the hands of a responsible owner, a well-trained and socialized Rottweiler can be a reliable, alert dog and a loving companion. An untrained or poorly trained Rottweiler, however, can be destructive and, if allowed to run at large, may pose a significant physical threat due to its size and strength. In general, Rottweilers are fond of children, very devoted, quick to learn, and eager to please. They thrive on mental stimulation. They can be strong-willed, however, and should thus be trained in a firm, fair, and consistent manner. Rottweilers respond readily to a clear and benevolent leader. Rottweilers are playful animals who may frequently demand attention from their owners if they are not receiving the mental stimulation they desire and will find creative and often destructive ways to elicit it if they are excessively neglected.

The Rottweiler is not usually a barker: Male dogs are silent watchers who notice everything and are often quite stoic. Females may become problem barkers in order to protect their den. An attentive owner is usually able to recognize when a Rottweiler perceives a threat. Barking is usually a sign of annoyance with external factors (car alarms or other disturbances) rather than a response to actual threats.

The Rottweiler is notably a steady dog with a self-assured nature. The Rottweiler's large size and strength make this an important point to consider. Rottweilers were originally bred to help butchers herd sheep and carry money. Early socialization and exposure to as many new people, animals, and situations as possible are crucial to producing a dog that is tolerant of new environments.

Aggression in Rottweilers is associated with poor breeding, poor handling, lack of socialization, natural guarding tendencies, and abuse.

The Rottweiler Welfare Association offers the following advice for would-be Rottweiler owners:[3]

Like all dogs, the Rottweiler needs to be trained properly and controlled at all times, and should be prevented from making predatory attacks upon livestock and wildlife.

  • No one should own a Rottweiler unless they are absolutely sure they can control it, and are willing and able to devote time and effort to teaching the dog basic good manners
  • The Rottweiler has a natural guarding instinct. Do not do anything (for instance, rough play) to enhance this guarding instinct
  • No Rottweiler should be left in the sole charge of a person, such as a child, who is not capable of controlling it
  • Any person who owns a dog should be aware that he will be devoted to and feel protective towards his household. This should be borne in mind when children are playing, people are arguing, or visitors are calling
  • Third party insurance should be taken out on any Rottweiler that you own.

[edit] Health

The Rottweiler is a tough and hardy breed, but potential owners should be aware of known health issues that can affect this dog. The most serious genetic health risks a Rottweiler faces are canine hip dysplasia (CHD), subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS), elbow dysplasia, and osteosarcoma. Other conditions which may affect this breed include hypothyroidism, gastric torsion (bloat), and allergies.[4] Rottweiler owners should have their dogs' hips, elbows, heart, and eyes tested by a veterinarian before breeding. DNA tests should also be performed to screen for von Willebrand's disease (vWD). Rottweilers typically live between 8 and 11 years.[5]

[edit] History

The breed is an ancient one, and its history stretches back to the Roman Empire. In those times, the legions traveled with their meat on the hoof -or having live cattle- and required the assistance of working dogs to herd the cattle. One route the army traveled was through Württemberg and on to the small market town of Rottweil.The principal ancestor of the first Rottweilers during this time was supposed to be the Roman war dog, local sheepdog the army met on its travels, and dogs with molosser appearance coming from England and The Netherlands. During the Roman Empire, these Rottweilers and other war dogs even made up large dog-only platoons, which would be sent to attack enemy forces[citation needed].

This region eventually became an important cattle area, and the descendants of the Roman cattle dogs proved their worth in both driving and protecting the cattle from robbers and wild animals. It would be a brave villain who would try to remove the purse around the neck of a Rottweiler Metzgershund (Butcher's Dog of Rottweil).

However, by the end of the 19th Century, the breed had declined so much that in 1900 there was only one female to be found in the town of Rottweil. But the build up to the World War I saw a great demand for "police dogs," and that led to a revival in interest for the Rottweiler. Its enormous strength, its intelligence, and its ability to take orders made it a natural weapon of war.

From that time, it has become popular with dog owners, and in 1935 the breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club. In 1936, Rottweilers were exhibited in Britain at Crufts. In 1966, a separate register was opened for the breed.

The first Rottweiler club in Germany, named DRK ("Deutscher Rottweiler-Klub" — German Rottweiler Club) was created the 13 January 1907, and followed by the creation of the SDRK ("Süddeutscher Rottweiler-Klub" — South German Rottweiler Club) on the 27 April 1907 and became the IRK (International Rottweiler Club). The DRK counted around 500 Rottweiler, the SDRK 3000 Rottweilers. The goal of the two clubs was different. The DRK wanted to produce working dogs and didn't take lot of care in the morphology of the Rottweiler. The main stud dog of this club was Lord von der Teck. The IRK tried to give a homogeneous morphology according to their standard. One of the main stud dogs of this club was Ralph von Neckar. One dog emerged and gave us the base of the actual Rottweiler type: Lord von der Teck son of Lord Remo vom Schifferstadt.

On 14 August 1921 the two clubs merged to become the ADRK (Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub) which is now known as the official German Rottweiler club. The first currency of the ADRK was : "Die Rottweilerzucht ist und bleibt Gebrauchshundezucht" (The Rottweiler breeding is and remains the breeding of a working dog)

A popular misconception about the Rottweiler is the breed was used for dog fighting, when, in fact, it was neither bred nor used for dog fighting..

[edit] Miscellaneous

[edit] The first Rottweilers

  • Lord Remo vom Schifferstadt (around 1907)
  • Lord von der Teck (Around 1913)
  • Ralph von Neckar
  • Max von der Strahlenburg
  • Leo von Cannstatt
  • Ido vom Köhlerwad Reichssieger
  • Hackel vom Köhlerwad Reichssieger
  • Alex vom Zabergäu
  • Odo vom Ellernbrook SchH III Sieger 1948, 1949

[edit] The Rottweiler in Media

Good Dog, Carl book cover
Good Dog, Carl book cover

[edit] Dog attacks

In recent years, the breed has received some negative publicity, often due to a lack of understanding of the nature of the breed on the part of the owner. Unscrupulous breeders have produced dogs with highly aggressive tendencies and some owners have used the dogs as guard or protection dogs. Other owners may acquire a Rottweiler for a family pet, but neglect to properly socialise and train the animal, resulting in a dangerous, unpredictable dog who makes the rules.

The portrayal of Rottweilers as evil dogs in several fictional films and TV series, most notably in The Omen, has contributed to this negative publicity. Interestingly enough, Mace Neufeld (executive producer, The Omen) had trained Alsatians in the U.S. for this role, but they had to substitute Rottweilers at the British shoot location because of Britain's 6-month quarantine rule on animals.

Despite the media's fascination with rottweilers who run afoul of canine behavioural standards, people who have experience with properly raised individuals can attest to the Rottweiler's friendliness and often clownish nature. In fact, the FCI standard calls for a dog that is fond of children. Nevertheless, this breed is not for the inexperienced or uninvolved dog owner, or anyone who lacks the physical strength to handle the Rottweiler.

As a result of recent dog attacks involving the breed, some German Länder put the Rottweiler on an index of dangerous dogs. The Länder adopting the legislation are Bavaria, Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia. Visitors and residents must obey the local muzzling and leash-length laws.

On 23rd September 2006 a five month old baby girl was mauled to death by two Rottweilers after being left alone with them, in Leicester, United Kingdom.[6]

On 27th September, 2006 a fifteen month old boy was attacked by a Rottweiler and suffered injuries to his face after a severe mauling, in Middleton-on-Sea, West Sussex, United Kingdom. The owner of the dog volunteered to have the dog destroyed after it was seized by police.[1]

An example of the breed's guarding instinct is a rescue attempt of a woman sinking in a peat bog in County Durham, when rescuers were prevented from saving her when her two Rottweilers began snarling at them. They were enticed away from the scene after being fed with biscuits.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ American Kennel Club standards
  2. ^ USRC Breed Standard
  3. ^ "Rottweilers, dog control and the law", BBC News, 2006-09-25, pp. 1-3. Retrieved on February 9, 2007. (in English)
  4. ^ Rottweiler Care - Breeder Retriever, URL dated January 2, 2007
  5. ^ Coile, Caroline, Ph. D., Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds, Barron's Educational Series, 2005. Page 144.
  6. ^ "Rottweilers keep rescuers at bay", BBC News, 2007-02-09, pp. 1. Retrieved on February 10, 2007. (in English)
  1. The International Encyclopedia of Dogs; Stanley Dangerfield and Elsworth Howell (editors), Pelham Books, London, 1985. ISBN 0-7207-1561-X

[edit] External links

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