Rottweiler Training

Owning a Rottweiler is like owning a small bear. They’re powerful, muscular, and massive weighing in at 100 to 120 pounds on average. Rottweilers are a member of the herding breed category and they have a sleek, glossy black coat that is of medium length and gleams in the sunlight. Their dense undercoat helps in rough weather while their broad head and huge jaws make even their appearance intimidating, which is one of the reasons they’re regularly used as guard dogs.

Rottweilers date back to the Roman Empire when they herded cattle, although their name comes from Rottweil, Germany where their use was expanded to include not just herding cattle but protecting them from intruders, both human and animals as well. In the past, they’ve been instrumental in military operations and have routinely been rewarded with commendations for protecting soldiers. Add search and rescue, police work, and tracking efforts to their resume’ and you’ll find a versatile and valuable companion.

They’re actually a gentle giant within a family setting and they absolutely adore children. It’s not unusual to see a toddler riding a “Rott” or “Rottie”, as they’re affectionately known. However, because of the negative attention they receive due to a few badly trained or untrained Rottweilers, those who haven’t owned them are often fearful and don’t understand the breed as a whole. When socialized as puppies and not abused, they are wonderful dogs who are loyal, dedicated, and very affectionate, provided you don’t mind a little slobber once in awhile.

Generally they stand from 21 to 27 inches high at the shoulder and eat their share of goodies. They reach their full adult size around the age of ten months although they don’t come to full maturity until about two years old. So, at 110 pounds and still displaying puppy antics, they can be a handful if not trained early. It would be similar to having a sleek sports car and then letting your 12 year old drive it. Not good!

Because Rotts remain a puppy internally for so long, yet their external body grows so quickly, their diet is extremely important. They need to be fed as puppies for the entire first two years so the inside organs and muscles can catch up. If they are kept on a puppy diet until they reach full maturity, they will have fewer health problems later in life like dysplasia or muscle and bone difficulties. So, let him grow up naturally. It’s well worth the wait.

Incidentally, avoid foods that contain white rice, corn, soy, beef, or fish. Instead feed him poultry, cheese, and high carbohydrate grain products to meet his optimum nutritional needs.

Female Rottweilers are known for having large litters so a dozen is not out of the question. Just make sure you have plenty of space if you should choose to breed her. Puppies are generally born with the characteristic reddish-brown eyebrows, muzzle, chest, and feet, in varying degrees of color intensity.

Rottweilers need plenty of exercise, obviously, but while indoors they’re relatively sedentary once they’ve matured. This breed in general has a propensity for ACL problems (knees), and because of a ferocious appetite they can easily become overweight, so feeding them on a regular schedule without leaving food out all day is vital to their health.

One thing you may have already learned about is that your Rottweiler snores … very loudly. (And you thought it was your spouse!) You may have even tried turning him on his back to get him to stop. If you have, you also know it doesn’t make a difference what position he sleeps in … he’ll snore. You’ll just have to deal with it realizing that with owning any breed of dog there is a cost, even after you get him home.

Rotties are highly trainable and their temperament is noted as being calm. They are devoted to their family and are protective of them in the event of an intruder, so use your dog’s amazing alertness to your advantage by teaching the rules early and showing him lots of love. He might even give you a big, sloppy kiss!

Incidentally, avoid foods that contain white rice, corn, soy, beef, or fish. Instead feed him poultry, cheese, and high carbohydrate grain products to meet his optimum nutritional needs.

Rottweiler training is pretty easy and their temperament is noted as being calm. They are devoted to their family and are protective of them in the event of an intruder, so use your dog’s amazing alertness to your advantage by teaching the rules early and showing him lots of love. He might even give you a big, sloppy kiss!