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Rottweiler
AKC Dog Group:Working
Registration Organizations: AKC
National Club Name:American Rottweiler Club
National Club Address:
- Secretary: Doreen LePage, 960 S. Main St., Pascoag, RI 02859, e-mail
- Breeder Contact: Lauri Ladwig, 1184 E. Fleetwood Ct., Boise, ID 83706 (208)384-9881
- Rescue: Sandy Gilbert (217)222-5541, Illinois
Breed Description:
- Original Purpose: The Rottweiler was originially used as cattle drover's dog with strong herd guarding propensities.
- Breed History: Descended from the 'mastiff' type dogs of ancient Rome
- Earliest record: Much debated
- Country of Origin: The modern breed comes from the Southern German town of Rottweil - along the Neckar River. There he was called the Rottweiler Metzgerhund (butcher's dog). The breed nearly became extinct in the late 1800's due to the outlawing of the driving of cattle. It was revived in Germany around 1900 as a police dog.
- Year of First Registry with AKC 1931, standard adopted in 1935.
- Breed Registration Statistics:
- Size:
- Height (inches): 24 - 27 (dogs); 22 - 25 (bitches)
"height should always be considered in relation to the general appearance and conformation of the dog".- Weight (pounds): 95 - 135 (dogs); 80 - 100 (bitches)
- Eye color: dark brown
- Muzzle and Lips: Flews not too pronounced, black. This is a short muzzled dog with a wide mouth. There is some tendency to slobber and the short muzzle can create a tendency towards breathing problems in hot humid weather.
- Ear type: Folded ears, set high and to hang over about level witht he top of the head.
- Cosmetic Surgeries (to establish 'breed look')?Tail is docked, dew claws on hind legs to be removed.
- Color:Black with characteristic tan markings: well defined tan spots over eyes, on cheeks and muzzle, on belly and legs, and chest. In intensity the tan markings may vary from tan to mahogany brown. A few white hairs are permitted on the chest. White patches on the chest would be a disqualification in the show ring. Other colors are not permitted. Basically this breed is uniform for the "A" locus color 'bicolor' (at). No dilutions are permitted.
- Coat Type:Short and smooth
- Temperment: These are confident and strong minded dogs that must be owned by responsible people. They require obedience work to be properly socialized and the buyer should pay close attention to the temperament of parental stock.
- Special Requirements: This is one of the short faced 'mastiff' type breeds. Such dogs have shortened and compressed internal air passages in the muzzle and are more prone to heat stress in very hot humid conditions than are the breeds with normal 'wolf shaped' heads.
- Typical Competitive Activities for this Breed:Obedience, carting, schutzhund, protection work.
- Breed Pluses: A confident dog which responds well to training. These make good protective dogs. These dogs are physically very attractive with their solid muscular bodies and skiny coats. Although hip dypslasia occurs in the breed it is less extreme than in most of the other 'mastiff breeds'.
- Breed Minuses:If not properly trained the protective nature of these dogs can lead them to dominate the household. This is especially true of mature unneutered males.
- Who should own this breed? Responsible people who are willing to work with their dog to train it to be a reliable canine citizen.
- Who should not own this breed? People with little experience training a relatively confident dominant dog. People lacking the time and committment to train a dog of this sort.
