The Rottweiler is a large dog, with males ranging from 24-27 inches at the shoulder and females from 22-25 inches. Weight ranges from 80-110 pounds. The dog is slightly longer than it is tall with a large frame balanced by a deep, broad chest and heavy muscling. Rotts are always black with clearly delineated tan or mahogany markings over the eyes, on the side of the muzzle, and on throat, chest, and lower legs. The tail is docked short and carried at or slightly above horizontal as an extension of the level back.

The Rottie coat is smooth and short with an undercoat present on the neck and thighs. Wavy or curly coats are faulted and long coats are disqualifications for breeding and the show ring.

The Rottweiler in motion is a picture of power and stamina with strong reach in front and forceful drive in the rear. A well-conditioned Rott is a superb athlete; he trots with great stamina and seemingly little effort – an efficiency of movement inherited from his days as a cattle drover.

 Temperament


It is in breed temperament that the Rott is often misjudged. A well-bred Rottweiler is calm, confident, and courageous with an inherent aloofness towards strangers and a reserved attitude in new situations. Combined with his fierce devotion to home and family, these characteristics can be subverted from their original purpose by poor breeding practices, lack of socialization, and failure to teach basic good manners. Rottweiler owners without a strong grasp of the breed’s nature can find themselves in trouble if the dog has been badly bred or assumes leadership of the family.

The Rottweiler standard is clear in regard to temperament: “The behaviour of the Rottweiler in the show ring should be controlled, willing, and adaptable, trained to submit to examination of the mouth, testicles, etc. An aloof or reserved dog should not be penalized, as this reflects the accepted character of the breed. An aggressive or belligerent attitude towards other dogs should not be faulted.

“A judge shall excuse from the ring any shy Rottweiler. A dog shall be judged fundamentally shy if, refusing to stand for examination, it shrinks away from the judge.

“A dog that in the opinion of the judge menaces or threatens him or exhibits any sign that it may not be safely approached or examined by the judge in the normal manner shall be excused from the ring. A dog that in the opinion of the judge attacks any person in the ring shall be disqualified.”

This standard for temperament can be easily related to daily interaction with the dog. If the dog does not accept examination by the owner or by anyone chosen by the owner, such as a veterinarian, without either shrinking away or becoming aggressive, the dog does not exhibit acceptable Rottweiler character. Any Rottweiler that does not exhibit true breed character should be spayed or neutered to prevent passing unacceptable temperament to its offspring and should be placed in a home where owners understand how to deal with an unsocialized dog with aggressive tendencies.


Training

To be blunt, the Rottweiler is not a dog for everyone. Like all other breeds with strong natures, it has become a target for those who would ban dogs by breed rather than individual temperament.
 Failure to select a well-bred Rott and to train it appropriately can result in individual tragedy and in prohibition of the entire breed in a community.

Like Akitas, Dobermans, Malamutes, and other dominant breeds, Rotts must be trained to obey and respect the humans in its family. Training classes, where the puppy can become accustomed to new situations and to other people and dogs, are ideal, but private training is acceptable if accompanied by additional efforts to socialize the animal. Daily use of commands such as sit, stay, down, come and stand as well as training Rambo to walk on a leash without pulling are essential to building a partnership with the dog.

Rottweilers should never be banished to the back garden, whether confined to a kennel run, allowed free-range of a fenced garden or chained. Like other guardian breeds such as Akitas, Chow Chows, Dobermans, and German Shepherds, Rotties left to their own devices can become very territorial, particularly if they do not get enough human interaction or if they are teased or tormented by neighbourhood children or other dogs.

Rottweilers are what us humans make them!

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