Basic Facts About The Rottweiler

Looking for some quick Rottweiler dog facts? Here's a quick rundown of basics facts about Rottweilers.

Vital Stats:

Colour: Black with distinctive tan markings over cheeks, muzzle, chest and legs as well as over both eyes

Coat: straight, coarse and of medium length. Rottweilers are double coated and tend to "blow out" their undercoats twice a year.

Size: Medium-large, Males range from 95-135 lbs, Females tend to be smaller from 80-110 lbs

Types: American Rottweilers tend to be taller and slimmer through face and body whereas German Rottweilers tend to be shorter, stockier and more muscular.

History:

It is thought that the ancestors of this breed (a mastiff type dog) originated in the Roman Empire and that many of them accompanied the Roman army over the Alps as the loyal protector and drover of cattle that were used as the army's food source.

According to historians, the next appearance of this mastiff type dog was in the beautiful little town of Rottweil nestled in the southern mountainous region of Germany, where the Roman armies had left them as they continued their travels.

The Rottweiler was used by farmers to pull carts in their daily milk deliveries, as well as to help herd the cattle. Butchers used these dogs to guard their down-stairs shops during times of rest and to carry pouches of money to the banks.

The Rottweiler then grew in popularity with law enforcement agencies and eventually as guard dogs in domestic settings.

Rottweilers today excel in such sports as herding, Schutzhund, carting, agility and flyball. They are also proving to be outstanding therapy dogs and recognized as excellent service dogs for the physically challenged.

The exceptional characteristics and versatility of the Rottweiler has made it the 2nd most popular breed in America for the past two years.

The Rottweiler dog is loyal, intelligent and desires to please. They are often described by owners as 'characters', 'gentle bears' and display a fun-loving sense of humor. However they are a working dog and as such are happiest when they are busy or working on a task.

Rottweilers can also be aloof and stubborn at times. They are known to be extremely protective of their owners' possessions and property, which is why they are often used as guard dogs.

If a Rottweiler is not well-socialized and trained properly in obedience, they can become a bully and this can lead to other behavioral problems.

Health Concerns:

Hip and/or Elbow Dysplasia - a malformation of the hip and/or elbow joint which can cause serious problems for the dog and expense for the owner. Both are thought to be hereditary which is why you should ask the breeder about the history of your Rottweiler.

Bloat - stomach swells from gas, fluid or both. It becomes serious when the stomach distends and then flips over, causing torsion. This is caused by over-eating, drinking large amounts of water after eating, and/or vigorous exercise after a meal.

Help prevent bloat by feeding several small meals a day, crating the dog for several hours after eating, and monitoring water intake.

Cancer - becoming more common in Rottweilers, with bone cancer the most common type. Investigate any suspicious lumps, moles, sores or unexplained lameness IMMEDIATELY.

Heart Diseases- most common is the is sub-aortic stenosis which can be mild or result in sudden death.

Where To Find A Rottweiler/Rottweiler Puppy:

1) A Reputable Breeder: A reputable breeder will be happy to answer any questions you have about the Rottweiler line and health. They will NOT push you into buying their dogs, but will probably be more concerned to see if YOU are suitable for THEIR puppies.

They will, if possible, allow you to meet the parents and spend some time with the puppy of your choice before deciding to buy.

2) A Rottweiler Rescue: Most, if not all, Rottweiler rescues screen the rottis that they take in to make sure they are trainable and will adjust well in normal domestic settings.

A Rottweiler rescue is an excellent place to find an older Rottweiler if training a rottweiler puppy is not your preference.

This is also a chance to make a difference in the life of a Rottweiler who has probably been mistreated and abused through no fault of it's own!

If you are interested in learning more facts about Rottweilers or training tips, visit Rottweiler Training:

www.rottweilertraining.homestead.com

About the Author

Kathryn O'Neill is a Rottweiler lover, owner and chief editor for Rottweiler Training . For more tips and information about training your Rottweiler, check out:

www.rottweilertraining.homestead.com

Related Information of Interest:

6 Simple Tips To Help Potty Train Your Puppy
Potty training also known as toilet or house training is the art of teaching your puppy where you want him to relieve himself. Sound simple! Not exactly, at least to me and many dog owners out there. Potty training my puppy gives me the most problems and headaches when I start to house train my first puppy years ago.

It seems that my puppy is always either in the wrong place at the right time, or the right place at the wrong time! Nevertheless, over the years, after much experiments and reading up, I’ve manage to come out with 6 simple tips to help potty train your dog.

1. Try to feed your puppy on a regular schedule and remove his water supply before bed time. His potty timing would be more predictable and consistent.

2. Puppy usually instinctively wants to relieve itself after feeding, sleeping, playing and confinement. Bring him to your designated area for his potty business after such activities.

3. Do not let your puppy wander off without supervision, potty training aside, it is dangerous for a young puppy to wander around by itself. Confined it in an area where you can see to prevent accidents and reward desired behaviors.

4. Be vigilance and always be on the look out. When you see your puppy sniffing and running around in circles, bring him to your designated spot immediately.

5. Give a command to help your dog associate the potty action with. For example, “Do it now” or “Go Potty”.

6. When he is doing his potty business, praise and reward. Praise and reward again after he’s finished.

Following these tips should help you considerably in potty training your puppy.

About the Author

Moses Chia is a dog lover and owner of DogsObedienceTraining.com – The dog training resource site for a happier and healthier dog. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

A Fundamental Dog Training Concept You Must Understand For S
I moved into a new house about 14 days ago.

The funny thing about this house is that--when you walk into the master bathroom, the light switch is on the left side, opposite of where the sink is.

Well, practically every other house I've ever lived in has always had the light switch on the right side--or at least on the same side as the sink.

And I'll be a monkey's uncle if EVERY SINGLE TIME I've walked into that bathroom, my hand doesn't instinctively reach to the right to turn the light switch on. Even after 14 days, my prior conditioning has been so engrained that when I consciously try to remember which side the light switch is on… my hand still shoot out to the right, instead of the left.

This is the exact same type of conditioning we aim for when training our dogs. And this is why I advise that--- even after your dog understands a command--you continue to say, "come" and then give a tug on the line… up to a year after the initial training session.

I want your dog to be so conditioned to respond to commands that it becomes an automatic response--just like turning to the right instead of the left, to turn on the bathroom light.

As I've already touched on this concept a few years ago in my book, which you can read more about at Dogproblems.com … I just had to share this experience with you, because it was so comical to the extent to which we animals (yes, we're animals too!) can develop conditioned responses.

Just like our dogs.

About the Author

Adam G. Katz is the author of the book, "Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer: An Insider's Guide To The Most Jealously Guarded Dog Training Secrets In History." Get a free copy of his report "Games To Play With Your Dog" when you sign up for his free weekly dog training tips e-zine at: www.dogproblems.com

A Funny True Life Dog Story
This is the story of my dog called Shandy. He was my favourite pet and he was very lively, lots of fun and very obedient. His main passion in life was to be taken for a long walk, culminating with a big run out in his favourite park.

I would try to take him on this walk everyday, weather permitting. The park itself was about three miles away from our house. To reach the park we had to cross a number of busy roads, however he would never pull or misbehave. He knew where we were heading and seemingly did not want to rock the boat and risk been taken home before he reached his dream destination.

At the park itself I would throw a ball and he would chase it and fetch it back to me.

At this stage I was living at home with my parents, however aged twenty two, I decided to rent my own bungalow near the coast in Devon. This was nearly two hundred miles away from my parents in home in Birmingham. This obviously meant I was no longer in the position to take Shandy on his walk.

I spoke to my parent, who reassured me that they would continue to take him on the walks.

Two weeks after I had left, I had a phone call from my mother. She was panicking, stating that Shandy had managed to escape from the back garden and that she could not find him. She insisted that she had been looking for hours but that there had been no sign of him.

I was quite worried and thought about where he may have gone to. "Have you been taking him on his walks to the park everyday?" I asked. She replied: "Most days" I asked her to try at the park, telling her that he loves that park etc. "He would not be there, its miles away." She said. I again asked her to try there. Luckily he was there quite happily sniffing around, unaware of the panic he had caused.

About the Author

Stephen Hill has a couple of websites at www.lasik-laser-surgery.co.uk and at www.stutter-stuttering.com.

Body Language Before Dog Bites
Dear Adam:

After catching up on doggy email, I've noticed your reference to submissive posture. Your book helped more than a professional trainer I hired for my adopted Golden. We went through biting and dominance issues. The problem I am having now is I still do not trust him 100%. When he bit there really wasn't any sign it was coming (that I noticed). Even now, the only sign that he doesn't like something is a lowered head and sometimes a low growl (the groomer told me this). This dog growls sometimes when he is happy. It is almost like someone taught him not to make any other noise in doors. Outside he will bark. I guess the big question is how do you read a dog's face, body, etc.?

Thanks,
Mark.

Dear Mark:

It's a tough situation you've got. You've really got to just pay close attention to the dog at any time you suspect she may display the aggression. The most common indicators that I used when working with clients who had aggressive dogs was to watch:

1. The mouth. A dog will always pull has mouth closed tight just before he bites.

2. Body language. The dog's body language will get stiff and still just before he bites. Especially watch the stillness. It's very subtle, but at the same time very noticeable once you train your eye to look for it.

There are other things that you could look for depending on the dog and the type of aggression. However, you need to recognize that there are ALWAYS cues... it's just a matter of whether we are quick enough (or aware enough) to catch them.

To read more of my dog training ramblings, read about my book (click below): tinyurl.com/4efaq
Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!

About the Author

Author, “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!“ which you can read more about at:
tinyurl.com/4efaq