Just Rottweilers 2009 Calendar
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Your Online Guide To Everything Rottweilers
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming - Training - Health
Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale - Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
Example of a handsome
Rottweiler dog.
The Rottweiler: Roman War Dog
The Rottweiler is a very robust and beautiful
dog. Powerful and fiercely loyal, they are
believed to have ties back to the ancient
Romans, where their ancestors helped to drive
cattle on the long war marches. Today’s
Rottweiler no longer drives cattle, but has
instead become a favored companion animal,
particularly in the United States. Owning a
Rottweiler requires a great commitment and a lot
of responsibility, however, and it’s important
to research this breed, and your individual dog,
very carefully.
Creative Spelling and Name Variations For Rottweiler Dogs:
Rotweilers, Rottwielers,
Rottweillers, Rotweillers, Rotwielers,
Rottwilers, Rotwilers, Rottwillers, Rotwilers, German Rottweilers, Rotties
Believed to be a descendant of the large
mastiff-like "drover dog" of the ancient Romans,
the Rottweiler’s ancestors were used as both
herding and pack animals, often traveling with
the large Roman armies as they warred with other
people. Due to the fact that there was no
refrigeration available, the armies had to drive
cattle along with them as they moved. These dogs
were capable, not only of doing this task, but
also of guarding the camp supplies at night.
When the Swabians drove the Romans from the area
in 260 A.D., they would keep these drover dogs,
allowing them to continue their job of guarding
the cattle. Due to the fact that the Swabians
relied upon farming and the trading of cattle,
the dogs’ future seemed secure and, for
centuries, they prospered.
In 700 A.D., it was decided that a Christian
church be built where the Roman baths had once
stood. When the excavation unearthed the red
tiles of former Roman homes, the area was
renamed "das Rote Wil" (which means "the red
tile") and the Roman drover dog became known as
the Rottweiler Metzgerhund, or "butcher dog."
The breed would be threatened in the middle of
the 19th century, when the practice of driving
cattle was outlawed. For several decades, the
number of Rottweilers dwindled, with the dogs
seeming to have no apparent use any longer.
Fortunately, he was picked back up and employed
as a police dog at the turn of the 20th century,
and this unique breed would be salvaged.
The Rottweiler is the epitome of sheer, raw
power. A medium-to-large dog, he is built for
strength and endurance, as well as being
surprisingly agile for his size. Slightly longer
than they are tall, Rottweilers possess a
massive bone structure and are built, not only
to take a blow or kick from agitated cattle, but
also to be able to powerfully leap and dodge
incoming attacks. Sadly, this also made them a
favorite of those who would breed dogs for the
inhumane practice of dog fighting.
Perhaps the most noticeable traits of the
Rottweiler would be his massive head and the
dog’s beautiful coloration. Rich black with
markings that range from rust to a deep
mahogany, the Rottie has a beautiful and noble
appearance that has long made him a favorite of
artists and photographers across the world and
through the ages.
These massively-built dogs are generally very
loving and doting, in regards to their family.
While they tend to be very loyal and
territorial, unethical breeders have either
sought to emphasize this quality in the breed or
didn’t bother considering temperament prior to
breeding, and the result has been a rash of poor
quality Rottweilers being sold to the general
public. Dogs that exhibit extreme
aggressiveness, shyness, nervousness, or are
overly jumpy should not be bred, nor should they
be considered a suitable pet. A good Rottweiler
is friendly, dependable and often tends to have
a clowning personality, that strives to please
and amuse his owner.
Rottweilers, especially puppies and young
dogs, need a substantial amount of exercise.
Ideally, they should have access to a
sturdy-fenced yard, though they can also benefit
from long walks or jogging excursions with their
owners, and most Rottweilers enjoy visiting the
local dog parks. Many people who own Rottweilers
find that obedience and endurance classes are a
great deal of fun, for both dogs and owners
alike. Rottweilers love to find exercise in any
way that they can - this can include climbing or
jumping fences or, if left alone and without
ample exercise, can also turn to more
destructive methods of entertainment.
The Rottweiler is easy to groom and take care
of. While you may get a few stray hairs, here
and there, he generally only sheds twice a year;
in spring and in fall. Because of this, merely
brushing him once or twice a week, gently using
a soft-bristled brush, can give his coat a nice
shine and your Rottweiler in a beautiful and
shiny coat. Trimming his nails is also an
important step in dog grooming, and should be
started when he is young and can be taught to
stand obediently for tasks, such as toenail
clipping.
The Rottweiler grows into a big and powerful
dog, very quickly, so it is essential to
establish control and teach him basic obedience
while he is still a puppy. Be forewarned that
this dog is extremely intelligent and crafty,
and can often exhibit a great deal of
stubbornness. Much like when dealing with a
child, you must set rules for this dog to follow
and, if he disobeys, you should not let it slip
or ignore such behavior. Fortunately, with most,
a few stern words will suffice, if he knows he
has displeased his beloved human.
Like any breed of dog, the Rottweiler is
subject to a variety of health concerns. Your
best bet is, when deciding to choose a new
Rottweiler puppy, check around with several
breeders and ask about the various health issues
that can affect these beautiful little dogs. A
reputable breeder should be well-versed in the
health concerns and should be able to give you
more details, as well as showing you the sire
and dam of your potential puppy. Some of the
health problems that can affect Rottweilers
include:
- Sub-aortic stenosis (SAS)
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
Simply put, owning a Rottweiler requires an
enormous amount of responsibility and
commitment. Due to poor breeding ethics, many of
the dogs that are being made available as pets
are sub-standard animals or, in other cases, the
environment in which some good animals are being
raised in is the part that is sub-standard.
Because of this, one must be very selective when
choosing a Rottweiler puppy.
Rottweilers can be very playful and fun-loving,
but when it is a dog that weighs over 100 pounds
that’s bouncing around the living room, it’s
fairly easy to see where there can be problems.
Remember that the Rottweiler does not care about
the good china, nor does he seem to realize his
own size and power. For this reason, it is not
advisable that an elderly person take on a
Rottie as a pet, nor should they be left alone
with small children. Not only is there a risk of
a dog bite occurring, but your happy-go-lucky
Rottweiler puppy can easily knock a small or
delicate person down.
In addition to this, the Rottweiler can also be
very destructive when left alone for long
periods of time. When he’s bored, he can chew,
dig, and claw, which can lay waste to a yard or
a room in no time. It’s essential that the dog
always has things to play with, and that he is
not left alone for too long a period of time.
If you have a lot of time and dedication to
devote to this dog, you’re sure to find a great
companion in the Rottweiler dog breed. While
they have received a lot of bad publicity in
recent news, they are still an excellent pet for
the right household.
Now that you have decided that the Rottweiler is the right breed
for you, it's time to start the process of finding a responsible
Rottweiler breeder from which to buy a healthy, well-socialized
puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good breeders - and bad
breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first Rottweiler puppy
you find at the cheapest price available! To buy a puppy from a
responsible Rottweiler breeder, you may need to pay more and wait
longer. The additional money and waiting time will be well worth it.
Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard
breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great deal of additional
expense and heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love
with a puppy with health and behavioral problems that will likely
need special care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication -
or even euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible,
caring Rottweiler breeder who home-raises their puppies with
love, screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a
health guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the
Rottweiler breed and is in it for the love of the breed, rather
than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a
healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that
will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter
and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised German
Shepherd puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many
sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for
puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear
of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the
breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
Choosing a name for your Rottweiler puppy can be a daunting
task! There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot
of thought and research to find just the right name for your
Rottweiler. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a
few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you
decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of
humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side?
A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new Rottweiler
puppy over the first days or weeks, you should at least have a clue
about what type of name you want to give. There are a ton of dog
names and pet names web sites on the internet. Some are wonderful
information resources, while others, unfortunately, are just
"garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose of cashing in on
visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Rottweiler puppy. These sites offer inventive,
unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
Rottweilers are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at
Rottweiler pictures, you can usually gain more insight into
what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can help
you decide if you really want to become an Rottweiler owner.
The following sites below offer pictures of Rottweiler dogs,
Rottweiler puppy photos, funny Rottweiler photos and
more. Enjoy!
There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the Rottweiler dog breed. We've compiled a list of
Rottweiler information sites to assist you in quickly locating
quality information about the Rottweiler dog breed, while
avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor
attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general.
If you know of an Rottweiler information site that offers
unique, quality information and photos of the Rottweiler
breed, please contact us with the URL and a brief description so
that our editors can consider it for inclusion in our list below.
Rottweiler clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn
even more about the Rottweiler dog breed, help you locate a
responsible Rottweiler breeder, or help you find an German
Shepherd dog or puppy in need of a second chance for a loving,
forever home. We've compiled the following list of Rottweiler
clubs and Rottweiler rescues web sites for your convenience:
