Rottweiler: Training Insights & Behavior Traits

Although its exact origins are murky, Rotties as they are fondly known, are thought to descend from dogs used by the Roman army. In the town of Rottweil, the dogs were used to herd cattle and get meat to the soldiers and butchers. One of the army marches led the dogs to Germany, where they were nicknamed Rottweiler Metzgerhund (or butcher dog). Because donkey carts replaced dog carts, Rottweilers were on their way to extinction until a resurgence in 1901 when the first club was formed.

In 1931, Rottweilers were introduced to the United States and became recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Majestic in stature with its massive muscles, the Rottweiler can be a gentle giant or an intimidating canine depending on its training and breeding. With a natural instinct towards protection, early socialization and consistent leadership will determine its temperament.

Despite some newspaper reports, Rottweilers are not inherently vicious. Well raised Rotties can be gentle giants if properly taught. Many people will mis-judge the breed and some cities have even banned it. Every Rottie dog owner who loves the breed can redeem its reputation by educating Rottweilers to obey and respect people.

Here's what the American Kennel Club has to say about the Rottweiler:

"A male Rottweiler will stand anywhere from 24 to 27 muscular inches at the shoulder; females run a bit smaller and lighter. The glistening, short black coat with smart rust markings add to the picture of imposing strength. A thickly muscled hindquarters powers the Rottie’s effortless trotting gait."

"A well-bred and properly raised Rottie will be calm and confident, courageous but not unduly aggressive. The aloof demeanor these world-class guardians present to outsiders belies the playfulness, and downright silliness, that endear Rotties to their loved ones. (No one told the Rottie he’s not a toy breed, so he is liable plop onto your lap for a cuddle.) Early training and socialization will harness a Rottie’s territorial instincts in a positive way.”

The two predominant training issues that Bark Busters trainers are called in to address with Rottweilers are aggressiveness and overprotectiveness.

Despite this, Rotties are very trainable and are high on Bark Busters list of ‘easy to train breeds’. They don’t take well to unstructured environments, so you need to be the one in control or they will quickly take the lead. Before you know it your Rottie will be answering the door and frightening anyone who knocks or rings the doorbell.

Rottweilers by their size and breeding are naturally watchful and protective.

Any aggression or overprotectiveness in a Rottie is attributable to their ‘naturally inherited’ traits, developed when no rules or boundaries are present. They must see a ‘pecking order’ in the household.

We have a saying at Bark Busters: “if the top position in the household is vacant, the dog will apply for the job.” It’s in their DNA to have structure and they will try and create it, where none exists.

All dogs need consistency in their life to feel safe and secure. Its up to you to ensure you provide this structure and set some rules to ensure your Rottie receives the very best education it possibly can.

Sometimes the only solution is professional training and Bark Busters are here to help if you feel that your dog needs some expert assistance.

For example, every time you approach a door the human should always be the first ones to walk though the door and then your dog, but only when you say its okay to do so. Choose the same word every time to let your dog know when he can walk through. The word ‘free’ works best as its not a word you would use a lot during normal conversation. If your dog anticipates the ‘free’ word and rushes through the door before you have said it, then repeat the exercise. Your dog must learn to take direction from you and not be the one making the decisions.

This might sound like a trivial thing, but in the ‘dog world’, the leader always leads and this sublimely lets your dog know that you are its rightful leader.

Another example of what we are talking about here is, do you allow your dog on the couch? If you do, then what rules will you set? Will you only allow him on the couch when you invite him on, or can he hop up on the furniture anytime he likes.

If you are not going to allow him on the couch at all, even when you are sitting on the couch, then you have to ensure that this is a rule and that you consistently hold to that rule, regardless of what your dog tries to do.

A list of rules might be as follows:

• All rules must be consistent and always adhered to if you want a well-behaved Rottie.
• Door manners - humans in the household go through all doors first.
• Don’t allow your dog to jump up on you. If you like this behavior, always make sure your dog gets the okay from you or he will jump on your guests and children.
• Furniture access should be consistently controlled and preferably on request from you or not at all.
• Do not feed your Rottie from the table because they are a very food-focused breed and will drive you and your guests insane anytime food appears on the table. If you feel mean doing this, remember you don’t want your dog begging for food.

Create your list of rules and stick to it as a firm plan and you and your Rottweiler will enjoy many enjoyable hours together.

Rottweilers put on weight easily, so it is important you feed it a high-quality diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Remember that dogs are carnivores, meaning meat should be an essential ingredient of their diet. Many commercial dog foods are high in grains because meat is more expensive. Many mis-behaviors can be attributed to poor nutrition. When you feed your dog a healthy diet, they will be more energetic, have less health problems, and are less likely to become overweight. Your Rottweiler’s diet will need to change as it grows from puppyhood to adulthood.

Rottweilers are powerful, large-breed dogs that benefit from regular grooming and routine veterinary care. Rottweilers have a double coat of fur of medium length and coarse to the touch. If you want its coat to be shiny, brush it once/week to penetrate the natural oils. Twice a year the Rottweiler will shed its coat heavily and may require more brushing. Unlike humans, Rottweilers require little bathing.

Always check your Rotties ears for wax buildup or infection. Always use a cotton ball – never a Q-tip. To prevent tartar build up and gingivitis, brush its teeth weekly with a dog-approved toothpaste. It is best to trim a Rottweiler’s nails weekly, with a Dremel being an easy grinding tool to master.

Rottweilers can be prone to health issues including hip and elbow dysplasia, heart conditions, eye diseases, and certain cancers. Maintaining a healthy weight, providing proper exercise, and scheduling regular vet checkups can help support their long-term wellness.