Rottweiler breed guide

Powerful athleticism meets high levels of intelligence in the large yet cuddly Rottweiler!

Read our guide to find out more about the handsome Rottweiler breed…

Rottweiler breed history

The Rottweiler’s story began in the town of Rottweil, in Germany, where cattle-herding dogs were left behind by the Roman army when they moved away. Farmers in the region took in these mastiff-like dogs and crossbred them with sheepdogs to develop herding dogs with stamina who could also guard their livestock.

Due to the Industrial Revolution and new methods of transport, however, the Rottweiler breed declined almost to extinction because they were no longer needed to help transport cattle. 

During WWI, the Rottweiler breed increased in popularity once more, as they were found to excel as guard dogs, military dogs, and police dogs.

Today, most Rottweilers enjoy a quieter life as loyal canine companions to pet parents around the world – though some are known to be superb search and rescue dogs, too.  

Common characteristics of the Rottweiler breed

Please remember that the following characteristics are considered ‘average’ for Rottweilers, and since each dog is a unique individual, your Rottweiler’s characteristics may differ. 

Average height for a Rottweiler

Many Rottweilers reach approximately 54-70cm in height, at the shoulder.

Average weight for a Rottweiler

On average, Rottweilers tend to weigh about 35-60kg.

Average lifespan for a Rottweiler

Rottweilers typically live for around 8-10 years.

Typical Rottweiler appearance

As a large breed from the ‘working’ dog group, Rottweilers have a strong, muscular frame with a broad chest, powerful hindquarters, and elegant sloping shoulders. Rottweilers also have thick, solid legs and round, compact paws with tough paw pads that are ideally-suited to adventuring across a variety of terrains.

A Rottweiler’s tail is balanced in relation to their body size and carried horizontally while they’re moving, unless they’re alert – when their tail is held up with a half-moon curl.

Along with their moderately-arched forehead, the Rottweiler has medium, almond-shaped eyes and triangular, folded ears that are small in proportion to their head size. Rottweilers have a deep muzzle with a black nose, as well as wrinkles around their face, especially when they’re attentive or focused on something.

In terms of coat type, Rottweilers have both a topcoat and an undercoat. Their topcoat tends to be short, coarse, and flat, so, Rottweilers require grooming a couple of times a week to stay in tip top condition.

While Rottweilers usually have a black coat with tan (pale brown) markings, their undercoat can be grey, fawn (light brown), or black.

Typical Rottweiler temperament

Owing to their working background, Rottweilers enjoy staying active and need at least two hours of exercise each day. So, your Rottweiler will love joining you on all your adventures, from trying new activities to trips to the beach!

Thanks to being so intelligent, Rottweilers are fantastic to train (if you find the right reward to motivate them!) and often thrive at canine sports, like agility. Rottweilers also benefit from being given opportunity to engage their mind through plenty of mental stimulation games, while they’re not out and about adventuring with you.

Since they’re such big, high-energy dogs who require a lot of time to be dedicated to their training, Rottweilers are not recommended for first-time owners.

Despite their reputation as guard dogs, Rottweilers are extremely devoted to their pet parents and often become kind, gentle companions to family members of all ages. However, their deep sense of loyalty can make Rottweilers naturally suspicious of strangers.

Rottweiler health conditions

It’s not unusual for pedigree breeds to be prone to certain health concerns, and, unfortunately, Rottweilers are no exception. Here are a few health conditions commonly seen in the Rottweiler:

• Hip dysplasia.
• Eyelid problems (e.g. multifocal retinal dysplasia, which impacts eyesight).
• Heart problems (like subaortic stenosis, which can cause a heart murmur).
• Cancers (including lymphoma and bone cancer).
• Acute moist dermatitis (or ‘hot spots’ – patches of itchy, painful, infected skin).

Remember: Keep an eye out for any health issues your Rottweiler may develop, and get your canine companion checked by a vet if you have any concerns. If you are considering pet insurance, be sure to read our guide about insuring your Rottweiler.

Fun facts about Rottweilers

Fact 1 – A Rottweiler named Gunner carried out lifesaving search and rescue work at the World Trade Centre disaster in New York, and received the AKC Hero Award for his incredible efforts.

Fact 2 – Lots of celebrities are fans of the Rottweiler breed, including Will Smith, Bruno Mars, and Leonardo Di-Caprio!

Fact 3 – Rottweilers aren’t just great at search and rescue work, they’re also known to be wonderful therapy dogs, thanks to their cleverness and the deep connection they share with their owners.

Fact 4 – Many Rottweilers don’t reach their full adult size until they’re 2-3 years old.

Fact 5 – Farmers soon discovered the Rottweiler’s protective nature and would attach bags of money to their Rottweilers’ collars on their way home from market to deter thieves!