Rottweiler: breed characteristics and maintenance rules

Among dog breeders, the Rottweiler is considered a smart, dedicated and well-trained pet. He receives a lot of regalia at exhibitions, is considered a universal dog used in law enforcement agencies. However, this creature, with all its impressive appearance, can become a best friend and guard. The material in this article will be useful to those readers who want to have such a puppy, but do not know all the nuances of the breed.

Modern Rottweilers are attributed to dogs of German origin, the history of their appearance goes back to the distant past. The ancestors of the Rottweilers, which are considered to be dog-shaped dogs and Molossians, lived in Ancient Egypt, Babylon and Assyria. Someone believes that the Neapolitan mastiffs took part in the development of the breed. Someone points to ancient bas-reliefs and murals, which depict dogs very similar to modern Rottweilers.

No matter how different the opinions about the origin, the ancestors of strong dogs were hardy animals, which were used in war, as well as for protection and grazing. In the war they were deployed against enemy infantry. This was testified by Julius Caesar, saying that the ferocity of these animals made them a universal weapon.

People eager for bloody spectacles appreciated the dogs for the power with which they dealt with predators that exceeded them in size.Hundreds of the best developed dogs began to accompany the Romans on their campaigns, which terrified the enemies. This is what began to contribute to the spread of the range of animals in all possessions of the empire. Dogs not only accompanied the military, but also guarded trophies, led animals from the fighting, served the butchers to protect the goods.

It is noteworthy that at that time dogs were raised in different ways. Some of them underwent special training, after which they became formidable weapons. The legionnaires had a special approach to military equipment, and therefore, before the attack, the dogs were shackled in armor and only after that they were allowed forward on the enemy. Rottweilers never gave up in battle and preferred to fight to the death rather than retreat.

In the Middle Ages, these animals were divided into 2 types: with massive and typical croup. Dogs of the first type were the guards of warehouses and dwellings, and they were also used as draft power for transporting various cargoes.

but the outstanding size made the dog not so versatile for hunting, while its endurance also suffered. And the bite of such an animal could seriously injure not only a goat or a sheep, but also cows and bulls. Less heavy dogs differed from their counterparts in the best indicators of mobility and endurance. It was them that cattle breeders began to appreciate for the best security qualities and livestock management.

They often had collars with special compartments for money, which saved the owners from theft and attacks when selling livestock at fairs. The fame of the Rottweilers scared every hunter to other people's money and protected not only the proceeds: sometimes these dogs saved their owners. Over time, due to the ban on cattle driving, the number of Rottweilers began to decline. The peak of these events occurred in the 19th century.

The decisive factor that determined the fate of the Rottweilers was the interest of the police that appeared in them. At the very beginning of the 20th century, the German press was buzzing about how the Rottweiler of the Stuttgart police chief in a matter of minutes solved the conflict of the sailors on the run, taking them to flight. It was thanks to this event that the popularity returned to the Rottweilers, and therefore special attention was paid to breed breeding. After 20 years (in 1921), dogs have already acquired their own fan club.

In Prague, they dragged coal harnesses to houses from the station. It was they who guarded the Gulag prisoners, and the Soviet breeders made a lot of efforts to create the most severe convoys from the Rottweilers. As a result, the dogs became murder weapons and earned a bad reputation.

The breed received a new round of development in the 80s of the last century. At that time, the Rottweiler Harras Steinkopf was brought from the Federal Republic of Germany to the USSR. His character was radically different from the character of those dogs that were bred in the USSR. He was a smart, tall, handsome man who did not rush at people, but obediently obeyed the owners. It was also surprising that he was sensible, devoid of any ferocity and inexplicable aggression.

From that moment, the breeders' view of the Rottweilers began to change, as did the character of the dog.

They are companions of people, and many of them get along well with children. However, in order for a dog to grow up kind and peaceful, you cannot do without its training.

Rottweilers are attentive, strong-willed animals with excellent service qualities. Dogs have well-developed muscles. The purebred dog looks big and formidable, others are afraid of him.

Growth and weight characteristics of the Rottweilers are as follows: the average weight of a male is approximately 50 kg, while the weight of a female usually does not exceed 42-45 kg. The growth range at the withers of the male varies from 61 to 68 cm.

In females, growth at the withers is smaller and usually is about 56-60 cm. However, especially large females can be even higher: their growth at the withers reaches 63 cm. The standard length of an adult dog is considered to be a range from 118 to 132 cm.

The Rottweilers belong to the group of Schnauzers and Pinschers, Molossians and Swiss Mountain Dogs. These are dogs that have their own standard of exterior. Their constitution cannot be called either overweight or hot: it is balanced. The body is compact, but powerful, its length from the point of the sternum to the sciatic tubercle usually does not exceed the height at the withers by more than 15%.

The skin is smooth, with a snug fit on the head, has no folds. They can form on the head only when the animal is very alert. The cranium in these dogs is moderately long, broad between the ears. The frontal line is moderately pronounced, the occipital protuberance is quite developed, the stop is pronounced.

The muzzle is proportional to the skull; it is neither elongated nor short; the ears are set wide. The back of the nose is straight and wide, moderately narrowed towards the end. The nose is black, it is moderately wide, has large nostrils. The lips have a snug fit, their corners are closed, the gums are painted in dark color.

At the same time, 20 teeth are located on the upper jaw of the dog, their bottom is 22. The size of the eyes of the Rottweiler is average, their color is dark brown. The shape of the hanging ears tends to triangular, their size is small, with the upper edge of the skull they form a straight line.

The neck of these dogs is muscular, slightly curved, moderately long. The loin is short, the croup is round, the chest is deep, the bone is massive. The inguinal zone in these dogs is taut.

The limbs are even, the hips are characterized by well-developed muscles. The paws themselves are rounded, compressed into a lump, the pads are elastic. The hind legs are longer than the front, the nails of these dogs are short, but very strong. The tail is extended, continues the upper line of the back.

As for wool, it has its own characteristics. Its texture is homogeneous, the coat wool itself is quite hard and rough to the touch, tight-fitting. The undercoat of a purebred representative of the breed is thick, but short. On hind legs the coat is longer.

According to the requirements of the standard, the coat of these dogs should be of medium length, lying evenly. In this case, the undercoat should not be visible. The color of the Rottweilers can be only one: black wool with reddish tan. Tanning can be located in areas of the cheekbones, eyes, paws, perineum, and throat.

Dogs will be disqualified for several reasons, for example, due to:

• increased aggressiveness;
• excessive excitability;
• cowardice and indecision;
• malocclusion;
• incomplete dental formula;
• large length of wool or its waviness.

The life resource of Rottweilers is on average from 8 to 12 years. However, these indicators may vary depending on the diet and lifestyle of a particular animal. There are cases when dogs of this breed survived to 14-15 years with good care. As for the facts of life expectancy up to 17 years, this is more likely an exception than a rule.

Aspects of the life cycle can also be affected by such aspects as:

• ecological background of a specific region;
• lack of vitamins and minerals;
• untimely preventive calls to the veterinarian;
• lack of necessary vaccination.

In addition, the attitude of the breeder to the walks affects the longevity of the animal. Much depends on how much fresh air is enough for a pet, how it splashes out its energy on walks, whether it combines them with physical and mental stress.

If the dog begins to rush at the owners, it is necessary to euthanize it.

It is not for nothing that the Rottweilers are considered fighting dogs: they really can be called natural born fighters. At any time of the day they are ready to defend and defend their masters, although in an informal setting they instantly turn into charming bouncers. They are not alien to play the fool in the company of household members, doze, play and even play pranks.

but if the dog at home seems cute and fluffy, outside the home, her character often changes radically. In part, this depends on the owner, who cannot train and educate the pet correctly. And therefore, as soon as the dog is on the street, each person for her often becomes a potential threat. At the same time, no matter how breeders claim that their favorite is kind and affectionate, a large part of the Rottweilers do not make an age discount.

Despite the fact that the animal has the ability to adapt, often it poorly tolerates a change of ownership. And in general it is a dog of one owner. When it is replaced, animals can become depressed, others rush into the race, and others even discover uncontrolled aggression.

Some members of the breed may be jealous if the owner pays attention to other pets.living in the house. These dogs do not share the love of their master and can show their displeasure in all its glory. For all this, they cannot be called hysterical: Rottweilers are able to behave judiciously and peacefully. Some of them have been brought up to the point that they suffer childish pranks, whims and fulfill the instructions of households.

In the heat of rage, their pain threshold decreases. Pulling the angry Rottweilers away from those they attacked is virtually unrealistic. However, these dogs are not vindictive at all: after the end of the quarrel, they do not make any attempts to resume the conflict.

As for conflicts in the house, Rottweilers are very negative towards them. Moreover, they do not like not only family quarrels of household members, but they also can not stand the noise and do not like vanity. If the owners of the house allow themselves frequent family showdowns, accompanying them with a cry, this affects the character of the animal. His mental state changes, acquires deviations from the norm, because of which the pet begins to show aggression towards its owners.

Despite the innate courage, relative calm and reliability, these qualities need to be nourished from childhood.

The high level of intelligence of a trained dog allows it to be not only a guard at home, but also become a companion. This animal will never go about the desired profit due to the clear separation of prerogatives.However, the lack of these dogs can be called laziness inherent in individual representatives of the breed. And if the owner ignores the rules of walking, the dog can be lazy. And this, as a rule, is fraught with health problems.

Rottweilers get along well with children, but leaving animals with kids without adults is unacceptable. Despite the fact that some breeders don’t dwell on their pets, one cannot completely trust the Rottweilers. Firstly, you need to understand that even a friendly dog ​​is strong by nature and may not calculate its strength, causing harm to the child during the game, and secondly, in case of instability in the family and frequent quarrels at elevated tones, it is impossible to leave the dog with the child.

There are cases when the appearance of young children as guests in the house of the dog was well perceived. In this case, the animal, as a rule, pays attention to the attitude towards the guests of the owners. Some trained pets are waiting for the invitation of the owners to get acquainted, and therefore they can keep their distance, looking curiously at the baby from the next room or the corridor of the home.

Rottweiler is considered an ambiguous, but outstanding dog. At the heart of its characteristic qualities is a tendency to show aggression. From the cynological point of view, the degree of aggressiveness can be classified into several types, and some of them are considered not negative, but positive, since they do not create problems. For example, aggressiveness towards dogs in Rottweilers is rare, while in other breeds this symptom is pronounced. However, if there is one, then this is the result of improper upbringing.

Aggression in relation to a person from the total number of Rottweilers is not more than 16.7% of the animals examined. This figure is higher than that of indoor and friendlier brothers. As for the attitude to children, everything here also depends on the upbringing of the dog: she often adores her own, but perceives strangers differently.

Aggression towards the owner is an infrequent phenomenon for the Rottweiler. However, under certain conditions in the house, about 12% of dogs are capable of this. Aggressiveness to household members can be expressed in disobedience or resistance to their actions, loud barking. In addition, aggressive behavior may consist of growling and biting against those who are trying to control the animal against his will.

As practice shows, in our country, these indicators prove the incorrect training of Rottweilers. Almost half of the dogs allow themselves to do this (a little more than 50%). At the same time, the degree of aggressiveness towards others in raised animals usually does not exceed 12-15%. Moreover, most breeders are always confident that their pet is peaceful, and those they attack are to blame for themselves.

Aggression during defense is often associated with protective qualities, and they are much better developed in Rottweilers than in many other brethren of the canine family. Watchdog qualities are pronounced in half of the available stock. These dogs are able to detect strangers approaching and notify the owner about them with a loud bark.

The territory is protected by almost all rottweilers, however, these dogs are not prone to empty barking for no reason. Only some representatives of the breed allow themselves to bark idle, although this is almost always suppressed by the owner.

When choosing a puppy, one must take into account the level of experience of the breeder.For example, if he is inexperienced, it is better to choose a puppy girl, because, as practice shows, the character of Rottweiler females is softer than that of males. In addition, they will be able to quickly train the necessary teams. but when choosing, it is worth considering the fact that bitches of this breed do not tolerate other females near themselves.

Males differ in a more presentable appearance, but their mentor should be a man who is ready not only for the complaisant character, but also for the need to adjust behavior. You need to take a puppy no later than at the age of 2-3 months. At 2 months, puppies already have their first experience of socialization, until they are stubborn and learn better. The age of the bitch puppy must not be less than 2 years and more than 8.

In addition, you need to pay attention to the degree of activity of the puppy, its neatness and color. At the same time, it is necessary to choose the baby whose tan is darker, because after the first molt, his fur coat can lighten. As practice shows, from puppies with a darker color grow more hardy and strong dogs.

When examining, it is necessary to pay attention to the puppy's stomach to exclude the likelihood of an umbilical hernia. All dewclaws of thoroughbred puppies were stopped. If the puppy is too aggressive, this is a vice, you can not buy such a dog. When buying, you can test your puppy by ringing a bell or clapping your hands: a cowardly kid will run away, while a curious and confident person will be interested.

For example, this is a pedigree with several generations of ancestors, exhibition prospects, matching the exterior, the presence of titles from parents. Dogs with defects, which are usually tried to sell to inexperienced customers, will have a low price. The cost of a good baby that can be used for breeding in a professional nursery will be about 30,000 rubles.

Rottweilers are well trained and quickly understand house order. Most puppies, getting into a new house from the kennel, in a couple of weeks understand and recognize the rules that are set for everyone. They do not gnaw shoes, do not tear wallpaper and do not consider an apartment or house a street where greater freedom is allowed.

However, a considerable part of the breeders after some time the puppy is in the house begin to be disappointed in him. The reason is that the breeder is not ready to maintain and educate the Rottweiler or has overestimated his educational opportunities.

You need to bathe a rottweiler no more than twice a year and as it becomes heavily soiled (for example, if the dog came dirty from a walk after the rain). For washing, it is better to use special detergents designed specifically for dogs.

The pet needs to comb out the hair about twice a week. During molting, it is necessary to rid the rottweiler of dead hair every day. Some pets even allow themselves to be vacuumed, however, accustoming to this procedure must be started from puppyhood.

The teeth of the Rottweilers are cleaned with special sticks or brushes and zoos, acquiring the necessary items in specialized stores for animals. Eyes are inspected constantly, if redness or inflammation is found, consult a doctor.

This dog can live both in his house and in the apartment. However, ideally, this dog for a comfortable stay needs a private or country house with an aviary. It is necessary to walk the animal living in the apartment at least twice a day for an hour and a half. In addition, it is necessary to take the dog to the toilet as needed.

In no case can you share the same piece of furniture with him, in the future the dog will consider the sofa, bed or chair as his place. And therefore, she can perceive attempts of household members to sit on them negatively. By the way, the puppy should have its own place from the first day of stay in the house after purchase. This is the first rule that he must master and adopt.

Considering that active Rottweilers have claw plates that grind on their own, it is far from always necessary to cut their claws. However, inspection of the paw pads should be done constantly, as well as examination of the ears, eyes and mouth hygiene. After walking you need to inspect the animal for ticks or fleas. If they are found, it is urgent to contact the veterinarian to solve the problem.

To do this, use shreds of tissue, moistening them in a special lotion that does not contain alcohol. If an unpleasant odor or inflammation is found, the dog is immediately taken to a specialist. When cleansing the ears, do not use cotton pads or cotton swabs.

The diet of a rottweiler may be different. For example, the basis of feeding can be selected natural or industrial food. Moreover, in addition to granular dry food, you can buy canned food for your dog. Each feeding scheme has its own nuances, but any food should be balanced and varied, as well as quality. This or that option is chosen taking into account the age and degree of activity of the animal, as well as the presence of the necessary vitamins and minerals in the feed.

Industrial feed is good because it saves cooking time. It is balanced, concentrated. And this means that it needs less to feed than natural food. In addition, granular feed is sold in packages that indicate the dosage, which is very convenient for the breeder.

If it is decided to feed the dog with natural food, in addition to it, you have to purchase special vitamin complexes for dogs, supplementing them with the diet. This food should be varied and always fresh. Must give dog lean meatfor example rabbit, lamb, lamb or beef. In addition, the animal needs offal, eggs, cottage cheese, cereals (buckwheat, rice, barley).

Also, vegetables and fruits should be present in the diet. Puppies can be given milk, but with age, lactose intolerance can occur in dogs. In addition to meat, you need to feed the rottweiler with cartilage and bones, fillet of sea fish, vegetable oil. You can not give the dog legumes, sweets and chocolates, sausages, sausages, tubular bones, pork and citrus fruits.

It is impossible to overfeed a pet, as dogs of this breed may have a tendency to obesity. If the pet has acquired gastrointestinal diseases, it is necessary to review the diet, as with age it can turn into problems with the genitourinary system.

Rottweilers are considered smart and smart animals. In addition, they have a trick that they can use in training. Their teacher should know every character trait of a particular dog, the only way to make her educated and intelligent. During training, the pet may suddenly stop performing a specific command, look at its teacher with an incomprehensible look. Such cheating does not work with experienced dog handlers, but a novice breeder can be confused.

A dog without training and education is like a grenade, which can explode at any moment. The animal quickly realizes its strength and can occupy a dominant position, becoming a home dictator for all households. You need to train him from childhood, turning to a professional dog handler. Usually, a specialist does not have any difficulties with training a Rottweiler, while an inexperienced owner in this matter may fail.

Rottweilers can only get strong-willed individuals who are responsible for everything and are distinguished by firmness of character. The first lessons can be entrusted to the dog handlerwho knows how to properly train these dogs. As a rule, the training position is based on a calm and confident appeal to the animal, friendliness and explanation.

From childhood, they explain to the Rottweiler how to behave in cases when guests or friends come to the house. He is taught norms of behavior and a clear separation of situations when protection is required and when it is not needed. This is not a chain dog: in order for it to become smart and faithful, the breeder will have to communicate a lot with her, including talking and playing. Given that the jaw of a rottweiler is stronger than that of a pit bull or German shepherd and with a bite their pressure is about 22 atmospheres, you will have to spend a lot of energy on the formation of the animal's attitude towards strangers.

Without proper physical activity, these dogs cannot develop normally, as well as without discipline. A trained dog is able to adapt to the life rhythm of the owner, as well as his habits. However, from all family members, the dog can distinguish the one who deals with it more than others.

So that dog stubbornness does not interfere with training and training, the animal educator must be persistent and patient. Rottweilers teams remember well, and their number may be greater than that of brothers of other breeds. However, when learning, you must not forget about the sequence of actions, consolidation of the studied material, as well as the proper use of rewards.

Despite the fact that during the training process it is necessary to show firmness in the requirements, it is impossible to put pressure on the dog. It should take a lot of time to train, and any attempts at aggression and viciousness must be stopped immediately. You must not allow yourself physical reprisal for failure to comply with commands, you must not allow slack in the training, the dog should perceive the teacher as a leader. At the same time, training should be energetic and varied.

The name of the Rottweiler must be selected in accordance with the status of its breed. And therefore nicknames in the spirit of the Ball, Tuzik, Buddy, Polkan are not suitable here. At the same time, you do not need to come up with kilometer nicknames: this is not only ugly, but also inappropriate. The name should be small, sharp and beautifully sounding. The soft pronunciation characteristic of cat nicknames is inappropriate here.

For example, a Rottweiler boy might be presented with the name:

• Brutus
• North;
• Tyson;
• Schwartz;
• Ram
• Charon;
• Drago
• Jag
• Turvon;
• Stark
• Kaiser;
• Hugo;
• Oscar.

For a Rottweiler girl, you can choose the following name:

• Nora;
• Irma
• Greta;
• Alba
• Bella;
• Isa;
• Hell;
• Bruna;
• Karna
• Amber
• Noemi
• Grace;
• Gina
• Daisy
• Wendy.

When choosing a nickname, it is necessary to take into account the fact that it should not be in tune with the team pronounced by the owner or dog handler. In addition, the name should not be racist, offensive or frankly stupid (for example, in the style of Upyr, Dork, Damn). Do not give the Rottweiler a nickname by the name of the household or their relatives, friends and acquaintances.

Most of the owners of the Rottweilers consider them excellent companions, the best friends of all households. This is evidenced by the reviews of breeders left on information portals. According to the owners, the Rottweilers are active, strong and strong-willed animals. Experienced dog breeders are sure that it is necessary to spend a lot of time with them, but time is more than paid for by the devotion and fidelity of animals.

In families, these animals behave differently. Some of them, for example, love not only family members at home, but also all their guests. At the same time, dogs allow themselves to be stroked, combed, they are happy to ride children on sledges and love jogging with a sports owner. Some of the Rottweilers recognize their relatives who remain in the house for a long time.

It is noteworthy that dogs living in an apartment and calmly behaving on the street can perceive the entrance as their territory. Therefore, they scare everyone who is spotted on her by barking or roaring (if they are in a muzzle).

For problems that arise with rottweilers, see below.