Rottweiler

Breed Description

The Rottweiler is one big, gorgeous package of muscle and confidence. This is a robust working breed of great strength descended from the mastiffs of the Roman legions, and you can absolutely see that heritage in every stride they take. Despite their imposing looks, they carry themselves with a calm, quiet dignity rather than showing off.

At home, though, Rotties reveal a much softer side. They’re a gentle playmate and protector within the family circle, the Rottie observes the outside world with a self-assured aloofness that makes them excellent watchdogs without being nervy or reactive. That signature black coat with rich rust-to-mahogany markings on the face, chest, and legs is instantly recognizable and part of what makes the breed so striking.

They’re also whip-smart. Rottweilers are commonly ranked among the more intelligent breeds, appearing near the top of obedience intelligence lists based on Stanley Coren’s rankings, often placed 9th, which explains why they excel as police, service, and therapy dogs while still being wonderful family companions.

Breed History

The Rottweiler’s story stretches all the way back to ancient Rome. It is believed to descend from one of the drover dogs indigenous to ancient Rome, a rugged mastiff-type dog with great intelligence and a strong guarding instinct. When Roman armies crossed the Alps, they brought herds of livestock along for food, and these sturdy dogs went with them, driving the herds, protecting the soldiers, and guarding their supplies.

Eventually the breed settled in the German town of Rottweil, where it earned its name and became famous as the Rottweiler Metzgerhund, or butcher’s dog, prized for driving cattle and even pulling carts loaded with meat and money. But progress caught up with them: by the mid-1800s, the Rottweiler had fallen out of favor because dog carts had been replaced by donkey carts and then railroads, and cattle droving was outlawed, leaving Rottweilers with no work.

Just when things looked bleak, a new calling saved the breed. When police departments across Germany began testing breeds for service work in the early 1900s, it soon became evident that the breed was highly suitable for the tasks set by police service, and Rottweilers were officially recognized as police dogs in 1910. The breed crossed the Atlantic not long after: in 1930, a German immigrant to the United States named Otto Denny bred the first Rottweiler litter, and the AKC added a Rottweiler to its stud book in 1931. Dedicated breeders like Joan Klem, whose family founded the influential Rodsden kennel, helped cement the Rottweiler’s popularity in America over the following decades.

Behavioral Characteristics

Ask anyone who has lived with a Rottweiler and they’ll tell you these dogs are famously loyal, but they don’t hand out their trust to just anyone. The breed standard sums it up perfectly: the Rottweiler is basically a calm, confident and courageous dog with a self-assured aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships. That wait-and-see attitude toward strangers is completely normal and, with proper socialization, softens into polite tolerance rather than nervousness.

With their own people, it’s a totally different story. Rottweilers are people pleasers and highly adaptive, and they’re especially affectionate with their loved ones, often acting like oversized lap dogs who want to lean on you or rest their head on your knee. Their personality can vary quite a bit from dog to dog too, with some being natural clowns that love everybody and others being very reserved one-person dogs.

Because they’re bright, strong-willed, and naturally protective, consistent leadership matters. Early training is essential for Rottweilers, and because the breed is territorial by nature, socialization, training classes, and living in their owner’s home is critical to raising a well-adjusted adult. Give a Rottweiler a job, clear rules, and plenty of exercise, and you’ll get a devoted, biddable companion who’s happiest working alongside the people they love.

Fun Facts

• “The breed's full historic name, Rottweiler Metzgerhund, literally means 'Rottweil butcher's dog,' since butchers once used them to pull carts and even guard money strapped around their necks.”
• “Rottweilers regularly land in the top 10 of AKC's most popular dog breed rankings in the United States.”
• “According to Stanley Coren's canine intelligence research, Rottweilers rank 9th out of 138 breeds tested, able to learn a new command in about five repetitions.”

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