Rottweiler FAQs – All Questions Answered

Rottweiler dogs are a mixed bag. One cannot say that they are completely safe or extremely dangerous. Good training and socialization are extremely important for a Rottweiler, right from its puppyhood to ensure that it develops good habits. It is based on the behavior of its owner and also the other situations that it faces.

Generally, almost all owners of Rottweiler unanimously are of the opinion that this dog breed is very nice in terms of its relationship with kids. It maintains an affectionate and friendly attitude with the family members, also.

There are some related breeds of dogs that resemble a Rottweiler dog:

• Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
• Mastiff
• Boxer – both are guardian dogs that are bred to watch over people, property, and livestock. 
• Bernese Mountain Dog
• Bullmastiff
• Doberman Pinscher

It is majorly noted that Rottweilers turn aggressive usually because of fear. There are two kinds of aggression notable in a Rottweiler, namely: fear-based aggression and protective aggression.

Fear-based aggression is caused due to looking at some peculiarity of a person’s look on overall counts like for example, very long grown hairs.

Protective aggression is seen as a behavior that arises due to lack of socialization skill. For example, if the Rottweiler sees another dog.

Usually, Rottweilers are naturally protective of their families but the respective owner needs to ensure this by giving it the right training and socialization.

However, something that is strange in this dog is its outlook toward strangers who don’t look actually threatening. Quality of training and socialization are pivotal activities for owners to do for their dogs.

Rottweilers drool up to a mediocre level and this is basically because of its loosely structured lips. This drooling is most notable amongst large male Rottweiler dogs.

The price of a Rottweiler dog varies based on various parameters: breeder price, his reputation, place of origin, special features and overall quality. Rottweiler dogs are priced at $600 to $1000 in the US market.

They can be used as a pet and also guard dogs. Dogs in this breed also are available in a price range of $1000 to $1800 and even more than $1800. The maximum price can go up to $4000 for Rottweiler puppies immigrated from Germany.

Rottweilers have a short double coat but still, they can shed. Their undercoat is softer and much more insulated wherein this protects them throughout the winter.

The topcoat is much rougher, and this is the coat that you will see most of the time. During each year in the spring, the Rottweiler will shed its undercoat, and also in the wintertime, it will shed again.

Rottweiler dogs generally have the traits of calmness, obedience, enthusiastic to work, confidence, dedication, alertness, fearlessness, and friendliness.

If the Rottweiler is given good socialization and training from a very young age, it can be the best dog that can get along well in society. It barks occasionally, whenever most required.  Watch out for threat of aggression signaled by the dog if it is lower-pitched and mixed with growls.

The average height of a male Rottweiler dog is 61 to 69 cm whilst a female dog stands 56 to 63 cm. When we look into the average body weight, the male Rottweiler weighs between 50 to 60 kg while a female dog is 35 to 48 kg.

The Rottweiler dog is a bulkily built and slow-growing dog breed. The Rottweiler puppy will become a fully grown or matured dog only when it (both male and female) reaches the age of at least 1.6 years to 2 years.

Generally, puppies eat more than adults. The Rottweiler puppy is best recommended by vet doctors to be fed based on their body weight.

The recommended food amount is 2-3% of the dog’s desired body weight per day. So for a 100lb dog, you will be feeding 2-3 pounds of food a day.

If the dog is gorging and fasting, it may be requiring 6 pounds or more of food to be fed on a gorge day.

Rottweiler puppies must be fed with foods that are rich in proteins and calories alongside helping to develop healthier muscles.

If you want your Rottweiler to gain more weight, it must be fed with a minimal of 290 calories per 15 lb of the stated nature of foods on a daily basis.

For example, fresh meat, egg, veggies, and cheese can fit the bill since they are protein-rich foods can be easily mixed with the Rottweiler’s food.

The Rottweiler is one of the oldest herding dog breeds. Its history goes back to the days of the Roman Empire. The Rottweiler is generally believed to have descended from the ancient Roman drover dogs.

Roman drover dogs are a mastiff-type dog with good credibility and rugged nature. It had great skills in guarding and showed phenomenal intelligence.

It is based on the individual Rottweiler dog in respect of the environment and circumstances in which it is grown.

According to various statistics that are conducted based on some tests done on these dogs like bite test and individual temperament tests, the overall dog breed score shows positive results. It means that the Rottweilers are surely not very dangerous.

The Rottweiler puppy can be trained by the owner by adopting a step-wise procedural approach to training:

• Begin training at a very early age of the puppy (7-8 weeks) and make the sessions short and joyful.
• Reward your puppy when it follows your commands, say for example giving small cubes of cheese or pieces of chicken.
• You must learn the perfect commands and execute them properly in a friendly manner.
• Constantly follow these principles in all your commands.
• Spend the required amount of time and effort on training.
• Teach the ‘’no bite’’ approach to your Rottweiler puppy.
• Give the ‘’no chew’’ command as it is commonly seen in dogs to chew everything.
• Practice the puppy to maintain quiet behavior.
• Teach `No’ or `Stop’ commands.
• Use the sit command and teach it accordingly so that the puppy can be comfortably fed, groomed and you can play with it in a relaxed fashion.
• Teach him to get down
• Teach Stay
• Ask it to come by giving the come command

Finally, use the paw command and it will be useful when the nails of your Rottweiler are going to be trimmed or clipped

You must definitely start from the first day itself, of your Rottweiler puppy ownership at home on how it should curb its biting habit. Some steps for the avoidance of this habit are:

• Give a light nip on the neck of your Rottweiler puppy
• Make a whining sound when you are bitten by it
• Try replacement therapy where you hand your puppy a toy rather than putting your hand

It is best advised to buy Rottweiler puppies from the best Rottweiler selling breeders/kennels since they will be having well bred and healthy ones.

Of course, there are many moderate and substandard breeders wherein you are always at risk of buying an unhealthy Rottweiler puppy and you will face many hardships thereafter.

Rottweiler puppies are popular and sold in many countries like USA, Australia, Germany, UK etc.

German Rottweiler puppies are heavily priced. It is notable that in the USA, pure German Rottweiler bred puppy can be purchased for a price of between $7000 and $20000 or even slightly more.

However, a Rottweiler with mixed features such as American Rottie with German bloodlines will be available for a price range of $500 to $1000. An American Rottie with German import parents carrying titles/championships will cost $1,000 to $5,000+.

It is generally recommended by the vet community and related professionals for breeders to breed a rottweiler with a white spot. The goal is to eliminate the white trait.

Breeders that get puppies with white spots sell them as pet quality only and do not allow breeding rights. The AKC papers are given to the puppy owners but marked as limited registration.

There are multiple views expressed in this regard from various quarters. There are various factors that determine the quantum of birth of puppies from the womb of a Rottweiler dog.

It might range from 3 to 4 puppies being born or 10 and more etc. Of course, there has been some news heard that a maximum of 18 puppies has been born to a Rottweiler dog.

Purebred Rottweiler puppies can be available in the market for a price of $1000 and go up to $4000. It is based on the experience and reputation of the breeder.

Highly reputed kennels/breeders who sell premium quality well-bred puppies can set a price range of $2000 to $4000. A mediocre breeder can sell a high bred puppy for a price of $1000 to $2000.

Rottweiler puppies can be purchased in the breeding centers or kennels across Australia for a price ranging from $450 to 2000 Australian dollars.

It is however dependent on factors like the nature of the breeder, his market reputation and the overall quality of the Rottweiler dog.

It might even differ based on the state or location. For example, in Melbourne state, it might be costly and in Sydney, it could be a bit inexpensive.

Some general tips that one can consider and follow if they are going to buy a puppy for the first time are:

• When it comes time to make a selection out of your chosen litter, make sure that the puppy you are interested in does not shy away when you approach. It is better to opt for a puppy that can quickly socialize and allows you to hold and handle it.
• As a first step at the breeder center, it is necessary for you to ask the breeder about meeting the Rottweiler pup’s parents. The behavior of such parents is vital to know before yourselves getting attached to a puppy. They must show an easy, friendly and well-mannered attitude.
• Ask your breeder how many times the mom has been bred. If she has been bred over three times, there could be health and behavior issues that you want to avoid.
• Check his or her back legs. The large-breed dogs can have problems with hip dysplasia, which can be extremely expensive and heartbreaking for you and the dog.
• Do not hesitate to ask many questions to the breeder since it is extremely mandatory for him to answer. It might cover the litter, parents, and the Rottweiler breed.
• The health certificate must be sought from the breeder wherein it is mandatory that all puppies are being health certified and the required papers remain to prove it.
• It is essential for you to confirm that the puppy you want to buy is looking hale and healthy
• It must be ensured that the puppies have clean and glossy hair.
• Check their teeth and gums—teeth should be white and gums should be pink.

Here is a stepwise procedure as to how the tail of a Rottweiler puppy needs to be docked:

1. Under the guidance of a vet or experienced breeder, locate the area of the tail which is just above the anus. A properly docked tail will be very short, between the first and second vertebrae.
2. Have someone for an assistance to hold the puppy
3. Use your docking band to tie the first knot loosely around the tail and move it to the length required. The knot should be firm but not too tight. Use a reef knot (square knot) so it is hard for the mother to undo. This is achieved by holding the two sides of the strand in each hand.
4. Take the right side and bring it over and then underneath the left. Holding both sides up, now take the left side and bring it over and then underneath the right side.
5. Now, go for tying the second knot. Tie a firm reef knot but it should not be extremely tight and make your pup struggle
6. The ends of the docking band must be cut to at least 1/2 inch of length
7. Apply iodine twice per day using a cotton swab. This will keep the skin around and underneath the band clean and sterile.
8. Ensure that you keep the conditions around the puppy sterile and clean in order to minimize chances of infection. This is important for your puppies, regardless of whether you choose to dock or not.
9. The puppy must be closely monitored and in case of any problems that you face, contact your veterinarian.

As a result of these procedures, the tails will contract and fall off in another couple of days.

Rottweiler is a popular breed of dog with its origins from Germany. It is however extremely popular in the USA. The key points for identifying an original Rottweiler puppy are:

• Check out completely on the physical and personality aspects of the puppy
• Look at the shape and size of the head. Wrinkled marks appear around its eyes and its ears fold down with a triangular shape
• Notify its jaw strength. Rottweilers are measured to have the second most powerful bite pressure than the other dog breeds. This is possible due to its heavy jaws and a wider head to absorb the needed level of big muscles to get this strength

The babies will need to be fed with a commercial canine milk replacer. You must ensure that you keep a specific milk replacer for the puppy. Other milk replacers and cow’s milk will cause diarrhea disease to the puppy.

The puppies will be required to be fed with a syringe or bottle within a few hours daily and this will happen for many weeks.

There are a series of things to be followed:

• After a complete analysis of the Rottweiler dog and surrounding aspects, decide which is the ideal Rottweiler dog that can be brought home
• Spot the ideal seasoned breeder
• Take a reasonable time for choosing your favorite puppy from the whole lot
• Confirm whether the vaccination and deworming treatments are done on your favorite Rottweiler puppy before bringing it home
• Get the processes of microchipping, spaying or neutering done on your puppy
• Give many exercises to the puppy after a while, say a day later after being brought home
• Groom your puppy every week with a soft-bristled brush
• Follow a nutritious diet plan for feeding the puppy
• Start to immediately housetrain your puppy
• Prepare a daily chart and maintain patience while handling the puppy
• Start socializing the Rottweiler puppy from a very early age itself, it is very important
• Keep resting assured that the Rottweiler puppy is feeling completely convenient
• Enlist the name of your puppy in socialization classes
• Monitor how your Rottweiler puppy is behaving with other dogs

Foods that have good nutritional value in terms of protein ingredients are most advisable for giving Rottweiler puppies.

The best dog foods for Rottweiler puppies can be:

• Orijen Adult Dog Grain-Free Dog Food
• Taste of the Wild Wetlands Dog Food
• Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food

Foods that contain ingredients like chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal and also herring meal are most advisable for feeding a Rottweiler puppy.

Owners can feed their puppy with the ideal diet only if they do not give foods that do not have soy, wheat, or corn. It is essential that the Rottweiler requires protein-rich foods in its diet.

Mostly, dogs take one year from birth to attain their proper mature body size. Rottweiler puppies begin as a small breed and stop growing from the age of 12 -13 months. The puppies reach complete maturity during this time.