ORGIN:

Tracing the history of any breed of dog prior to the 1850s is almost impossible. The origin of the Rottweiler is not a documented record, due to the Rottweiler being considered one of the oldest dog breeds.

In 1926, there were two sizes of Rottweilers. One was the heavier dog used for draft work & the smaller more agile one was used for working the stock. According to The Rottweiler in Word and Picture, the two strains were always kept separate & were not interbred. The larger type had colour established, while the smaller dogs frequently carried white markings. This aspect was ignored, because they were bred solely for their working ability. The first Rottweiler standard was written in 1883 & published in 1901. It has been suggested that it covered both breeds. Ironically in 1901 the breed standard, in regards to colour, states that the most common & preferable colour was black with russet or, yellow markings. However, it accepted a number of alternative base colours such as black stripes on an ash grey background. In other words brindle; plain red; or dark wolf grey with black & saddle. It also stated that white marking on the chest & legs frequently occurred & were admissible, if not too extensive. In the beginning of the 20^th century Rottweilers were used successfully as a police dog & still are used today by some police forces. In 1924 the Allegemeiner Duetschen Rottweiler Klub (ADRK) in Germany published its first stud book.

The Rottweiler of today has still retained its loyalty, intelligence, good nature, devotion, courage & obedience. Many Rottweilers are used for Police work, Search & Rescue, Tracking, Herding, Guard work, Carting & most important of all, treasured family members. Most Rottweiler owners admit that they have the pleasure to be owned by their Rottweiler (s).

GENERAL APPEARANCE:

The ideal Rottweiler is a medium to large size, robust & powerful dog. The markings should be black with clearly defined mahogany, rust, or, rich tan markings. His compact & substantial build should denote great strength, agility & endurance. Males are characteristically larger, heavier boned & more masculine in appearance.  Males should be between 24 to 27 inches (60 to 68 cm) Females should be between 22 to 25 inches (55 to 63 cm).

Having said this I do hear some people making comments such as American Rottweilers are larger than German Rottweilers or, visa versa.  In my opinion, such statements are very general & are not based on fact. There is not really much of a difference between the American, German or, any other Rottweiler standard, as far as height and weight go. Having said this, there are American bred Rottweilers that are tall & skinny, short & stocky & somewhere in between. The same can be said about German bred Rottweilers. It all comes down to the vision of the breeder, the purpose & goal of the breeding program. Most important of all the type & consistency of the Rottweilers, within the pedigree. At Rothburg, we have a combination of international bloodlines. We prefer Rottweilers with a nice blocky head & lots of bone. We feel our show quality Rottweilers should be able to show & do well in C.K.C, A.K.C, Sieger & other rings.

TEMPERAMENT:

The Rottweiler is basically a calm, confident & courageous dog, with a self-assured, aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate & indiscriminate friendships. A Rottweiler is self-confident & responds quietly, with a wait and see attitude to influences in his environment. He has an inherent desire to protect home & family. A Rottweiler is an intelligent dog of extreme hardness & adaptability with a strong willingness to work; making him especially suited as a companion, guardian & general all-purpose dog.

HEALTH:

There are some diseases & problems that   Rottweilers could have. I firmly believe that with proper nutrition, exercise, housing & routine veterinary or, holistic care; your Rottweiler can be expected to be a happy, active member of your household. Rottweilers are susceptible to Canine Parvovirus, I recommend keeping your Rottweiler low key, for the first twelve weeks of its life. Stay away from public areas where other dogs eliminate, until your Rottweiler has had at least two of their puppy vaccinations.  Rottweilers are also prone to Hip dysplasia; Elbow dysplasia; Heart disease, such as S.A.S; Eye disease, such as cataracts & P.R.A. There are no lines that are completely free of these diseases. That is why it is important for breeders to test & certify their breeding stock.  

AMBASSADORS:

Not everyone is meant to own a Rottweiler; this magnificent breed deserves owners that are willing to dedicate their lives to socializing & training. Puppy & obedience classes/socials are a must, in order to help your Rottweiler become an asset to society.  Owners need to make every effort to ensure the safety, future & well being on our beloved breed. Rottweiler owners need to band together & be good ambassadors. It is time people start thinking, what can I do for my Rottweiler, instead of, what can my Rottweiler do for me. In some cities, there are bylaws that ban Rottweilers. Rottweiler Rescues & Humane Societies are filling up with, unwanted Rottweilers. We are coming into an era where all Rottweilers owners need to take responsibility for their dogs. All owners need to realize that their Rottweiler has become what they have created, therefore a reflection of them, the owner. Remember that cute little puppy is going to grow up to weigh approximately 70 to 135 lbs.  There are very few Rottweiler owners that just have one; there is so much pleasure & joy with this breed. Rottweilers deserve the best owners. I recommend going to your local library & reading as many Rottweiler books, as possible. Go to dog shows, talk to Rottweiler breeders, & visit breeders in their home. A good breeder will provide information about their bloodlines, show proof of genetic testing & have a written guarantee. They will also provide instructions & support for the well being of your Rottweiler.