The Veterinarian’s Guide to Rottweilers: Facts, Care, and Training Tips

With a long history of intelligence and perseverance, the Rottweiler is a smart, energetic and protective breed that is known for its adaptability into many roles. Throughout history, the Rottweiler has been a valuable asset to many; seeing this breed in roles such as guard dogs, rescue dogs and police dogs. This breed is extremely active both physically and mentally, requiring frequent exercise and mental stimulation.

• Rottweilers are not recommended for first-time dog owners. Whilst these dogs can be trained and socialised to become a family companion, both their size and protective nature can lead to difficulty in training and behaviour management.
  
  
• This breed is often misjudged to be aggressive due to their history, but with the proper training and patience, your Rottweiler can become a well-rounded dog that blends perfectly with your family.
  
  

Appearance: Rottweilers have a colouring that is extremely recognisable. With a black coat, with either tan, rust or mahogany markings, their short double coat is smooth and shiny. Your Rottweiler will vary in size depending on their gender, but adult Rottweilers will range from 56 to 69 centimetres tall at their shoulders, and between 39 and 59 kilograms in weight.

Temperament: This breed is highly energetic and confident, making them the best breed for experienced dog owners. Rottweilers are extremely playful, are known to be loyal to their pack, and can make great family dogs with proper socialisation and training. 

Activity Level: Being an extremely active and energetic breed, Rottweilers require daily physical and mental exercise to keep them happy and healthy. We recommend daily walks, and at least twice a day to keep your pup healthy. Additionally, keeping them mentally active is just as important to keeping them happy, and reducing unwanted behaviours.

Health: Your Rottweiler can experience a range of health issues common for not only this breed, but larger dog breeds in general. Common health issues include joint diseases and conditions, along with eye and blood disorders. However, we will cover these conditions in this guide so you know what to look out for in your dog.

Lifespan: The average lifespan of a Rottweiler is from 9 to 10 years of age. Through appropriate care of your dog, including consistent exercise, a healthy diet and regular veterinarian check-ups, you can spend as long as possible with your furry friend.

Compared to many other dog breeds, Rottweilers are a relatively low-maintenance breed in terms of keeping up with their grooming. Whilst they still shed and need basic care including brushing, teeth checks and nail trims, you will find that your Rottweiler is simple to groom day-to-day.

Shedding patterns: With a double coat, Rottweilers are known to shed their winter coat when moving into the warmer months, and you can expect this on an annual basis. However, these dogs are known as moderate shedders, meaning that they will shed year-round and have more extensive periods of shedding in the seasonal changes.

To keep on top of their day-to-day shedding, we recommend brushing your Rottweiler a few times a week with a high quality dog brush to avoid those loose hairs invading your home. For particularly high shedding seasons, we recommend an undercoat rake to maintain this high-density of fur loss.

Bathing tips: To keep on top of any shedding, and to keep your Rottweiler feeling fresh, we recommend bathing your pup every four to six weeks, depending on your lifestyle. Your dog may end up in some messy situations, so bathe them as needed.

When bathing your Rottweiler, we recommend using a gentle dog shampoo to help them maintain their shiny coat, but also ensure that their skin is protected. Additionally, to keep their coat soft, we recommend a gentle dog conditioner that can nourish their skin and coat after their bath.

Nails & teeth: Being an active and energetic breed, it is important that you take proper care of your Rottweilers nails to avoid discomfort. If your dog’s nails become too long, it can cause them pain and discomfort when walking or playing. We recommend introducing regular nail trims to your Rottweiler as soon as possible, along with using high quality and heavy duty nail trimmer to care for your pup at home.

We also recommend paying attention to your Rottweilers dental hygiene. Whilst you can provide your dog with dentals chews and treats, we also recommend brushing their teeth regularly with a dog toothbrush to make sure there isn’t any buildup on their teeth.

Being a large dog breed, Rottweilers can experience a range of joint issues that can impact them later in life. Some of these conditions can be avoided through genetic screening, which can be discussed with the Rottweiler’s breeder, or with a trusted veterinarian who is aware of your dog’s medical history.

Hip & elbow dysplasia: Common in many large dog breeds, hip and elbow dysplasia impacts the respective joints leading to pain and potential arthritis for your Rottweiler. You can spot hip and elbow dysplasia in your dog through excessive limping and a popping or cracking noise coming from their joints.

If left untreated, this condition can lead to long-term arthritis. For treatment, many dogs live happy lives on medication and supplements along with weight loss. However, for more severe cases, some Rottweilers may require surgery to aid their condition.

Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV): Due to their deep chests and shallow abdomens, Rottweilers are more susceptible to Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV). This condition is a severe case of bloating in dogs that involves the swelling of the stomach blocking blood flow to major organs in the dog’s body. 

This condition can become fatal if not treated immediately, so if you notice your Rottweiler unable to get comfortable, have a reduced appetite, have an enlarged abdomen or retching without vomiting, we recommend taking them to a veterinarian immediately.

Eye disorders: Rottweilers are susceptible to a range of eye disorders that can often be treated. These conditions can range from irritation of the eye, all the way up to progressive vision loss.

A common eye condition that impacts Rottweilers is progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). This hereditary trait involves your Rottweiler’s eye’s deteriorating leading to vision loss or cataracts. Whilst there is no cure, it is important to try and catch this early with your veterinarian so you are prepared.

Known for their intelligence and high trainability, Rottweilers are a great breed for owners who are looking to train their pup beyond basic commands. Along with this, Rottweilers have a willing attitude that means they are more receptive to training methods.

Intelligence: With a long history of Rottweilers being trained in various roles, including being amongst the first dog breeds to be trained as service animals for the blind, these dogs are extremely intelligent.

This means that the training for your Rottweiler can extend past basic commands such as “sit” toward more complex commands. However, if not properly trained, this intelligence can lead to overall independence and it can become more difficult to maintain and train behaviours.

Socialisation: Socialising your Rottweiler during their puppy-hood is especially important due to their bounds of energy. If gone unsocialised, your dog can become wary of others and may resort to aggressive tendencies.

However, the process of socialising your Rottweiler doesn’t stop when they are a puppy. Your dog will require consistent socialisation with other animals and people to ensure they are a well-rounded and happy dog, along ensuring they are a great family addition.

A great way to introduce your Rottweiler into socialisation is puppy school. This is a controlled environment where your dog can meet other dogs and people in a safe way. Many veterinary practices put on their own puppy school classes to help pups learn basic commands and socialise with other dogs.

Common training issues: With this breed being highly intelligent, you are unlikely to run into common training issues such as stubbornness or reluctance to perform commands. However, with their personality, you may encounter different training issues such as leash pulling or confusion during training.

Coupled with their strength and energetic nature, Rottweilers can be prone to pulling on the leash during walks. This is something that needs to be addressed as soon as possible to avoid long-term unwanted behaviours. We give you our top tips later on in this article on how to stop leash pulling in your Rottweiler!

Additionally, Rottweilers can become confused during training if you don’t remain consistent. This involves consistency in command wording and positive reinforcement. We recommend using the same word for the respective command, along with immediately providing positive reinforcement (such as a treat or affection) after your Rottweiler has performed the right command.

As you may know by now, Rottweilers have bounds of energy that need to be exerted. This therefore means that you need to commit to an exercise routine that allows your pup to receive at least two hours of activity a day. This can be split into walks, playtime and mental stimulation to keep your pup happy all day long.

Frequent walks: A great way to control your Rottweiler’s energy is daily walks. We recommend splitting your daily walks into two sessions so as to not over-exhaust your pup in one walk. With their energy and large size, Rottweilers can be prone to pull on their leash. Therefore, we recommend training this behaviour out as soon as possible with some further tips in this article.

Play sessions: An effective method to help your Rottweiler exert their energy throughout the day is to have frequent play sessions. A great way to not only use their energy, but bond with your dog, play sessions can vary in timings and activities. You can invest in a range of durable dog toys that your Rottweiler will enjoy including balls, frisbees, rope toys or even the beloved squeaky toy!

Mental stimulation: When considering the exercise needs of a Rottweiler, you cannot miss the need for mental stimulation. This breed is extremely intelligent, and are known for how smart they are. This means that they require mental stimulation to keep them happy, and to avoid boredom throughout the day, which can lead to unwanted destructive behaviours. 

We recommend investing in some activities or puzzle toys that can keep your dog busy on their own. Dog activity mats can make great mental stimulation for your pup, or you can even hide some treats in a rolled up kitchen towel from your cupboard to keep them busy!

Rottweilers are a highly energetic breed, meaning that they can be susceptible to behavioural problems linked to boredom or lack of exercise. However, this breed is extremely intelligent and easily trainable, making training these unwanted behaviours easier compared to other breeds.

Destructive chewing: A behavioural issue you may encounter with your Rottweiler is destructive chewing. This can vary from chewing up their toys to your furniture, belongings or backyard. This behaviour often stems from a lack of both exercise and mental stimulation, and looking for other alternatives to keep themselves busy.

We recommend ensuring your Rottweiler is engaged in frequent play sessions and daily exercise. However, for those times of the day where you can’t play with your pup, we recommend a puzzle toy or a mentally stimulating dog toy that can keep them busy and keep their mind healthy.

Leash pulling: Coupled with their energetic personality and their large size, it is very common for your Rottweiler to begin pulling on the lead when you walk them. This can become dangerous for both you and your dog, so it is important that you correct this behaviour as soon as possible.

To begin training this behaviour out of your Rottweiler, you need to establish dominance by leading the walk yourself, instead of them leading you throughout the walk. Be sure to not give into them pulling by pulling back at them - they may start to think it is a fun game of tug-of-war! Instead, we recommend standing your ground with a firm grip and rewarding positive behaviour such as walking beside you with positive reinforcement such as small treats.

Separation anxiety: Being a loyal breed, your Rottweiler may become distressed and upset when they are left without you. This can lead to unwanted behaviours such as excessive barking and destructive tendencies, along with general anxiety in your pup.

To help your dog, we recommend providing them with a long-lasting distraction that will keep their mind busy for at least the first 40 minutes you are away from the home, as this is when the most destructive behaviours are done. Investing in a treat-based dog toy that you can fill with their favourite treats or spreads, your Rottweiler can remain distracted and happy whilst you’re not home.

It is essential that you feed your Rottweiler a well-balanced diet that is nutritionally rich to ensure that they can maintain their active lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy diet is also important to help minimise the impacts of possible health conditions, such as joint issues and diseases.

High quality food: When looking for food for your Rottweiler, it is essential that you choose a high quality dog food that is nutrient rich. This means that the food you’re choosing should be high in protein to maintain their shiny coat, along with containing the vital vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy.

We recommend providing your Rottweiler with a high quality dog food that has minimal carbohydrates to maintain their health. Whilst it is up to your dog’s preference whether you’d like to purchase wet or dry food for your Rottweiler, we always recommend a nutrient rich dog food that will keep your dog happy and healthy.

Food allergies: This breed can be susceptible to food allergies to certain allergens that are present in some dog foods. If your Rottweiler is experiencing allergic reactions from their food, we recommend switching to a hypoallergenic dog food to help ease any discomfort.

Hydration: Being an active breed, it is important that your Rottweiler has constant access to fresh water throughout the day. To encourage your dog to drink frequently, we recommend placing a dog bowl in an easily-accessible place filled with clean water. We likewise recommend ensuring that this is full and clean all day by checking in on the bowl throughout the day.

Meal frequency: Whilst your Rottweiler is still a puppy, we recommend feeding your pup three to four smaller meals throughout the day. As they grow into their adulthood, we recommend two meals a day for your Rottweiler to ensure they are receiving the appropriate amount of nutrients.

To help combat overeating and related health conditions, we recommend investing in a slow-feeder bowl to help them slow their eating during meal time and regulate their food intake. 

Whether you own a Rottweiler or are considering adding one to your family, we trust that our guide has provided you with valuable insights. Whilst this guide is great start to learning about Rottweiler ownership, never stop seeking out new information from reputable sources. Engage with other Rottweiler owners, share your experiences and continue learning about your dog's breed, characteristics, temperament, and the best ways to care for and cherish them.

This article was written by Dr Jack Ayerbe