What You Should Know Before Adopting a Rottweiler

Some dogs are small enough to fit in a purse, while others are nearly large enough to ride. Some are intensely active and would love nothing more than spending half the day running and playing. Others love their naps and are only happy when they're curled up with a head on your lap.

Every dog is deserving of love and care, which is why I've been going through the list of most popular dog breeds and writing guides on how to care for each of them to give them the best lives they can live.

Today's breed is the rottweiler. Rotties are ranked #8 on the list as of 2024, an increase over the American bulldog. As a loving guard dog, these fiercely protective pooches are softies at heart, and have a bit of a reputation from pop culture to combat, similar to pitbulls.

What should you know about rottweilers, and how should you make sure you're prepared to adopt one? Read on for my guide.

What is the History of the Rottweiler?

Believe it or not, the rottweiler is considered to be one of the oldest surviving dog breeds, with roots at least as far back as ancient Rome. The ancient Roman rottweiler might not have been quite the same, though; it wasn't until Roman expansion into the Rottweil region of Germany led to interbreeding with native dogs there that the current breed was formed. Over time and with selective breeding, that breed became the protective guardian we know today.

They were working dogs, herding sheep or driving cattle, accompanying the Roman Legions as they crossed the Alps. They served as guard dogs as well, protecting the herds from predators, and defending their masters and their homes back in Rome and abroad.

Later on in history, closer to World War I, the rottweiler was effectively conscripted to be a military and police dog. They served as guard dogs, as well as messenger dogs and even ambulance dogs.

The original Rottweiler Club in Germany was founded in 1914, and the breed was eventually recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1931. By the 90s, they were one of the most popular dog breeds, a status they still hold today.

They say you can't improve on perfection, and that's really the heart of the modern Rottweiler: a dog that has remained relatively unchanged for centuries.

Primary Breed Characteristics of Rottweilers

While it's all but certain that the Rottweilers of centuries ago would look a little different than the rotties of today, if you were to somehow see one, you'd still be able to recognize it. But what makes a rottie a rottie?

The Physical Characteristics

Rottweilers are considered a medium to large-sized dog, and a variety of mastiff bred for work. As with most breeds, males are a little larger than females; males stand 24-27 inches at the shoulder, while females are about two inches shorter. Males weigh 95 to 135 pounds, while females weigh 80 to 100 on average.

To quote the American Kennel Club:

"The ideal Rottweiler is a medium large, robust and powerful dog, black with clearly defined rust markings. His compact and substantial build denotes great strength, agility and endurance."

They're well-proportioned and muscular dogs, built like canine tanks. They have well-defined skulls and relatively short muzzles, small but floppy ears, and taut skin with few wrinkles. They have double coats, with a medium-length and coarse outer coat and a nearly invisible undercoat, though dogs native to warmer climates might have lost the undercoat entirely.

Rottweilers actually have decently long tails, but a lot of rotties have their tails cropped, a practice that extends back centuries as a way to help protect them from predators in fights. These days, unnecessary surgical procedures like docking a tail are more broadly opposed, so many modern rotties have full tails, but you still often see them with bobtails.

One of the most distinctive parts of a rottweiler, beyond the general build, is their coloration. All rottweilers are black with a brown/rust/tan set of markings on the face, chest, and legs. While the exact range of where those markings reach can vary from dog to dog, any other colorations can betray a mixed-breed rottie.

Health and Wellness

Unfortunately, rottweilers have a slightly lower life expectancy than many other breeds, with the American Kennel Club placing them at 9-10 years on average. Some live longer, of course, but you're generally going to be with your beloved rottie for about a decade.

Common health issues for rottweilers include:

• Obesity. Since they're already prone to putting on muscle, and they're very active, they want to eat a lot. They're prone to getting fat, though, and that can cause or exacerbate other issues, so they need strict dietary care.

• Hip and Elbow Dysplasia. Since they're girthy and wide-stanced dogs, rotties are more prone to dysplasia, which can lead to arthritis and require pain medication or even surgery to correct.

• Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture. The canine cranial cruciate ligament (say that five times fast) isn't actually cranial at all; it's a ligament in the knee similar to the human ACL. A strong, bulky dog bursting into speed can rupture this ligament and cause an injury requiring orthopedic surgery and physical therapy, often for the remainder of their life.

• GDV. Gastric dilation-volvulus, also known as bloat, is a common problem in mid-size and larger dogs. It's an awful condition where the stomach bloats up and twists around on itself, cutting off blood flow and damaging the organs. It can be fatal if it's not treated right away, so you really need to learn how to identify the signs.

• Osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is an aggressive bone cancer that is especially common in rottweilers. It can be treated if it's caught early enough, but if it goes too long, it will usually be fatal. Some novel treatments are emerging to address it, but they're still in the initial stages.

• Entropion. This is a condition where the eyelids curl inward, and the eyelashes scrape against the eye. It causes irritation and tearing and can cause significant eye damage over time. It requires surgical correction, but it's a relatively minor and simple operation.

• Heart Murmurs. Subaortic Stenosis is a heart condition that can lead to sudden death in dogs, but it can be treated if it's caught early, though you will have to give them medication for the rest of their lives.

As long as you take careful care of your Rottweiler, they'll have a long and happy life with you, even if it's a year or two shorter on average than something like a German Shepherd. They will, however, offer you all of their love for all of that time.

Mentality and Personality

Rottweilers get a bad rap. Their use alongside military forces and police for centuries led to their portrayal as fierce, violent, nigh-uncontrollable guard dogs in a lot of media, especially across TV and movies. Many people have a mental picture of a rottie with a spiked collar, pulling at a chain and demanding to be let loose so they can attack whatever is in front of them.

While rottweilers can be very protective, they are not generally aggressive unless something is actively threatening something they want to protect. Fortunately, modern media is focusing more on their good aspects, and their public opinion is changing.

Rotties also have distinct personalities. Some of them are like the class clown, always goofing off and having a good time. Others are a little more standoffish and aloof. Generally, this comes down to their socialization and environment. The aloof dogs tend to have decided that one person or one place is theirs to guard, while the goofier pups have adopted a whole family or area as theirs.

Either way, rottweilers tend to be a lot calmer and reserved than their impression in media. They're generally quiet, which is why they make good guard dogs; they'll only alert if there's something worth alerting. They're also very gentle, and you're more likely to see them with a smile than a snarl.

Rotties are also smart dogs, and they can get bored easily when left alone with too little to do. Some of them develop anxiety habits or excessive barking because of it, while others just get a little neurotic.

They need at least an hour of activity a day to stay healthy, but the good news is, they're clever and love to please their parents, so it's easy to teach them tricks and put them through their paces.

Tips for Caring for a Rottweiler

What do you need to know to properly care for a Rottweiler?

Get them socialized early.

Since rotties have a natural inclination towards guarding, they can be very defensive, particularly in situations they don't know. The more you socialize them, both with people and with other dogs and even cats, the better off you'll be.

Insecure and defensive rotties aren't usually violent, but they can bark a lot and can be scary just because they're large. Goofy goobers are a lot more fun to be around, and all it takes is some regular daycare and socialization when they're young.

Similarly, invest the time in training them with obedience commands. You want them to be very obedient at the first command, both to prevent altercations and to help combat the pop culture myth of the violent dog. Fortunately, this isn't very hard, since they love to please.

Control their diets.

Since obesity is such a problem, and leads to higher rates of other problems, it's very important to control their diet properly.

Avoid over-feeding, use slow feeders that challenge their minds and slow them down, and make sure you're feeding them the right kind of food. You can work with your vet for specific recommendations for your pup.

Learn the symptoms of bloat and osteosarcoma.

Since bloat and cancer are the two biggest threats to rotties, you'll want to learn the signs of both.

This guide is a good resource for learning the symptoms of bloat. While there can be less life-threatening issues with similar symptoms, since bloat can kill in as little as an hour or two, don't try to wait it out and hope it's not severe; bring them to the emergency vet if you see the signs.

Cancers are a lot harder to notice when they're not advanced. Guides like this one give you some good insight generally, but the best thing you can do is schedule regular check-ups at least every six months to have them examined.

Be prepared for a lot of shedding.

Rotties have short, coarse coats, and they don't look like they should shed a lot, but they really do. You would be well-advised to invest in some good brushes and other grooming supplies; otherwise, you're going to end up buried in fur. Seriously, sometimes it feels like you're getting a whole second dog out of your dog when you brush them.

Some rotties even enjoy being vacuumed, which can be a good way to help pull out excess shed fur before it gets all over everything.

Other tips for general care.

One nice thing about rottweilers is that they aren't prone to any major skin issues. Bathe them as necessary, brush them regularly, and their skin should be fine.

Make sure to check their eyes regularly for signs of irritation; if they have eye issues, you want to address them early. Similarly, keep an eye on their ears. Flopped-over ears can trap moisture and bacteria, and that can lead to ear infections.

Adopting a rottweiler can be an incredible decision, and these lovable, loyal goofballs can be the light of your life for many years to come. Just like any dog, they have their health issues, but as long as you can keep a good eye on them, you can catch just about everything before it becomes a serious problem. Out of everything, the biggest ongoing burden is their diet, so make sure to work with your vet to manage it carefully.

If you have any questions about rottweilers that I didn't cover in this article, be sure to let me know in the comments section, down below, and I'll get back to you with an answer as soon as possible!