It is not enough to do a little bit of training with
Rottweilers and then stick them in the backyard and leave
them there. This breed thrives on work and responsibility.
Their stamina and intelligence make them ideal candidates
for all kinds of active dog sports. Training also
reinforces your role as leader, and that is essential with
a breed as intelligent and powerful as this one.
Rottweilers enjoy advanced obedience training, agility,
herding and carting. When properly socialized and trained,
these dogs make excellent therapy dogs and service dogs,,
proving Rottweilers are at their best when they have a job
to do. They often find their way into police work, where
they make loyal partners for their human companions.
Rottweiler Information: Health
The Rottweiler’s origin
is the town of Rottweil, Germany, where it was bred to herd
livestock and to pull butcher’s carts to market. Currently,
the breed is widely employed in police and rescue work, as
guide dogs for the blind, and as a companion species. Like
many larger dogs, the Rottweiler can be subject to hip
and elbow
dysplasia as well as gastric torsion. The breed may also
be prone to von
Willebrand’s disease and bone cancer. The
Rottweiler will typically live to an age of 8 to 11 years.
Primary Health Conditions of the Rottweiler
This large breed can be especially susceptible to hip and
elbow displasias, in
which genetic deformities of the bone and joint cause
inflammation and pain in the dog. These conditions can be
treated medically or with surgery. Keeping the
dog’s weight in
check will help manage the condition. Proper breeding of
dogs without dysplasia is the best preventative. Also
common to large dogs like the Rottweiler is gastric
torsion, or twisting of the stomach. This problem can be
painful to the dog and quite serious without immediate
veterinary treatment. Rottweiler owners should provide high
quality food without grain fillers to help prevent torsion.
Secondary Health Conditions of the Rottweiler
Recent over-breeding in the Rottweiler has been thought to
increase the dog’s susceptibility to cancers, in particular bone cancer.
While its cancer can be treated with surgery, radio- and
chemotherapy, in many cases the prognosis is not favorable.
The Rottweiler can also be susceptible to the genetically
inherited condition known as von Willebrand’s disease. In
this disease, the dog’s blood does not properly clot. The
condition is not curable, and the owner of a dog with von
Willenbrand’s should be alert to injuries the animal receives and
to profusely bleeding wounds.
Rottweiler Exercise and Walking Needs
The Rottweiler is a stout working dog that needs and enjoys
a great deal of physical activity. This breed will
therefore thrive with long daily walks, room to run and
play, and the opportunity to retrieve toys and balls. A
Rottweiler that does not receive enough exercise is
particularly prone to weight issues and may display
destructive behaviors and excessive barking. Daily exercise
will also help to stave off the joint and bone troubles
that can afflict this breed of dog.
Rottweiler Nutritional Needs
The Rottweiler has a healthy appetite and requires a high
quality food rich in proteins, carbohydrates, and nutrients
to stay active and fit. A good quality food that does not
contain corn or soy will also help to prevent gastric
torsion in this breed. Food portions should be closely
regulated to the Rottweiler’s age and level of activity
since obesity can be of special concern in this dog.