How to Care for a Rottweiler

Rottweilers are intelligent, loyal dogs that are very attached to their owners. Although this breed is known to be powerful and may seem intimidating, rottweilers are not necessarily aggressive if properly trained. It is important to socialize your rottweiler puppy with children, other animals and people. Expect to train your dog for a solid year if you want her to be well-behaved.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Electric Dog Clippers
• Dog Behavior Books
• Dog Balls
• Dog Beds
• Dog Bones
• Dog Brushes
• Dog Collars
• Dog Conditioner
• Dog Dishes
• Dog Flea/tick Control Medication
• Dog Grooming Sprays
• Dog Leashes
• Dog Shampoo
• Dog Training Aids
• Dog Training Leashes/collars
• Dog Shampoo
• Flying Discs

1. Vaccinate your rottweiler and follow up with yearly booster vaccinations to maintain the dog's immunity to diseases. Worm your adult dog every three months and consult your veterinarian about de-fleaing products.

2. Feed your rottweiler high-grade dog food. The first ingredient should be meat if you want a quality product. Crude protein should be no less than 30 percent, and crude fat no less than 20 percent. Also, the fiber content needs to be 4 percent or less.

3. Brush your rottweiler's topcoat and undercoat only when necessary. The same goes for bathing. They are average shedders and lose their topcoat and undercoat twice a year.

4. Trim nails every two to three weeks.

5. Remember that a rottweiler has a strong instinct to protect her home and family. Avoid leaving her alone with unfamiliar people in your home; if the dog perceives an unfamiliar visitor as an intruder, she may become aggressive. Allow your rottweiler to slowly become familiar with visitors.

6. Walk or run your rottweiler at least twice a day, for 20 minutes or more each time. This breed is very active and will also need a large backyard to romp around in. If a rottweiler becomes bored or doesn't have enough activity, she may become destructive.

7. Keep your rottweiler on a leash when away from your home. This breed can be aggressive with unfamiliar dogs, although early training and socialization may curb this tendency.

8. Play with your rottweiler often. They love to run, swim and play catch. You can't overexercise this breed.

9. Understand that a rottweiler is prone to certain health problems, such as hip and elbow dysplasia (a malformation of the joints), osteochondrosis dissecans (a bone disease that causes lameness and arthritis), paneosteitis (a rotating lameness), Von Willebrand's Disease (a bleeding disorder), bloat, heart disease and allergies.

10. Expect an adult male rottweiler to grow to between 24 and 27 inches in height and weigh between 95 and 130 pounds. Females will grow to between 22 and 25 inches and will weigh between 85 and 115 pounds.

11. Be prepared to enjoy a full 10 to 12 years with your rottweiler - this is the rottweiler's average life expectancy.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals to learn more about hip and elbow dysplasia.
• Rottweilers do not bark unless there is just cause.
• This breed can generally be taught to obey with positive reinforcement. However, you may need to use a sharp tone if your dog is being stubborn.
• Closely supervise your rottweiler if small children are near. They have a tendency to "herd" children and to chase moving objects - which could include running children.

[andy32]

on 10/18/2008 just rescued a five month old rotti i dont know if the moron i saved him from has had any vaccinatoins done looking at the size and amount of worms in his stools when i brought him home yesterday he certanly hasent been wormed ever what is the best course of action the get him nice and healty again

[andy32]

on 10/18/2008 ff

[Fitzee777]

on 10/1/2008 Hi
I just brought a rotti.....7 weeks old.....and he has growl a few times since I got him which has been about two weeks....should I be concerned about this...which I am.....I had a rotti before from birth and he never growl once........need some advice.......he growls when I tried to do some little training with him.

[Alas89]

on 8/27/2008 I just rescued a 4 month old Rotti named Roxy. She is so good at time but seems to defy me near the evening. She comes when she wants and trys to run off. Can you help me? She can sit, lay, and is being crate trained for housebreaking.

[smoochiemoochie]

on 9/27/2007 I would never use a prong collar or shock collar on any dog, and certainly not a rottie. I am opposed to any form of training in which a dog learns behavior through avoidance of physical pain. These are the kind of tactics so typical of a rottie changing into an aggressive and uncontrolable being in their older years. If you do not know how to train your dog with love and POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT, then spend the money for a professional trainer who only teaches positive reinforcement. My method of training is first and foremost to give a dog self esteem. EVERYONE loves my rottie and I would trust her with any child on the planet. That is because she was raised with self esteem, love, and has never once been subjected to pain or fear. I've never even raised my voice to her, and you won't find a better trained rottie anywhere. She is so well trained she doesn't even require a leash.