How to Groom a Rottweiler

Rottweilers coloring consists of a black coat with tan or rusty-brown markings on their chest, throat, lower legs, above the eyes and on the sides of the muzzle. With an undercoat only on their neck and thighs, rottweilers' outer coat is short, flat, coarse and dense. They are an easy breed to groom.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Natural bristle brush
• Large dog nail clippers
• Ear cleansing solution
• Cotton pads
• Blending shears
• Dog shampoo
• Rubber brush
• Scissors
• Coat conditioner or coat gloss
• Mink oil

1. Brush your rottweiler at least once a month with a natural bristle brush. You should increase your frequency of brushing during their major shedding times which are fall and spring to avoid hair all over your house.
2. Clip your dog's nails once a month. Using large nail clippers, cut just the tips of the nails. Be careful to avoid cutting the quick, the reddish inner part of the nail, because it's painful and results in bleeding.
3. Clean your dog's ears at least once a month. Apply ear cleansing solution, found at any pet store, to a cotton pad and carefully clean the inside of his ears and the outer rim. Be careful not to insert the pad into any part of the ear canal you can't see.
4. Bathe your rottweiler once every two to three months, unless he gets himself excessively dirty playing outdoors. This breed is one of the most odorless of all breeds, so baths are not a high priority.
5. Trim stray hairs on his thighs, neck and back of his front legs with blending shears before bathing him.
6. Wash with a regular dog shampoo. Ask your vet, breeder or pet store for any recommendations. During the bath, remove shedding hair with a rubber brush or natural bristle brush. Also take this time to remove any stray or long whiskers with grooming scissors.
7. Let your dog air dry, then spray on a light coat of coat conditioner, coat gloss or mink oil to give his coat a beautiful sheen.

Tips & Warnings

• With this breed in particular, it's important to to begin a regular grooming schedule early in their lives. Since rottweilers grow to become large and powerful dogs, you can have problems with grooming if they're not used to it.
• When choosing a shampoo, do not use flea and tick shampoos or other medicated shampoos unless directed by your vet. These types of shampoo do not work well with a rottweiler's coat.