Rottweiler puppy
adopted in Orlando
born 2/20/2022, Black & Tan

Rottweilers are loyal, loving, and confident guardians. They have an average height of 22 to 27 inches and weigh anywhere from 80 to 135 pounds, making them a medium to large breed.  With a life expectancy of up to 10 years, Rottweilers make great family pets, and are loyal to no end, willing to protect their family with their life.

 Rottweilers won’t keep you up at night barking, but they certainly need a decent amount of activity to stay happy. They like having things to do in order to stay stimulated. Rottweilers are eager to please and catch on to training quickly thanks to their intelligence. While some of the best guard dogs around when trained, by heart Rotties are playful and fun loving pups.

Originally from Germany, Rottweilers are known for their black and tan coats, big build, and stern but lovable face. The breed was first used to herd livestock and to pull carts of butchered meat to the market. In Germany, they were known as the Rottweiler Metzgerhund, which translates to Rottweiler butcher's dog. 

 Rotties descend from the Italian Mastiff and are thought to have helped the Romans over the Alps. They started off getting their tails docked so that they won’t get caught when pulling carts or stepped on by livestock while herding and the tradition has stuck around, giving them their traditional look.

Rottweilers are steady, alert, obedient, calm, and intelligent. As long as they are acclimated properly, they are fine with cats and other pets in the household. Rottweilers are territorial and will attempt to assert dominance over other dogs, especially of the same sex. Rotties are great as family pets as they are affectionate and good companions, and do well with children.

Rottweilers do not typically have any specific environmental needs. They need an owner that will train them and be active with them, but they can thrive in any environment, warm or cold, but should not be left outside without access to air conditioning or water for too long.

 It is important to follow a training schedule from a young age with your Rottweiler so they can grow to be the best dog they can be. Socialization, grooming, teaching commands, and potty training all start around 8-9 weeks when they come home from the breeder. Obedience classes can add to their training when they have been fully vaccinated.

Rotties have a straight, coarse, medium-length outer coat that lies flat. They should be bathed every 2 to 8 weeks depending on their activity level and the environment you live in. They should be brushed once a week to stay healthy throughout most of the year, but you’ll want to increase that to once every couple of days during the spring and fall when they are shedding more. You won’t have to worry too much about shedding during the rest of the year.

Rottweilers are a very active breed, meaning they will need a lot of exercise throughout the day. For Rottweiler puppies, 30 minutes is generally enough. For adult rottweilers, they will need double that - between 1 to 2+ hours daily in terms of walks, swimming, running, and playing fetch. 

 It is great to get creative with exercise for Rottweilers since they are so smart. You can set up obstacle courses and play other thinking games to exercise both their body and mind. 

Rottweilers are stocky dogs and need a lot of protein to keep them healthy. The type of food will vary between puppies and adults. 

Consult your veterinarian before making any changes to your Rottweilers diet. Make sure your Rottie stays away from avocados, grapes, macadamia nuts, and cabbage, among others.