Rottweiler
A powerful, confident German guardian that is calm and affectionate with its family and naturally watchful with strangers.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 61–68 cm · Females 56–63 cm
- Weight
- Males 45–60 kg · Females 35–48 kg
- Life expectancy
- 9–10 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Double coat, short
- Colours
- Black and tan
- Bred for
- Guarding, Herding, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Germany
- FCI
- Group 2, no. 147 · Pinschers, molossers & mountain dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 2/5 – Low |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 2/5 – Low |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 4/5 – High |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 5/5 – Very high |
| Barking | 2/5 – Low |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- have experience with large working breeds
- enjoy structured training
- want a loyal, watchful companion
Think twice if you …
- want a dog that welcomes every visitor
- cannot commit to lifelong training
- live where breed-specific rules would be a problem
Care
Temperament
Self-assured and steady, deeply loyal to its family and reserved with strangers. It is a natural guardian that should be calm and controllable rather than sharp.
Exercise
Daily walks plus training or play; tracking, obedience, carting and herding activities suit it well.
Grooming
The short double coat needs a weekly brush, with more shedding in spring and autumn.
Training
Intelligent and capable of excellent work with a consistent, calm handler; early, broad socialisation is essential.
Health
Rottweilers are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, cruciate ligament injuries, subaortic stenosis and bone cancer. Ask the breeder for the parents' hip, elbow and heart results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Heart
- Eye examination
DNA tests
- JLPP
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Rottweiler is named after the town of Rottweil in southern Germany, where butchers and cattle traders used these dogs to drive herds to market and guard their money. When the railways replaced cattle drives the breed nearly disappeared, but it was revived around 1900 as a police and working dog.
A well-bred, well-raised Rottweiler is calm, loving and often playful at home. It needs an owner who provides clear structure, thorough socialisation and regular training. Its strength and protective instinct make responsible handling essential, and some countries have legal rules for keeping the breed.
Did you know?
Rottweilers were among the first breeds used as police dogs in Germany, and the breed was officially recognised for police work in 1910.