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Rottweiler
A powerful, confident working dog once used to drive cattle to market in Rottweil.
♥ Swipe on the RottweilerQuick facts
- Origin
- Germany
- Size
- Large
- Energy
- Medium
- Bred for
- Herding and guarding
- Lifespan
- 9–10 years
- Temperament
- Confident, calm, protective
- Exercise
- 60 min/day
- Grooming
- Low
- Shedding
- Medium
- Training
- Moderate
- With children
- Good
- Apartment
- No
Where the Rottweiler comes from
Rottweilers descend from Roman drover dogs that followed armies across the Alps. In the German town of Rottweil, they herded cattle and pulled butchers' carts.
Personality and daily life
Confident, calm and loyal. A well-raised Rottweiler is affectionate with family and watchful with strangers. Their strength means they need training from puppyhood.
Rottweilers are loyal and powerful. They need early socialisation, consistent training and an experienced, firm but fair owner.
Exercise, grooming and health
They need about an hour of exercise and structured training. The coat is short and easy. Watch weight, hips and heart problems, and note that they have a shorter lifespan than many breeds.
Is a Rottweiler right for you?
Experienced owners who can commit to socialisation and training. Not for first-time owners.
- Needs space, so not ideal for small apartments
- Easy to groom
Similar breeds
Profiles are general guides. Individual dogs vary, so always meet the dog and talk to a breeder, shelter or vet.