Rottweiler
Despite their size and fearsome reputation, the Rottweiler has an affectionate, obedient and docile temperament.
About the Rottweiler
Rottweilers are large, muscular and active dogs who are always alert to what is happening around them. Although they can take a while to warm to strangers, they make loyal and rewarding family pets.
Rottweilers started out as cattle dogs that drove herds to the great cattle markets of southern Germany, however, over the last few decades, they’ve become one of the most popular defence dogs in the world.
Source: key facts and characteristics sourced from Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
Breed specifics
- Country
- Germany
- Group
- FCI Group 2, AKC Working Group
- Size category
- Very large
- Avg life expectancy
- 10–12 years
Loving / Even-tempered / Friendly / Loyal / Obedient / Enthusiastic / Confident / Alert
Key facts
Origins of the breed
Rottweilers belong to one of the oldest breeds of dog. Their lineage goes back to the Romans, whom they served as guard and livestock dogs. They accompanied the legions over the Alps, protecting the men and driving the herds.
When the legionnaires arrived in the small southern German town of Rottweil, their dogs mated with local canines, producing crossbreeds. They continued to guard and drive large herds, and protect people and property, but they were also adopted by local butchers, who concentrated on the breed’s aptitude for work to produce a robust draught dog.