Rottweiler

The FCI breed standard describes the Rottweiler as good-natured, placid at heart, very devoted, obedient and eager to work. It should be self-assured, steady and fearless; it watches its surroundings closely but doesn't rattle easily. The standard disqualifies dogs that are aggressive or overly shy. In other words, the breed ideal isn't a "tough" dog, it's a calm and balanced one.

According to the AKC, the Rottweiler is a gentle, even playful companion within the family and confident and aloof toward the outside world. The Royal Kennel Club also notes the breed's territorial instinct and its protectiveness toward its owner and property.

This is a dog that wants to live with people. The AKC stresses that Rottweilers kept isolated from people and everyday life don't do well. A dog that lives indoors as part of the family, rather than waiting alone in the yard, tends to be both more balanced and safer.

The Rottweiler suits people who have experience with large, powerful dogs, can make time every day for training and exercise, and will keep their dog indoors as part of the family. The Royal Kennel Club recommends a large house and a large yard, and it says plainly that the breed needs responsible owners who can channel its intelligence and energy.

According to the FCI, the Rottweiler is considered one of the oldest dog breeds, with roots going back to Roman times. Roman legions crossing the Alps brought dogs that drove and guarded their herds, and in the Rottweil area of southwest Germany these dogs mixed with local dogs. The Royal Kennel Club explains that Rottweil was a livestock market for centuries, and cattle dealers and farmers wanted a strong dog that could both drive the herd and guard against robbers on the road.

The breed is named after the town, and the FCI and AKC both note that it was long known as the "Rottweil butcher's dog." The Royal Kennel Club tells how farmers heading home from market tied their money pouches to the dog's collar so they wouldn't be stolen. According to the AKC, this work faded in the 1800s once cattle began moving by rail; the FCI says the breed was tested as a police dog in the early 1900s and officially recognized as one in 1910. The AKC adds that Rottweilers were among the first guide dogs.

The Royal Kennel Club doesn't hide the fact that when the breed was at its most popular it attracted people looking for a "macho" image, which earned it a bad reputation.

According to the FCI standard, the Rottweiler is a medium-to-large, powerful and compact dog that should look neither heavy nor light, neither leggy nor weedy. Body length exceeds height at the shoulder by no more than 15%, and the chest is broad and deep.

• Height: 24–27 in (61–68 cm) for males and 22–25 in (56–63 cm) for females (FCI).
• Weight: The FCI gives 110 lb (50 kg) for males and about 93 lb (42 kg) for females.
• Color: Black with clearly defined rich tan markings on the cheeks, muzzle, throat, chest and legs, above the eyes and under the tail. Black and tan is the only standard color on the Royal Kennel Club's list.
• Coat: A coarse, dense, flat-lying topcoat of medium length, with an undercoat that shouldn't show through.
• Ears and tail: The ears are medium-sized, triangular and hanging. The FCI standard describes the tail in its natural state; in Türkiye, cutting the tail or ears for looks is banned under Animal Protection Law no. 5199.

The Rottweiler's coat is easy to look after. The Royal Kennel Club considers grooming once a week enough; the AKC also recommends weekly brushing and notes that the breed sheds moderately most of the year and more heavily in spring and fall.

• Brushing: Once a week with a rubber or bristle brush; more often during shedding season. See our dog grooming guide for details.
• Nails and teeth: The AKC recommends regular nail trims and tooth brushing; getting your puppy used to both makes life much easier once it's a big adult.
• Ears: Check those hanging ears once a week. In UK data, outer ear infection was the third most commonly recorded problem in the breed; show your vet any odor, redness or itching.
• Hot weather: Provide shade and fresh water in summer and save long walks for the cooler hours. Our article on dogs in hot weather covers the signs of heatstroke.

The Rottweiler is smart, quick to learn and eager to please its people, but because it's big and strong, training and socialization aren't optional, they're essential. The AKC lists early training, puppy socialization, basic obedience classes and living in the home with its family as the keys to raising a well-mannered Rottweiler. Discipline should be consistent and fair, never rough. The AKC also advises against wrestling and other roughhousing, since it can encourage aggression.

In a 2017 study of the veterinary records of 5,321 Rottweilers in the UK (O'Neill et al.), the most commonly recorded problem was aggression: 7.5% of dogs, more often in males than females. The authors stress that aggression comes from a complex interplay between genetics and the social environment a dog experiences. That shows how much good puppy socialization and fear-free training matter with this breed.

1. Early socialization: As a puppy, give it short, positive experiences with different people, children, sounds, vehicles and calm dogs.
2. Basic cues: Coming when called, waiting, letting go and walking without pulling are the foundation of life with a 90–110 lb (40–50 kg) dog. Our guides to loose-leash walking and recall explain them step by step.
3. Vet prep: Use rewards early on to get it comfortable with being handled, having its mouth and paws checked and, if needed, wearing a muzzle.

The Royal Kennel Club recommends more than two hours of exercise a day. Long walks, sniffing games and structured play work well, and according to the AKC the breed also picks up jobs like tracking, obedience and carting easily. Don't push a growing puppy into long runs; talk to your vet about exercise that suits its age.

Rottweilers don't need a special food; a complete, balanced dog food suited to their life stage (puppy, adult, senior) and activity level is enough. The AKC notes that some Rottweilers gain weight easily, and in UK data overweight and obesity was the second most commonly recorded problem in the breed (7.1%).

• Controlled growth in puppyhood: The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that too much calcium (for example, from unnecessary supplements) can harm bone and joint development in fast-growing large-breed puppies. Raise your puppy lean rather than chubby; make a growth plan with your vet covering the type of food, the amount and weight checks, and don't add supplements your vet hasn't recommended.
• Measure meals: Measure food instead of eyeballing it, and count training treats as part of the daily amount.
• Lower the risk of bloat: For dogs at risk of bloat, the Merck Veterinary Manual recommends splitting the daily food into several small meals instead of one large one, limiting exercise before and after meals and keeping mealtimes calm.
• Ideal weight: If you can feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat and see a waist when you look from above, the weight is about right.

Some human foods are toxic to dogs; check our list of foods you should never give your dog. Fresh water should always be available.

A few serious problems stand out as known predispositions in the Rottweiler. The information below is for awareness only; ask your vet about diagnosis and treatment.

Bone cancer (osteosarcoma)

This is the most common bone tumor in dogs, and a very painful one. According to UFAW's animal welfare resource, Rottweilers are about five times more likely than the average dog to develop it; an estimated 5% to 12% of the breed is affected, and diagnosis usually comes at around 8 years of age. The front legs are affected more often. In the 2017 UK study, cancer accounted for a third of deaths. If you notice lameness that doesn't go away or keeps getting worse, a swelling on a leg, or pain when the leg is touched, see your vet without waiting. UFAW also cites studies suggesting neutered dogs may be at higher risk; talk to your vet about the timing of spay or neuter.

Elbow and hip dysplasia

Dysplasia means a joint doesn't develop properly during growth. According to UFAW, fragmentation of a bony process in the elbow (FMCP) is common in Rottweilers and may affect a third to a half of the breed, with arthritis usually starting in the first year. Hip dysplasia also occurs: in France, among Rottweilers X-rayed between 1997 and 2017, the rate fell from 23.9% to 17%, a sign that screening-based breeding works. The Royal Kennel Club asks breeders, at a minimum, to hip and elbow score dogs before breeding.

Torn knee ligament

This is wear and eventual rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in the knee; according to UFAW it's several times more common in Rottweilers than in other breeds. It causes hind-leg lameness and pain and leads to arthritis over time.

Bloat

In bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus, or GDV), the stomach fills with gas and twists on itself. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes it as a life-threatening emergency of large and giant breeds that needs immediate care, often surgery. A US study that followed 11 large and giant breeds (Glickman et al., 2000) included the Rottweiler; 28.6% of the dogs that developed bloat died.

Other screening

The Royal Kennel Club lists a DNA test for JLPP, which causes laryngeal paralysis and nerve disease in young dogs, among its core recommendations, and a DNA test for LEMP-2, which affects the brain and spinal cord, plus an eye exam among its additional ones.

A 2024 study using data on about 585,000 dogs in the UK (McMillan et al.) found a median lifespan of 10.6 years for 9,717 Rottweilers; mixed-breed dogs in the same study had a median of 12 years. A smaller 2017 VetCompass study found a median of 9.0 years, with females (9.5 years) outliving males (8.7 years). The AKC gives 9–10 years.

Regular checkups, a healthy weight, getting lameness checked early and knowing the signs of bloat are the most concrete ways to protect this breed's lifespan.

• Consider a shelter: Purebred dogs end up in shelters and rescues too. With a large breed, being able to see an adult dog's temperament up front is a big advantage. Our guide to adopting a dog from a shelter walks you through it.
• If you buy from a breeder: Meet the parents in person and make sure they're calm and steady. Ask for hip and elbow X-ray results, the JLPP DNA test and an eye exam, and check that the puppies are raised in a home with people around.
• Red flags: Dogs sold as "tough," "guard" or "fighting" dogs; sellers who won't show you the mother, can't provide paperwork or rush you to "buy now."
• Docked tails and cropped ears: In Türkiye, cutting the tail or ears for looks is banned (Law no. 5199, article 8); avoid sellers offering puppies with docked tails or cropped ears. Rules vary by country.
• Registration: Rules vary by country. In Türkiye, owned dogs must be microchipped and registered in the PETVET system.
• The first days: See our guide to the first week with a new puppy.