Buying a Rottweiler
The modern day Rottweiler dog breed developed in Rottweil,
Germany and is named for that city. The breed had experienced
a decline in popularity in the 1800s so much that only
one Rottweiler was shown in the Heilbronn, Germany dog
show in 1882. In 1901, a Rottweiler Club was formed
in Germany and by 1935 the breed had been recognized
by the American Kennel Club as a purebred member of
the working dog group.
The Rottweiler has an illustrious though unconfirmed
history. The breed is thought have descended from Roman
mastiff dogs almost two thousand years ago. These dogs
were a viable part of the conquering Roman army. They
were used to herd cattle to feed the army and also as
watchdogs. By 700 A.D., the Romans had been ousted from
the city of "das Rote Wil" (the red tile) but ancestors
of their dogs remained and were used as beasts of burden
and for herding in the city, which later became Rottweil,
Germany.
The Rottweiler was once the most popular family dog
in America. Currently, they are in the top five but
reports of bad behavior have made many potential owners
wary of the breed. Tales of aggressive and even violent
behavior are due in large part to bad owners, not bad
dogs. Rottweilers have inherent personality traits that
can manifest in negative behavior if they do not receive
proper care and training from an early age.
Surprisingly, the American Kennel Club, which judges
purebred dogs on not just physical traits but also behavioral
characteristics, defines the breed standard for Rottweilers
as calm, confident, and courageous. Rottweilers are
actually known more for their laid-back nature than
aggression. Problems in behavior may stem from Rottweiler
dogs' natural tendency to protect their owners and families.
These dogs can become aggressive with other dogs and
that is also recognized in the breed standard. However,
aggression becomes violence when Rottweilers feel that
they or their families are being threatened. Potential
for violence is enhanced if their owners either early
in life or as adults mistreat dogs and also when no
training has been completed.
Potential Rottweiler dog buyers should research the
breed before buying. Rottweilers are large, strong,
active dogs and they require adequate room to run, loving
discipline, and the opportunity to be put to work. Rottweiler
buyers should also research Rottweiler breeders. Buying
a purebred dog of any kind is a tricky business and
there are many unethical breeders in the market to make
money. There are several signs to look for in a good
Rottweiler dog breeder. All good breeders should maintain
a clean, adequate kennel, allow visits so potential
buyers can see the environment where puppies are raised,
interview the buyer to determine whether puppy and buyer
are a good match, provide pedigree and other registration
papers, provide medical records, have puppies and parents
evaluated for genetic disorders common to the breed.
Breeders should also be willing to provide advice, Rottweiler
information, and training tips and will have buyer sign
a contract to give the dog back to the breeder if the
buyer cannot keep the dog
About the Author
Sharon Davies has owned several large dogs including
German Shepherds and is a supporter of large dogs including
the Rottweiler dog breed. The Rottweiler
may have descended from mastiff-type dogs in ancient
Rome.
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