So you’ve got your heart set on a Rottweiler! Who could blame you? Rotties are notorious for being loving and loyal, intelligent and inquisitive plus they’re excellent protectors. But, there are some things you need to know BEFORE getting a Rottweiler.
A Rottweiler is a special breed of dog that is considered high maintenance. But, the reward of keeping your new best buddy happy and healthy will be so worth it!
If you’ve clicked on this post, clearly you’re taking your future responsibilities seriously, and we applaud you for that! When a prepared and informed human joins forces with a Rottweiler, a wonderful lifelong adventure begins!
The first thing to determine…
Is a Rottweiler Right for you? Are You Right for a Rottweiler?
It isn’t just about whether a Rottweiler is the right dog breed for you, it’s also about whether your lifestyle is right for a Rottweiler!
Rottweilers require space. They need room to exercise and explore. They need an area of “their own” for sleeping and eating. They take up more than half a couch, LOL! Rotties need medical care just like humans.
Have you considered the cost of trips to the veterinarian’s office? Regular check-ups and immunizations are mandatory to a healthy canine companion!
By adulthood, a Rottweiler can eat up to three pounds of kibble daily! This comes at a cost! They need appropriate chew toys, a harness, leash and collar and a crate or bed for sleeping. Above all, your Rottie will need your time, attention and love!
Responsible pet Rottweiler ownership requires you to spend some time considering these things BEFORE you get a Rottweiler dog!
Who Should NOT own a Rottweiler?
As much as you might fancy owning a regal Rottweiler forever, there are definitely cases where a Rottie IS NOT the dog for you! These are some examples that show when it is not the right time to acquire a Rottweiler:
- Legal Issues: Some communities do not allow Rottweilers, who’ve been labeled as a “Bully Breed”. Additionally, some insurance companies will not cover your home or possessions if you own a Rottie.
- Space Issues: If you live in a space that is cramped for you, it will be cramped for a Rottie, too.
- Exercise: Obedient and healthy dogs need to burn off their excess energy, and unless you can get them outdoors several times daily to do so, you may want to reconsider your preferred dog breed.
- Tight Finances: If you are already struggling to make “ends meet”, adding Rottweiler to your budget isn’t wise. He will require regular veterinary care, much paraphernalia, and lots of food! In a tight budget scenario, wisdom dictates this is NOT the time to take on a large pet!
- Tight Schedule: Some people have schedules that allow no extra time whatsoever. The most important thing you can ever give a Rottie is your time and attention! Housetraining takes time. Obedience training takes time. Trips to the vet take time.
A Rottweiler who has little human interaction time is not going to be obedient, healthy or happy. This could be a disaster on many levels! If you don’t have a few hours a day to interact with your dog, this is NOT the time to get one.
Selecting a Rottweiler Pup
In your desire to be a responsible pet owner, you have contemplated all the questions provided above and decided that indeed, you and a Rottie would be perfect for each other!
Now it’s time to pick out your new best friend! If you’ve decided on a pup, surely you’ll want to pick the right one!
Here we’ll go over a few things that will make picking your pup much easier…
Purebred or not Purebred Rottweiler Dog?
A purebred Rottweiler has documentation that traces his lineage. He will have ancestry that shows breeding was specifically between only Rottweilers. This is called a pedigree, it is your dog’s family tree.
A purebred pup will also come with a registration certificate, but it won’t guarantee his bloodline. Only a pedigree does that.
The benefits of a purebred Rottweiler include knowing your dog’s health history and can help you avoid the problems that come with an ill-bred dog or an inbred dog. Having your dog’s pedigree will be essential if you ever plan to use your dog for breeding.
A purebred’s “pros” far outweigh the one “con” which is, of course, cost. The average cost of a Rottweiler bred in a “puppy mill”, pet shop, or individual owner (and the Rottie doesn’t have ‘papers’) is around $850.
The price from a reputable and ethical breeder averages $1500 and up (depending on where you live). Take these costs into consideration with the knowledge that the Rottie’s lifespan is about ten years.
A pup without paperwork can still be the perfect pet for you, but be aware you may be in for some health problems and other issues along the way.
Ill-breeding and inbreeding have a high risk of the following things:
- Weakened Immune System
- Behavioral Problems
- Lower Intelligence Levels
Make sure to do some research. Research several breeders. If possible, go to where the pups are and see them young and how they interact. Check out the breeder and the conditions of the household, the parents and the pups. The choice is yours to make, just make it a well-informed one!
A Word About Rescue Rottweilers
In a day and age where dogs are disposed of due to lack of interest or love, I would be remiss not to mention rescuing a dog from such a fate. I promise you that Rottweilers are being euthanized today, even as I type, simply because they’re no longer wanted.
The pros of a rescue dog include the obvious saving of a life and acquiring a pet who seems to know they’ve been rescued, rewarding you with their life-long love and loyalty.
The cons of a rescue dog are the unknown health and behavior history. These dogs will require more training, hence requiring more of your time. They will need more love and attention.
This investment of extra time will most likely pay off for you and your Rottie! A Rottweiler can be taught obedience at any age.
Puppy Mill/Pet Shop/Individual Breeder or Professional Breeder? Where Can You get a Rottweiler?
If after careful consideration, you’ve opted for a purebred Rottie, there are a few things you should know about from WHERE you’ll purchase him.
“Puppy Mills” offer cheaper prices and are most likely how the pup came to be in a pet shop. You should know that these mills are made to maximize profit for breeding, but are generally at the expense of the dog’s quality of life.
Some careful research will reveal your state’s requirements for these mills. The USDA is the governing force behind them.
There are reputable people that do breed Rottweilers and sell them fairly inexpensively. Sometimes a female can get pregnant and the owner may not even know! It does happen. You can find loving Rottie breeders in your area at AKC.com
Again, take time to look into who you are purchasing your Rottie pup from.
Purchasing your Rottweiler from a professional or individual breeder will be more costly, but generally gives you a glimpse of his immediate family history. One (or both) of the parents are on-site, and you can get a general idea of how the dogs have been treated.
Let your conscience and common sense guide you here more than your wallet.
What About Those Cropped Tails Seen on Rottweilers?
Historically, dogs performed specific functions, and the cropping (or docking) of their tails aided in that function. Today, this procedure is generally aesthetic, as a nod to the dog’s ancestry. It can be a controversial issue and is a personal preference. Cropping is usually done in the first week of the pup’s life.
They’re All So Sweet! Which Rottie Pup Should I Chose?
If you’re choosing your pup from a litter, stand back a few minutes to observe them. You’ll want a pup who is active and not lethargic. One who isn’t showing signs of aggression or extreme timidity. One who is interacting well with his siblings, or the other dogs around him.
Often you’ll hear someone say “I didn’t choose him, he chose me!”
And sometimes that is certainly the case! If possible, spend some time with a pup you’re considering. You’ll discover distinct personality traits in this “meet and greet” even with a young pup.
Bringing Your Rottweiler Puppy Home
Once you’ve selected your Rottie pup, it’s time for his homecoming! Be sure that he is safe in the car by putting him in a crate during travel.
Once you’ve arrived home, make his transition as smooth as possible by keeping a calm and happy demeanor. He’ll want to explore his new surroundings and should be allowed to do so.
Keep in mind that he may feel overwhelmed and nervous, this is completely normal!
If you have a family eager to meet your Rottie, remind them to remain calm, as well. Introducing your Rottie puppy to his new home should be a pleasant experience for humans and canine alike.
Soft voices and soft touches are in order. If children are involved, by this point they should be aware of any dog engagement rules you’ve set.
It’s likely that your pup isn’t house trained yet, so in its excitement, it may well pee on the floor. Do not reprimand him for this, just clean it up and concentrate on him exploring his new environment.
If you have other pets, it’s best that you’ve already formulated an “introduction plan” and you let your pup explore the new surroundings before making those introductions.
Keep in mind that your new pup has just been taken from his mother, family and everything he’s known…he will be sad. Something with the mother’s scent can help your new puppy adapt.
We brought home a knotted sock that was in the pen with his momma. He may like laying with it and playing with it for the first few days.
TIP: After a few days, get rid of the ‘momma sock’. Don’t knot up socks and let your Rottweiler chew them after that! Your Rottie will want to chew socks…well, mine did…yours might too.
Your Rottweiler pup will follow you around! He will be like your shadow! And, they will follow you to the bathroom just to be right by you. Mine is 2 and he’s still my shadow LOL!
When to Begin Training Your Rottweiler
You should begin training your puppy the day after you bring him home. The first day is for exploration and getting acquainted.
Some of the first things you’ll be teaching him are where his food and water bowls will be, and where his sleeping area will be. You’ll want to begin providing him with many opportunities to use the area you’ve designated for his toileting needs.
He will not excel on the first day of training, please do not expect him to do so! Just begin the habit of frequent visits to the area in which you’d prefer him to use for toileting.
Repetition and praise are your best tools for house training! Discipling your Rottie for doing that which comes naturally to him can confuse him. Like us, Rotties respond well to routine.
Taking him out to pee every hour will get him used to where he needs to ‘go’. This goes for the night too. You should take them out very often because their bladder is very small and they can’t hold it. Taking him out every few at night for a few days will help teach him where he needs to go.
HELPFUL TIP: It might be a good idea to get your new Rottie pup on a weekend or when you can be home with him for a few days.
You’ll want to take him out to at night every few hours, and you will lose some sleep. But, this will help teach your new pup where to go to the bathroom. When he does, PRAISE HIM!!
If you’re using a crate in training, you should take your dog outside immediately after opening his crate in the morning. Another important “outing” is after his meal times. Make sure to let him out before putting him in the crate as well. Your Rottie will come to learn your schedule and if you’re observant, you will come to know his.
Again, repetition and praise are your biggest tools in this area! Once you’ve found a rhythm for crating and your Rottweiler’s toileting needs, you can begin training for the other basic commands. These are:
- Come!
- Heel!
- Sit!
- Stay!
- Down!
Remember that your Rottie’s biggest desire is to please you! Keeping it simple helps him to understand what you want. If you have a family, you should all be in sync for training.
This means using the same words, hand gestures, and rewards for training. Concentrate on training one task at a time, and never punish your dog for not catching on immediately to your expectations. Be patient, be kind, be consistent. Before you know it, your Rottweiler will amaze you with what he can learn!
Feeding Your Rottweiler
Your Rottie’s diet should contain meat as its primary ingredient. Whether you will make his food for him or purchase it prepackaged is your decision, just pay attention to the ingredients.
Your Rottweiler’s food ideally would have no additives or preservatives. No spices or added fats. Like our own diets, the closer to nature, the better!
Raw, canned or kibble is also up to you, providing it fits in the guidelines I just mentioned.
It’s recommended that you feed puppies their daily requirement of food in smaller meals spaced out, instead of all at once. Their stomachs are small and will fill (and empty) quickly. They should have at least two mealtimes, and preferably three.
Pups: Make sure you get Large Breed Puppy Food for your growing Rottweiler At weaning, you can begin feeding your Rottie puppy from 1 1/2- 2 cups of food a day.
Smaller meals are easier for them to digest and will help prevent spikes in hunger and blood sugar. Keeping his appetite satiated several times a day will also make him less likely to go hunting for the things he shouldn’t be eating, like your slippers!
As your Rottweiler ages, you can gradually increase the amount of food per serving (as you see the need) until you reach the adult Rottweiler food requirement. And you can switch to giving two larger portions twice a day.
Adults: Rottweilers are generally considered adults at 2 years of age, but can still grow until their third year. Depending on their sex and heritage, an adult Rottweiler will grow to an astounding 75-130 pounds (48-68 KG)!
With hefty weights like those, your Rottie will eat a hefty amount of food! Females are generally at the lower end of the spectrum, and males at the higher. An easy rule of thumb is to be feeding them 2 pounds of food daily at age 2, and increasing to 3 pounds by age 3.
Again, it is still best to divide the food into smaller portions offered at different times instead of feeding it all at once. This is just an estimate…your Rottie will let you know how much he/she wants to eat.
You’ll know you’ve met his food and nutrition requirements when you have an adult Rottweiler with abundant energy, strong teeth, and a shiny coat….and solid poo 😀
Rottweilers do require frequent grooming, and they do shed. Find out more about dealing with your Rottweiler’s shedding, click on this helpful link.
Like you, your Rottie’s appetite will vary from time to time. Some days he won’t be as hungry as others and some days, he’ll “hound” you for food all day long! Never force food on him, and keep a close eye to not overfeed on a regular basis.
Never Feed These Things to Your Rottweiler
Rawhide– A Rottweiler has over 300 pounds (per square inch) of biting pressure. With his powerful jaws, he can break off pieces of a rawhide chew which pose a choking hazard, and risk of internal tears from sharp edges.
Cooked Bones- All cooked bones are softened and a potential danger to your Rottie. They splinter and can bread off with sharp shards. They pose a choking risk, and obstruction risk and a risk of perforation in mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines and/or anus.
If you opt to feed your dog bones, feel him large bones raw.
Fish or Poultry Bones- These are no-nos, cooked or raw!
Sugars and Spices- For us, sugar and spice add variety to our taste palates and can be quite enjoyable in moderation. THIS IS NOT THE CASE FOR YOUR ROTTIE! Sugars and spices can cause digestive issues in your canine companion and can even be fatal!
Alcohol- There is nothing cute or funny about impairing your dog via an alcohol-based drink. Keep alcohol away from him. Period. It is poison and can be fatal to any animal.
Other Things to Know About Rottweilers
From their puppy stage onward, Rottweilers grow quickly. Rotties are clumsy and full of energy, needing a good amount of exercise. A well-exercised Rottweiler is much easier to train!
Dogs are born with an inherent need to chew. Providing them with appropriate chew toys will keep them away from the things you don’t want them to chew. Your Rottweiler WILL want to chew!
And, they do go through a mouthy stage. To find out more about teething, read “Rottweiler Teething Stages”.
Your Rottweiler will be obedient to the extent you train him to be. And training needs to start right away.
Responsible pet ownership will make your experience with your Rottweiler a wonderful and long-lasting one! Be patient, abide by the rules of kindness (especially in exerting authority) and spend time with your dog every day.
As he comes to learn your mannerisms, you will come to know his. Dogs “speak” and understand using body language. Keep your body language clear and easy for him to understand, and learn to recognize signs of distress in his body language.
Like any relationship, the more you understand each other, the higher the quality of the relationship!
Rottweilers are very loveable and can get their feelings hurt easily.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Rottweiler ownership!
If you’re thinking of becoming a Rottie owner, these articles may interest you…
The Complete Guide to Buying a Rottweiler Puppy
*This article has been reviewed in accordance with our editorial policy.
