The History of the Rottweiler

Rottweilers like all molosser “mastiff type” breeds originate from the Tibetan mastiff. The first rotties where used by the Romans when they invaded Europe. The Romans large armies required much food, which happened to be cattle. Such a journey required dogs to handle the job of drover and protector of the cattle. At that time the rottie wasn’t what it is today in fact it wasn’t even really of a particular breed the dogs droving the herds of cattle were of those resembling mastiffs. These dogs had to be tough and were tough surviving the freezing cold Alps and the hot valleys and if they were injured or ill they either died or got better. Many of the Romans settled on the banks of the Neckar River to raise cattle where the rotties ancestors continued their role as drover and protector. The settlement was a success and became a major trade and cattle center. Butchers became a very important part of the community and their dogs were known as Metzgerhunds “butcher dogs”.

The red tile town dog: The town of Rote Wil (Red Tile)eventually to be called Rottweil got it’s name because of the red-tiled roofing on some of the original Roman buildings. So Rottweil it was and the working cattle dogs there were named Rottweilers. The larger dogs of the breed were used by the butchers to drive and guard cattle, the smaller dogs of the breed were used for more low key duties at the butcher’s home. The dogs have also been know to turn spits by walking on treadmills as well as even herd ducks and geese like we see so many border collies doing these days. People in those days could not afford to feed a dog that could not earn it’s keep, except of course the nobility or aristocracy.

The rottweiler was also used to protect the butcher’s earnings for the day. After work when the butcher would visit the local tavern before going home he would place his money in a leather pouch and tie it around the neck of his rottweiler.

In the middle of the 19th century a law was passed banning the drive of cattle over roads, and the coming of the times also found the railroad and the donkey therefore putting the rottweiler out of a job as a cart dog. Only one rottweiler bitch existed in the town of Rottweil after WWI so efforts were made to form a Rottweiler Club, which did not last long but did create the very first rottweiler standard. However the work ethic more than looks was implanted in the rottweiler during its development in Germany. Only good working bitches and males were bred and if any of the pups proved weak they were destroyed, if the dog didn’t work it didn’t survive.

The rottweiler came to America by their German owners who emigrated here and by visiting Americans to Germany who found the dog impressive and the first rottweiler was listed in the AKC Stud Book in 1931.

Returning servicemen from WWII who had been stationed in Germany saw the breed do its work in the military and some of them tried to import the dogs for themselves, not so much the show stock but the working stock. Working stock for law enforcement work or private security. Germans who emigrated after WWII introduced the dog sport of Schutzund (safe dog) which the rottweiler excels at.

This is when the rottweilers good breeding took a turn for the worst when the popularity of owning an AKC registered dog raised. And the rarer the breed the higher the class of the possessor. There was little or no regard for temperament and people who had a male and a female rottweiler would breed to profit. The careless breeding of such people was indeed detrimental to the breed.

Luckily good breeders who carefully evaluated temperament, and genetics still existed during the time when the canine stupid were destroying the breed, who would breed any pair and sell to any potential puppy buyer. The media regularly reporting tragic acts of the rottweiler has spotlighted the rottweiler as a killer dog. Attracts the criminal. During this time crime rate risen, criminals purchased the rottweiler to guard their precious drugs, and were also used in pit fighting.

Fortunately most rottweiler owners love, understand and respect the breed. Today the rottweiler has become known as a therapy dog as much as it has a police dog. It is a versatile dog and all around dog. Its dedication to duty make it ever more useful and unsurpassed in law enforcement, tracking, search and rescue, therapy work, herding, livestock guarding, carting, drafting, retrieving, water work, and companion. They enjoy doing activities with their owners that require physical energy because they were bred to be physically, mentally, and emotionally active. I like to think of the rottweiler as a dog with many characters because he can be used for such a variety of things.

Colossal Rottweilers; Rottweiler Information; Rescue Work; Puppies; Stud Services; Rottweiler Themed Gifts for the Rottweiler Lover

Emily Tiscarenio

rottluve@MSN.com or etsrotties@yahoo.com