The Rottweiler, commonly referred to as a Rottie by those that have come to love the breed, is a
medium to large sized robust dog. He is black in color with carefully placed mahogany markings. He
has a large head with deep set, dark, expressive eyes. He is loyal to his family and will protect them
whenever the need arises, but his finest attributes are his forthright intelligence, forgiving nature, and a
sense of humor. It is said that the ancestors of this breed originated in the Roman Empire and that
many of them accompanied the Roman army over the Alps as the loyal protector and drover of cattle
that were used as the army's food source. According to historians, the next appearance of this mastiff
type dog was in the beautiful little town of Rottweil nestled in the southern mountainous region of
Germany, where the Roman armies had left them as they continued their travels.
loyalty, natural ability to work and desire to please were noticed and cultivated. Farmers used these dogs to pull carts to aid in their
daily milk deliveries, as well as to assist in management of the cattle; butchers used these dogs to guard their down-stairs shops
during times of rest and to carry pouches of money to the banks. Unlike in our society in which dogs are usually pets and
companions, every member of those old German towns, including the animals of a family, had to be productive and earn their keep.
This robust, loyal, yet friendly dog easily proved its worth. These working dogs became widely admired and some people began
referring to them as the butcher dogs or the dogs of Rottweil. Over time this magnificant working companion became officially
known as Rottweiler. Rottweilers today have changed in physical appearance, but they still have that invisible aura of dignity that
surrounds their intelligence, loyalty and humor. A well adjusted Rottweiler is quiet, generally laid-back and will readily adapt to
apartment living, provided of course he is given daily exercise. This breed's greatest desire is be with his human family.
Regardless of living arrangements, all Rottweilers should be socialized and have obedience training. Because this is a breed of
strong characteristics, the Rottweiler is not a breed for everyone as it requires a high degree of responsibility from its family. As
with any large dog, Rottweilers should never be left to their own vises or left unattended with children. Both children and
Rottweilers become bored quite easily and therefore both require adult supervision. Today Rottweilers are excelling in such sports
as herding, schutzhund, carting, agility and flyball. They are also proving to be outstanding therapy dogs and recognized as
excellent service dogs for the physically challenged. Rottweilers are also being used by many as Search and Rescue dogs. It was
a Rottweiler that found the last survivor of the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma. A Search and Rescue Rottweiler
worked long arduous hours at the World Trade Center site. Rottweilers are also in use by various law enforcement agencies. The
exceptional characteristics and versatility of the Rottweiler has made it a popular breed in America. Rottweilers love to learn new
things and a working Rottweiler is a happy Rottweiler.
Jan Cooper
www.rott-n-chatter.com
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