Rottweiler: Temperament, Training, Grooming, Nutrition

Q: Are Rottweilers dangerous?

Due to their history as service and guard dogs, Rottweilers have an unfair reputation as being dangerous or aggressive. Whilst the breed can be very vocal and protective, they are not known to be aggressive by nature and are in fact loving and gentle dogs who crave companionship. Aggression is generally a behavioural issue that will arise if your dog is left alone too often, becomes bored, is not exercised enough or is improperly trained.

Q: Are Rottweilers good with kids?

Loyal and affectionate, Rottweilers are a popular family dog who tend to get on well with children. Whilst they are gentle by nature, however, these playful dogs can forget their size and may be too boisterous for younger children. As with any other dog breed, you should always supervise your Rottweiler when around children to ensure everyone is safe and happy.

Q: How much exercise does a Rottweiler need?

Rottweilers are highly intelligent dogs with the energy and physical strength to match. For this reason they need at least 2 hours of physical exercise every day, as well as plenty of playtime and mental stimulation. Rottweilers tend to excel at agility trials where they can exercise their brains as well as their bodies.

Q: Are Rottweilers easy to train?

Rottweilers have long been used as service dogs due to their high intelligence and eagerness to please. This highly trainable breed is quick to learn new tricks and commands. However, despite their trainability, Rottweilers can quickly develop behavioural issues if not properly trained and are better suited to more experienced dog handlers.

Q: Can Rottweilers be left alone?

Due to their incredibly loyal nature, Rottweilers crave companionship and attention from their owner. As such, the breed can easily become clingy and is prone to separation anxiety. If you do need to leave your Rottweiler alone, make sure they have plenty of toys to keep them busy and have someone check in on them if you’re going to be out for more than a few hours.

A devoted companion with a playful personality

Big, muscular and strong, the Rottweiler is loyal and has a natural guarding instinct. They need human contact, good training and firm, consistent handling from birth – they must always know who’s boss. Rottweilers also need a large amount of space and exercise – they are playful and enjoy chasing games.

Vital Stats

Size:	Large
Coat:	Short and thick
Exercise:	2+ hours a day
Life span:	8 – 10 years
Breed group:	Working
Temperament:	Devoted, good-natured, courageous

Size Large Coat Short
-
thick Exercise 2+ hours Life span 8-10+years

Rottweiler Temperament & Personality

Highly intelligent and confident, a Rottweiler’s traits include a strong instinct to guard and protect, due to originally having been bred as working dogs for farmers and butchers, which has resulted in them been unfairly branded as an aggressive breed.

They can make playful and gentle family pets and are loyal to anyone they perceive as part of their ‘pack’.
They thrive on stimulation and exercise, grasp new commands quickly and are excellent service and police dogs.
Experts recommend them as good pets for more experienced owners as previous knowledge of training and handling can be helpful to ensure they grow into well-rounded pets and help to prevent dog behaviour problems.

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Rottweiler Training & Exercise

Rottweilers are adaptable, versatile dogs with loving, curious natures

Training tips

Rottweiler puppies can be taught simple commands from eight weeks old.
Safely exposing your Rottweiler to lots of new experiences and people at a young age will ensure they grow into happy, confident and sociable dogs. Puppy training classes can be a good place to start when it comes to socialising your dog.
As this breed’s natural instinct is to protect their families, it’s vital to channel their defensive capabilities from early on with good socialisation and positive reinforcement

Keeping them happy

Rottweilers are highly energetic and can stay just as playful as puppies well into adulthood so make sure you have plenty of time to play with your pup!
Rottweilers are loyal dogs that often form close attachments to the humans they perceive as part of their ‘pack’. This means they can be prone to separation anxiety and tend to be happiest in households where someone is around for most of the day.

Exercise

It’s important to start introducing exercise slowly from around the time a Rottweiler puppy is four months old, so that their growing bones and joints strengthen gradually and aren’t overexerted.
To help your Rottweiler keep both physically and mentally fit, experts recommend at least two hours of exercise and interactive games daily, with plenty of secure space to run free.

Game ideas

This strong and smart breed will love figuring out new challenges. Test your Rottweiler with an obstacle course to challenge their mind as well as their body.

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Rottweiler Grooming

Rottweiler grooming is relatively low maintenance and a great opportunity for you to bond with your dog.

Their black and tan coats are short, thick and prone to shedding. You may also come across longer-haired Rottweilers, although this variation is slightly less common.
Brushing is needed at least once a week to remove any loose hair and keep their coat shiny and healthy

Check their ears often for tell-tale signs of infection, such as a strange smell or black or brown wax.
Whilst grooming, check their bodies for any lumps or signs of parasites
Regular tooth brushing helps reduce the build-up of tartar, keeping their gums healthy and ensuring that bad breath stays away

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Rottweiler Nutrition

Rottweilers can be prone to bloat (where, in extreme cases, the stomach can become twisted), so it’s important to feed two smaller portions a day, instead of one larger helping.

Vets recommend that the best food for a Rottweiler is a high-quality pet food and to use your pet's food packaging for guidelines, keeping in mind their age, size and activity levels.
Rottweiler puppies can occasionally have tummy trouble, but initially sticking to the same feeding schedule and routine as your breeder will help to prevent any upsets.

If you change your dog’s diet, at any stage of life, make sure to do so gradually. Slowly increase the amount of new food you add over the course of a few weeks, decreasing their previous food accordingly
If you notice any digestive issues, speak to your vet straight away

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FAQs

Are Rottweilers dangerous?

Are Rottweilers good with kids?

How much exercise does a Rottweiler need?

Are Rottweilers easy to train?

Can Rottweilers be left alone?

Help & Support page

FAQs

Are Rottweilers dangerous?

Are Rottweilers good with kids?

How much exercise does a Rottweiler need?

Are Rottweilers easy to train?

Can Rottweilers be left alone?

Help & Support page

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Rottweiler insurance considerations

Choosing the right insurance for your Rottweiler can help keep them happy and healthy whatever happens. Some conditions that we see they are prone to are not always covered by other provider’s policies as they limit what they’ll pay for certain conditions, like cruciate ligament injuries. It’s important that when choosing dog insurance, you consider the length of time policies cover different conditions, as some can become lifelong. With Petplan’s Covered for Life® dog insurance we have no additional limits for specific conditions or diagnostic tools, and the veterinary fees refresh each year allowing you to claim for ongoing conditions for the rest of your dog’s life, providing there is no break in cover.

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A devoted companion with a playful personality