Rottweilers are a highly sought after breed, originating from Germany. There, they were used as cattle dogs because of their need to protect and strong work ethic. Rottweilers rank under the top ten most intelligent dog breeds along with other herd dogs like the Australian Cattle Dog, German Sheppard, and Border Collie.
They are a large dog breed and stand around 25 inches tall at the shoulder. They have a relatively long lifespan and a dog that is in good health can live over 10 years (females have on average a longer lifespan than males).
Rottweilers have a fierce reputation. Although not ungrounded, they are misunderstood and often neglected. This will result in aggressive and intimidating behavior. In actual fact, these dogs are great family dogs and they are great with kids. With the right knowledge and the best approaches, Rottweilers will become lifelong companions and best friends. In this article, we will go over some of the best pros and cons of owning a Rottweiler.
Pros of a Rottweiler
1. Great Guard Dogs
Rottweilers have a strong build and adult males can tip the scales at more than 130 pounds. Their bark will leave you quaking in your boots; thus, the first pro of Rottweilers is that they make great guard dogs.
In the olden days, it was common practice for butchers to tie a pocket full of money to their Rottweiler’s necks when they ventured to the market. This way they knew their money was well and truly protected from any long fingers. These dogs are highly intelligent and have a pack mentality towards their family. They will happily protect their family at all costs. It is therefore important that they are socialized enough to understand that not all strangers are intruders. There needs to be a sense of indifference instilled towards new guests and learned commands should be used for protection purposes.
2. Easy to train
It’s important to understand the breeding history of your dog to effectively train them. Rottweilers were bred to herd cattle on German farms and are therefore highly trainable. They respond well to commands and hand gestures that should be tough from a very young age.
Often a Rottweiler’s reputation precedes it and people associate them with aggression and violence. It is therefore very important to discourage any sort of biting behavior, even if it might seem to be playful puppy behavior. Once authority has been established, they will follow commands and learn new ones in a flash. A great pro of Rottweilers is that they are incredibly intelligent and eager learners.
3. Fiercely Loyal
These dogs are very loyal and if treated with respect and care, they will return the favor tenfold. They can be loving family pets but they need to understand that they are not the leader of the household. If the necessary boundaries are in place these dogs will exude love and obedience.
They display possessive behavior like following owners around all day or often leaning against your legs. This can also be a bit of a drawback as they are prone to separation anxiety. If they are a part of your household though, you need not fear this. Surprisingly, for a big dog, they easily live indoors with the family, and with the necessary exercise, you need not worry about indoor destruction.
4. Easy grooming
Rottweilers have a short flat coat of black and brown hair. This is a double coat so they shed a lot during the spring and fall time. Other than the shedding, they are easy to maintain, the final pro of owning Rottweilers. Regular brushing will help with excessive hair loss. Many Rottweilers spend a lot of time outside so a normal amount of washing is also necessary. They tend to drool a little but that does not bother everybody. A good face wipe once a day should keep you and the dog happy. It is important to make them use to being groomed, from their paws to their teeth, especially if they need to go to the vet or the groomers.
Cons of a Rottweiler
1. Needs Lots of Exercise
Rottweilers have a tendency to overeat if not monitored closely, and they gain weight easily and are prone to obesity. It is therefore vital to enforce a healthy diet with plenty of exercise. This breed is used to working hard and inherently has a lot of energy. An apartment or small backyard will never provide enough space for them to burn that off constructively.
Larger breeds are at risk of hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia. Although it is commonly a hereditary condition, obesity in your dog will not help the condition. Unnecessary weight puts a lot of strain on their frame and regular exercise will ensure that they stay strong with healthy joints.
2. Expensive
Rottweilers are bred to have certain personality traits and characteristics. Thus is it highly recommended to buy your puppy from a reputable breeder that can introduce you to a puppy that suits your family. You should also use a breeder that can provide adequate information about the dog’s medical history and family history. There are a few hereditary conditions that Rottweilers might suffer from and you need to eliminate all the possible risks, especially from inbreeding. Breeders should be able to scan the dog’s family medical history for up to three generations.
Puppies retail upward of $1,500 to around $2,500, but the initial cost of your dog is not where it ends. There are extra expenses and they tend to get costly, another con of owning a Rottweiler. You need to budget ahead for a good puppy training program to ensure your dog is well adjusted as an adult. Some people suggest extra liability insurance when owning a Rottweiler as even small scale incidents might be blown up because of the prejudices this breed faces.
Because they are such active dogs, it is also advisable to have pet insurance as an accident is never far away with larger active dogs. It is common for them to suffer from hip dysplasia which might also become costly if you are not insured.
3. Needs a lot of discipline
Because of their protective nature and grizzly build, Rottweilers need assertiveness and conditioning. Another con of owning a Rottweilers is that from a very young age, they should be taught obedience as they can be quite stubborn. If they are not correctly socialized, they can show aggressive behavior towards other dogs and people, and this needs to be prevented.
Many people carry a prejudice towards them based on myths or unfair experiences with other large breeds. Therefore, Rottweilers need to be extensively socialized to avoid any unfortunate mishaps or misunderstandings. Even if your dog is well trained, they will still try to push boundaries. This needs to be handled with self-assurance and confidence.
I hope that this article on pros and cons of owning Rottweilers was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Dog Category!