Rottweilers As Gentle Giants And Family Watchdogs by Dakota Dog

It is hard to find a dog breed that has a more conflicting temperament description than the Rottweiler. Known as a gentle giant and loving family companion on one hand and as an attack dog on the other, it is hard to decipher the true nature of the Rottweiler. The truth is, much of what a Rottweiler will become is due to ancestry and how they are raised.

This large breed weighs between 85-125 lbs and reaches a height 22" to 27". Their name is pronounced ROTT-why-ler. They are a powerful dog with protective instincts that will come out if they feel that their family, home or territory is being threatened, making them an excellent guard and watchdog.

Their AKC acceptable coat coloring is black with mahogany to rust markings. They markings typically include dots above their eyes and markings on their legs, paws and muzzle. Their short, straight, hard, dense and coarse coat is easy to groom. They require an occasional brushing and only need a bath when necessary.

Extremely loyal and protective of its family and property, the Rottweiler is considered one of the best watchdogs. Early socialization is not just recommended, but is necessary for children, other dogs and pets. If any of these are introduced when a Rottweiler is older, they can become aggressive and territorial. They need to be trained from when they are a puppy to help curb dominance issues. This is important for them to recognize you as the master instead of the other way around. They need regular exercise and play and need plenty of outside time. They should not be locked inside all day. When outside they need to be in a well secured yard and they should always be walked on a leash. This is imperative due to their territorial instincts. They are extremely wary of strangers. Rottweilers need firm, consistent training but should never be treated in a harsh or abusive nature. Extreme rough housing feeds into their aggressive tendencies where as a home that is calm, loving and gentle with their Rottweiler will feed into their gentle side.

The Rottweiler originated in Germany. They get their name from Rottweil in Wurttemburg which is where they were originally bred. They are descendents of the Italian Mastiffs. The Rottweiler was mainly used as a watchdog, guard dog and police dog. They faced extinction towards the end of the 19th century but were brought back due to the efforts of extensive breeding programs.

Large, powerful and protective, the Rottweiler was born to be a guard dog. Research needs to be done on their ancestry before bringing them into your home to ensure that there is not a history of aggression. This research is especially important if you are bringing them into a home with other pets or small children to make sure that your home is right for this particular breed.

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Steps to Stop Rottweiler Whining by Roman Deluna

A Rottweiler puppy can be cute as a button but not when he starts whining! Rottweilers are in general big dogs even as puppies. The whining sound they make is even bigger. You can imagine how disturbing they can be to your neighbors. All that whining will keep you up all night unless you do something about it.

First of all, find out why your puppy is whining. Dogs can't really speak so they whine to express how they feel. They are probably feeling hot or cold, or just plain hungry. A newly bought puppy might even be homesick and just getting acquainted to their new surroundings.

Now stop your evil thoughts of returning the puppy to the store where you bought it from! Before you totally give up hope in calming down your puppy here are some solutions to solve your "whiny" problem.

One way to stop Rottweiler whining is to use an electronic device that sends out high pitched sounds that only the dog can hear. Dogs have a very sharp sense of hearing. The sound of this device is very unpleasant to dog's ears and this could easily disrupt them from their whining.

The dog's ears are sensitive to sharp commands and sounds. Use a stern voice and the command "NO!" every time the dog starts to whine. It's an effective but not a fast way to stop Rottweiler whining. Roll up a piece of newspaper and slapping it against your hand will easily jolt your dog out of that behavior. Again, it will take time and patience. Just don't hit the dog with the newspaper! Under no circumstance should you hurt the dog every time he displays unfavorable behavior.

There are various humane ways to train your dog and you will learn all of them if you visit http://www.rottweileradvice.com/

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Roman Deluna, author of this article is also interested in how to stop Rottweilers from digging and recommends you to please check out Rottweiler obedience training if you liked reading this information.

Origin and History of Rottweilers by Camille Goldin

The Rottweiler originated in the city of Rottweil situated on the banks of the River Neckar, Germany, famous for their cattle markets. They were bred to herd and protect cattle and their owners on their journey between markets. While they may be of ancient decent, their true history in those times remains unclear.

In Germany, these dogs were originally known as 'Rottweiler Metzgerhund' meaning butcher's dog from the city Rottweil. This was due to the nature of their work helping as a butcher's dog from guarding cattle to pulling carts laden with butcher's meat and other produce to markets. Cattle dealers used these dogs to intimidate thieves and bandits in the region and protect them from looting their produce on the way to markets.

During the industrial revolution breed numbers were on the decline and almost wiped out completely due the replacement of machinery doing their work and no longer required as a working dog. When World War I broke out, Rottweilers became important again and were used as a military service dog for the German army.

These dogs have brut strength, are intelligent and obedient which proved to be of extreme importance during the war. This led them to a new career as a guard dog after the war and also helped to increase their numbers again. In 1935 they were official recognized by the AKC and were exhibited in Britain. By 1966, they were then accepted by the Kennel Club in the UK.

In current years they have had a number of bad publicity, due to the nature of some breeders producing aggressive tendencies and bad behavior in these dog breeds. Those interested in owning this breed are encouraged to seek reliable registered breeders to avoid ill-bred and unstable temperaments. They have also been seen in other roles from search and rescue, police dogs, guard dogs for business properties, and even as the occasional guide dog.

Many people who have had experience with Rottweilers that have been well socialized and trained can vouch for the breeds friendliness and goofy nature even with children. But they aren't for the novice dog owner, as they are quite highly driven and dominant which requires to be properly managed to avoid potential aggression.

Characteristics of shyness, hyperactivity and anxiety are not the true temperament or personality of this breed, any of these traits seen indicate an unstable dog and should not be used for breeding purposes.

Rottweilers are generally a medium to large dog with a short dark black and tan coat with a compact body and broad chest. They are quite notable for their muscular physique, demonstrating courage and their bold nature making them an ideal guard dog for the family home.

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Camille Goldin, talks about the origin and history of Rottweilers . Learn more about Dog Breeds from TrainPetDog.com