Dog breed

Rottweiler

The Rottweiler is a powerful German guard and working dog descended from the dogs that drove cattle to the town of Rottweil. It is brave, self-assured and deeply attached to its people. In Poland, the Rottweiler is on the list of breeds considered aggressive, so keeping one requires a permit from the local municipality.

Permit needed in Poland
FCI Group II · Molossers, pinschers and schnauzers · standard no. 147

Weight: 36–61 kg
Height: 56–68 cm
Lifespan: 9–11 years
Origin: Germany

How much food for this breed?Compare with another breed

Photo: nieznany autor, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

In Poland, the Rottweiler is on the list of dog breeds considered aggressive (Ministry of the Interior regulation of 28 April 2003). Keeping one there requires a permit from the local municipality. What this means in practice.

Temperament

A well-raised Rottweiler is a calm, steady, confident dog that has nothing to prove. At home it can be surprisingly cuddly and playful, and it likes to lean its full weight against its people's legs. With strangers it stays reserved and watchful, and its instinct to protect home and family is very strong. You don't need to "teach" it to guard; you need to teach it when to stand down. The breed is intelligent and eager to work, but some individuals can be stubborn and test boundaries, especially during adolescence. Conflicts with dogs of the same sex do happen. It usually gets along well with its own family's children, although the dog's sheer size and strength call for supervision. Socialization from the first weeks and being a constant part of family life are essential for a Rottweiler.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Rottweiler for?

The Rottweiler is for an experienced owner who has time for training, knows how to work with a guardian breed and lives in a house with a yard or has plenty of time for walks. In Poland, they must also meet the conditions for a municipal permit. It is not suitable for a first-time owner, for someone who can't physically control a large animal, or for a home where the dog would spend its days alone in a kennel run.

Pros

devoted and attached to its family
very trainable
a natural house guardian
easy coat care

Challenges

requires a municipal permit in Poland
not for beginners
shorter life than medium-sized dogs
great strength and body mass

Size and looks

Size and looks: Rottweiler
Height at the withers	males 61–68 cm, females 56–63 cm
Weight	males 43–61 kg, females 36–45 kg
Lifespan	9–11 years
Coat	short
Colors	black and tan
Country of origin	Germany
Classification	Group II: Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs
Also known as	Rottie, Rottweil Metzgerhund

Care and exercise

60–120minof exercise a day

1/5grooming needs

3/5shedding

A Rottweiler needs at least an hour of exercise a day, and two is better, combined with tasks that make it think: obedience, tracking, nosework or protection work under an experienced trainer. The short coat with an undercoat only needs weekly brushing, more often during shedding season. Training starts on the first day home: puppy class, socialization with people, dogs and city noise, and learning to walk calmly on a leash before the dog reaches 50 kg. Methods should be consistent and firm, but without violence or rough physical games, which can fuel aggression. Feed a diet suited to a large breed, keep an eye on the puppy's growth rate and don't let the dog get overweight, because extra weight strains the joints. In Poland, you need a permit from the municipal office before buying one.

How much should the Rottweiler eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The breed's biggest concerns are hip and elbow dysplasia and cancer, which the American Rottweiler Health Foundation funds research into. The British Kennel Club requires responsible breeders to X-ray hips and elbows and to DNA test for juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy (JLPP), and recommends a LEMP test and eye exam as good practice. The American breed club adds a heart exam. Rottweilers live shorter lives than medium-sized dogs: the AKC gives 9–10 years, and a 2024 UK study of more than 6,000 dogs calculated a median of 10.6 years. A lot depends on a lean build and sensible loading of the joints while the dog is growing.

hip and elbow dysplasiaThe breed's most important orthopedic problem; the parents should have X-ray results.
cancerThe breed club funds research into cancer, which is one of the major causes of death in Rottweilers.
juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy (JLPP)A severe genetic disease of puppies; there is a DNA test for it.
leukoencephalomyelopathy (LEMP)A progressive disease of the nervous system; a DNA test is available.
heart diseaseResponsible breeders have the parents' hearts checked before mating.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

hip and elbow X-rays (HD/ED)
DNA test for JLPP
DNA test for LEMP
eye exam (ECVO)
cardiac exam

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The FCI standard traces the Rottweiler to dogs that crossed the Alps with the Roman legions in Roman times, guarding people and driving cattle. Around Rottweil, in what is now Baden-Württemberg, they mixed with local dogs. For centuries the town was an important cattle market, and butchers bred strong dogs to drive herds and protect their takings, hence the old name "Rottweil butcher's dog." When police breeds were being sought in the early 20th century, the Rottweiler passed the test so well that in 1910 it was officially recognized as a police dog.

Fun facts

The Rottweiler was officially recognized as a police dog in Germany as early as 1910.
According to tradition, farmers coming home from market tied their money pouch to the dog's collar.
The FCI standard grades height into categories and considers 65–66 cm ideal for males.
The breed appears, along with ten others, in Poland's 2003 Interior Ministry regulation.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a permit to own a Rottweiler in Poland?

Yes. The Rottweiler is named in the Interior Ministry regulation of April 28, 2003, listing dog breeds considered aggressive. Under Poland's Animal Protection Act, keeping such a dog requires a permit from the head of the local municipality, which you apply for at the municipal office.

Are Rottweilers good with kids?

A well-socialized Rottweiler is usually gentle with its own family's children, but its size and strength mean play always needs supervision. The dog may read unfamiliar children in the house, chasing and shouting as a threat. Never leave the dog alone with small children.

How long do Rottweilers live?

Usually 9–11 years. The AKC gives 9–10 years, and a 2024 UK study calculated a median of 10.6 years. A lean build, sensible exercise while growing and regular vet checkups give a Rottweiler a chance at a longer life.

Do Rottweilers shed?

Yes, moderately. They have a short, harsh coat with an undercoat that comes out mainly in spring and fall. During those times, brushing every two or three days cuts down on hair in the house; the rest of the year, once a week is enough.

How much does a Rottweiler weigh?

Adult dogs of this breed usually weigh: males 43–61 kg, females 36–45 kg. Height at the withers: 56–68 cm. That range is for healthy adults in good condition.