1. Rottweilers By: KylaMarie Redmond

2. Pronunciation… ROTT-why-ler

3. Name…  Bred in the German town of Rottweil in Wurttemberg

4. Description…  Massive, powerful body  Muscular and athletic  Broad head and rounded forehead  Eyes are dark  Ears are triangular & carried forward  Tail is customarily docked  Black with brown markings on the cheeks and muzzle, paws and legs

5. Description cont…  Large litters  Usually 12 puppies

6. Temperament…  Calm  Trainable  Courageous  Devoted  Protective

7. Appearance…  Height:  Males: 24 to 27 inches  Bitches: 22 to 25 inches  Weight:  Males: 95 to 130 pounds  Bitches: 85 to 115 pounds

8. Health Problems…  Susceptible to ACL damage  Prone to hip dysplasia  Tends to snore and overeat  Prone to entropion (narrowing of the slit between the eyelids)

9. Living Conditions…  Needs to be sufficiently exercised  Relatively inactive indoors  Would be ok in a small yard

10. Exercise…  Need plenty of exercise  Running in woods and in open country  Swimming or running  Loves retrieving a ball

11. Life Expectancy…  About 10 to 12 years

12. Grooming…  Smooth, glossy coat  Brush with a firm bristle brush  Bathe only when necessary  Average shedder

13. Origin…  Descended from the Italian Mastiff  During the Middle Ages it was used as a herd dog  Almost extinct in the 1800’s  Comeback in the early twentieth century due to the efforts of enthusiastic breeders centered in Stuttgart

14. Talents…  Tracking  Herding  Watchdogging  Guarding  Police work  Carting  Competitive obedience  Schutzhund