Rottweiler Dog Breed Guide

Rottweilers are powerful large-breed dogs that thrive on complete and balanced nutrition tailored to their specific requirements. Because they are a large breed, Rottweiler puppies benefit from a large-breed puppy formula that helps support a healthy growth rate for their developing bones and joints. As adults, maintaining a lean body condition is important for supporting joint health and overall mobility. If recommended by a veterinarian, some Rottweilers may benefit from a formula designed to help manage weight. Using a kitchen scale to measure daily portions is a helpful way to ensure consistency and support long-term vitality. Additionally, a precise balance of vitamins and minerals, including antioxidants like vitamins C and E, helps support a healthy immune system.

Selecting a food with high-quality ingredients is key to supporting a Rottweiler's daily wellness. Look for recipes featuring protein sources — like chicken, lamb, or salmon — to help maintain their powerful, lean muscle mass. To help support a healthy skin and coat, look for omega-6 fatty acids from sources such as vegetable oils and chicken fat.

Fish oil provides the omega-3 fatty acids needed to help nourish their brain, joints, and organs, while prebiotic fibers like fructooligosaccharides (FOS) or beet pulp help support healthy digestion. Finally, balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus help support the strong bone structure this active breed depends on, helping ensure your Rottweiler stays ready for every activity.

Rottweiler puppies need a complete and balanced large-breed puppy food to help them grow up into healthy adults. A large-breed puppy formula has balanced protein, fat and calcium, among other nutrients, to promote healthy development.

Rottweilers are considered adults from 12 to 18 months of age; talk to your vet about when it is appropriate to start the transition to adult food. The switch to adult food should occur over the course of a week to let your dog's digestive system adjust, even if it's the same brand.

Rottweilers are considered seniors at about 6 years old. Senior dog food is usually lower in calories and easy to digest. A large-breed dog food will help keep your Rottweiler healthy in their gray muzzle years.

Rottweilers can be pretty laidback, particularly as they get older, and this decrease in activity may result in some additional weight. If your vet says your Rottweiler should lose some weight, your vet may recommend a weight management dog food.

Rottweilers are intelligent and loving dogs, but socialization and structure are very important to this breed. Rottweilers love their families, but they can be stubborn and may not suit first-time pet parents.

Experienced pet parents familiar with large dogs looking for an exercise buddy or a companion.

Older children and other dogs when properly introduced. Always monitor children and dogs.

 First-time pet parents and very small children.

Rottweilers are strong, large and require exercise for both mental and physical health. Daily walks in the neighborhood to allow for sniffing and mental stimulation are great, as are organized activities and sports. Rottweilers excel in a number of dog sports, ranging from barn hunts to agility to cart pulling, like their ancestors.

Rottweilers are usually food-motivated, but it may take some work to find the right treat that is really meaningful to your Rottweiler. Clicker training is often effective with this breed (once you find that perfect treat to associate with the clicker!) As young adults, they may test the boundaries of what they can get away with, so consistent training and communication are important to keeping a strong relationship.

As large-breed dogs, Rottweilers can be prone to the common ailments of other dogs in their class, and here are a few examples.

Rottweilers, weighing almost 100 pounds, need healthy joints to support their weight. So when a joint (commonly hips and elbows in Rottweilers) doesn't develop correctly, it can result in pain and inflammation.

Rottweilers can be prone to this particular eye disease, which is actually a disease of the eyelids. Dogs with entropion have eyelids with excessive skin, causing it to curl inward and rub the eyeball, resulting in tearing, discharge and pain. Good news: Eyelid surgery can fix this.

One particular birth defect of the heart is SAS, or subaortic stenosis. Rottweilers that have this will have an abnormal heartbeat, called a heart murmur, on a physical exam. This is a very severe disease that the American Rottweiler Club is working to eradicate from the breed.⁴

While their fur is on the shorter side, Rottweilers are considered medium-haired, and they do have an undercoat.² So while grooming needs are lower than many other breeds, Rottweilers still shed and require brushing, especially during the high-shedding seasons. Professional grooming is rarely needed, unless you just want someone else to bathe them because of their size (nothing wrong with that!) Rottweilers don't require frequent baths, but they are prone to tomfoolery such as rolling in things outside that would warrant a bath. 

These couch potatoes will require regular nail trims, so it's important to start early with your puppy to get them used to the feeling of having their nails being trimmed. Brush teeth daily with a dog-specific toothpaste.

Rottweilers can be intimidating looking, but babies on the inside! As some can be strong-willed, they thrive with a confident pet parent. With socialization and positive, reward-based training, your Rottweiler can be a devoted partner.