The German Rottweiler, known for intelligence, loyalty, and protection, excels in guarding people and property. As a working breed, they thrive in roles such as police or protection dogs, therapy dogs, service dogs, and loving family companions.
Ancient Roman records strongly suggest that Rottweilers descended from indigenous herding dogs, despite the breed’s exact origin being unknown. These dogs accompanied the Roman armies as they invaded and conquered widespread parts of the Roman Empire including southern Germany and Switzerland. Mastiff types likely descended from the extinct Molossus guard dogs, drovers guarded food-producing herds and provided soldiers with protection while sleeping.
German Rottweiler Protection Dog:
Around 74 AD, the 11th legion of the invading Roman Empire army was in the Wurtemberg area of southern Germany, making camp on the banks of the Neckar River. There they founded the town they called Rottweil (named “rot” for the red tile roofs of the town and “wil” for villa). Germany managed to beat the Roman army back Sometime around 200 AD. And as the army retreated, many of their guard dogs were left in the Roman provinces of southern Germany. There they interbred with the local dog population. Although the dogs were Roman in origin, it was the local Germans who named the interbred drover dogs and their descendants “Rottweilers” after the area they lived in.
There were several other large working breeds that were already common in the area. So it’s likely that the short-coated Greater Swiss Mountain dog, its long-haired cousin, the Bernese Mountain Dog, and the only slightly smaller Entlebucher were among the local breeds that interbred with the Roman herding dogs, and the resemblance among these breeds is notable. It is because of this interbreeding that today’s Rottweilers can have differences in coat length and thickness, depending on what bloodline they come from. The occasional white spot on the chest or foot is a result of that interbreeding as well.
History of German Rottweiler Protection Dog:
The breed became nearly extinct, after the need for butchers’ draught dogs diminished. And by 1900, only one breeding female Rottweiler was to be found in Rottweil. With Germans determined not to allow the breed to die out, this female was bred to other protection dogs with mastiff-like qualities and conformation, and within a few years, there were enough foundation studs to begin to repopulate the breed.
In 1907, enthusiasts initiated the DRK (Deutscher Rottweiler-Klub), and shortly after, they formed the SDRK (Suddedeutscher Rottweiler Klub or Southern German Rottweiler Klub). This was to become the IRK (International Rottweiler Klub). At the time of its founding, the DRK had about 500 Rottweilers in the club and had the goal of producing working protection dogs that would be suitable for police or military use regardless of conformation or shape.
This owner-country rule is clear in the history of the docked tail. In 1935, the AKC recognized the Rottweiler as a docked breed, which was its classification in the ADRK and FCI as well. This was due to the existence of undocumented, historic photographs that show the Rottweiler with a docked tail.
The smart, alert Rottweiler continues to be an extremely popular breed of protection dog that is outstanding at a variety of different jobs. In Europe, Scandinavia, and the U.S., they use them for police work, customs work, army duties, and mountain search and rescue. They are excellent border guard dogs and bomb- and drug-sniffing dogs. And of course, they are outstanding as both personal protection dogs and as great family dogs.
