Absolutely not!!!

Not because there is anything wrong with the breed just some people are incapable of interacting with the breed in a responsible manner.

Unfortunately one of the very real failings of today's society is our tendency to view all interaction with animals with human values and perceptions, this may be populous and deemed acceptable by the majority of feelgood people; however it is a stupid and dangerous attitude when applied to animals who respond to any given situation by pure instinct even if modified by conditioning. It matters little whether you're talking about dogs, cows, horses, sheep or chooks or any other non human species you must understand them in order to exercise our supposed interllect in harnessing their abilities for our purposes.

So if your only training tool is aggression - Don't get a Rottweiler

If your only training tool is food - Don't get a Rottweiler

If you only want a guard dog - Don't get a Rottweiler

If you're not prepared to train it - Don't get a Rottweiler

If it's not part of the Family - Don't get a Rottweiler

If it's for status - Don't get a Rottweiler

If you answered NO to all the above look for a Reputable Breeder and enjoy the beauty of the Rottweiler.

POINTS TO PONDER

You can physically assert your will without just cause over a small dog therefore not having the respect of that animal You CANNOT do that to a Rottweiler. If an animal doesn't respect and have trust in you it will either bite or ignore you, as much as it is able : until it bites you.

If this means we have to ban all animals which give US humans (a supposed higher interlect form) a problem we may as well admit the animals are smarter and more deserving of control of this planet than we are, DO you believe that?? Certainly Animal Liberation believe it---However I'll save that subject for another article. Suffice to say no animal is or should be treated as equal to humans, if it is you will have dominance problems whether the animal is 150mm tall or 1.5 metres tall.

A Rottweiler must be able to trust it's owner to keep it safe, feed it respect it and most of all control it ie Give it guidance as to what is and what is not acceptable just like it's mother does in the whelping den. YOU, are the Fair and Just, pack leader or should be. If you do these things you will have a family companion that will be one of the greatest assets that you ever invest in.

You DO NOT have a stable animal if you chain it and largely ignore it in the hope it will keep at bay other people, you have an idiot much like it's owner who will one day either bite the hand that feeds it or someone undeserving giving the breed a bad name instead of the idiot owner.

You DO have a stable animal if you socialize it and make it part of your world.

A Rottweiler should be accepting of strangers when the family are around, however they will naturally guard their premises when they are not and will normally do this by passive aggression that is standing between the intruder and what they see as their families untouchables, (they generally only bark if they are confined), however a good Rottweiler will not back down if aggression is shown, and neither should they, once again it comes back to RESPECT. But you should not under ordinary circumstance put them in the position where they find themselves no alternative but aggression because a rottie by nature only wants to be involved with it's family group in a happy enviroment.

We have sections of society these days who wish to ban almost all breeds of dogs over 350mm tall or 16kg, WHY?? Not because of percieved health problems although that's the mantra, it's because of the percieved inability of to-days society being able to adequately control larger animals. The fact is however there are more little dogs uncontrolled than large ones but the larger breeds certainly get the media and political pressure, Why?. Do you all really agree that you are incapable where your grand-parents were not, I hope not for that would show our society going backward not forward, if we've lost the basic commonsense, instincts and abilities which allowed our ancestors to safely and competently interact with animals.

But then no doubt some people 100 years ago could not relate properly to animals either! So don't have one! Buy a teddy bear instead: for ownership of a Rottweiler or any animal for that matter is not an automatic right it is a responsibility conferred to YOU that in order for it to benefit you, it benefits from you.

To finish this article a little story about my greatest mate, Codie our first rottweiler and an ancestor of most of our dogs (deceased now). When he was around 18 mths old, a 12yo came to our place, finding no-one home he proceeded around to the back door where my boy said "you ain't s'posed to be here" and broke his collar then just stood his ground and said "don't come any further", which the boy didn't, he went back around the front to pick up his bike. Well Codie met him by going the other way round, stood over the bike and said "you ain't takin that either", so boy went home. We got home, Codie still laying by bike. Extreme intelligence shown by both boy and dog no problem resulting.Codie was an Obedience trained dog and performed his function without undue aggression. The boy rang that evening and said what a great dog he was, could he come get his bike.

ROTTWEILERS - who in their right mind would live without them, certainly not us.

Suggested reading The Dog's Mind by Dr Bruce Fogle. D.V.M M.R.C.V.S

For more information on this subject, http://www.rottie-l.org/buyarott.html is a good resource.

This article written, owned and copyrighted by Coalfire Rottweilers, October 2004. Do not reproduce, in whole or in part, without written permission.

[Top of Page]

How Rottweilers got their Markings

A long time ago, when men were alone and afraid on this new earth, the Great Being looked over all the dogs that had been created. He wanted that one special one, the one who would forever be the perfect companion for mankind.

There were fast dogs, long and sleek, there were massive dogs, slow but sure, dogs with keen noses, dogs with keen hearing and dogs who could hunt down lions. Dogs who could retrieve and dogs who could herd sheep. All of these were good dogs, but not what the creator had in mind.

Finally there was one dog. He looked rather plain. Medium to large sized, and all black, with a head like a bear and no tail. The dog was to be tested, to see if he was the one to be at mans side forever. And so the plain, black "bear like" dog was sent to mans fire. At first the men feared him. But the dog looked down....

" I am sent to be at your side, to be part of all the man does". "You are black and strong like a bear! What if you eat our children?" they spoke. "I would not do that, "said the dog,"for I love man."

For three days and two nights the dog went with man while he hunted, and helped track down game, he protected their flocks, and chased away the wild animals who sought to harm them. He pulled their loads and supplies, and guarded their valuables. On the third night, a small girl came to him. She was frightened by dreams she had. So the plain black dog laid with her, and his head rested gently upon her. As she dreamed of scary creatures, the dog entered her dreams and fought them off. If she dreamed she was lost in the darkest quicksand, the dog would run to pull her out. All night long the dog nevered from the little girls side. All night long he battled the demons in her sleep. When she awoke she hugged tightly her new friend, and kissed him once on each cheek, and above each eye. Her hands stroked his feet where he had waded in the quicksand, her arms hugged tightly his chest, and stroked his powerful muzzle and throat. Giggling and playing with her new friend and protector she even patted his behind. The child and dog became inseparable, and the dog felt only undying love for the child.

The Geat Being whispered in the dogs ear, then. "You have passed your test, for many dogs can hunt and guard and herd, but you were not only willing to give your life, you went into the world of man and entered his darkest dreams and fears. You did not run, but stayed by his side. You have earned the love of even the youngest child, as it should be". When the Great Beings voice faded like a gentle breeze, the plain black tailless dog shivered with happiness, and all the places the little girl had touched and hugged him became a wonderful mahogany color. And the Rottweiler was sent to be at the side of man, where is his place. But always in his noble heart is a special place of love, for the little ones, The children.

(Submited by: Trojan Reg'd. Rottweilers. Reproduced from an article at The Pet Professor website: http://www.thepetprofessor.com/secTrivia/Rottweiler.asp)

[Top of Page]

The Creation of the Rottweiler (Folklore)
(written by BEVERLY MITCHELL)

Once upon a time, long, long ago, before Mankind and Dogdom learned to love one another, the Grand Canine Council of Eight, which govern the fate of all dogs, called an important meeting. It had been decided that the governing of dogs would be more easily accomplished if each dog was designated by the name of his choice and each breed could then select a prototype to portray breed characteristics. This action was deemed necessary because Mankind and Dogdom were to soon unite, hopefully to the benefit of each.

On the appointed day, the representatives gathered and one by one, in a orderly fashion, each made his selection from a series of catalogs depicting body parts available. As the day wore on, it became clear that there was not enough material on have to satisfy all breed requirements. Shortages were beginning to develop, especially in the ear and tail categories. A few of the breed representatives began to show signs of anxiety. A Greyhound crowded near a large dog at the front of the line.

"Please, friend Rottweiler," whined the Greyhound, "let me take your place in line. If I stay at the end of the line there won't be any long tails to act as a rudder, Greyhound will run crookedly."

"Well, Okay," said the Rottweiler, and he moved back a step for the grateful Greyhound.

The line began inching forward again.

"Pardon me, sir," rumbled a deep voice at the rottweiler's shoulder. "Would you mind if I went ahead of you?"

"Well," said the Rottweiler, "I really don't think...."

"You see, " the deep voice went on, "we St. Bernards must have great size to perform our rescue work in the show. It's extremely difficult for small dogs to rescue people. Just think of all those lost children."

"Oh, all right," sighed the Rottweiler, and again he moved back in line."

And so it went....a little prototype dog for whom a long body was essential so he could wriggle into badger holes edged in; a Terrier type needed agility and speed to catch rats; another needed a dense coat to be comfortable while guarding sheep in winter; a tiny prototype needed a silky coat to please those upon whose lap she sat. Finally, all that remained was the tired canine who had patiently yielded his place to the others. Sadly, he looked through the catalogues. Most of the items had black lines drawn through them....all of the good stock was gone. The Rottweiler sighed deeply.

"HURRY UP", yapped the Eighth Fate, without looking up.

"Well," said the Rottweiler, very alert now that his turn had come. "I guess a big deep chest won't look bad with small ears that stand up sharply."

"Sorry," said the Eighth Fate. "All out of stand-up ears."

"NO STAND UP EARS!?" howled the Rottweiler.

"That's what I said. We can give you rosettes, long or medium-short, but they all drop."

"I'll take the medium-short," said the Rottweiler with disappointment, "They won't be too noticeable with a nice bright color combination."

"NO BRIGHT COLORS," yipped the Second Fate. "Only black."

"BLACK?" Snarled the Rottweiler.

"Wait, Wait," whimpered the Fourth Fate, in an attempt to placate, "Here are a few tan markings you can scatter on the face and legs."

"I have three white hairs here," said the Fifth Fate. Not enough for everyone, but occasionally you can sprinkle two or three on a chest."

"It's not really what we had in mind." said the Rottweiler. Then he brightened, "However a big plume of a tail will make up for everything."

"SORRY," barked the Sixth Fate, "NO TAILS."

"WHAT!" Roared the Rottweiler, "You expect me to report back to my breed chairman in BLACK with a few tan markings, DROP EARS and NO TAIL?"

"Sorry," said the others. "You should have gotten here sooner."

"One moment," the Chief Fate interceded. "This prototype was one of the first to arrive."

"I can't help that," said the Eighth Fate crankily (he was getting very tired).

"Besides," added the Third Fate, "All of the catalogues are closed. There are no more supplies to be had."

"I realize that, " answered the Chief Fate, "but we can do what all good dogs should do.....give something of ourselves.

From each of us, Rottweiler, you will receive one gift to bestow upon your breed: COURAGE, GENTLENESS, INTELLIGENCE, STRENGTH, LOYALTY, PLACIDITY, HANDSOMENESS and VIGILANCE. However, the greatest attribute of any breed you already possess in abundance.....

"A GENEROUS HEART."

(Submited by: Trojan Reg'd. Rottweilers. Reproduced from an article at The Pet Professor website: http://www.thepetprofessor.com/secTrivia/Rottweiler.asp)

[Top of Page]