Rottweilers are often the breed of choice when choosing dogs for security, herding, and customs inspection work. These dogs are intelligent, strong, and tireless, with a long history as working dogs.
As a result, homeowners often consider Rottweilers when looking for a new four-legged household member. However, while Rottweilers perform exceedingly well in functional environments, they are only suitable as pets under specific conditions. In this article, we discuss the Rottweiler pros and cons that prospective owners should consider.
Pros of Adopting a Rottweiler
Rottweilers have unique characteristics that make them a viable option as a new pet and family companion. The sections below discuss the benefits of adopting a new Rottweiler.
Intelligence and Trainability
According to an intelligence test by psychologist Stanley Coren, Rottweilers are among the top ten most intelligent dog breeds.
Coren’s canine intelligence test focused on a dog breed’s ability to learn a new command and obey a familiar command. The test results showed that a Rottweiler only requires five repetitions to learn a new command.
Additionally, participating Rottweilers’ lowest success rate in obeying familiar commands was 95%. This score is higher than some breeds’ highest success rates.
Rottweilers have a high instinctive intelligence for protection, which means these dogs can accurately detect threats in their environment.
Studies also show that Rottweilers have high adaptive intelligence. In other words, they can solve problems and learn from past mistakes.
Strength and Protectiveness
If you need a dog to guard your property or family, you won’t go wrong with a Rottweiler.
We know that Rottweilers can accurately determine if someone or something is a threat. However, unlike other dog breeds with this intuition for danger, Rottweilers are highly effective in resolving threats and protecting a person, object, or area.
These large dogs have a muscular build with a bite force of around 320 pounds per square inch and a pull force of over 1,000 pounds. Rottweilers are also brave, with a high pain tolerance. As a result, they will stubbornly face threats head-on rather than trying to escape.
Loyalty, Affection, and Companionship
A Rottweiler will care for anyone who meets its needs for food, water, shelter, and love. Well-trained and socialized Rottweilers are loyal to all family members they consider their “pack.”
However, evidence suggests that Rottweilers single out one family member as their “alpha.” Contrary to popular belief, a dog’s alpha is not the person who displays the most dominance. Instead, the dog will choose someone it believes is the primary provider of food, stability, training, and love.
Rottweilers are energetic, enthusiastic companions that want to have a special bond with all family members. These dogs especially love tagging along when their families go on outdoor adventures, boat trips, and other activities.
Compatibility With a Home Environment
Trained Rottweilers have a laid-back demeanor, making them the ideal household pets. These dogs are not prone to common problematic behaviors like digging, barking, and separation anxiety. However, a Rottweiler that doesn’t receive sufficient training and exercise may start digging and barking due to frustration.
Rottweilers are also good house companions for allergy sufferers. While a Rottweiler isn’t hypoallergenic, it sheds less than other breeds, such as golden retrievers and German shepherds.
Cons of Adopting a Rottweiler
Even though Rottweilers are intelligent and strong with inherent guarding capabilities, they are not suitable for all households. Below, we discuss the drawbacks of this breed you should consider before adopting.
Vulnerability to Health Complications
Rottweilers have a high-risk profile for various health conditions. Hip dysplasia is one of the most common complications affecting Rottweiler’s health. If a dog suffers from this genetic deformity, the femur head doesn’t fit correctly into the hip socket. Even if your dog receives successful treatment for hip dysplasia, its risk of developing arthritis during old age remains high.
Heart health risks can also affect Rottweiler’s lifespan. A Rottweiler has a higher risk for heart problems than most other breeds. Subaortic stenosis is one of the more common heart conditions in Rottweilers and is when the aorta that carries blood to the heart narrows due to lacking exercise and high sodium levels.
Other Rottweiler health concerns include allergies, epilepsy, chronic diarrhea, and cancer. As a Rottweiler owner, you must schedule regular vet visits to ensure the early detection and treatment of potentially debilitating health complications.
Susceptibility to Aggressiveness
Rottweilers have an inherent confidence, drive, and desire to work. However, under certain circumstances, this drive will fuel aggressive behaviors.
These behaviors are common in adult Rottweilers that grew up in harsh circumstances or didn’t receive sufficient training. For example, a Rottweiler that lived in constant fear before adoption may detect threats everywhere. As a result, the dog may exhibit territorial behaviors, overprotectiveness, or intolerance of specific people.
Healthy interactions with family members, daily exercise, and ongoing training are the most effective ways to prevent aggressive behaviors. However, if you have a busy schedule and can’t spend much time with your dog, a Rottweiler may not be a good fit for your household.
Care and Space Requirements
A Rottweiler’s environment can significantly impact its well-being and behavior. These dogs thrive on farms and large lots with plenty of running and exploring space.
On the other hand, small residential yards and apartments confound Rottweilers, resulting in unhappiness and behavioral issues. While daily walks are critical, they are not a substitute for ample living space.
A Rottweiler’s routine care is time- and cost-intensive. As a large-breed dog, a Rottweiler has a high-calorie intake, costing you up to $20 per week. Feeding costs will likely increase if your Rottweiler develops dietary restrictions.
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We have reached the end of our guide on the pros and cons of Rottweiler adoption. Hopefully, this article helped you decide whether a Rottie is a suitable companion for your household.
Are you looking for a reputable Rottweiler breeder? At Champion Rottweilers, we specialize in stud dogs and puppies for sale. Call now to start your journey as a Rottweiler parent.
