4 Things you did not know about Rottweilers
Big Dog | December 4th, 2011
The Rottweiler is commonly portrayed to be evil or sinister dogs in several films and TV shows most probably because of their intimidating appearance. They, however, are actually good-natured, obedient, and hard working dogs according to FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) standards. With all the negative depictions that the media has presented, it is time to shed some better light on these lovable dogs. Here are some facts that you might want to know about the Rottweiler.
- Rottweilers have several alternate names such as Rott, Rotty, and Rottie. The most appropriate one however would be its German name, Rottweil Metzgerhund or “Rottweil butchers’ dogs.” This name came about because these dogs were once used by travelling butchers to guard money and stocks in Rottweil, Germany during the Middle Ages.
- The Rottweiler descended from Roman droving dogs and the breed’s history can be dated back to the Roman Empire. They were primarily used as guard dogs responsible for protecting cattle and property. In addition, they pulled carts containing crops for farmers.
- During the late 1800’s, the number of Rottweilers started to decline but during World War I, the demand for this breed increased. They served various roles such as police dogs and messengers.
- The most controversial issue concerning Rottweilers would be their docked tails. The reason for docking and making the tail look stumpy or bobbed can be traced back in history. Removing the length of the tail was done to prevent assailants from pulling it during a confrontation and for the tail not to be caught in the wheel while they are pulling a cart. Today, it is done for tradition and aesthetic purposes. According to research, cutting the tail during the 1st to 3rd day of the dog’s life would cause little to no pain or discomfort because of underdeveloped nerve endings. Docking, however, is banned in some countries notably USA and New Zealand.
