The Walk - Walking a Dog

The proper way to walk your dog on a leash: pack walks

Walk your dog, do not let your dog walk you. If you allow your dog to walk in front of you

while on a lead you are reinforcing in the dog's mind that the dog is alpha over you because

the leader always goes first. This can lead to many behavioral issues that some regard as a

"breed trait" or "personality," when actually it is your dog being in charge of its humans.

When a dog walks in front, it does not drain its mental energy. The dog is not relaxed,

as it has the big responsibility of leading the pack. This mental anguish can build up

 inside of a dog. When a dog is hyper or high-strung it means the dog is not getting the

proper amount and/or type of exercise. If your dog runs laps around your yard or house,

this is an indication that it is not getting enough exercise.

If you take your dog for long walks daily and it is still hyper, ask yourself, when we left for the
walk who led the way out the door/gate? Who leads on the walk? Was the dog following you,
watching you for direction or were you following the dog? Was the dog smelling where and
when it pleased? If you answered "yes" to these questions you are walking your dog while
it is in an excited state of mind. Your dog is worried about leading which does not calm the
mind. If you answered "no" to these questions, then you may have a super high energy dog
that needs even more exercise. It is not a natural state of mind for a canine animal to be so
hyper.

Keep in mind it is not solely the act of heeling, but also that you as the human are making
the decision for the dog to heel. How often do you walk? Do you MAKE your dog heel or
does the dog heel when it pleases just because it gets tired? Just because a dog walks well
on a lead, not pulling, and for most of the walk walks beside the human does not mean the
human is being a pack leader; it really is about who is making the decisions. Was your dog
calm and in a submissive state of mind when you snapped on their lead? When you left your
home, who went out the doorway and/or gate first, you or the dog? Does the dog decide to
heel when it wishes, but pull to the side to sniff or walk out in front when it pleases? Or is the
human consciously making the dog heel? If the human allows the dog to decide, because
after all he walks "pretty good," then the dog is making the calls and you are allowing your
dog to be your leader. If it is all about who is making the decisions, can you decide to let your
dog walk in front? No, since instinct tells a dog the leader leads the way, your decision to
allow your dog to walk in front will be communicating to your dog that you are allowing him






















to be your leader.

A pack walk is also the best way to introduce new dogs to one another or to get dogs who
already do not like one another to accept each other. Any unwanted reactions from one dog
to another should be immediately corrected. By the end of your walk they will feel like they
are one pack. It is important that the dogs who are out on the walk are all heeling beside the
person holding the leash. Any dog that is walking out in front of their humans will begin to
regard himself as the alpha of the group. By making the dogs heel beside or behind the
person holding the lead, you are communicating to the dogs that the humans are above them
in the pecking order and that all the dogs are on the same follower level. Remember, it only
takes one alpha dog to set off any other dogs around. If you are walking multiple dogs that
usually fight you may need more than one human to walk the dogs. Make sure all human
walkers are making the dog they are walking heel and that they are correcting any signs of
aggression towards the other dogs. You may allow the dogs to smell one another's back end,
but make sure you keep walking in the process. The key is to keep moving forward. Keep the
dogs walking and remain confident. The dogs will feel your authority or your weakness. Stay
strong.

"The Boxer on the right used to get into awful bloody fights with the two white Great 
Pyrenees that were very difficult to break up. We began to correct the dogs using Cesar's 
Way. The results were amazing. After 6 years of fighting it only took a day to communicate 
this was not acceptable and they never fought again. We still had to watch for signs and 
correct them at the right moments. However, as soon as we started walking the Boxer with 
the Great Pys all signs of the desire to fight between any of the dogs vanished. Here she is 
walking right next to them."

All dogs, regardless of size or breed, need to be taken on daily walks, jogs, runs, bike rides,

 rollerblading, or any other means you have to get your dog moving. Taking your dog for a 

walk is an important ritual in keeping your dog mentally stable. A dog, as an animal, is a 

walker/traveler by instinct. Packs of dogs get up in the morning and walk. Simply having a 

large backyard or taking your dog to the dog park is not going to satisfy this instinct in your 

dog. As Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer says, "To your dog, your backyard is like a large 

fish bowl in which they are trapped. Fish swim, birds fly and dogs walk. Having a dog should 

not be about only fulfilling our human needs, we owe it to our dogs, to give them what THEY 

instinctually need." While this might seem like a daunting daily task, the good news is walking is mentally good 
for humans, too.
For a dog to be mentally stable, you as an 
owner must take your dog for daily walks to 
release mental and physical energy. 
The proper way to walk a dog is the dog 
walking either beside you, or behind you, 
and never in front of you. This may 
seem petty in a human's mind, however it 
means a lot in a dog’s mind. When a human 
allows a dog to walk
in front, they aresending signals to the 
dog that he is leading the human. Instinct 
tells a dog that the leader

goes first. A lack of exercise allows the buildup of the mental energy which would otherwise
be released in a proper walk, and permitting a dog to be pack leader can cause many
behavioral problems in a dog—such as, but not limited to, hyper-activity, neurotic and/or
obsessive-compulsive behaviors—all of which are signs of a dog that is not mentally stable.
An unstable dog is not a happy dog. Excitement in a dog is NOT a sign of happiness.
Dogs that act very excitedly when their humans come home are showing signs of a lack of
exercise and/or leadership. For a dog, excitement does not indicate happiness. In most cases
it is a sign of a dog that is not mentally stable. When you come home after being gone, avoid
 speaking to your dog in an
 excited manner for a few minutes. Go and do something else first. When we see dogs as
human, it is difficult to accept a dog's excitement as not being a sign of happiness, however,
we must remember dogs are canines, not humans.

I have heard many people say that making a dog walk beside or behind them is mean. Those
who believe this are seeing the dog as having human traits. It is actually crueler to assume
your dog is just like you in his feelings and instincts and not see him as the canine animal that
 he is. Think outside the box and accept that your dog is an animal with different needs than a
 human.

Many people take their dogs out for a daily walk, however, the dog is walking in front of them.
Getting a dog to walk properly on a lead is not as hard as it may seem—yes, even your dog(s).
(You can walk more than one dog properly on a lead.)

 When getting ready to walk your dog, call the dog to you, do not go to the dog to put the 

lead on. After the dog comes to you make him sit calmly before snapping on the lead or 

slipping on the collar. Retractable leashes are not recommended, as they give the handler 

less control. The way you leave your house and property is also important. Your dog must go 

out the door after you. If you put the leash on the dog and/or leave the house while the dog is

excited and leading you, then you are setting the mood for the rest of the walk to be in an 

excited state.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ENGLISH MASTIFF

  

 

 

The Old English Mastiff is a massive dog. The Mastiff has a large, heavy, square head with a well-marked stop between the eyes. The muzzle should be half the length of the skull. The medium-sized brown to dark hazel eyes are set wide apart with a black mask around them. The nose is dark in color. The small, V-shaped ears are in proportion with the skull and are dark in color. The teeth should meet in a scissors bite but a slightly undershot bite is also acceptable in the show ring providing the teeth do not show when the mouth is closed. The tail is high-set with a wide base, tapering to a point and reaching the hocks. Coat colors include golden fawn, light fawn, apricot, silver, tiger or brindle.

Temperament

The Mastiff is a very massive, powerful, muscular dog. Dominance levels vary, even within the same litter, but it is often called a gentle giant. A born guard dog, the Mastiff rarely barks, but it is in its nature to defend its territory and family, and is more a silent guard rather than a barker. When an intruder is caught the dog is more likely to hold them at bay, either by trapping them in a corner or lying on top of them rather than an all-out attack. You do not need to train your Mastiff to guard. No matter how friendly it is, if it senses danger it will naturally guard on its own unless the owners are there to tell it otherwise. Self-confident and watchful, these dogs are patient and considered excellent with children. Intelligent, calm, even-tempered and docile, this breed is very large and heavy. They respond well to firm, but gentle, patient training. They love to please and need a lot of human leadership. Socialize them well to prevent them from becoming aloof with strangers. Owners need to be firm, calm, consistent, confident with an air of natural authority to communicate to the Mastiff that dominance is unwanted. If socialized with proper leadership it will get along well with other dogs. The Mastiff tends to drool, wheeze and snore loudly. It can be somewhat difficult to train. The objective in training this dog is to achieve pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in its pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined and rules are set. Because a dog communicates his displeasure with growling and eventually biting, all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. The humans must be the ones making the decisions, not the dogs. That is the only way your relationship with your dog can be a complete success.

Height, Weight

Height: Males from 30 inches (76 cm) Females from 27 inches (69 cm)
Weight: Males about 160 pounds (72 kg) Females about 150 pounds (68 kg)
One of the heaviest breeds, a male Mastiff can exceed 200 pounds.

Health Problems

Beware of hip dysplasia. As these dogs are prone to bloat, feed two or three small meals a day, instead of one large one. Also prone to CHD, gastric torsion, ectropion, PPM, vaginal hyperplasia, elbow dysplasia and PRA. Occasionally seen is cardiomyopathy.
Living Conditions

The Mastiff will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. They are relatively inactive indoors and a small yard will do.

Exercise

Mastiffs are inclined to be lazy but they will keep fitter and happier if given regular exercise. Like all dogs, the American Mastiff should be taken on daily regular walks to help release its mental and physical energy. It's in a dog’s nature to walk. While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. They should always be leashed in public.

Life Expectancy

About 10-12 years

Litter Size

About 5 to 10 puppies

Grooming

The smooth, short-haired coat is easy to groom. Brush with a firm bristle brush and wipe over with a piece of toweling or chamois for a gleaming finish. Bathe or dry shampoo when necessary. This breed is an average shedder.

Origin

The English Mastiff was founded in Britain. A very old breed, it was depicted in Egyptian monuments as early as 3000 BC. The breed fought alongside British soldiers in 55 BC. Caesar brought a pack of Mastiffs to Rome where the dogs were put on display as arena gladiators and forced to be in fights with human gladiators, lions, bull baiting, bear baiting and in dog-to-dog combat. They later became popular with the peasants in England where they were used as a bodyguard, protector of wolves and other dangerous predators and as a companion dog. In the eighteenth century the Mastiff was described: "As a lion is to a cat, so is a mastiff compared to a dog." It is believed that a Mastiff came to America on the Mayflower. Later more were imported. Like most breeds by the end of World War ll, the breed was almost extinct in England. Dogs were imported from the USA and Canada and are once again well established in England. Some of the Mastiff's talents include: watchdog, guarding, police work, military work, search and rescue, and weight pulling.

Group

Mastiff, AKC Working

Recognition

ACA = American Canine Association Inc.

ACR = American Canine Registry

AKC = American Kennel Club

ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club

APRI = American Pet Registry, Inc.

CKC = Canadian Kennel Club

CKC = Continental Kennel Club

DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc.

FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internationale

KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain

NAPR = North American Purebred Registry, Inc.

NKC = National Kennel Club

NZKC = New Zealand Kennel Club

UKC = United Kennel Club

5 BENEFIT OF A ROTTWEILER DOG IN YOUR HOMES

 1. You get a great guard dog – Rottweiler's are fiercely protective of their homes and their people so if you want to have a dog that is going to be a great guard dog and a great pet then you can’t go wrong owning a Rottweiler.

2. You get a companion – Rottweiler puppies are very people oriented and love to be right in the middle of all the action. Your Rottweiler puppy will be happiest when he or she is tagging along with you as you run errands, mow the yard, make dinner, or watch TV on the couch. Rottweilers are wonderful companion dogs, although because they do thrive on human companionship if you don’t have a lot of time to spend with the dog then you might be better off with a less people-oriented breed of dog.

3. Your kids get a playmate – Rottweiler puppies are very active, and need to be intellectually stimulated with games and tasks. If you want a family dog that will be active as your kids then a Rottweiler puppy will be a good fit in your household. Your Rottweiler puppy will love to play as much as your kids, and you’ll know that the kids are safe from danger with a loyal Rottweiler guarding them while they play.

4. You get a dog that loves to work – Rottweilers are bred to be working dogs and they need a job to do in order to be truly happy. If you want a dog that can help you around the farm, protect your property, and do other jobs then a Rottweiler will be a good fit for you. But you must keep your Rottweiler busy in order for the dog to really thrive.

 

 

5. You get a dog that is smarter than most – Rottweilers are known for their intelligence so if you want a dog that is more intelligent than most other breeds and is easy to train and will be obedient and respectful of your authority then a Rottweiler is the dog for you. You need to train your Rottweiler from day one and establish yourself as the pack leader. Once you do that your dog will pick up lessons easily and obey commands

The German Shepherd Dog

The German Shepherd Dog, also known as an Alsatian or just the German Shepherd, is a breed of large-sized dog that originated in Germany. The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed of dog, with its origin dating to 1899.

The German Shepherd is one of the most popular dogs in the world for good reason. German Shepherd is a working dog developed originally for herding and guarding sheep. Because of its strength, intelligence and abilities in obedience training it is often employed in police and military roles around the world.

If you love dogs and photography, you have come to the right place. You’ll find many German Shepherd Dog lovers where ever you go in the world and in this post we collected 22 amazing pictures of German Shepherd Dogs for your inspiration. Be sure to check out all the photos. We are sure you’ll like these dog pictures.

 

ENGLISH OR BRITISH BULLDOG

Other Names

 

English Bulldog

DescriptionThe English Bulldog is a wide, medium-sized, compact dog with short legs. The body and head are massive with extra skin on both the skull and forehead falling in folds. The cheeks extend to the sides of the eyes. The muzzle is wide, short and pug with a broad, deep stop. The black nose is broad with large nostrils. The dark eyes are deep set. The rose ears are small, thin and set high on the head. The jaws are massive, very broad, and square with hanging upper lips. The teeth should have an under bite. The tail is either straight or screwed and carried low. The short, flat coat is straight, smooth and glossy. Coat colors include red brindle and other shades of brindle, solid white, solid red, fawn, fallow, piebald, pale yellow or washed-out red or white or a combination of these colors.


Temperament

Although the English Bulldog's appearance can be somewhat intimidating, it is among the gentlest of dogs. Just the same it will see off any intruder, and few would risk a close encounter with a dog brave enough to bait a bull. It is described as a very affectionate and dependable animal, gentle with children, but known for its courage and its excellent guarding abilities. Bullheaded and determined, this breed can be very persistent. They do not give up easily. Bulldogs are very much a people's dog, seeking out human attention and loving every bit it can get!! A lot of human attention is required for the breed's happiness. Some English Bulldogs can be a bit dominating and need an owner who knows how to display strong leadership and understands alpha canine behavior. A Bulldog who understands its place in the human pack is nice to, and reliable with all people. This breed is good with family, but some can be combative with strange dogs if they do not see themselves as followers in their pack. When Bulldogs are young, they are full of energy, but slow down as they get older. They snore very loudly, most have drool and slobber tendencies and are messy eaters. Bulldogs that display guarding behaviors, such as guarding funiture, food, toys, or other spots in the house, or that are dog aggressive do not have humans who are being the dog's pack leader. This behavior only happens when dogs are allowed to take over. These behaviors can be corrected when the owners start displaying the proper leadership. Dogs that feel they need to run the home are not as happy as dogs that know they are human followers, as it is very stressful for a dog to need to keep "his" humans in line.

Height, Weight
Height: about 12 - 16 inches (31 - 40 cm) (there is no prescribed height, but shorter Bulldogs are more prized when being shown)

Weight: Males 53 - 55 pounds (24 - 25 kg) Females 49 - 51 pounds (22 - 23 kg)

Health Problems

Prone to breathing problems; some have small windpipes as well. Also poor eyesight, cherry eye, very susceptible to heatstroke in warm weather or hot rooms and cars. Very cold sensitive. Prone to mast sell tumors. Birth defects are common in some lines. Susceptible to skin infections, hip and knee problems. Prone to flatulence, especially when fed any other type of food other than their regular dog food. Puppies are often delivered by caesarian section. Some say it is because of the dogs' large head size, however others claim you can hardly tell the difference between the head size of a Bulldog with the head size of other breeds when the pups are first born; claiming not enough dams are given the opportunity to try and deliver naturally because of the large head myth. A lot of Bulldogs do run the risk of having weak labors and this could increase the risk of a caesarian.

Living Conditions

The English Bulldog is good for apartment life. They are very inactive indoors and will do okay without a yard. This breed is an indoor dog. Bulldogs do best in temperate climates as the breed can chill easily in cold weather and have trouble cooling off in very hot weather.

Exercise

The English Bulldog needs to be taken on a daily walk to fulfill its primal canine instinct to migrate. Those individuals that do not get this need met are more likely to have behavior issues. While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. Teach them to enter and exit all door and gateways after the human. English Bulldogs that are in good shape are capable of moving very quickly for short periods of time.

Life Expectancy

An average of 8 years. Some live longer while others live shorter lives.

Litter Size

4 - 5 puppies; as a result of this breed's large head they are prone to needing a caesarian section

Grooming

The smooth, fine, short-haired coat is easy to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush, and bathe only when necessary. Wipe the face with a damp cloth every day to clean inside the wrinkles. This breed is an average shedder.



Origin

The English Bulldog originated in the British Isles, descended from the ancient Asiatic mastiff. The dog was given the name "bull" because of its use in bull baiting and for its robust look of a little bull. They were aggressive, ferocious and courageous with the power to attack full grown bulls, which they did in arena combat before the practice was banned by law in the 19th century. Bulldogs would attack from the bottom up going underneath the bull and aiming for the neck, making it hard for the bull to fight back. Today's Bulldog has a very different temperament from those of his ancestors, but still retains a strong determination.

Boxer Dogs

Boxers may look tough as nails (and they are certainly tough) but under the surface they are lovable, playful, sometimes goofy pals. They get along with the whole family, including children and other pets. Some have even been know to get chummy with cats.

Though it’s a myth that Boxers got their name from their tendency to stand up and “box” with their paws, they do use their paws frequently, whether to bat playfully at their water bowls, toys and friends. They sometimes do it for fun, but mostly it’s to send you a message like “feed me” or “play with me!” Boxers also love to carry things around the house. This could be a toy, a shirt, or just about anything. 

Loyal and affectionate, Boxers need lots of attention. Playtime, walks and obedience games are always appreciated. They are extremely protective of their surroundings, serving as very dependable guard dogs. However, they are generally friendly—and sometimes giddy—when meeting new people. An excellent companion to kids, they might be too rambunctious with the very young—but they never lose their patience or good nature.

Boxer History

Developed in 19th century Germany from German Mastiffs and English Bulldogs, the Boxer was used as a hunting, fighting and working dog, prized for its tenacity, strength and obedience. Later used as cattle dogs, they also made a name for themselves as circus performers. In the early 1900s, the Deutscher Boxer Club established a breed standard for Boxers, and the AKC approved them in 1904. Decades later, American soldiers brought them home after World War II, and they quickly became popular in the U.S.
Things You Should Know

Boxers sometimes try to dominate their owners. The best way to handle this is to maintain a firm but friendly hand. If acquired as a puppy, make sure your Boxer gets adequate training and socialization to manage the extreme aspects of his energetic personality. An untrained Boxer—using its speed, energy and jumping skills at will—can be a handful. 

Boxers are sensitive to heat and cold. Their short snouts make it hard for them to cool themselves down in humid weather, and their coats are not thick enough for the cold. If you live in an extreme temperature area, either consider another breed or closely monitor your Boxer when playing outside. 

A healthy Boxer can live as long as 14 years. Common health problems include tumors (especially in older Boxers), skin allergies, hip dysplasia and heart problems. They also tend to drool and snore. Like most energetic canines, they need loads of exercise, activity and human contact to maintain good health and happiness.

Boxers have a compact, square-built frame that looks equally elegant and powerful. Their lean, well-developed muscles are usually visible under the tight, unwrinkled skin, and they carry themselves in a proud and balanced manner. They have chiseled heads—in proportion to their bodies—with open nostrils and wide, blunt muzzles. They have strong necks, short backs, docked tails and straight front legs. Their taut, close-fitting coats can come in a variety of colors: beige, tawny brown, and shades of red with white markings.

The Look of a Boxer

Quick Facts

• weight: 55 - 70 pounds
• height: 21 - 25 inches

Ideal Human Companions

• Singles
• Families
• Active, outdoorsy types
• A-type personalities

How to train a German Shepherd by reward and reinforcement

 German Shepherd Dog

The German shepherd dog is beautiful. An intelligent canine from working descent, he will bond with and protect his handler with courage and conviction.

This breed of dog is employed by police and military within roles ranging from crowd control to tracking and physical capture of an escaping subject.

The German shepherd can make a wonderful family pet and when choosing a particular dog, it is important to keep in mind that many suffer from hip dysplasia and related problems. This is normally due to irresponsible breeding. Both parents of a litter should be hip scored before mating. When taking on an adult dog certainly check the gait. If the dogs back slopes downwards towards the tail it may have a problem with hips due to excess pressure. It is not always possible to see potential hip problems but sometimes they are obvious.

How to Train a German Shepherd Dog

A biddable and handler focused dog, this breed is a pleasure to train. Extensive research on how to train a German shepherd dog is not always necessary. Positive reinforcement and reward based training is however essential.

Train your German shepherd with a suitable reward. His intelligence will ensure timely response and keen learning. Clicker training is a perfect tool when deciding how to train a German shepherd dog.

Train a German shepherd Dog with Positive Reinforcement.

Clicker training works on reinforcing positive behavior with a reward. The dog must first learn that a click always provides a treat. Then the behavior that you would like him to repeat is pinpointed with the sound. Any unhelpful behavior is ignored completely as this will encourage the dog to offer the behavior that provides him with the click and reward. The high intelligence of this breed ensures that he will pick up this type of training quickly.

When learning how to train a German shepherd dog with a clicker, you must first ensure that your dog is completely in tune with the sound and always expects a treat after hearing it. If the dog is not rewarded every single time, then the sound will lose its effectiveness. Also, if you click at the wrong time, you must still provide the treat despite the unhelpful behavior that you may have unwittingly reinforced.

Walking and other Dogs

The German shepherd is handler focused and obedient by nature. As they mature and if trained well they rarely go far from the person they are out with. Before bringing your dog home for the first time, take some time to research how to train a German shepherd dog on walks and recall. Practice calling him back for rewards on the leash initially. Extend the leash to a long line and continue to practice recall. Only if you are certain that the dog will return on command, should you begin to let him off the leash.

Socialized well they can accept other dogs and play with little concern, but the primary focus is often their human family.

The Family Protector

Be aware that a German shepherd is protective by nature. It is for this and their fearlessness that they are employed in guard dog roles. Your dog may guard the person holding its leash and everyone within the family including children. This should always be discouraged by regular and careful socialization in varied situations. The German shepherd can be a reactive breed that could bark or snap relatively quickly if he feels threatened or cornered. Keep this in mind when deciding whether or not you should welcome a German Shepherd into your home.

Overall, the German shepherd as all other dogs can be a wonderful family pet if properly trained and socialized. Noble, loyal and stunning to look at ensures that as a breed type, they automatically command a certain respect.

 

Rottweiler

The Origin of the Rottweiler is not a documented record. Actual history and reasonable supposition indicate that the Rottweiler is descended from one of the drover dogs indigenous to ancient Rome. This drover dog has been described by various accredited sources to have been of the Mastiff type, with great intelligence, rugged, dependable, willing to work and with a strong guarding instinct. The ancient Romans used three different kinds of sheep or cattle dogs, viz, the Moloses, the wolf-like sheepdog and the short haired herding dog; the latter is the ancestor of the Rottweiler and was almost identical in appearance to the Rottweiler of today.

 

Very large armies were required for these expeditions and the logistics of feeding that number of men became a major consideration. No means of refrigeration existed, which meant that meat for the soldiers accompanied the troops “on the hoof“. Understandably, the services of a dog capable of keeping the herd intact during the long marches were needed. The above-described “Mastiff type“ was admirably suited to this task, and to shoulder the additional responsibility of guarding the supply dumps at night. The dog best suited to these duties was a short haired herding dog, i.e. the ancestor of the Rottweiler. He was also used as a warrior from time to time in battle. It is also said that the Emperor Nero kept a number of these dogs as guards against intruders.

Without a doubt these short haired herding dogs were competent dogs bred with a purpose in mind, as according to history the Romans were very able dog breeders, a fact which is corroborated by recent excavations.

In the spring of AD 74, campaigns of the Roman Army varied in scope but the one concerning us took its route across the Alps ending in what is now southern Germany. The quartermasters of the Roman Eleventh Legion laid out a temporary camp on the banks of a river in the south of Germania. In a short time it grew into a base camp. From here a network of roads was built which made it possible to open up the newly conquered territory and defend it by rapid troop movements. From this crossing point of important connecting roads the district rapidly gained in significance.

The settlement which grew up here was called ‘ Arae Flaviae‘, the city with altars in honor of the imperial Flavian dynasty. It had natural advantages of climate, soil and central location. As a consequence, it was designated an Imperial Roman City, acquiring the attendant grandeur of all such Roman cities. Arae Flaviae became the capitol of a new province. Villas were built which were equipped with all the luxury which this period knew.

There is much evidence pointing to the vital role of the fearless Roman drover dog on that trek from Rome to the banks of the Neckar River. All along the way, the short haired herding dogs left their descendants. Following the north-east route towards Lake constance you will find a sheep dog called Appenzeller sennenhund in the region around Appenzell, and following the more westerly route over the St gotthard and the Furka Pass through Haslital you arrive at Bern and emmantal, where the Berner sennenhund and the Entlebucher sennenhund belong. Both routes lead to wurttemberg in southern Germany, which is the home of the Rottweiler.

Although the preferences of the inhabitants of the various regions, as well as different kinds of work required from the dogs, have favored or suppressed certain characteristics, it is obvious that these breeds have the same origin, not only in appearance but also to a large extent in the character. Intelligence, devotion, courage, vigilance and zest for work is a common trait, and they are all particularly well-suited for herding.

The Romans conquered wurttemberg in the first century A.D. In AD 260, the Alemanni took possession, having driven the Romans out, and laid waste the city. Around the year 700 the ruler of this area had a Christian church built on the foundations of the old Roman bath house. Around this church a new settlement quickly developed. Like many old Roman sites, this one got the name ‘Wil‘ (from villa). To distinguish this ‘Wil‘ from others, it was called ‘Rot Wil‘ from the red color of the roof tiles and bricks. From ‘the Roman villa with the red walls and roofs‘ evolved the present name, Rottweil.

One of the most important towns of Wurttemberg is and was the town of Rottweil, which is situated on a hill on the left bank of the River Neckar. Rottweil is in the middle of a large agricultural area, and owing to the favorable geographical situation, the town became an important market town already in Roman times, particularly in respect of cattle and corn, and for centuries buyers and sellers flocked to Rottweil from all over central Europe to attend the market.

(Another photo of the town of Rottweil showing the red tile roofs.)

Most of the work in driving the cattle to and from the market had to be carried out by herding and guard dogs. Without dogs it would have been almost impossible to drive the large herds of cattle and pigs the very considerable distances across well nigh impassable countryside.

The butchers and cattle dealers, who in increasing numbers settled in Rottweil, found the Roman herding dog ideal for their purpose. In this way a trade in purposely bred working dogs began in Rottweil and it followed that this sideline interested the cattle dealers in particular.

In honor of the good qualities of the breed the dogs that came from Rottweil were called Rottweilers. Later on this name was used to denote descendants of the Roman herding dog in Southern Germany generally, and the breed has been called Rottweiler ever since.

Eventually a regular competition developed amongst butchers and cattle dealers as to who owned the best dogs and a particularly good Rottweiler would fetch a very high price. The Rottweiler was first and foremost used for herding cattle and pigs, although it was also used for herding sheep. It was an arduous task for the dogs to drive the animals and to keep them together at the same time. A strong dog with staying power, which at the same time had the energy and courage to impose his own will on obstinate cattle, full of self-will and physical strength, the Rottweiler knew how to cope. He pushed the cattle and bit the hocks of the rebellious ones until they obeyed. Even so, the Rottweiler was so restrained that he did not unnecessarily disturb the cattle. The herds traveled from Hungary and France to Rottweil; the buyers and their dogs drove their newly acquired property far into the surrounding territories.

Driving a herd of cattle and keeping them together calls for a dog which is quiet, reliable and not too light. The qualities of these dogs quickly became known and the foreigners bought them too. This drover‘s dog was called the ‘Rottweiler Metzgerhund‘ (Rottweil butcher‘s dog). He was employed not only for driving cattle, but was also very useful for pulling the carts of farmers, butchers, bakers and pedlars.

Apart from this, the Rottweiler was an incorruptible guard dog and thus the owner‘s best protector on long journeys in a time when robbery and murder was the rule rather than the exception and it was, therefore, particularly dangerous to travel with valuables. For this reason it was also customary for cattle dealers to tie their money bags to the collar of the Rottweiler, and few were the highwaymen who dared challenge the strong, courageous Rottweilers.

 However, last century there was a real danger that the Rottweiler would disappear in spite of his eminent qualities, because to help the newly built railways, a ban was placed on the driving of cattle by means of dogs. This had, of course, been the main task of the Rottweiler, and the breed was neglected, so that these dogs which for centuries had done their duty with zest, courage and energy, were almost totally forgotten.

After the donkey had taken the place of this draught dog and the driving of cattle with dogs had been forbidden by law, there was no longer any work for the Rottweiler. Numbers declined sharply, and in 1905 there was only one Rottweiler female left in Rottweil.

Fortunately, not everyone forgot a true friend and a good workmate and because of his good qualities of character, he had found a circle of adherents outside the butchers‘ frontiers, and through this the extinction of the breed was prevented.

Butchers and a few farmers kept some dogs, partly out of love for the breed and partly probably also to have a reliable protector of house and home, and when in the beginning of this century it was found that the Rottweiler was particularly well suited as a police dog, it helped the revival of the Rottweiler, and he is now recognized everywhere as a devoted and courageous working dog with an unparalleled self-confidence.

When one considers which breeds have contributed to the formation of the Rottweiler, it becomes clear that until the beginning of the present century the distinction between the various breeds was extremely imprecise. Different observers could well classify the same dog under different breeds.

In the period when the breeders and admirers of the Rottweiler were coming together in Germany, the appearance of dogs of this breed showed many variations in size, type of hair, skull formation and color of coat. The black and brown Rottweiler as we know him already existed, but also the all-brown with a brown nose, the blue with a slate-grey nose, the reddish tan with a black mask, the tan with a black mask, the coffee-colored with red markings, the all-red, the striped with tan markings, and the wolf-grey with black head and black and tan markings.

(Rottweiler type dog with a wolf coat.)

In 1899 the animal painter Kull established the international club for leonberger and rottweiler dogs in an attempt to unite the encouragement of interest in both great breeds. This organization had little significance and soon faded out.

In 1907 the German Rottweiler Club (DRK) was set up in Heidelberg, and in April of that year in the same place, the Southern German Rottweiler Club (SDRK) formed. The SDRK merged into a Rottweiler association called the International Rottweiler Club (IRK).

Not only the DRK and the IRK kept breed books; the SDRK also did so up to 1924. In addition, Rottweilers were entered into the ‘Deutsche Hunde Stammbuch‘.

In August of 1921, discussion between representatives of the DRK and the IRK were brought to a successful conclusion; in the matter of the breed standard, and the ‘Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler klub‘ (ADRK) was established. The ADRK published its first stud book in 1924.

It is believed that Rottweilers were first imported into the United States sometime in the 1920‘s. In 1931 the first Rottweiler appeared in the American Kennel Club's (AKC) stud book. In 1992, at the peak of the popularity of the Rottweiler in the United States, the AKC registered over 70,000 Rottweilers making the Rottweiler the second most popular breed in the United States. Since then the Rottweiler's popularity has dropped considerably.

References:

“The Complete Rottweiler“, by Muriel Freeman

“Rottweiler“, by H. Bresson

“Know Your Rottweiler“, by D. Chardet

“The Proper Care of Rottweilers“, by Joan R. Klem & Susan C. Rademacher

“The Book of the Rottweiler“, by Anna Katherine Nicholas