For an ANKC registered Rottweiler puppy, buyers should expect to pay anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000. Of course, it is important to consider that over the lifetime of your pup an owner will need to typically spend on food, bedding, toys, equipment, veterinary expenses, training, pet insurance (optional) and more.

To understand the Rottweiler, one has to consider their use and purpose from origin. As mentioned before, the Rottweiler was previously employed in the guarding and herding roles of armies and the stock trade. They were expected to deal with a resistant bull or thief. The dog had to be courageous, determined, eager to fulfill duty, and strong both physically and mentally. The Rottweiler of today will still possess these qualities and traits handed down through generations. This is why the Rottweiler is not recommended for elderly or the infirm. Commitment to a Rottweiler is at the higher level of dog ownership. Early socialisation and constant exposure to new situations, varying experiences and day to day contact with people and dogs as well as stimulation of the aforementioned characteristics of the Rottweiler through obedience, agility, socialisation or tracking, performance training will lead to a happy and non-destructive companion. Rottweiler’s are also an incredibly loyal family dog, and are perfectly capable of being employed as a therapy/service dog.

Rottweilers love swimming, walking, and trotting, especially with their owners. The breed is muscular and athletic, and should have the opportunity to exercise on a daily basis. Spend as much of your leisure time with your trusty companion to ensure a strong bond but also to stimulate your Rottweiler as to reduce destructiveness and ensure a happy and content dog around the house. Rottweilers excel when given a job to do. They can learn easily to cart and are excellent workers in herding, tracking, and obedience. There is no limit to the canine activities that the Rottweiler can learn to do.

Eager to please his master, but at times can be quite stubborn, effective control over your Rottweiler must be established from an early age. Obedience training is a must for a Rottweiler. The more you as the owner put in, you will have a more well balanced dog. Rottweilers respond well to verbal reprimands and rewards. The Rottweiler is an intelligent and confident breed. It is imperative that all discipline is consistent, fair and firm. Your Rottweiler will enjoy and excel in any of the following activities: Obedience, Agility, Tracking and/or Performance training. Use these activities to not only create a strong bond between you and your dog, but also to increase intelligence and keep your dog stimulated. A well stimulated dog is less destructive around the house, and leaves everyone happier.

As with any breed, there are a few health considerations when considering a Rottweiler. The first of which is Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia. Common in larger dogs, hip dysplasia is the fit of the ball of the femur with the socket of the hip and Elbow Dysplasia is the developmental abnormality of the bone formation in the elbow socket. Whilst breeders usually test for a predisposition through hip and elbow scores of parents, hip dysplasia can be inherited as well as environmental, usually developed in the earliest stages of life. Rottweilers can also be prone to; Front leg lameness, also known as Ostechondritis (OCD); eye diseases Entropian and Ectropian; heart problems such as cardiomyopathy and subaortic stenosis (SAS); and finally Rotties are also susceptible to canine bloat.

The Rottweiler is not recommended for elderly or the infirm. Commitment to a Rottweiler is at the higher level of dog ownership. A Rottweiler requires a home that is willing and able to put the work into obedience training from the moment the Rottweiler puppy walks through the front door. They need a home that is willing and able to engage in various activities to stimulate their pup whether it be herding, tracking, obedience, agility or cart-pulling. Rottweilers need a home that will set rules from an early age and be incredibly consistent, clear and fair with these rules. The home needs to be willing and able to engage in early socialisation and constant exposure to new situations for their pup.