Rottweiler
Rottweiler: does it suit you?
11 quick questions, the same ones this page answers. After each answer you see what the breed needs, and at the end whether it fits your life.
Rottweiler: a good fit for you
Rottweiler: could work, with compromises
Rottweiler: probably not the right dog for you
Your answers match what the breed needs.
Most of your answers fit. Check the points below before you decide.
Some of your answers don't fit what the breed needs. The points below show where.
What to think about
What fits
A better match for your answers:
None of the 42 breeds on this site fits your answers better.
The Rottweiler takes its name from the old free city of Rottweil in Germany, where butchers bred it purely for performance, producing a watch and cattle-driving dog that could also work as a draught dog.[1] Today the FCI standard describes it as a companion, service and working dog.[1] In the standard’s words it is good-natured, very devoted, obedient and eager to work.[1]
- Size
- Large–giant
- Weight
- 42–50 kg
- Life expectancy
- 8–10 years
Rottweiler: origin and history
Considered one of the oldest dog breeds, the Rottweiler goes back to Roman times, when herding dogs marched over the Alps with the legions, protecting the people and driving their cattle.[1] Around Rottweil they mixed with native dogs, and their main task became driving and guarding cattle and defending their masters and property; the breed became known as the ‘Rottweil butcher’s dog’.[1]
The rise of railway cattle transport ended its livestock work in the 1800s.[2] When police dogs were needed in the early 20th century, the Rottweiler proved so suitable that it was officially recognised as one in 1910.[1] Rottweilers were also among the first guide dogs for the blind, and the breed was admitted to the AKC Stud Book in 1931.[2] Its FCI classification is Group 2 (Pinscher and Schnauzer – Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs), Section 2 (Molossian type), subsection 2.1 (Mastiff type), with working trial.[1]
Fact sheet
Character and needs
Rated on a scale from very low to very high.
- Exercise needsmoderate
- Trainabilityhigh
- Grooming needsvery low
- Sheddingmoderate
- Barkinglow
- Good with kidsmoderate
- Good with other dogslow
- Good with catslow
- Apartment-friendlyvery low
- Copes with being alonemoderate
- Watchdog instinctvery high
- Good for first-time ownersvery low
- Affectionmoderate
Rottweiler: questions and answers
Is it a good dog for first-time owners?
Not as a first dog. It rates 1 out of 5 for first-time owners. These dogs learn quickly and like working with you (4 out of 5 for trainability). The guarding instinct needs early socialisation and calm, consistent handling. If it would be your first dog, plan for a puppy class and a trainer who knows the breed.
How long can it be left alone?
Up to 4 hours, once the dog is an adult and has learned to be alone step by step. A few hours alone work if you build up slowly (3 out of 5 for coping alone). More than 6 hours at a stretch isn't fair on any dog; plan for a dog sitter or daycare. Puppies need company: start with a few minutes and build up.
How much exercise does it need?
1 to 2 hours a day, spread over several walks. A mix of walks and play keeps the dog balanced. Until the dog is fully grown, keep walks short and avoid jumping to protect the growing joints.
How long does it live?
8–10 years is the typical life expectancy. That is shorter than the average of the 42 breeds on this site (12.6 years). As with most large breeds, life is shorter than for small dogs. Breed-typical health risks: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cancer, heart disease.
How big does it get?
56–68 cm at the withers and 42–50 kg. Size class: large–giant.
Is it a good family dog?
Best with older children. It rates 3 out of 5 with children. The dog protects its family, so visitors and your children's friends need a calm introduction. With other dogs it rates 2 out of 5, with cats 2 out of 5. Never leave young children alone with any dog.
Does it shed a lot?
Moderately: 3 out of 5 for shedding. Grooming is quick: a brush once a week is enough.
Male or female?
61–68 cm at the withers for males and 56–63 cm for females, according to the breed standard. Weight: about 50 kg for males and about 42 kg for females. Character differences between the sexes are smaller than between individual dogs; upbringing matters more. Unspayed females come into heat about twice a year, and unneutered males can be restless around them.
Rottweiler or Cane Corso?
Biggest difference: trainability (high vs. moderate).
| Rottweiler | Cane Corso | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Large–giant | Large–giant |
| Weight | 42–50 kg | 40–50 kg |
| Life expectancy | 8–10 years | 9–12 years |
| Coat | Short | Short |
| Trainability | High | Moderate |
Who it suits
A good fit if you…
- want an easy-care coat
- want a quiet dog
- want a watchful dog
Rottweiler: the downsides
Every breed has a flip side. Before you decide, check that you can live with these:
- Not a first dog
- 1 out of 5 for first-time owners. The breed needs consistent training from someone who has handled dogs before.
- Strong guarding instinct
- 5 out of 5 as a watchdog. The dog is wary of strangers and needs early socialisation and calm, consistent handling.
- Needs space
- 1 out of 5 for apartment living. The dog does best in a house with a garden or with fields on the doorstep.
- Chases cats
- 2 out of 5 with cats. Living with a cat works best if they grow up together, and even then not always.
- Can be difficult with other dogs
- 2 out of 5 with other dogs. Early and ongoing socialisation matters.
- A short life
- 8–10 years, well below the 12.6-year average of the 42 breeds on this site.
- Big dog, big bills
- Up to 50 kg means more food, a bigger car and higher vet and medicine costs, since doses go by weight.
- Breed-typical health risks
- Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cancer, heart disease. Choose a breeder who screens the parents, and consider health insurance.
Rottweiler: puppy price and monthly costs
£1,000 – £3,000 for a puppy from a breeder in the UK (Agria Pet Insurance, 2026). From £116 a month in running costs in the UK (PDSA, 2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, other costs.
| Country | Puppy from a breeder | Running costs per month |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £1,000 – £3,000 [3] | from £116 [4] |
| United States | $1,000 – $3,500 [5] | $116 [6] |
| Canada | no data | CA$367 [7] |
| Australia | no data | A$210 [8] |
| New Zealand | NZ$1,500–2,500 [9] | NZ$100 [10] |
- Set-up costs at the start: £415 – £560 for basic equipment, first vaccinations, wormers and neutering (PDSA, 2024).
- Dog licence in Northern Ireland: £12.50 a year; England, Scotland and Wales have none (nidirect, 2026).
- Dog licence in the US: $5 – $20 a year, set by the city or county (American Kennel Club, 2021).
- Dog licence in Canada: CA$25–60 a year in Toronto, less for a neutered dog (City of Toronto, 2026).
- Dog registration with the council in Australia: A$20–200 a year, depending on the council and whether the dog is desexed (Mozo, 2026).
- Dog registration with the council in New Zealand: NZ$78–182 a year in Auckland, depending on the dog (PetMall NZ, citing Auckland Council, 2026).
- Puppies far below these prices often come without health checks or papers.
Health
Breed-typical health risks
- Hip dysplasia [16]
- A malformed hip joint. Both parents should be X-ray screened.
- Elbow dysplasia [16]
- A malformed elbow joint that can cause lameness.
- Cancer [17]
- A higher tumour risk, especially with age.
- Heart disease [17]
- Breed-typical heart conditions. Regular heart checks are sensible.
Health tests for the parent dogs
8 health tests appear in the breeding rules for the breed.
- No health test is required for breeding in the UK (The Royal Kennel Club); the table shows what is recommended.
- Needed for a CHIC number in the US (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals): hip X-ray (HD), elbow X-ray (ED), eye exam, and heart exam.
- Required of club members who breed in Canada (Rottweiler Club of Canada): hip X-ray (HD), elbow X-ray (ED), eye exam, heart exam, and DNA tests (JLPP).
- Required for breeding in Australia (Dogs Australia): hip X-ray (HD), elbow X-ray (ED), and DNA tests (JLPP).
- Required for breeding in New Zealand (Dogs New Zealand): hip X-ray (HD), elbow X-ray (ED), and DNA tests (JLPP).
| Test | United Kingdom [18] | United States [19] | Canada [20] | Australia [21] | New Zealand [22] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip X-ray (HD)Hip dysplasia | Recommended | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Elbow X-ray (ED)Elbow dysplasia | Recommended | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| Eye examInherited eye disease, by a certified vet ophthalmologist | Recommended | Required | Required | not in the rules | Recommended [23] |
| Heart examInherited heart disease, by a cardiologist | not in the rules | Required | Required | not in the rules | not in the rules |
| Thyroid testAutoimmune thyroiditis | not in the rules | not in the rules | Recommended | not in the rules | not in the rules |
| DNA test: JLPPJuvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy | Recommended | Recommended | Required | Required | Required |
| DNA test: LEMPLeukoencephalomyelopathy | Recommended | not in the rules | not in the rules | not in the rules | not in the rules |
| DNA test: vWDVon Willebrand disease (bleeding disorder) | not in the rules | not in the rules | Recommended | not in the rules | not in the rules |
● Required. ○ Recommended: advised, not required. – Not in the rules. The clubs and their rules are in the source list.
United Kingdom: the Royal Kennel Club’s Health Standard requires no test, so every test is ○ recommended.
United States: ● means the test is needed for a CHIC number from the OFA; taking part in CHIC is voluntary.
Canada: ● means the breed club’s code of ethics requires the test of member breeders; the kennel club registers litters without it.
Australia and New Zealand: ● means a litter is only registered if the parents have the test.
What to ask the breeder
- Certificates for both parents: hip X-ray (HD), elbow X-ray (ED), eye exam, and heart exam. A claim that the parents are “health tested” is not enough.
- DNA results of both parents for JLPP, or proof that both are clear by descent.
- To see the puppies with their mother, at the breeder’s home.
- The pedigree papers (United Kingdom: Royal Kennel Club registration certificate; Canada: CKC certificate of registration; Australia: Dogs Australia pedigree, issued by the state body; New Zealand: Dogs NZ certificate of registration). [24] [25] [26] [22]
- 8 weeks: the youngest age at which a puppy may leave its mother in the UK, in Canada (Quebec), and in Australia (New South Wales). [27] [28] [29]
- Advice on buying a puppy: The Royal Kennel Club, The Canadian Kennel Club, Dogs Australia, and Dogs New Zealand. [30] [31] [32] [33]
Similar breeds
Sources
- FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale): Breed standard No. 147: Rottweiler (2018)
- American Kennel Club: Rottweiler Dog Breed Information
- Agria Pet Insurance (UK): Rottweiler Pet Insurance - The UK's Most Trusted Pet Insurer (2026)
- PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, UK veterinary charity): The cost of owning a dog (2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, other costs.
- Spot Pet Insurance: What's the Price of a Rottweiler in 2025? (2026)
- ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): Cutting Pet Care Costs (2021). Covers food, vet visits, preventive medicine, insurance, toys and treats, boarding, dog licence, grooming supplies.
- Pets Plus Us (Canadian pet insurer; figures from OVMA 2024 Cost of Care research): HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGY? (EN-DOG_PPU_Cost-of-Care_Aug2024_v3.pdf) (2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, dog tax, accessories.
- Animal Medicines Australia (survey by Sweeney Research/SNR): Pets in Australia: A national survey of pets and people (Pet Ownership Study 2025) (2025). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, parasite treatment, vet medicines, supplements, grooming, training, accessories, dog walking, boarding, transport, memberships, alternative healthcare.
- Pet-n-Sur: Understanding dog prices: what does it really cost to get a dog? (2025)
- Companion Animals New Zealand (NZ Companion Animal Council): Companion Animals in New Zealand 2016 (section 6.3 Dogs, Fig 50) (2016). Covers food, vet visits, dog tax, boarding, equipment, grooming, healthcare products, insurance, training, other costs.
- nidirect (official government website for Northern Ireland): Dog licensing and microchipping (2026)
- American Kennel Club: Are You Financially Prepared for a Puppy? Explore Costs of Owning a Dog (2021)
- City of Toronto: Pet Licensing Fees (2026)
- Mozo: How much does it cost to own a dog or cat in Australia? 2026 (2026)
- PetMall NZ, citing Auckland Council: Auckland Dog Registration 2026–27: Late Fees Now Apply — Full Fee Table (2026)
- PLOS ONE (Oberbauer A.M. et al., UC Davis / OFA data): Long-term genetic selection reduced prevalence of hip and elbow dysplasia in 60 dog breeds (2017)
- Canine Genetics and Epidemiology (O'Neill D.G. et al., VetCompass): Rottweilers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders (2017)
- The Royal Kennel Club: Rottweiler – Breeds A to Z
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA): CHIC Program Requirements: Rottweiler
- Rottweiler Club of Canada: Code of Ethics (2021)
- Dogs Australia (Australian National Kennel Council Ltd): Regulations Part 6: The Register and Registration (Section 8 Breeding, incl. breed-specific Litter Registration Limitations 8.8-8.18) (2026)
- Dogs New Zealand (New Zealand Kennel Club Inc.): Registration Regulations (Section 4, Reg. 24: Litter Registration Limitations (2026)
- Dogs New Zealand: Accredited Breeder Health Tests for the ROTTWEILER (former Accredited Breeders Scheme test list)
- The Royal Kennel Club: What should the breeder give me?
- The Canadian Kennel Club: By-Laws (incl. Code of Ethics (2025)
- Dogs Australia: Getting a Dog: Importance of Pedigree Papers
- UK Government (legislation.gov.uk): The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/486), Schedule 6 (breeding dogs) and Schedule 3 (selling animals as pets) (2018)
- Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ): Guide d'application du Règlement sur le bien-être et la sécurité des animaux domestiques de compagnie et des équidés (reproduces CQLR c. B-3.1, r. 0.1, art. 36) (2023)
- NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), State of New South Wales (fact sheet hosted by Dogs NSW): New laws for dog breeders in NSW (fact sheet on the 2024-25 amendments to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 and Companion Animals Act 1998) (2025)
- The Royal Kennel Club: Questions for the breeder
- The Canadian Kennel Club: Finding an Accountable Breeder
- Dogs Australia: Getting a Dog: Choosing a Breeder
- Dogs New Zealand: How do you go about purchasing a pedigree pure bred dog?
Breeding rules, health sources and breed standards checked October 8, 2026.
Prices as published by the sources; collected October 8, 2026.
Breed traits describe typical tendencies. Every dog is an individual, shaped by genes, upbringing and training.