The layman is inclined to believe, owing to it's name, that the Rottweiler
originated in Germany and there are those who will try to tell you it is
descended from the Dobermen Pinscher. Neither of these theories is fact.
History tells us that, although the rottweiler as we know the breed today is
a product of germany, the origin of the breed actually was in the Ancient
Roman Empire. Behind our modern Rottweiler stands a type of short coated
or bristle coated herding dogs known in Ancient ROme. Today's Rottweiler
bears a strong resemblance to this early ancestor; the dogs, through the
ages, have shown only moderate changes in general appearance. The
Progenitors of the Rottweiler were reliable drover dogs, sometimes used as
war dogs in battle, and we have read that the Emperor Nero always kept a
number of them around his palace to discourage intruders. The drover dogs
behind the rottweiler breed served an important function in accompanying
Roman troops during their invasions of other european countries. First of
all, they were needed for their proficiency at herding , for how else but "on
the hoof" could food be transported for the troops in those
pre-refrigeration and pre-food preservative days? A large herd for extended
invasions was essential, and to guard the herd and prevent loss, so was the
drover dog. These dogs probably performed other useful duties , too, on their
travels across the european continent. Undoubtedly, theirs was a role of
major importance in the success of these forays, due to their intelligence,
stamina and powerful strength. Through the St. Gotthard Pass over the Alps
and into Southern Germany came the invaders with their dogs, into the
Wurttemberg area where Rottweil is located. The city itself is the seat of
the district bearing this same name; it stands on a hill on the left bank of the
Neckar River, centrally located in the lush agricultural area. It is said that
Rottweiler was so named around the period of 700a.d., at the time that a
christian church was erected where roman baths had formerly been. During
the excavation, red tiles of an earlier Roman Villa were unearthed, and soon
the area became known as "das Rote Wil" or "the red tile". Some of the
drover dogs remained in this area when the troops moved on . Owing to it's
central location. Rottweil became an important trading center and market
place to which farmers and cattlemen brought produce for sale. Here again,
strong intelligent working dogs of stamina and good "lasting ability" were
needed not only to transport cattle, which sometimes traveled considerable
distances, but for the protection of the traders themselves. On the return
journey, their money bags were far safer tied to the collar of a formidable
dog than in their own hands should thieves be encountered on these lonely
trails. The butchers, farmers, and cattle dealers came in steadily increasing
numbers to the Rottweil area as its popularity as a trading center
flourished and cultural interests increased. Visitors , as well as those
native to the area, noticed the merits of the "butcher dogs"and the practice
began to purposely breed them to improve and increase their type. Soon a
brisk trade developed with people anxious to purchase these fine animals to
take home. In respect for their superiority over the other types of local
dogs, the roman Drover dogs were given the name ROTTWEILER to associate
them forever with the area in which they had been so well accepted and
appreciated. Thus it is that the descendants of the original Roman Drover
dogs, as the germans bred and developed them, we now know as the
Rottweiler. Very quickly a competitive spirit was aroused among owners of
these Rottweilers as to who might possess the best and finest dogs, and even
as today an especially outstanding one in looks, temperament and working
ability could bring a sizeable price. One of their attributes as herding dogs
has always been their ability to work calmly and without excitement ,
avoiding any disturbance of the cattle or disquieting behavior as they firmly
keep the herd moving along together. Another job the breed handled well
was pulling a cart. despite all their attributes , however, a time came when
the new railroads and resulting regulations resulted in a different form of
cattle transportation and the job of pulling milk carts was switched to
donkeys instead of dogs., thereby depriving the Rottweiler dogs of their two
principal forms of usefulness. Happily, there were some loyal owners who
retained their dogs as guards for their homes and property. A great surge of
renewed interest in the breed began in Northern Germany rather than in
their original home area. {we understand that in 1905 there was only one
Rottweiler bitch to be found in all of rottweil}. This took place early in the
20th century because the breed at the time had been discovered for police
work. The amusing story we have heard of how this began has to do with the
brawl one night in a waterfront saloon in Hamburg. Fourteen very drunken
sailors were carrying on a dispute over the favors of a member of the
opposite sex.
A Passing policeman who was a rottweiler owner was out walking with his
dog, came upon the scene and felt that he should take some action. Of course
he immediately became the target of the mob, and the rottweiler was the
hero of the situation, in almost no time at all several of the sailors were
thrown to the ground and the others were beating a hasty retreat. It is
interesting to find descriptions of the early Rottweilers as they developed
in Germany prior to the 20th century. In general conformation and head
shape there is said to have been little change: the massive substance, aura of
power, and assured self confidence has been present right along. A working
man rather than a dandy! Two separate strains were developed in those days,
we gather from our research : the bigger , more muscular dogs for work
with cars: the smaller, more agile and less bulky were deemed more suitable
for herding. This difference was due to three considerations; the largest
dogs were perhaps too heavily built for lasting stamina on the road ; their
extra weight might cause accidents in jumping; and their additional height
could cause a tendency to nip cattle in the shoulder or buttocks rather than
on the hocks as they herded resulting in damaged stock that would bring
down its value. The two size categories were bred as separate strains.
Performance alone was sought in the smaller dogs with little concern
about their looks. In fact it was in this strain that the "OFF" coloring by
present standards existed, dogs with white collars, white chest, white spots
or feet, or even red dogs with black stripes down their back, or light
colored markings were known and accepted, while the larger strain was
always scrupulously correct in color as we know it today.
originated in Germany and there are those who will try to tell you it is
descended from the Dobermen Pinscher. Neither of these theories is fact.
History tells us that, although the rottweiler as we know the breed today is
a product of germany, the origin of the breed actually was in the Ancient
Roman Empire. Behind our modern Rottweiler stands a type of short coated
or bristle coated herding dogs known in Ancient ROme. Today's Rottweiler
bears a strong resemblance to this early ancestor; the dogs, through the
ages, have shown only moderate changes in general appearance. The
Progenitors of the Rottweiler were reliable drover dogs, sometimes used as
war dogs in battle, and we have read that the Emperor Nero always kept a
number of them around his palace to discourage intruders. The drover dogs
behind the rottweiler breed served an important function in accompanying
Roman troops during their invasions of other european countries. First of
all, they were needed for their proficiency at herding , for how else but "on
the hoof" could food be transported for the troops in those
pre-refrigeration and pre-food preservative days? A large herd for extended
invasions was essential, and to guard the herd and prevent loss, so was the
drover dog. These dogs probably performed other useful duties , too, on their
travels across the european continent. Undoubtedly, theirs was a role of
major importance in the success of these forays, due to their intelligence,
stamina and powerful strength. Through the St. Gotthard Pass over the Alps
and into Southern Germany came the invaders with their dogs, into the
Wurttemberg area where Rottweil is located. The city itself is the seat of
the district bearing this same name; it stands on a hill on the left bank of the
Neckar River, centrally located in the lush agricultural area. It is said that
Rottweiler was so named around the period of 700a.d., at the time that a
christian church was erected where roman baths had formerly been. During
the excavation, red tiles of an earlier Roman Villa were unearthed, and soon
the area became known as "das Rote Wil" or "the red tile". Some of the
drover dogs remained in this area when the troops moved on . Owing to it's
central location. Rottweil became an important trading center and market
place to which farmers and cattlemen brought produce for sale. Here again,
strong intelligent working dogs of stamina and good "lasting ability" were
needed not only to transport cattle, which sometimes traveled considerable
distances, but for the protection of the traders themselves. On the return
journey, their money bags were far safer tied to the collar of a formidable
dog than in their own hands should thieves be encountered on these lonely
trails. The butchers, farmers, and cattle dealers came in steadily increasing
numbers to the Rottweil area as its popularity as a trading center
flourished and cultural interests increased. Visitors , as well as those
native to the area, noticed the merits of the "butcher dogs"and the practice
began to purposely breed them to improve and increase their type. Soon a
brisk trade developed with people anxious to purchase these fine animals to
take home. In respect for their superiority over the other types of local
dogs, the roman Drover dogs were given the name ROTTWEILER to associate
them forever with the area in which they had been so well accepted and
appreciated. Thus it is that the descendants of the original Roman Drover
dogs, as the germans bred and developed them, we now know as the
Rottweiler. Very quickly a competitive spirit was aroused among owners of
these Rottweilers as to who might possess the best and finest dogs, and even
as today an especially outstanding one in looks, temperament and working
ability could bring a sizeable price. One of their attributes as herding dogs
has always been their ability to work calmly and without excitement ,
avoiding any disturbance of the cattle or disquieting behavior as they firmly
keep the herd moving along together. Another job the breed handled well
was pulling a cart. despite all their attributes , however, a time came when
the new railroads and resulting regulations resulted in a different form of
cattle transportation and the job of pulling milk carts was switched to
donkeys instead of dogs., thereby depriving the Rottweiler dogs of their two
principal forms of usefulness. Happily, there were some loyal owners who
retained their dogs as guards for their homes and property. A great surge of
renewed interest in the breed began in Northern Germany rather than in
their original home area. {we understand that in 1905 there was only one
Rottweiler bitch to be found in all of rottweil}. This took place early in the
20th century because the breed at the time had been discovered for police
work. The amusing story we have heard of how this began has to do with the
brawl one night in a waterfront saloon in Hamburg. Fourteen very drunken
sailors were carrying on a dispute over the favors of a member of the
opposite sex.
A Passing policeman who was a rottweiler owner was out walking with his
dog, came upon the scene and felt that he should take some action. Of course
he immediately became the target of the mob, and the rottweiler was the
hero of the situation, in almost no time at all several of the sailors were
thrown to the ground and the others were beating a hasty retreat. It is
interesting to find descriptions of the early Rottweilers as they developed
in Germany prior to the 20th century. In general conformation and head
shape there is said to have been little change: the massive substance, aura of
power, and assured self confidence has been present right along. A working
man rather than a dandy! Two separate strains were developed in those days,
we gather from our research : the bigger , more muscular dogs for work
with cars: the smaller, more agile and less bulky were deemed more suitable
for herding. This difference was due to three considerations; the largest
dogs were perhaps too heavily built for lasting stamina on the road ; their
extra weight might cause accidents in jumping; and their additional height
could cause a tendency to nip cattle in the shoulder or buttocks rather than
on the hocks as they herded resulting in damaged stock that would bring
down its value. The two size categories were bred as separate strains.
Performance alone was sought in the smaller dogs with little concern
about their looks. In fact it was in this strain that the "OFF" coloring by
present standards existed, dogs with white collars, white chest, white spots
or feet, or even red dogs with black stripes down their back, or light
colored markings were known and accepted, while the larger strain was
always scrupulously correct in color as we know it today.
T.F.H publications
Rottweil ,
Germany
Germany