I’d like to take a moment to clarify something regarding genetics and dogs, specifically Rottweilers. When a prospective owner asks me how big the parents of a pup are, I shudder. Mostly, I am expecting the person to tell me the ‘ My last dog was a 160 pound Rottie’ story, during which I will have to painfully sit through and try not to open my mouth.
Otherwise and surprisingly, most of the time, the people are simply curious and perhaps concerned that their dog will not be undersized or oversized. That’s a reasonable enough concern, but to be honest (and I’m speaking as a breeder, not a geneticist) the size of the parents does not always have a direct bearing on the size of the offspring. This is not a breed where we are dealing with a wide variety of different sizes or variations, but a single breed standard. More appropriate might be to perhaps ask what the sizes of the grandparents were (as many times genetic reproduction skips a generation), but even then the following rule applies:
THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THE PUPPY AT EIGHT WEEKS MAY HAVE VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH ITS FINAL SIZE AS AN ADULT. THE SIZES OF THE PARENTS MAY ALSO HAVE LITTLE TO DO WITH THE FINAL SIZE OF THE PUP. WHAT YOU WANT ARE CORRECT PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS AS PER THE ROTTWEILER BREED STANDARD. THEN YOUR PUP SHOULD BE CORRECT.
I have more than one instance of offspring being as big or bigger than the parents. By the way, we’re talking about a half inch of height and eight pounds of weight. Not a big deal, just something that happens. Maybe they’re on a different food or the stress levels are different. Just like you may not be the same size as your parents.
Here’s rule number two:
IF YOU ARE SO TERRIBLY, TERRIBLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR ROTTWEILER, THEN MAYBE YOU NEED TO FIND ANOTHER BREED THAT FITS YOUR SIZE ISSUES. LIKE A GREAT DANE OR A BULL MASTIFF OR A SMALL PONY.
There are other things I could say about guys (that is usually who asks) and size as relates to dogs, trucks, boats, etc, but I would be travelling way off subject.
By the way, in Germany there is not so much of a concern about large size, but working ability, health and good nerves. One of the greatest German Born Rottweilers of all time, Benno Von Der Schwarzen Heide, was around 80 pounds. Anyone who thinks their Rottweiler needs to weigh in at 140 pounds is sadly misinformed.
Don’t worry. Your pup is just fine.
Enough said, for now.
Best,
Bob
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