Bob's Dog Blog

I just wanted to add a bit to yesterday’s post, ‘Learn About The Rottweiler Breed Standard’ after realizing that there probably needed to be a bit more context in order to fully clarify what I wrote.

1. To start off, in fact, there is no such thing as a dog that conforms 100% with this breed description. Anyone, breeder and owner included, who tells you that their dog or dogs are perfect is not being honest. Not with themselves, to begin with and certainly not with anyone else. All breeders should be working towards this standard and obviously, the closer we get, the better. All dogs have flaws and the ones with the fewest flaws are considered for breeding programs and the show ring. It’s not more complicated than that.

2. However, if your own dog doesn’t fully comply with this standard, that is of lesser importance compared to the qualities that are truly vital to a pet owner: temperament, health, intelligence, playfulness and all the other qualities that you love about your Rottweiler. I have seen Rottweilers that can work the pants off of most dogs, who are not necessarily dogs for the show ring. Some variations in appearance are natural, considering all of the genetic combinations available within this breed. When I evaluate a pup, for example, I certainly take into account the pup’s conformation. That is only one category out of several, including temperament, the various drives, nerves, focus, activity level, among others. The best pups, in my opinion, are those that are conformationally correct where it counts that additionally possess great health, spirit and working ability.

2. That being said, my intention in writing yesterday’s post was to somehow neutralize the people who falsely think they know best about the Rottweiler breed who, in fact, are trying to influence others in their misinformation. These are the folks who want others to believe that a medium to large breed such as the Rottweiler should be the size of a mastiff. That the head must look this way or that, without even understanding correct type to begin with. The list goes on. These people are not only obsessed with their ridiculously false ideas concerning how a Rottweiler MUST LOOK AND WEIGH more than the overall picture of what the dog truly should look like and most importantly, what each dog brings to the table for dog ownership/companionship. None of these so-called experts have ever actually read either of the written breed standards, much less understood them.

So, to anyone who reads this, when looking for and purchasing a Rottweiler pup (or any other purebred dog) as a companion animal remember to view the whole picture and not just a few body parts.

Best,
Bob