History
The history of the Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is one of the oldest of herding breeds and dog breed in the world. One author supposes that it has a history possibly dating back to the Roman Empire, the Rottweiler may be a descendant of ancient Roman drover dogs, dependable and strong mastiff-type dogs with great intelligence and guarding instincts. During their quest to conquer Europe, the Roman legions traveled in large numbers across the continent. The lack of refrigeration meant soldiers brought herds of cattle for food. Drover dogs kept the herd together and guarded it at night. Around A.D. 74 the Roman army travelled across the Alps and into what is now southern Germany. For the next two centuries the Roman drover dogs were continually used in herding and driving cattle for trade even after the Romans were driven out of the area by the Swabians.
The dog breed was subsequently named after Rottweil, a town in the region. It became an important trade center and the descendants of the Roman cattle dogs proved their worth by driving the cattle to market and protecting the cattle from robbers and wild animals. The dogs are said to have been used by traveling butchers at markets during the Middle Ages to guard money pouches tied around their necks. They were also used as carting dogs, this is where the docking originally came about to help prevent injuries. They were used throughout the town to pull carts of materials and sometimes people around. The dogs were eventually known as Rottweiler Metzgerhunds, or "Butchers' Dogs". As railroads became the primary method for moving stock to market, the demand for the Rottweiler breed declined, as did their numbers, so severely diminished by 1882 that a show in Heilbronn, featured only one very poor representative of the breed.
The buildup to World War I saw a great demand for police dogs, which led to a revival of interest in the Rottweiler. During the First and Second World Wars, Rottweilers saw service in various roles, including as messenger, ambulance, draught, and guard dogs.
In those years, 1901-1907, the Rottweiler again found favor as a police dog. Several clubs were organized: the Deutscher Rottweiler Klub (DRK)-January 13, 1907. This was followed by the creation of the Süddeutscher Rottweiler-Klub (SDRK, South German Rottweiler Club) on 27 April 1915 and eventually became the IRK (International Rottweiler Club). The DRK counted around 500 Rottweilers, and the SDRK 3000 Rottweilers. The goals of the two clubs were different. The DRK aimed to produce working dogs and did not emphasise the morphology of the Rottweiler. Dissension was common until clubs were united August 14, 1921 in Wurzburg and it was decided to form the Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub (ADRK). By that time 3,400 Rottweilers had been registered.
Duplications and confusion ended when the ADRK published its first stud book in 1924.
Since its inception, despite the difficulties encountered during and in the aftermath of World War II, the ADRK remained intact and through its leadership, enlightened, purposeful breeding programs have been promoted both in Germany and abroad.
The ADRK is recognised worldwide as the home club of the Rottweiler.
In 1931 the Rottweiler was officially recognised by the American Kennel Club. In 1936, Rottweilers were exhibited in Britain at Crufts.
Here are a few links for more information about the history of the Rottweiler: https://adrk.de/index.php/en/rasse/historie , https://www.vdrrottweilerbreeders.com/rottweiler_history.html , http://www.therottweilerclub.co.uk/about.html , https://rottclub.ca/rottweiler-information/
credit to "The Complete Rottweiler" by Muriel Freeman for the 4th and 5th paragraph, all copyright belong to him.
Press the button to take you to links to some Rottweiler videos and documentaries:
Doc 1: How to Select a Rottweiler Puppy and Develop a Champion with von ross Rottweilers
Doc 2: The Rottweiler Pet Dog Documentary
Doc 3: Rottweiler documentary American
Doc 4: ALL ABOUT ROTTWEILERS : THE BUTCHER'S DOG
Doc 5: ALL ABOUT LIVING WITH ROTTWEILER DOGS
Doc 6: ALL ABOUT HERDING: ROTTWEILERS
