Rottweiler Training From Day One
Rottweilers are eager to please and need a job, but they also grow big and protective. Here is how to build calm manners, good socialization and trust with kind, consistent training.
The Rottweiler at a glance
From the AKC breed page and the national breed club, as they state it.
| AKC group | Working Group (AKC recognized 1931) source |
| Origin | Germany (town of Rottweil); descended from Roman drover dogs source |
| Bred for | Driving and guarding cattle herds (Roman drover dog), later moving herds to market and protecting drovers in Rottweil; the 'Butcher's Dog of Rottweil' | Butchers and cattle traders in Rottweil used them to drive livestock, guard money pouches, and protect homes and businesses | After railroads ended cattle droving in… source |
| Height | 24-27 inches (male), 22-25 inches (female) source |
| Weight | 95-135 pounds (male), 80-100 pounds (female) per AKC | 95-125 pounds (male), 75-95 pounds (female) per the American Rottweiler Club source |
| Life expectancy | 9-10 years source |
| Energy | 3 of 5 (Energy Level; AKC scale: 1 Couch Potato, 3 Moderate, 5 High Energy) source |
| Trainability | 5 of 5 (Trainability Level; AKC scale: 1 Self-Willed, 3 Agreeable, 5 Eager to Please) source |
| Barking | 1 of 5 (Barking Level; AKC scale: 1 Only To Alert, 3 Occasional, 5 Very Vocal) source |
| With children | 3 of 5 (Good With Young Children; AKC scale: 1 Not Recommended, 3 With Supervision, 5 Good With Children) source |
| With other dogs | 3 of 5 (Good With Other Dogs; AKC scale: 1 Not Recommended, 3 With Supervision, 5 Good With Other Dogs) source |
| Shedding | 3 of 5 (Shedding Level; AKC scale: 1 No Shedding, 3 Moderate, 5 Hair Everywhere) source |
| Temperament | AKC summary: loyal / loving / confident guardian | AKC standard: calm, confident, courageous, self-assured aloofness; inherent desire to protect home and family | AKC standard: responds quietly with a wait-and-see attitude; strong willingness to work | ARC: ranges from natural clown to reserved one-person dog; calm… source |
Rottweiler Training Guides
Practical guides for the first months and beyond, written around what this breed is known to need.
Puppy
From the first night home to adolescence: a Rottweiler puppy's training.
Training basics
Potty, crate and leash training, written for Rottweilers.
Behavior
The Rottweiler problems owners ask about most, and the instincts behind them.
Exercise and jobs
How much a Rottweiler needs to do, and the sports and work the breed was made for.
What Rottweilers do
Sports and work the breed is known for. source
Rottweiler health screening
Tests the breed's club and OFA recommend for breeding dogs. Ask a breeder for results.
| Recommended screens | Hip dysplasia: OFA radiographic hip evaluation | Elbow dysplasia: OFA radiographic elbow evaluation | ACVO eye exam once 24 months old, registered with OFA | Cardiac evaluation (basic or advanced), minimum age 24 months per ARC | JLPP DNA test (optional for CHIC; ARC requires at least one parent JLPP clear before… source |
| Health issues the club notes | Cancers (osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma) | Hip dysplasia; elbow dysplasia | Cataracts, entropion, ectropion | Epilepsy (no specific test) | Subaortic stenosis (SAS) | Protein losing enteropathy (no specific test) | DNA-testable neurologic/muscle conditions: JLPP, NAD, LEMP, DM, XLMTM | Heat stroke… source |
| National breed club | name: American Rottweiler Club; url: https://www.amrottclub.org/ source |
Rottweiler Training Questions Answered
When should I start training my Rottweiler?
Start the day the puppy comes home. The American Rottweiler Club says training must begin early and continue for life because of the breed's adult size and strength, and it recommends Puppy Kindergarten for socialization. It lists adult males at 95 to 125 pounds, so small habits become big ones.
Are Rottweilers easy to train?
The AKC rates trainability 5 of 5, eager to please, and calls the breed intelligent and highly trainable, though some can be stubborn. It also rates mental stimulation needs 5 of 5, meaning a Rottweiler needs a job or activity. Individual dogs vary, so keep sessions varied and consistent.
What training methods suit a Rottweiler?
Reward-based methods. The AKC says discipline should be consistent, fair and firm, without being rough, and the American Rottweiler Club advises avoiding very rough trainers in favor of sensitive, positive methods. Its trainer guide lists prong, choke and electronic collars as tools you do not want to see.
How should I handle the guarding instinct?
The AKC rates watchdog and protective nature 5 of 5, and the American Rottweiler Club says protective instinct becomes apparent with maturity. It also notes a strong territorial instinct, and says bullying or bluffing should be addressed while the dog is a young puppy. Early socialization matters too, and a reward-based trainer can help you plan it.
Are Rottweilers good with kids and other dogs?
The AKC rates both good with young children and good with other dogs 3 of 5, meaning with supervision. The American Rottweiler Club warns about bumping and herding children, dog-to-dog aggression and same-sex intolerance, so supervise and socialize early. Check with a trainer about any individual dog.
General training information. Every dog is an individual; for health or behavior concerns, see your veterinarian.