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Animal register · DogIn the app

Rottweiler

Rottie

The Rottweiler is a medium to large, powerful working dog from Germany. Its standard describes a stalwart dog, neither heavy nor light, with a short, coarse, flat-lying coat, medium pendant ears and dark brown almond-shaped eyes. The only colour it allows is black with clearly defined rich tan markings on the cheeks, muzzle, throat, chest and legs; white markings are a fault.

Its standard calls it good-natured, placid, very devoted, obedient and eager to work, and The Royal Kennel Club says a well-trained Rottweiler makes a wonderful family companion. UK sources say it needs more than two hours of exercise a day, a large house with a large garden and an experienced owner, because it is so powerful; it should be socialised from a young age. The PDSA does not recommend it for families with younger children and babies, and it should never be left unattended with other pets. A weekly brush is enough. It usually lives less than ten years, and The Royal Kennel Club watches the shape of its hind legs.

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated:

Rottweiler — photo (AI)
AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size
large — Royal Kennel Club S168
Adult weight
males 50 kg, females 42 kg — FCI S166
Daily exercise
more than 2 hours a day — Royal Kennel Club S168
Brushing
once a week — Royal Kennel Club S168
Shedding
sheds — Royal Kennel Club S168
Lifespan
median 9 years — Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 4:13 S171; less than 10 years — Royal Kennel Club S168

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

Keep in mind:

  • needs lots of exercise every dayS168S169
  • powerful dog — needs an experienced ownerS169
  • hips and hind legs — check joint healthS168S173
  • shorter lifespanS168S171
  • shedsS168

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

  • Daily exercise: more than 2 hours a day — Royal Kennel Club S168

Coat and grooming

  • Coat: short — Royal Kennel Club S168
  • Brushing: once a week — Royal Kennel Club S168
  • Shedding: sheds — Royal Kennel Club S168

Meals

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • 8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
  • Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

  • Lifespan: median 9 years — Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 4:13 S171
  • Lifespan: less than 10 years — Royal Kennel Club S168

Life stages

  • Reaches adult size at: about 18–24 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
  • Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
  • Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

  • Size: large — Royal Kennel Club S168
  • Height at the withers: males 61–68 cm, females 56–63 cm — FCI S166
  • Adult weight: males 50 kg, females 42 kg — FCI S166

Training

  • No. 9 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
  • FCI standard no. 147, group 2 (pinscher and schnauzer types, molossoid breeds and Swiss mountain and cattle dogs); origin: Germany. — FCI S167

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does a Rottweiler need?

According to our sources, the Rottweiler needs this much exercise: more than 2 hours a day — Royal Kennel Club S168.

How long does a Rottweiler live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the Rottweiler is: median 9 years — Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 4:13 S171; less than 10 years — Royal Kennel Club S168. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.

How big does a Rottweiler get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the Rottweiler, according to our sources: Size: large — Royal Kennel Club S168; Adult weight: males 50 kg, females 42 kg — FCI S166.

How much grooming does a Rottweiler need?

Coat and grooming of the Rottweiler, according to our sources: Brushing: once a week — Royal Kennel Club S168; Shedding: sheds — Royal Kennel Club S168; Coat: short — Royal Kennel Club S168.

Who is the Rottweiler a good fit for?

Our sources describe the Rottweiler as a good fit for: an active family — Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S168S169; family life — Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S168S169; a large house and garden — Royal Kennel Club S168. Keep in mind: needs lots of exercise every day — Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S168S169; powerful dog — needs an experienced owner — PDSA S169; hips and hind legs — check joint health — Royal Kennel Club S168S173; shorter lifespan — Royal Kennel Club, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 4:13 S168S171; sheds — Royal Kennel Club S168.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stageStartsMeals a dayDaily step goal
Puppyarrives at 2 months4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 21,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 12,000 from month 12
Young dogmonth 929,000 → 12,000 steps
Adultmonth 36 (3 years)212,000 steps
Seniormonth 81 (6.8 years)29,000 steps
  • Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 2 hours, so 12,000 steps a day.
  • Learns commands 1.8× as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
  • Becomes a senior in month 81 (6.8 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
  • Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
  • Combing once a week.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine, Royal Kennel Club, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 4:13 S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S168S171

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

  • Can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips and elbows tested before breeding. — Royal Kennel Club S168
  • Juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy (JLPP), an inherited nerve disease that affects the voice box and the back legs, occurs in the breed; a DNA test of the parents lets breeders avoid it. — Royal Kennel Club S168
  • Subaortic stenosis, a narrowing just below a heart valve that can cause a murmur, occurs in the breed; breeding dogs should have their hearts checked first. — PDSA S169
  • Sources describe a higher risk of cancer in this breed. — PDSA S169
  • Inherited eye conditions occur in the breed, such as retinal dysplasia and persistent pupillary membrane; eye testing is available. — PDSA S169

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

  • See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
  • The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
  • Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
  • Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
  • National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
  • Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum

  • DNA test for juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy (JLPP) — Royal Kennel Club S168
  • Elbow X-ray screening for elbow dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — Royal Kennel Club S168
  • Hip X-ray screening for hip dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — Royal Kennel Club S168

Further tests for best practice

  • DNA test for leukoencephalomyelopathy (LEMP-2) — Royal Kennel Club S168
  • Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — Royal Kennel Club S168

These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Similar breeds

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

  1. S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
  2. S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
  3. S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
  4. S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
  5. S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
  6. S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
  7. S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
  8. S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
  9. S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
  10. S166FCI — FCI-Standard N° 147 — Rottweiler (PDF dated 24.07.2018; original valid standard published 15.06.2018)https://fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/147g02-en.pdf
  11. S167FCI — FCI breeds nomenclature — Rottweiler (147)https://fci.be/en/nomenclature/ROTTWEILER-147.html
  12. S168Royal Kennel Club — Rottweiler — Breeds A to Zhttps://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/rottweiler
  13. S169PDSA — Rottweiler breed informationhttps://pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/large-dogs/rottweiler
  14. S171Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 4:13 (2017) — O'Neill D. G., Seah W. Y., Church D. B., … Brodbelt D. C. Rottweilers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders. doi:10.1186/s40575-017-0051-7https://link.springer.com/10.1186/s40575-017-0051-7
  15. S173Royal Kennel Club — Breed Watch tally sheet — Rottweiler (PDF)https://thekennelclub.org.uk/media/t1anulxn/breed-watch-tally-sheet-rottweiler.pdf
  16. K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
  17. K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
  18. K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
  19. K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
  20. K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

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