What Are Rottweilers' Temperaments and Personality Traits?
Rottweilers are one of the most recognizable dog breeds in the world. But with their large stature and black and brown fur, they can look intimidating to anyone unaccustomed to larger dogs. That often means that television shows and movies characterize rottweilers as aggressive, unfriendly dogs.
While a rottweiler’s appearance makes them great for security purposes (especially in conjunction with a locking pet door), there are actually loving house dogs who would guard your home and children. They are not actually aggressive or downright mean dogs.
If you’re looking to adopt a rottweiler into your family, what personality traits and temperaments can you expect?
Rottweiler Temperament and Personality
A dog’s personality and temperament have many factors, most of which are under your control. Any dog can be good for families and children if they are well-trained and their boundaries are respected. Conversely, any dog can be aggressive and poorly socialized if they are neglected or harassed.
That being said, there are a few traits common to most rottweilers, including:
Good for Families
While some dogs are not great for family environments, Rottweilers are known for being great family dogs. And for good reason too. These dogs are super affectionate, which means that they love to socialize with humans. They are also gentle despite their large size, which makes them great for families with small children.
Not only that but rottweilers are open to meeting new people. So if you have a lot of friends and family coming over to visit, you don’t need to worry about your rottweiler being unfriendly.
Rottweilers are also great with other dogs, which means that they can live in a multi-dog household. But make sure you have enough space for more than one dog, as well as the ability to give them the attention they deserve. While not hyper-active dogs, Rottweilers are still athletic and require moderate exercise to stay healthy. Installing a pet door will help give your rottweiler more opportunities to exercise, as well as give them more space to hang out with your other dogs.
Plus, Rottweilers are not massive shedders. While you will still need to attack your carpet and clothes with a vaccum and lint roller, you will not have to take time away from the rest of your familiy to keep a rottweiler’s coat in check.
Vigilant Watchdogs
While rottweilers are very open to meeting strangers and making new friends, they are still vigilant watchdgos. They are protective by nature, which makes them great for families who are looking for extra security for their households.
Additionally, rottweilers are known to be very quiet dogs except for when the sense danger. This makes them highly effective guard dogs.
Very Playful…
While some dogs like to be left alone, rottweilers are very playful. They love to learn new games to play with their owners. If you’re looking for a dog to throw the old pigskin with or to chase around the yard, then rottweilers are the dog for you.
But rottweilers are also not very high energy dogs. While they are no couch potato, they do not need an excessive amount of exercise to stay healthy. This makes them perfect for owners who want an active dog but do not have the time to spend hours giving them a workout.
…But Need A Lot of Entertainment
While rottweilers do not have the high energy levels of a border collie, they are not big fans of lounging around. They thrive in environments where they have a job or activity that they can do frequently, like watch over the kids or backyard. If you are going to be gone for a long period of time, look into getting your rottweiler some kind of toy that will provide plenty of enrichment.
This also means that rottweilers are easy to train. They remember commands easily and seem to enjoy the process of completing tasks. If you want a dog who can complete cool tricks, then a rottweiler might be the pet for you.
Overall, despite their scary appearances, rottweilers are gentle dogs who are fantastic for families. When adopting your new family member, make sure to lean how to best take care of their health and ensure they're perfect for your lifestyle.
