The Rottweiler is probably descended from the Italian Mastiff known for watching over the cattle the Roman legions needed for provisions.
In the middle ages, the Rottweiler breed was developed in the German town of Rottweil in Wurttemberg as a guard and herd dog.

Practically extinct in the 1800’s, he made a wonderful comeback in the early twentieth century due to the efforts of breeders in Stuttgart.
The Rottweiler is a medium to large dog with a massive and powerful body, naturally protective and devoted to their owner and family.

Breed Group

Working

Size

22 – 27 inches tall (at shoulder)

Weight

80 – 130 lbs.

Color(s)

The Rottweiler coat is black with clearly defined tan markings that range from rust to mahogany on the cheeks, muzzle, chest, legs, and over both eyes.

Coat

The Rottweiler outer coat is straight, coarse, dense, mid-length and flat while the undercoat is soft and thighs.

Life Expectancy

About 10 – 12 years.

Personality

A well train Rottweiler can do extremely well in a family environment, however he is very territorial and protective and can be intimidating at times.
He can be aggressive with other dogs, cats, household pets and with people he doesn’t know, so, early socialization and training is absolutely essential for this breed.

The Rottweiler has a working dog need to be stimulated and a job to do to be happy, whether it is fetching a ball, hauling a cart, guarding something or retrieving the newspaper.
The Rotties thrives with affection and attention from its family but he tends to be a one person dog.

Care

This Rottweiler is susceptible to ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament), bloat, progressive spinal cord disorder, entropionRottweiler from working dog group and hip dysplasia.
Also they are sensitive to Parvo virus.
The Rottweiler requires minimal grooming, brush with a firm bristle brush and bathes only when necessary (Bathing too often will remove the natural oils from the coat).
The Rottweiler is a medium shedder.

Training

Quick to learn and eager to please the Rottie is an outstanding guard dog with a self assured and fearless temperament.
The Rottweiler requires a firm and careful training and an experienced owner who can handle this powerful breed.
They have proven their worth in police/military work, competitive obedience, schutzhund and do well in a variety of things such as tracking, herding, watchdogging and carting.

Activity

The Rottweiler will do okay in an apartment life if it is sufficiently exercised.
They aren’t really active indoors, so they need up to three long walks daily, they also loves swimming and running freely in the woods (only if a free from public place can be identified).

The Rhodesian Ridgeback originated in Zimbabwe (in the past was called Rhodesia) Africa. They are also called the African Lion hound and as the name suggests, were bred to hunt lions but could also hunt and retrieve game for the family. They are a cross between the Deerhound, Mastiff, and other African dogs that have the fur on their back ridged. The Ridgeback was designed to be a hunter and also a family companion as mothers would entrust this dog to watch over her children when she was not present.

The Ridgeback is an athletic dog that has a toned body. Their skull is large and they have a long muzzle with floppy triangular ears. What makes this dog unique is its line of backward fur called the “ridge” that runs down the spine. Their jaws are extremely powerful, which is needed for the prey they hunt. These dogs are known for being able to live in hot temperatures and can live without water and food for more then one day.

This breed is a very affectionate companion as they love to be part of the family pack and will not do well if left alone often. They are reserved around strangers but will warm up once they are introduced a few times.

Breed Group

Hound

Size

Males: 25-27 inches high

Females: 24-26 inches high

Weight

Males: 80-90 lbs

Females: 65-75 lbs

Color(s)

The Ridgeback comes in one colour type which is a light red with white markings on their toes and chest. This red can vary from light to dark shading.

Coat

This breed has a very short hard coat that offers little protection from colder weather. They are used to living in hot climates but have no tolerance for bug bites. When winter comes around, extra layers will be needed as they have nothing to protect them from the cold. Due to their short coat, the Ridgeback will only need to be brushed about once every two weeks just to remove dead fur. A hound brush is suggested as this will give the coat a shine.

Life Expectancy

10-12 years .

Personality

The Ridgeback is one of the most loyal and affectionate dogs. They are sweet, well behaved and have an excellent demeanor. They are great pets but should not be around young children as they don’t like to roughhouse. On the whole this dog will be ok with other family pets as long as they are introduced to them as pups. Socialization with other dogs, especially those of the same sex is very necessary because this dog can become aggressive towards them as adults. The Ridgeback is a loving companion and will defend his owner at will! This trait as brave as it is, will need training because this could turn into a problem later on.

This dog can be hard headed and stubborn when it comes to training. They will need an owner who can show them they are not the top dog of the household. If left alone often, this breed will find things to occupy their time, whether that is their toys or your furniture, so making sure they are getting their daily exercise and are supplied with toys is a must.

Care

The Ridgeback has a very short coat that will only need to be brushed once every couple of weeks. A hound brush will be of great use to remove dead fur quickly. Bathing is up to how often the owner would like this done but not more then once every 2 months. This breed is prone to cysts, hip dysplasia, cancer, and cataracts. Dermoid sinus is a common ailment among Rhodesian Ridgebacks as well as hypothyroidism.

Training

This breed is notoriously stubborn and has a “my way or the highway” attitude. They are sensitive and will need to be trained in a positive manner as they can have hurt feelings if they are trained negatively. Consistency is the key as these are smart dogs that shouldn’t be too difficult to teach, but starting out basic obedience as young as possible is the best idea.

Activity

The Ridgeback is an energetic breed that will need to be exercised for at least one hour per day. Either time spent at an off-leash dog park or a long walk will be sufficient. They can live in apartments and be quite comfortable as long as they have their daily exercise. A backyard would be preferable so they can run around outside at home.