Collection: Personalised Rottweiler Gifts

The Rottweiler gained his name from a town called ‘das Rote Wil’ which means, The Red Tile, in Southern Germany located in The Black Forest, itself named after red tiles left behind by the Romans. Arriving in England in 1936 with a Mrs Thelma Grey, the breed was registered with the Kennel Club in the same year. However, the dog was never bred and the breed vanished from the UK as abruptly as it arrived.

Rottweilers achieved almost cult status during the latter years of the 20th century which unfortunately led to unscrupulous and poor breeding practices which weakened the breed status and gave the dog a bad reputation. This has since recovered and now the misunderstood Rottie receives a better press.

The Ancient Romans are responsible for the origins of the Rottweiler breed which was a Mastiff-type dog called the Molossus mated with local dogs in Germany during the advance of the Roman Empire. There are also influences of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

The Rottweiler was originally a working dog used for several centuries to drive cattle from one location to another and butchers also used them to pull meat carts to market. It was even said that they would hang their money purses around the dog’s necks as a theft deterrent.

As times changed during the 19th century and cattle were moved by the new railways, the breed began to seriously decline. In 1882, a Rottweiler appeared as a show dog and this sent the breed on an upward trajectory with the formation of the Rottweiler and Leonberger Club in 1901. The Rottweiler assumed a working role in police forces in Germany from around 1910 so valued were they for their bravery and loyalty. They have also been used as guard dogs, messengers and ambulance dogs.

A Rottweiler is a strong and powerful dog and powerfully loyal too, a guardian and protector of his family whoever they are. This breed requires good socialisation and training as puppies if they are to fit in well with family life and can make great pets.