Are Female or Male Rottweilers More Protective? (Answered!)

Many people wonder whether female or male rottweilers are more protective. I’m sure the answer to this question is different for everyone, but what do you think?

Do females have a maternal instinct that makes them more protective than males? Or is it just a coincidence that aggression levels between genders are about equal? Read on for more.

Are female or male rottweilers more protective?

A rottweiler’s protectiveness is influenced by their personality and what has been trained into them early in life. Males are traditionally seen as more aggressive, but this isn’t always the case. A female will be just as protective but may not show it in a way that people expect. Rottweilers that have been spayed or neutered tend to show less protection instinct than those who haven’t had these surgeries done yet.

There are many factors to consider when understanding whether a female or male rottweiler is more protective. This information helps decide which gender of rottweiler is ideal for you based on your personal and family circumstances.

The following blog post will provide you with insight into how much protection each gender offers and what other benefits come from choosing one over the other!

Do rottweilers make good guard dogs?

Rottweiler sitting inside a house

Many people like the idea of owning a rottweiler as a guard dog. However, while rottweilers do make good guard dogs, it is not wise to pick any random rottweiler and train it to be a guard dog.

For example, smaller rottweilers should not be trained to be aggressive towards strangers or other dogs. Several factors should be considered before training your rottweiler as a guard dog:

Size is not one of them. However, there are exceptions to this rule (e.g., very shy/ timid Rotti) – but generally speaking, size does play an important role in being a “guard dog”.

Temperament is undoubtedly a factor. It might be the most important single factor in determining whether or not your Rotti makes a good guard dog.

As a general rule, rottweilers that have been socialized and trained appropriately from an early age will make better guard dogs than those that have not.

Socialization means exposing your Rotti to as many new people and situations as possible so that the dog grows up not being afraid of new things.

Protective instincts are another factor. Some rottweilers develop a set of protective instincts more quickly than others, primarily determined by genetics (i.e., breeding).

Aggressive, dominant rottweilers are more likely to make better guard dogs than submissive or shy ones.

Health is also an essential factor. If your Rotti is sickly and frail with serious health problems, it will not make a good guard dog.

It may be less inclined to protect you if it feels that its own life is in danger!

Gender is also a factor. Male Rottweilers are usually larger, more muscular, and have a more masculine bearing than females.

As a result, they are often preferred over females as guard dogs. However, female Rottweilers can be just as aggressive if they have acquired the necessary protective instincts through socialization and training (see above).

What are the differences in personality and temperament?

Cropped image of a Rottweiler

If you own a rottweiler, understanding the differences in temperament and personality between male and female rottweilers will be necessary.

It is also helpful to know which gender has more specific characteristics to decide if this breed of dog is suitable for your lifestyle.

Many people consider the general temperament of a female rottweiler as being more affectionate than that of a male. A female will be less aggressive towards strangers, children, other animals, or objects than her male rottweiler counterpart. 

On the other hand, male rottweilers tend to be more hostile with anything they consider as an intruder or anything that they are not familiar with, including family members. A female rottweiler will be more nurturing of young children than a male dog.

She is also likely to be better at giving warnings before an actual attack on strangers, although this may vary from individual to individual.

Females are generally good guard dogs, but males tend to be more aggressive and protective of their territory.

Both genders, however, can make excellent guard dogs as long as the owner does proper training. One of the most distinctive differences between male and female rottweilers is in their levels of aggression.

A male tends to be more dominant and aggressive towards other male dogs, while females are known to act submissive around other females.

Male rottweilers are less prone to being submissive to people compared to females. Females are more likely to be submissive towards their owners, especially around strangers.

Males are also less inclined to show affection towards their owners than female dogs.

A female Rottweiler is generally easier to train, mainly because she is more willing to please her owner.

In contrast, the male will tend to be aloof and not comply as easily unless he deems you worthy enough for him to comply. This can take months or even years before that happens with some males.

A female dog also matures faster (both physically and emotionally) than a male because they mature sexually sooner, making them almost adult at one year old.

At the same time, it takes about 2-3 years for their male counterparts to be considered “fully grown” at two years of age.

A female rottweiler in heat will go through mood swings requiring an owner who can be patient enough throughout this period in her life, especially when stressed out or in a new environment.

On the other hand, male rottweilers tend to be less moody than their female counterparts and have an easier time coping with new places or stressed-out situations than females.

Females may also try to establish dominance over their children if they are not adequately trained, leading to catastrophic results if not watched closely.

A male Rottie may act submissive around his owner. Still, he is more dominant than submissive towards strangers, potentially making him a better guard dog than his counterpart. 

The female rottweiler will be more inclined to act submissive towards strangers. However, this tendency can vary from individual rottweilers depending on their personality and level of training.

Why do people think female or male rottweilers are more protective?

Rottweiler standing on grass

This question is often asked, and it is essential to note that the “Protective” thing is not breed-specific, meaning male or female Rottweilers can be equally protective. 

There are even some male rottweilers who will run away if they think they cant win a confrontation and there are grown female rottweilers (who were never taught or socialized well) who won’t fight back against much bigger dogs.

Some people think that female Rottweilers are generally more fearful than males. While this is true for some female Rotties, it is not the standard, and you should never refer to a female Rottweiler as being “More Fearful!”

This old wive’s tail somehow got started by people who did not properly raise and socialize their dogs. There are many reasons why a specific dog may show fear, but gender does NOT make them more or less fearful.

The other reason you might have heard that male rottweilers are more protective than female rottweilers is because they stick around.

This makes them seem more protective because they are always around, just like their owner, but you need to remember that many male dogs will leave if the fight does not go in their favor.

Are female Rottweilers less protective than male Rottweilers?

The answer is no. Female Rottweilers can be equally protective or even MORE protective than males. The real difference is in how people tend to raise each gender which makes them seem different. 

Males are usually more independent and tend to stick through thick and thin, while females are often trained to stay close by their side at all times, creating a false illusion of protection when it’s just training!

Remember that training alone does not make the dog protective; it makes the dog obedient.

Why do you think people feel this way about female rottweilers?

I believe people feel this way because they often make a mistake when raising a pup and accidentally create the wrong type of temperament. 

Most often, this happens with females, but it does happen with males too.

To avoid making these mistakes, be sure to always follow breed advice from the kennel club that you adopt from, talk to other Rottie owners, and seek professional help if needed.

How to decide which gender of Rottweiler is best for me?

The first step is to determine whether you are looking for primarily a guard dog or a dog who will enhance your family life. Males tend to be more aggressive than females and can weigh up to 30 percent more. 

Females tend to be better with children, but males may have less desire to please their owners by obeying commands.

The second factor is socialization. Rottweilers should be trained not to jump on people or other dogs and how to behave around smaller animals such as cats or rabbits that their playfulness could harm. 

Puppies are bred specifically for either male or female traits. If you are interested in the puppy’s bloodline, make sure you know its history before deciding between genders since both parents may have been of the same sex.

The third factor is temperament during adolescence. Rotties require a different approach to train them as they age from puppyhood to adulthood, and males can be more difficult to manage during those months from one year old until about two years old.

Females tend not to be as aggressive as males around this time of their lives but will still need socialization training for them not to harm smaller animals or people.

Finally, there are health concerns that come along with each gender which should be taken into consideration before deciding on the gender of a rottweiler.

Females may have a higher risk of developing mammary carcinoma than males because it is estrogen-dependent. However, both genders run a higher risk of this disease than other breeds.

Females may also face an increased risk of vaginal hyperplasia, uterine infections, cystic endometrial hyperplasia, and pyometra (uterus infection).

Males are more prone to developing testicular cancer if they are not neutered before six months of age.

Both the female and male Rottweilers have different benefits that can benefit any family. It ultimately comes down to personal preference after weighing all options.

Final thoughts

The rottweiler is a highly versatile breed that can suit anyone who spends enough time with the dog to train it. 

There are many factors to consider before choosing which gender of rottweiler is best for you, but the most essential factor is spending enough time with your future pup to decide whether you think you will do better with a male or female.

There are benefits to both genders of this breed, and neither gender is considered better as both can be trained and provided with proper socialization opportunities during their early lives.

It doesn’t matter what gender one chooses as long as they adopt this pup, knowing how much effort training requires and making sure their schedules allow for proper exercise and socialization times before taking on a Rottweiler of any gender.