Rottweilers are known for being a cheerful playful breed, so people often wonder whether they are high-energy dogs.
So, are rottweilers high-energy dogs? Rottweilers are known to have moderate to high energy levels; however, they are not considered the breed with the highest energy levels. There are also many activities and methods that you can implement into your rottweiler’s routine to ensure that their energy levels are not an issue.
We explore the many factors influencing a Rottweiler’s energy levels to help understand whether this is the perfect breed for you.
Do Genetics and Breeding Affect a Rottweiler’s Energy Levels?
Any specific dog’s genetic makeup, or historical background, is essential during the breeding process. By being selective about the dogs you are choosing to breed, you can strengthen specific traits that you wish for the breed to continue.
Alternatively, you can also breed away traits and characteristics that are not flattering or choose not to breed with dogs with a bad history.
This section details the historical makeup and key traits and characteristics of the rottweiler breed. By explaining where the breed originated from and key moments in its history, we can clearly understand why a typical rottweiler may have a moderate to high energy level.
Where Did The Rottweiler Descend From?
According to the American Kennel Club, the Rottweiler breed that we know and love today descended from mastiffs during Roman times.
Due to Rottweilers dating back to this specific period, they were utilized as herding and driving dogs because of their supreme strength. Rottweilers are known to be one of the oldest dog breeds in the world.
One of the true peaks of popularity that the rottweiler breed had was during the First World War when the breed’s ability to locate and guard became a necessity.
As a result, the breeding of rottweilers increased tenfold with the desire to train these very intelligent and easily disciplined dogs into a league of police dogs.
After the breed’s renowned and appreciated service during the First World War was recognized, the rottweiler breed became recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1931. The world soon followed as the breed became internationally recognized.
How Does The Historical Context Affect The Rottweilers We Have Today?
With Rottweilers’ renowned history of working dogs, specifically relating to guarding and protecting, it is understandable that these trained traits are somewhat overwhelming for the breed’s personality makeup.
Rottweilers have always been intelligent dogs; however, they are also strong and protective, with medium to high energy levels.
These four key traits can be found in most police dogs today, hence why they are so prevalent in the modern-day rottweiler.
While high physical energy can come readily expected with the rottweiler breed, they also have a high level of mental energy.
Throughout the years, the breed has always been highly and vigorously trained; however, the modern-day rottweiler also requires mental stimulation.
Neglecting this essential training can lead to disobedience and in some circumstances, can lead to aggression.
Recent Popularity Trends Concerning The Rottweiler
In the USA, the Rottweiler has been considered one of the most popular breeds for quite some time.
Throughout the early to mid-2000’s, they have fallen relatively “out of fashion” due to the surge in small dog popularity.
This was primarily because of their popularity in pop culture and with celebrities. But, since the mid-2010s, they have rebounded back into mainstream popularity.
Now, their sturdy build, loyalty, and protective instincts are highly regarded amongst the general population of the USA.
It was, after all, their highly renowned need to guard and protect that initially drew me to adopting my first rottweiler.
For the last few years, rottweilers have placed high on the American Kennel Club’s most highly ranked dog breeds list.
“In 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020, rottweilers placed number 8 on the internationally recognized list.”
Generally, medium and larger dog breeds are becoming more popular. The top three dog breeds in 2020 (as per the American Kennel Club) were the labrador retriever, followed by the French bulldog, and the German shepherd placed first.
Rottweilers and french bulldogs are likely to get along due to sharing similar traits. Of course, French bulldogs cannot be classed as a large dog breed. But the other two breeds that placed in the top three are.
It is also important to note that German shepherds are also renowned for being protective and are well-known guard dogs. And all three breeds in the top three are practically famous for being high-energy breeds, sometimes to the point of hyperactivity.
Perhaps, this evidence displays an overarching trend seen in the residents of the United States of America starting to shy away from smaller dog breeds with lower energy levels to pets with higher levels of energy.
Future Implications For The Breed
As mentioned above, some dog breeders breed unfavorable traits that potential dog owners do not want their pets to exhibit.
Clearly, in the specialized case of the rottweiler, dog owners are favoring them to continue to exhibit their protective instinct and to remain loyal to them.
Most importantly, relating to our discussion on whether rottweilers are considered high-energy dogs, it appears that the general American market prefers their dogs to have a higher energy level and be more active.
As a result, breeders will then choose to breed rottweilers that also have higher levels of energy as opposed to lower energy levels.
This will ensure (and potentially increase) the energy reserves of the future litters that are produced.
You would think that this would only lead to future dog owners being satisfied that their dog will have the required energy and activity levels that they are looking for.
However, there is always the potential to over breed a dog breed to hold too much of a specific characteristic. This process is known as selective breeding.
The advantages and disadvantages of said process are too vast to get into during this article.
What Is The Cost Impact Of Having A Medium to High-Energy Dog?
Of course, purchasing any dog will be reasonably expensive, from the initial purchasing of your pet to the general day-to-day provisions (food, lead, collar, etc.) and not to mention the vet bills. But you are gaining a friend for life, and my little Rocky is worth every penny.
The first initial cost you will need to consider when adopting your rottweiler is, well, the cost of the dog itself. You can pay somewhere between $850 to over $1,500 on average, depending on the breeder’s credentials.
Now, you may wonder why the initial price of a dog is a cost you need to consider when considering its high energy trait. Well, most of the negative costs you may end up paying due to your dog’s energy levels can be easily avoided by simply doing your research and buying from a reputable breeder.
“Businesses such as puppy farms or inexperienced breeders will not be as knowledgeable nor provide a pedigree as reliable as a breeder. ”
They will likely not know what they are doing nor have the certificates to prove it.
Traits relating to your rottweiler’s temperament, aggression, destruction, and a lack of willingness to learn can be an issue.
Essentially, they can be mild to nonexistent when a breeder is experienced and knowledgeable.
Aside from this, other obvious expenses that need to be considered include play toys, potential repairs to your home furniture and fittings if your rottweiler becomes rowdy, as well as any other cost you may need to consider to keep your rottweiler active.
The second most significant expense you will need to make provisions for in your budget is dog training and socialization.
There is proven data and an overwhelming recommendation by the American Kennel Club that rottweilers that are well-trained and socialized (especially with other dogs) when they are puppies have their natural territorial instincts eased. This, in turn, makes them much calmer and less aggressive dogs.
The Benefits Of Having A Rottweiler with Medium to High Energy
There are so many benefits of adopting your very own rottweiler, many of which I can attest to. You will may even wonder how you ever lived without one before.
As medium to high-energy dogs, Rottweilers can make the perfect pet for active families.
If you train your rottweiler from being a puppy, they can be very patient with children and will enjoy playing with them all day long. My adorable Rocky loves joining me for runs around our local neighborhood and going on long beach walks.
If you consider purchasing a rottweiler because of its natural ability to guard and protect, its massive energy resources will be very useful.
If you are looking for a four-legged friend to join you all day long as you take to the streets, you can be assured of having a loyal and hard-working companion for many years to come.
