The Rottweiler is known as a strong, muscular breed that is fiercely loyal to its family. Their physical prowess is no surprise, considering they were originally bred to pull carts and drive cattle. So, just how strong are Rottweilers?
Rottweilers have one of the most potent bite forces for a domestic dog breed at an average of 320 psi. They also have one of the strongest pull forces, able to pull over 1000 pounds untrained. In addition, their bodies have very dense muscles, making them very strong in general.
But there’s more to the story. Read on to learn more about Rottweilers’ size, bite strength, mental strength, and overall strength compared to other dogs.
Why Are Rottweilers So Strong?
A Rottweiler’s biggest strength is its bite force, at an average of 320 psi. They also have an incredible pull force, being able to pull huge and heavy objects.
They are densely packed with muscle, sporting thick necks, a stocky build, and a robust jaw.
Their history of pulling heavy carts and herding large animals can be felt in their behaviors, with a tendency to nudge large objects, animals, and people.
For Romans, one use of the Rottweiler’s ancestors was herding cattle for soldiers. They couldn’t refrigerate their meat, so they would bring live cattle with them as they marched, and the dogs kept the cattle moving.
Around the first century AD, a Roman army stopped in Germany in a town in the Wurtemberg area. The city had villas with red-tiled roofs all over.
Nicknamed das Rote Wil, the town’s name meant ‘the red villa.’ Later the name came to be Rottweil.
As the roman dogs became popular in the area, they interbred with other breeds and eventually became the Rottweiler we know and love today.
“They were the perfect dogs to transport heavy supplies on carts as well due to their muscular build.“
They were also used to guard money by tying a bag around their necks, which would keep thieves away if they didn’t want to lose an arm.
Rottweilers have developed strong muscular forearms and a straight back with strong loins.
However, it can be challenging to walk them on a leash due to their pull strength, as they can easily pull their owner to the ground.
Around the 19th century, herding cattle was no longer necessary, and Rotties found themselves out of their primary job.
Thankfully, police and military units noticed how useful the dogs could be and started breeding them in the 20th century. Today, they are the 8th most popular breed in the United States.
How Big Does A Rottweiler Get?
Rottweilers are a large, strong, muscular breed. They are a bit shorter in height than some large dog breeds but more robust than most. Proportionally, they are exceptionally strong.
Male Rottweilers grow to an average of 24 to 27 inches tall to the shoulder, weighing 95 to 130 pounds.
Females are a bit shorter at 22 to 25 inches tall and weigh 85 to 115 points on average.
Compared to other dog breeds, this is an above-average size but not massive.
How Much Can A Rottweiler Pull?
Rottweiler’s ancestors were one of the best cart pullers in the empire, their pull strength making them cherished as working dogs.
Their muscular bodies are well-made for weight-pulling. In competitions, they are the all-time greatest breed for pulling weight.
They were bred to be working dogs, herding and pulling carts when needed. Meat carts were especially heavy, and their ancestors were one of the only dog breeds that could pull them around.
An average Rottweiler with no training can pull a weight of up to 1000 pounds. An incredibly strong breed, the Rottweiler can draw much more than that if pushed to their limits. There are records exceeding 15,000 pounds for short distances.
To get an idea of how much weight a Rottie can pull, take a look at the video below. This dog pulls over 15,000 pounds of weight, which is almost 7 tonnes!
How Strong is a Rottweilers Bite?
Bite force in dogs is measured in psi, or pounds per square inch. To understand how strong the bite of a Rottweiler is, we’ll need to compare it to other animals.
Compared to a shark, they have about half their bite strength, which is 669 psi on average. A Rottie has one of the strongest bite forces for an at-home dog breed at an average of 328 psi.
To provide context, see how they compare to other popular dog breeds below:
- American Bulldog – 305 psi
- German Shepard – 238 psi
- Pitbull – 235 psi
Unless your Rottweiler is properly trained and socialized, it is recommended to keep this breed away from small children or the elderly.
Their sheer size and boundless energy can cause them to bump into people by accident, and potentially resulting in accidents occurring.
How Strong is a Rottweiler Mentally?
Besides their great physical strength, Rottweilers have great mental power too.
They are an intelligent species and can read a stranger’s intentions at a glance with their guarding instincts. They have been ranked as the 9th most intelligent dog breed in the world.
Their intelligence comes partly from their being herding dogs, so they had to know how to handle and guide other animals. They also had to learn how to take orders well.
On top of that, if they are adequately trained and brought up well, they can be great gentle giants. As family dogs, they are loving and loyal. It’s essential to get their training right from a young age because they are so strong.
Their mental attributes also make them great as service dogs, therapy dogs, and guide dogs.
How Strong is a Rottweiler Compared to Other Large Dog Breeds?
They are one of the strongest at-home dog species at an average bite strength of 328 psi in terms of bite force. We’ve already seen how powerful this is, but thankfully the breed is also trained and can learn to weaken or strengthen its bite as needed for different situations.
No other domestic dog breed comes close in terms of proportional weight pulling than the Rottweiler. This was their primary job for many centuries, along with being an excellent herding animal.
These two characteristics alone put the Rottweiler far ahead of the game in terms of strong they are compared to other dog breeds. But there are more underrated features as well.
“A Rottweiler could beat most dog breeds in a fight but might have trouble with an American Pitbull Terrier or an English Mastiff.”
This is because Rottweilers tend not to be as ferocious as some other dogs, even though they have the power.
There are also guard dog species bred to fight bears and lions that would destroy a Rottweiler in a fight, but these dog breeds are not meant to be pets.
Examples include the Carpathian Shepard, Tibetan Mastiff, and Kangal.
Final thoughts
The Rottweiler is very strong overall, which includes its pulling power and bite force.
They are also a great dog breed to have as pets if you’re willing to put in the effort to train them.
We’ve seen that they rank as some of the strongest dogs in terms of muscle density, pull strength, and bite force. But they also qualify as having some great mental strength.
In addition, they are great at using their strengths, as they are loyal and protective dogs. They use their intelligence and good instincts from their herding days to figure out how to help their owners and who to protect them from.
All in all, they are fantastic to have around as pets and won’t let you down in terms of strength.
