How to recognise a Rottweiler
Many black-and-tan dogs get called Rottweilers. Where the tan sits, and how the head and body are built, tell you more. Upload a photo above, then compare with the points below.
Also known as: Rottie, Rott
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A clear shot of the face and body works best. JPG, PNG or HEIC.
About the Rottweiler
The Rottweiler takes its name from Rottweil, a market town in southern Germany where butchers and cattle traders used it to drive herds and guard their takings. It is one of the oldest German working breeds, now in FCI group 2 with the molossoid and mountain dogs. Rottweilers are calm, confident and devoted to their family, with a natural guarding instinct and a strong work ethic. They do well in obedience, tracking and herding, and benefit from early socialisation and consistent, reward-based training.
At a glance
- Type
- Pedigree breed
- Size
- Large
- Adult weight
- 35–59 kg
- Life expectancy
- 9–10 years
- Exercise
- High
How to recognise a Rottweiler
- Always black, with clearly defined rust to mahogany markings: spots above each eye, on the cheeks, muzzle, chest and legs, and under the tail.
- Short, straight, coarse coat lying flat, with an undercoat on the neck and thighs that should not show through.
- Broad skull of medium length with a well-defined stop, a deep, strong muzzle and almond-shaped dark brown eyes.
- Small triangular drop ears set high and wide, lying close to the cheeks, which makes the skull look even broader.
- Compact, powerful body, slightly longer than tall, with a broad, deep chest. The tail is left natural and carried level in many countries, docked in others.
Photo tip. Photograph the face in good light so the tan spots above the eyes and on the cheeks show; black coats lose detail in shade. Add a side-on shot for the build.
Rottweiler or look-alike?
Dobermann
Same black-and-tan pattern, but the Dobermann is slimmer and leggier, with a long wedge-shaped head, a narrower muzzle and a tucked-up waist.
Beauceron
Black and tan too, but taller and leaner, with double dewclaws on the hind legs, a slightly rougher coat and a long tail carried low with a J-shaped hook.
Bernese Mountain Dog
Similar tan points on black, but the coat is long and silky, with a white blaze, white chest and often white feet. A purebred Rottweiler has no white markings.
Rottweiler mixes
Common Rottweiler crosses include Rottweiler × German Shepherd, × Labrador, × Husky and × Boxer, plus many shelter dogs labelled “Rottie mix”. The tan points, especially the spots above the eyes, survive surprisingly often, along with the broad head and heavy bone. One exception: a black Labrador cross usually comes out solid black, because the Lab’s dominant black hides the tan markings. On a photo, a Rottweiler mix typically shows Rottweiler next to a shepherd or retriever, sometimes with Dobermann as the closest black-and-tan match. A DNA test confirms it.
Health and care
- Hip and elbow dysplasia are known in the breed; ask for official hip and elbow scores on both parents, and a heart examination for subaortic stenosis.
- Ask for the JLPP DNA result on both parents. This inherited nerve disease of young puppies is routinely tested for by responsible breeders.
- Rottweilers are among the breeds at higher risk of bone cancer (osteosarcoma). Sudden lameness that persists in an adult dog deserves a prompt check rather than waiting.
- Feed a large-breed puppy diet without added calcium during growth, then keep them lean. Two or three meals a day and rest after eating help reduce bloat risk.
- They need daily exercise and training that engages the mind. Cruciate ligament injuries are known in the breed, so build fitness gradually.