The Giant Rottweiler

What You Need to Know About Giant Rottweilers

 

You may heard about some people wanting a giant Rottweiler and this may have led you to wonder how much of a difference a “giant” can have from what is already a large breed of dog. Aside from that, you might also be curious if the difference in size might have some effect on the individual dog, in terms of health, disposition and traits. The following facts might be able to address the curiosity that a lot of people have about the recent spate of larger than life Rotties that are being advertised all over the internet and other media outlets. Many of the breeders who boast of having large dogs are located in the United States while others are in Europe. Many Rottweilers, whether giant or average sized, are present in the Americas and Europe. China is one country in which many of the more affluent individuals like to have rare or above average dogs which is why giants are sought after there. Some individuals intent on acquiring a giant Rottweiler can actually buy one overseas and have it shipped over or pick up the puppy when it is weaned from its mother

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The Rottweiler is an old breed which experts surmise may have originated from drover dogs from Rome. These dogs accompanied the troops as they traveled from one place to another around A.D. 74. Their primary function was to herd the cattle and protect the herd from other wild animals and those who wish to steal one as the owners of the herd brought the cattle to market and back home. The place where the Roman troops eventually passed through Germany and spent a lot of time a place which would eventually be called Rottweil. As the railroad system was introduced to country, the function of the dogs as herders and protectors of the herd was lost because the railroad was faster and more efficient in bringing cattle to market and back. Interest in the sturdy Rottweiler was revived when World War I produced a need for war dogs. Even during these times, there were already Rottweilers that were larger and smaller than the average sized ones. Breeders and enthusiasts decided to set a German Standard for the breed in order to prevent random breeding and deterioration of the breed. 

According to Standard

The demand for giant Rottweilers have led some enterprising individuals to do some selective breeding of their own. What these breeders do is isolate the largest dogs and breed them with each other in hopes of producing even larger dogs. When one says pedigreed, it usually means that both the male and the female Rotts are registered with a kennel club and that their lineage goes back decades. On the other hand, you can always say that pure bred dogs have parents that adhere to breed standard but may not have been registered with any kennel club. Some dog owners are not interested in registering their dogs, they just want to have a family pet and they do not see the need to register with a kennel club. There are also times when a mixed breed dog (with maybe just one Rott parent) which looks predominantly like a Rottweiler, only larger, may be used as one of the parents for a litter with the expectation that the above average size be carried over to one or some of the puppies in the litter to result in a giant Rottweiler. Although some puppies may look like a Rottweiler, they are still considered mixed breed if one of their parents is not purebred. Following this train of thought, one can produce a giant Rottweiler from purebred parents by picking out parents that exceed the breed standards for weight and height. This also means that the giant Rottweiler can still be called a purebred Rott as well as a pedigreed one even if it exceeds standards.

For each individual breed of dog, there is a standard to which breeders and dog fanciers from different countries adhere to and follow. These were set in place, not only as a basis for shows but also to protect each breed from too much variation which may undermine the integrity of each particular breed. Standard weight for a Rottweiler is about 50-60 kgs for males and 35-48 for females. The height is a maximum of 69 cms for males and 63 cms for females. Most show dog owners strive to adhere to these standards but those with Rottie pets usually do not mind going over the maximum. The standards are usually only important for dog owners who are conscious of these and wish to produce dogs that adhere to them. Larger than normal Rottweilers which are purebred and or pedigree will be eliminated from most shows based on exceeding breed standards.

Some professional breeders frown on creating Rottweilers that exceed the maximum standards set by kennel clubs. After all, they believe that these standards are set, not only as a basis for show dogs, but also to protect radical variations which may eventually undermine the breed and change it.

Health

The health of the giant Rottweiler is basically similar to that of average sized ones with some of the larger animals leaning towards having weaker hips and joints the bigger and heavier they get. Other dogs might also have some health issues due to indiscriminate inbreeding to achieve their large size. This happens when dogs that are closely related are bred with each other resulting to a limited gene pool.

Some people claim to have a giant Rottweiler but in reality the dog may just be overweight. Since this breed is susceptible to obesity, some people might consciously give their dog more food than required to have a “large” Rottie. Once the dog is used to a larger helping of food, it may be difficult to get it used to smaller portions to control its weight. Obese Rottweilers are also prone to other conditions such as heart problems, diabetes, arthritis and overheating.

Rotties are also prone to breathing problems when they are overweight because the fat may have accumulated around their torso which might be squeezing their lungs. Other factors that contribute to breathing problems for particularly large Rottweilers may be the heaviness of their bulk making moving around more of a chore and being too hot with an extra layer of fat under the skin.

Temperament

The temperament of the giant Rottweiler is the same with the normal sized ones. They are protective towards their family members and can be aggressive when provoked. It is important that the dog be socialized properly and undergo basic obedience training despite being gentle with those they know.

Overall, the giant Rottweiler has little or no difference from the standard ones except for weight and height. Healthwise, the larger dogs are more prone to issues that usually affect the largest breed of dogs and issues that may be triggered by being overweight. Rotties are well known for their exceptionally large heads and giants have prominently bigger heads. Some Rotts have markedly large bones and most giants have these as well. This may be because bigger bones make for bulkier dogs and breeders who wish to produce large dogs select lineages with bulkier and heavier bones. Many professional breeders discourage selective breeding of giants because they are concerned that prioritizing weight and size might lead to overlooking good health.

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