Rottweilers are not the largest dogs out there. In fact, they might as well be of the average size. But that makes them appear no less threatening. An attacker that is smart and defensive is a rare combination indeed. Experts speculate that the Rottweiler Origin can be traced back to the drover dogs of ancient Rome. They were huge mastiffs that guarded the soldiers and their provisions while Romans annexed other European countries. It is said that Molossus from Rome went to Germany with Roman soldiers and mated with the local smaller breeds which went on to become the ancestors of the current rottweilers.
But Rottweiler origin has a bit more interesting turn than that. In Southern Germany, about 600 years after the Roman expedition, a group of villagers dug into the soil to discover Roman baths and red tiles. That town called itself das Rote (The Red Town) and it was in that village, that the hybrid dogs were named Rottweil and became known cattle-herders. There also came a time when Rottweilers were considered most important as guards to Butcher’s. Butchers used them to guard their money and the dog got a title, “Butcher’s Dog’.
Read: The Muscular Rottweiler: Help Your Rottweiler Gain More Muscle And Power
The industrial age was as good as the dark ages for this breed. Railways replaced cattle drives. The Rottweiler breed more or less vanished from map till the World Wars revived interest in the breed and, with a number of specimens available, a revival of medical interest in Rottweiler origin. Rottweilers did not only serve in the World Wars as guard dogs. They also served as messengers and ran ambulance services. Some even worked in Trauma care for distraught patients.
In 1915, the revived species, healthier and stronger, found its true place in Police service after the formation of the German Rottweiler Club which is recognized today as the International Rottweiler Club. Rottweilers got registered in the American Kennel Club in 1930 when the breed was supposedly brought in by a German immigrant. The first dog to be registered was Stina v Felsenmeer, the first Rottweiler litter born in the U.S.
The Rottweiler origin story saw its fair share of ups and downs. In the 1990s alone more than 100,000 Rottweilers registered in the American kennel club and marks the all-time high period in the history of Rottweilers.
Read: The Rottweiler Breed: Defining The Breed Standards Of One Of The Most Formidable Yet Lovable Dogs
The Rottweiler origin and history tell us how dependable these creatures are on human care. They bring in just the right amount of strict decision and affection into the world. While it is true that they are not the easiest dogs to train, it should come as no surprise that a family with such long and a strong line in history would have a-little stubborn descendants.