Rottweiler

It is commonly believed that the Rottweiler evolved around 74 AD when Roman soldiers of the 11th Legion of the Roman Empire settled in the Wurttemberg region of Germany. Here, they crossbred German Shepherds with the Roman drover dogs or Mastiffs they had brought with them to herd cattle and guard the camp, creating a large and strong dog that could control large bulls. This area became known as “das Rote Wil,” which referred to the red roof tiles of the small villas in the town, and has since evolved into Rottweil, giving the breed its name. Originally, Rottweilers were used to drive herds of cattle by day and guard them at night, and were later used to pull carts and wagons, and even hunt bear. By the mid-19th century, the railways were being built, which forced cattle driving to be outlawed. Donkeys became the main draft animal, and the Rottweiler began to fall out of favor. The breed gained popularity with butchers, where they again were used to pull carts of meat, and were given the name “Rottweiler metzgerhund,” or Rottweil butcher dog. The breed’s numbers declined significantly, and the breed was in danger of becoming extinct. In Germany, fans of the breed established the International Club for Leonbergers and Rottweiler Dogs in 1899, and by 1901, had created the first breed standard. Rottweilers began to be used as police dogs, and worked to police and guard during World War I. The American Kennel Club recognized the Rottweiler in 1931, and the dog has grown in popularity in the United States. Today, the breed is still used in Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, and Norway as police, customs, guard, and rescue dogs.