The history of this large and noble dog breed is the topic of some debate, mostly because its lineage is not documented. The most commonly accepted belief is that the Rottweiler is a descendent of a large mastiff-type drover dog used in Ancient Rome for their herding capabilities and fierce loyalty.

As the Roman Emperors set their sights on conquering Europe, the need arose for a dog with superior herding instincts that could travel with the Roman armies to herd the cattle and sheep and guard the supply dumps during the night.

Around 700 A.D., a Christian church was built on the site of a former Roman bath in an area that was called Arae Flaviae in what is present day southern Germany. During the excavation process, the red tiles of the Roman villas were unearthed, leading to the name das Rote Wil (“the red tile”). This name is easily recognized as the origin of the name Rottweil, which is the derivation of the Rottweiler’s name.

In the 19th century the driving of cattle became illegal as donkeys and railroads took the place of the Rottweiler Metzgerhund (butcher dog). The breed fell on such hard times that at a dog show in 1882 there was only one rather sad example of the breed.

The Breed in Modern Times

The breed was not mentioned again until 1901 when the short lived Rottweiler and Leonberger Club was formed by well known animal painter Kull. It was Kull’s desire to encourage interest in the breeds that led to the creation of the first known standard for the Rottweiler. Over the next six years the Rottweiler would find work as a police dog.

The DRK (Deutscher Rottweiler Klub), which formed in Heidelberg in 1907, would have 3,400 dogs registered in the breed by 1924. The first stud book for Rottweilers was published by this club in the same year. Also in 1907, the Southern German Rottweiler Club (SDK) would form and eventually merge into the association called the International Rottweiler Club (IRK). The two clubs would eventually come together to form the ADRK in 1924 which remains intact today, despite having its existence threatened during and after World War II.

Since that time, the breed has become increasingly popular both among breeders and private dog owners. It is believed that the first Rottweiler made its way to American soil in the 1920s and the breed first appeared in the AKC stud book in 1931.

It was in 1935 that the American Kennel Club first officially recognized the breed. One year later the Rottweiler would be exhibited at Crufts in Great Britain and in 1966 a separate register was created for the Rottweiler.

The breed saw its height of popularity in the United States in 1992 at which time there were over 70,000 Rottweilers in the American Kennel Club registry. The Rottweiler’s popularity has waned quite a bit since that time but they still remain a favorite pet of many people around the world.