Like all of our canine friends, the rottweiler is no exception to the rule in that he/she is with out doubt a man’s best friend.

I am about to tell you an interesting story about a rottweiler bitch I cared for at an RSPCA centre in England. Before I do, I will tell you a little about my knowledge in relation to the breed.

Like the doberman pincher, alsatian (German shepherd) & some other breeds the rottweiler originates from Germany. The name rottweiler derives from the town of Rottweil in the Black Forrest of Germany. The rottweiler like other pure breeds, (pedigree) has evolved from the mixing of other breeds & is now a breed of its own. It is understood the rottweiler has partly evolved from the mastiff & the Roman herding dog but the full ancestry is otherwise not fully understood. It is apparent this breed evolved in the late 19^th century. Like all dogs, the rottweiler has guarding instincts but due to the size & power of this breed, like the alsatian, doberman, bullmastiff & other large breeds, man has used & trained this highly intelligent breed as a working guard dog including their use of guarding & herding cattle. Some rottweiler enthusiasts have used this powerful dog to pull small carts & many rottweilers have entered dog shows like many breeds of dog. As many of you will agree, like other dog breeds, a rottweiler is a very loyal pet if given correct training, stimulation & socialisation. Remember, you as an owner are the pack leader so the dog should look upon you to be the closest to its canine leader as dogs descend from wolves.

Tail-Docking: Docking meaning a portion of the tail or the whole tail being removed. This was originally used for working dogs, as the tail could become dirty or damaged but it has become popular for cosmetic purposes & has been popular in show dogs for many years. Tail Docking is carried out when puppies are 3-5 days old. The docking of the tail is carried out by first shaving between the bottom of the tail & the stump. The tail is then docked in the appropriate area & the stump is then stitched. However, tail-docking is now strictly prohibited in the UK unless it is for the purpose of working & show dogs. Proof of this must be attained & docking must be carried out by an authorised trained person & is applicable to all breeds. The law has re-enforced this as a result of un-authorised/un-trained persons taking it upon themselves to undertake tail-docking. Therefore many puppies were suffering.

Approximate Size: Bitches range up to 25 inches at the shoulder, Dogs up to 27 inches at the shoulders; 80-120lb in weight & they have a broad build appearance. Some specimens may differ a little out side this range.

Colour: Mainly black with tan markings. The under coat can be grey, black or fawn. The tan markings are usually round the mouth/face, lower hind & front legs. There are two small tan dots above the eyelids, two triangular shaped markings above the front legs on shoulders & a tan marking just below the tail or stump. 

Eyes: The eyes are usually almond shape, dark-brown in colour with an expressive appearance.

Ears: The ears are of medium size, pendant & lying close to the head. 

At my place of work, I assisted in caring for several dogs, cat’s & other animals. This is indeed very rewarding whether it is voluntary or paid work & it is rewarding to the animals in care.

In 2003-04, I had the pleasure of working at RSPCA with a wide range of animals. However; there was one dog I assisted in caring for. Fidget the rottweiler was about 5 years old when she was brought into RSPCA by our inspectors. The sad part was, Fidget had been tied up to a post in the middle of Birmingham & I understand she had been there for some time. To make matters worse, she had a litter of pups in a box with her. Sadly, the pups didn’t survive as I understand they had mange as did Fidget.

When I first saw Fidget, I was not aware of her circumstances. When I saw her in the kennel, it was clear she had recently whelped (given birth)  as I could see the teats & she had been docked. She also looked a little thin & she had bald patches relating to the mange & I instantly knew she was pure rottweiler. She appeared a little unsettled in her kennel & apprehensive of strangers. I instantly took an interest & liking for her as rottweilers & other pure breeds of dogs have always been of interest to me.

Later that day, I was looking round for her only to find she had been moved to another kennel block. When I saw her later that day, she was more content & eager to see me & I made a real fuss of her. As the days & weeks passed, I assisted in giving her medicated baths in order to clear the mange. It was interesting, as I had to ware latex gloves & other protective clothing while bathing her as I did when bathing some puppies with mange.

I had the pleasure of taking Fidget walks & putting her in the paddock for a run. When she was in the paddock, she was very lazy unlike other dogs I took into the paddock. Every time I called her, she would always come back to me. I would then make a fuss of her. She would rest her chin on my lap as she was therefore showing her extreme affection. She knew when some one loved her & it was apparent I was definitely one of her favourites. It always fascinated me to see her in her kennel, as she would often jump up, put her front paws on the kennel door & show her distinctive bark. I would some times spend time with her in the kennel making a fuss of her before going home at the end of the day. Again, she would show her extreme affection. When I was having a break in the daytime at RSPCA, I would find an excuse to pay visits to her kennel as I did with other dogs.

When Fidget came into RSPCA, we were not aware of her original name but when she was in her kennel, she would often walk round shaking her hind-quarters hence the reason why we named her Fidget.

However, in the three months she spent at RSPCA, she put on weight & her mange cleared up nicely. She underwent an operation to be spayed. She also underwent a few check ups from the vet, as did all animals in the centre.

It was discussed by RSPCA staffs if I had the correct living facilities; it was felt I would have been an ideal candidate to adopt her. This would have certainly made my day. However, in January 2004, she was re-homed & I’m sure she’s happy now all though I miss her so much.

Any time I see a rottweiler those fond memories of Fidget soon come flooding back. Fidget, you will always be in my thoughts for ever where ever you are now.