Anna Katherine Nicholas
The Rottweiler began as a droving dog and served an
important function in accompanying Roman troops during
their invasions of other European countries. Firstly
they were needed for their excellence at herding, due
to the need for food "on the hoof" and herding
was the best method for food transportation for the
troops.
When these troops reached Germany into the Wurttemburg
area where Rottweil is located some of the drovers dogs
and their offspring remained. The Germans appreciated
the dogs strength, stamina and ability to work calmly
and they bred and developed the breed we know today
as Rottweiler.
Breeders soon found another job which the breed handled
well, pulling a cart. The Rottweilers pulled butcher
and milk carts for many years and was known as the Rottweil
Butcher's dog.
Two separate strains were being developed.
The bigger, more muscular dogs for work with carts;
the smaller, more agile and less bulky were deemed more
suitable for herding.
The two size categories were bred as separate strains.
Performance alone was sought in smaller Rottweilers
with little concern for looks. In fact these dogs had
white collars, white chests, white spots or feet or
even red dogs with black stripes down their backs, or
light colored markings were known and accepted, while
the larger strain was always scrupulously correct in
color as we know it today.
The Rottweiler was owned by working classes who could
not afford to have useless mouths to feed. If the dog
could not be used to help produce a livelihood it was
unlikely that a large dog would be kept as a pet.
As the developing railroads and regulations resulted
in different methods to transport cattle and the job
of pulling milk carts was switched to donkeys instead
of dogs, the Rottweiler dogs lost two of their breed
functions and purposes and their loyal owners retained
their dogs as guards for their families and homes.
The Rottweilers use as a draft animal began to wane
in the early twentieth century.
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