The Rottweiler is a dog with a privileged physical build, which attracts attention and imposes its powerful and elegant appearance. But without a doubt, the popularity of this breed is not only due to appearances. The Rottweiler reveals an admirable character, highlighting its remarkable intelligence and predisposition to training, being one of the most versatile dogs when it comes to learning new exercises, sports and activities. Not to mention the great sense of loy alty to their guardians and relatives, which makes the Rottweiler a splendid guard and protection dog.
However, we must understand that every dog, whether mixed-breed or of a defined breed, needs to receive complete and balanced nutrition, in order to fully develop his physical, cognitive, emotional and social capacities. Therefore, if you want to obtain a he althy and balanced Rottweiler, you will need to provide him with excellent quality food, taking into account his specific nutritional requirements. In addition, you must pay special attention to their training, early socialization and the basic care that these dogs require to preserve their physical and mental he alth.
If you are wondering how to offer the ideal diet for your rottweiler dog, this article on our site is perfect for you. We will explain everything you need to know about feeding a puppy, adult and elderly rottweilerDo not forget to consult your veterinarian in case of doubt.
The Needs of a Rottweiler
Knowing your dog and his specific needsis the first step in providing a balanced diet at every stage of his life. If you are the happy guardian of a Rottweiler dog, you already know that your dog will never go unnoticed wherever it goes… It is a powerful and athletic dog, with very well developed muscles, powerful jaws and an unmistakable wide head. Unfortunately, precisely because of its morphological characteristics and thanks to inappropriate handling by some owners, the Rottweiler is considered one of the potentially dangerous dogs in Spain and other countries.
But beyond their striking beauty and physical strength, Rottweiler dogs also have a noble, intelligent, calm, attentive and brave temperament. When they are properly educated and socialized as a puppy, they show great ease in learning a wide range of tasks, tricks and sports, resulting in very obedient and loyal dogs. For this reason, at present, it stands out as one of the most versatile and reliable dog breeds: in addition to being very popular as a companion and guard dog, it also performs with enormous success as a police dog, therapy dog, search and rescue dog., and as an assistance dog.
However, it is always good to remember that the behavior of each dog, regardless of its breed, sex or age, will depend fundamentally on education, the environment and the care offered by his tutor. A rottweiler needs to be socialized from puppyhood to learn to relate to people, other dogs and animals, their toys and their own home. In addition, the training of the Rottweiler will be essential both to keep it well stimulated, providing it with optimal conditions to develop physically, cognitively, emotionally and socially, as well as to teach it to respect the rules of its home and family. Remember that failures in the education of a puppy often lead to behavioral problems in the adult phase, and that correcting unwanted behavior is always more difficult than preventing it.
Despite its great strength and physical resistance, the Rottweiler shows a genetic predisposition to develop some pathologies. Like any large, robust dog that undergoes rapid growth, the Rottweiler is susceptible to some degenerative diseases, such as hip and elbow dysplasia. Their privileged appetite and tendency to overeat also leave them more vulnerable to obesity and digestive problems. Also among the most common diseases in rottweiler dogs, we can mention cancer, cruciate ligament rupture
Rottweiler Growth Chart
The Rottweiler is a large dog. Adult males usually reach between 61 and 68 cm in height at the withers, with an approximate body weight of 50 kg, while adult females measure 56 to 63 cm in height at the withers and weigh around 42 kg. Although his body is robust and muscular, his appearance must not be fat or coarse, preserving the elegance of the dog's postures and movements.
In fact, this is one of the canine breeds prone to obesity, so we must always pay attention to the weight of the Rottweiler in relation to its age, size and he alth status. When you detect any symptom of obesity in your dog, don't hesitate to Go to the vet to properly balance your furry's diet and exercise routine, in addition to checking his he alth condition.
However, always remember that prevention is the key to preventing obesity in your Rottweiler and maintaining good he alth. Next, we offer you a growth graph, development and weight gain of male and female dogs belonging to the Rottweiler breed:
Feeding a puppy rottweiler
When adopting a puppy, it is important to ensure that the weaning age is being respected before separating him from his mother and siblings. Prematurely weaned puppies are often more vulnerable to numerous diseases, as their immune systems are not fully developed. Behavior problems and learning and socialization difficulties are also common in dogs that have been separated from their parents early.
The only ideal food for a rottweiler puppy, during its first two or three months of life, is breast milk But if for For some reason you have adopted a lactating Rottweiler that has been prematurely weaned, you will need to provide artificial formula to meet its nutritional requirements. You can find it in veterinary centers and, here on our site, we show you some tips for feeding prematurely weaned puppies.
When a puppy is eight or ten weeks old, he is ready to start experimenting with new foods. Therefore, this will be the ideal time to introduce, slowly and gradually, the diet that we will prefer to offer during their childhood. Then, you will need to decide if you want to offer your rottweiler puppy a traditional and dry diet, which will have a commercial dry food and high-quality pâtés as the basis of its diet, or if you prefer to give him a natural diet based on his biological needs.
We recommend that you seek guidance from a specialized veterinarian, who will be able to better explain the pros and cons of both balanced food and homemade food for rottweilers. Also remember the importance of consulting your trusted veterinarian before introducing a new element or making any change in the diet of your best friend, especially at this stage so sensitive and important.
If you decide to feed your rottweiler a natural, homemade diet, you should consult a veterinarian about the beneficial foods you will need to offer, as well as the use of natural supplementsfor puppies to help prevent nutritional deficiencies and strengthen their muscles, bones and joints. The professional will also be able to calculate the amount of food and daily intake according to the development and specific needs of each puppy.
On the other hand, if you prefer the second option, you will need to choose a high-end feed, specially formulated for the nutrition of the puppies (labeled "Puppy" and "Junior"). To choose the best rottweiler puppy food, you should carefully read the ingredients of each product to ensure that its nutritional composition is highly energetic and contains the appropriate proportions of the 5 essential nutrients for the development of all puppies: proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates.
In addition, a Rottweiler puppy's infant nutrition should also contain an extra dose of calcium to prevent common degenerative musculoskeletal diseases in this breed. The administration of this supplement will need to be supervised by the veterinarian.
Although high-end feed should provide all the nutrients necessary for their development, the introduction of homemade recipes for puppies is highly recommended and beneficial to complement your best friend's diet, providing freshness, moisture, new aromas and textures. But never feed dry feed mixed with fresh or cooked homemade food, as they require different digestion times.
How much and how many times a day should a rottweiler puppy eat?
When guaranteeing a balanced diet for your Rottweiler puppy, it will be essential to offer him a high-quality feed, but also follow some guidelines when offering him his daily feeds. Commercial feeds usually indicate on the package the recommended dosesfor each dog, according to its age, size and weight. However, it is best to consult your veterinarian to ensure that your Rottweiler puppy is eating properly at each stage of growth.
Also, remember that you will need to evenly divide the total amount of food into several daily servings. You can find out how many times a day a Rottweiler puppy should eat below:
- 2 to 3 months: 4 daily servings
- 4 to 5 months: 3 daily servings
- 6 to 8 months: 2 or 3 servings daily
- 8 to 12 months: 2 or 3 servings daily
Feeding an Adult Rottweiler
When the Rottweiler reaches its first year of life, it is already considered an adult dog. At this stage you will need to receive specifically formulated nutrition, which will also last for several years. We will change your food labeled " Junior " or " Puppy " for a balanced food for large adult dogs, which are usually commercially labeled as " Adult ".
Once again, we remind you of the importance of having the advice of a veterinarian when choosing a good diet, but also, do not forget that the transition must be gradual. Discover on our site how to change the dog's feed progressively.
What is the best food for an adult Rottweiler?
Being a large and robust dog, with privileged muscles, the Rottweiler needs to consume high-quality and easily assimilated proteins, fats and carbohydrates , as these will be the energy base of your metabolism. The minimum percentage of protein in your feed should not be less than 25%, but carbohydrates should be moderately present so as not to favor overweight or intoxicate your body.
A good supply of good fats, such as omega 3 and 6, is essential to strengthen your cardiovascular system and stimulate your cognitive capacity. Already the fibers, vitamins and minerals are essential to optimize the absorption of nutrients, facilitate digestion, and strengthen your immune system.
To help you choose the ideal feed for your adult Rottweiler, we recommend you consult our complete list with the 15 best dog feeds available on the market.
To supplement your adult rottweiler's nutrition, it will be highly beneficial to add natural supplements and vitamins to strengthen his joints and prevent symptoms of musculoskeletal degenerative diseases. However, remember that the consumption of these supplements must be recommended and managed by a veterinarian.
How much and how often should an adult Rottweiler eat?
The appropriate amount of feed that an adult rottweiler should consume will depend on some variables, such as its weight, its size, age, the intensity of its daily physical activity or the quality of the chosen feed, among others. Therefore, it is best to have the guidance of a veterinarian to always provide a balanced diet to our furry in all phases of his life.
In general, it is recommended that adult dogs consume the total amount of daily food they need to meet their nutritional requirements in two or three balanced meals By dividing his food into two or three servings, we make the dog feel satiated for longer and not eat voraciously when receiving his food.
On the other hand, if you decide to offer your rottweiler a homemade diet, you will need to take into account his weight to proportionally calculate the daily kilocalories he needs to maintain his good he alth.
Feeding an elderly rottweiler
When your rottweiler reaches 8 years of life, he can already be considered an elderly dog. In this new stage of his life, you will need to change his "Adult" feed for a "Senior" one, always of high quality. In addition, you should consult your trusted veterinarian about which are the best supplements and vitamins for elderly dogs, which will help keep their immune system stable.
We will need to pay special attention to the nutrition of an elderly rottweiler to contemplate the natural wear and tear that his body suffers, leading to loss of muscle massand weakening of your bones and joints. It will also be essential to manage a he althy weight, which is why we will give preference to a high-quality feed, easily digestible and with a lower caloric index than balanced foods for adults.
Can rottweiler dogs benefit from a BARF diet?
The BARF or ACBA (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet is based on the balanced consumption of raw bones with meat and muscle (60 %) and lean and raw meat (25%), as well as moderate portions of vegetables, fruits, eggs and organ meats (15%). In addition to guaranteeing the origin and quality of the ingredients that we offer our furry friends, we must also remember that the bones are always raw, to avoid the risk of splintering and injuring their digestive tract.
Balanced BARF diets provide numerous benefits for dogs In addition to promoting digestion, optimizing nutrient absorption and helping to strengthen their immune system, they also facilitate the oral hygiene of the dog, avoiding the accumulation of residues between their teeth and gums and, consequently, preventing the formation of tartar. We should also mention that a natural, raw and fresh diet allows us to eliminate the preservatives and additives present in the feed of our best friend's diet, in addition to providing more flavor and texture to your everyday food.
Wondering if your rottweiller could benefit from a BARF diet? In principle, all dogs can follow a BARF diet and enjoy all its benefits. However, their guardians must pay special attention and have the guidance of a specialized veterinarian to adjust the daily amount of food according to age, weight, the size and energy needs of each dog, thus avoiding any nutritional deficit.
And if you are inclined to start your Rottweiler dog on a house-trained, natural and biologically appropriate diet, be sure to check out our BARF diet recipes for dogs.
6 tips to provide the best nutrition to your rottweiler dog
We hope that you have found in this article a complete guide to offer optimum nutrition to an adult and elderly Rottweiler puppy. Before concluding, we would also like to offer you some basic tips to offer your rottweiler dog not only a balanced diet, but also a he althy and sustainable eating routine.
- If your rottweiler receives a traditional diet (based on commercial feed), always choose products of excellent quality, which contain protein from Easily digestible animal origin. In general, low-quality balanced dog foods overuse vegetable proteins, such as corn, sorghum, soy and rice, which can causes gas, allergies and other problemsdigestive problems in your dog, in addition to poisoning its body.
- If you prefer a BARF diet, remember to pay attention to the food origin, preferring those that are fresh and organically grown. You will also need to pay special attention to the preservation of food to avoid the proliferation of fungi, bacteria, insects or other pathogens. We also recommend you bet on fresh organic foods.
- We must learn to respect the feeding times of our dogs, as well as teach them to respect when we are at the table. In addition, your furry friend should receive their food in an environment where they feel safe and comfortable to enjoy their food, without being exposed to high-stress contexts that have a very negative impact on their he alth and digestion, causing them to eat anxiously.
- All dogs need to learn to respect their eating schedules and not to scavenge or try to steal food from cabinets, tables or other household furniture. It will also be important not to reinforce bad habits or unwanted behaviors, such as asking for food while we are eating or trying to climb up to the table. Remember that if you train a puppy correctly, you will not need to correct bad behavior in an adult dog.
- An optimal diet should always be accompanied by a good dose of physical activity and mental stimulationto nurture the intelligence of our dogs. A Rottweiler who experiences a sedentary routine or spends several hours alone at home is highly susceptible to behavior problems, symptoms of stress and boredom. Daily exercises will also help your Rottweiler maintain a he althy weight, preventing obesity and its negative he alth consequences. On our site, you can find some exercise suggestions for rottweiler dogs.
- Last (and not least), remember that if your rottweiler dog shows loss of appetite or weight, digestive disorders, such as diarrhea, vomiting or constipation, do not hesitate togo quickly to the vet.
