is it true that the rottweiler came from the dobermann?

Question

someone said to my mom that the rottweiler is a mix between a dobermann and another dog and that because of this the brain of the rottweiler tends to grow which causes the dog to become crazy and dangerous. this sounds like a big load of bull.

is it true that rottweilers have a tendency to betray their owners?

Answer 1

I have heard the whole Rottweilers will turn on their owners because their brains get too big for their heads thing from many people and I do not believe it. I have 2 Rotties, an 8.5 year old male and a 4 year old female and they are both just the sweetest dogs ever. In fact they are both big babies. Now the male would probably give his life to protect me but he would never hurt me.

Answer 2

That is the most rediculous load of bull. Dog's brains do not continue to grow. Their brains work like every other dog. They also have no more tendency to turn on their owner as any other dog. All dogs are the same species, so there are no breed specific stereotypes that are true.
The rottweiler is descended from the italian mastiff, not the dobermann.

Answer 3

It's the other way around. The Rottweiler is a descendant of ancient Roman drover dogs, not of the Doberman. However, the Doberman is combination of several dog breeds, most notably the Rottweiler and various types of terriers ("Pinscher" means "terrier" in German). If you look at photographs of early Dobermans, they look essentially like coarse versions of the Rottweiler. Rottweilers were and are true working dogs. People's lives depended on these dogs. Rottweilers are highly intelligent and are extremely loyal and affectionate dogs. Whoever said otherwise betrays only ignorance on their part.

Answer 4

It's the other way around. Dobermann is a relatively new breed (about 150 years old). It was created from a number of breeds probably including rottweiler and minature pincher among other breeds by a German tax collector/dog warden to accompany him on his rounds. It is said that Dobermanns go crazy because the brain is too large but at this point I consider that simply an urban myth.

In the 1970's there were a lot of stories of Dobermanns turning on their owners but it was a case of dogs that had been trained by someone else and sold as a "guard" dog. Dobes bond to one or a few people. After this time Dobermann breeders went out of their way to only breed stable dogs to stable dogs to stop this kind of behavior. The Dobermann of today tends to be a big gentle dog.

Answer 5

I think any one who says rottweilers betray their owners should go to ****** hell. Thats not even funny. Thats like saying irish kids betray their mom. Last month my rottweiler rocky got shot in the spine by a hunter and he had to be put to sleep. It's because of irresponsible dog owners that rotties get their bad name from. And no the rottweiler did not come from the doberman if you weren't ignorant then you would know that the doberman camae after the rottweiler.

Answer 6

Many people believe the Rottweiler to be descended from a Mastiff type dog which the Romans used when they conquered Europe. The Romans used these dogs primarily for herding the cattle and sheep needed as food for their armies. The modern breed of Rottweiler is believed to have been developed in Germany in a district known as Rottweil, hence the name Rottweiler. The Germans used these dogs as herd dogs for their farming animals. The early Rottweilers also were worked as beasts of burden, carrying wood and other products to market. In addition, they were used as draft animals to pull carts filled with various products for their owners. During the first and second World Wars, Rottweilers were put into service as war time guard animals.

Currently they are frequently used as guard and police animals. Some people have trained these fine animals to be hostile and many sad stories have resulted from these situations. However, a Rottweiler which has been properly trained, will be as gentle as any other breed of dog.

The Rottweiler is a very intelligent dog with a strong desire to please it's master. Rottweilers crave attention, they are very loyal, and devoted. If they sense that their family is in eminent danger, they will defend their family just as any other dog would do. As with any other large dog, the Rottweiler requires a dominant master who is familiar with handling large dogs. Any dog, which is not properly trained, can and may challenge the authority of their handler.

A Rottweiler is a powerful animal and cannot be allowed to dominate. They must be taught who the master is. Once they understand who is master, they willingly submit to the authority of their handler.

Answer 7

Rotties are incredibly sweet, loyal dogs. They do not "betray" their owners -- since that would completely go against everything that they were bred for!

As others have mentioned, they are not descended from the Doberman -- in fact, it's more likely that the Doberman was created in part by using the Rottweiler (see http://www.akc.org/breeds/doberman_pinscher/history.cfm )

I just wanted to point out that the whole "Dobermans' brains outgrowing the skull" thing is just insane. See the following for discussion of the myth:
http://www.dpcc.ca/dpcc-factsandmyths.htm

Answer 8

The Rottweiler is probably descended from the Italian Mastiff.

The Rottie is calm, trainable, courageous, and devoted to their owner and family. They have a reliable temperament. Protective, he will defend his family fiercely.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/rottweiler.htm

Doberman is a breed of relatively recent origin. It was developed in Germany in the 1860's, presumably by crossing among German Pinschers with Rottweilers, Beauceron, Pinschers, Greyhounds and English Greyhound to create the sleek and highly intelligent Doberman Pinscher.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/doberman.htm

Answer 9

No--Rottys are a pure breed and are not related to a Doberman. Rottys are NOT crazy and not dangerous. I have had 6 Rottys now, and they are the sweetest dogs in the world, depending on how well they are treated--just like any other dog of any other breed. A rotty is very loyal to their owners--it is all crap that you heard, but that is how untrue things get started,and can ruin a dogs name.

Answer 10

No. Not true. Here's the history of the breed

http://www.akc.org/breeds/rottweiler/history.cfm