The Rottweiler in Review - the book

It has been a while since we first came up with the idea of writing this book. Hectic work schedules, travels, seminars and family affairs have all hindered the working progress. There´s just so many hours in a day. Your continuing interest and inquiries about the book, however, drove us to go the extra mile to finally get things done. So, here we are back to work and keeping you posted on the process through this site.

The idea for this book came after we had written two comprehensice articles on Oliver´s thoughts on today´s Rottweiler, for various Rottweiler-related publications published by breed associations and kennel clubs, in several countries and various languages. The feedback we received and the interest and questions that followed inspired us to dig deeper into the world of the Rottweiler, as seen through the eyes of a longtime breeder, world renowned trainer, handler and Schutzhund helper. The main thread for this entire book is the subject of breeding. Issues such as health, character, conformation, shows and working abilities are all being reflected upon from that particular point of view. The reason being, that there will be no progress or development in the breed unless those very aspects are taken into consideration in breeding. Therefore you will find that a lot of emphasis is being put on the value of the breeding standard, breeding selections and the utmost importance of a realistic evaluation of breeding stock.

The Rottweiler was originally bred solely for his working qualities. He served his masters in herding, guarding and protection, and later became recognized by the German Policedog Association as a service dog. Today, in many countries, the Rottweiler has been replaced by shepherd breeds in service. Is there still light at the end of the tunnel for the working Rottweiler? What are his strengths and weaknesses in the world of working dogs?

Socialization and responsible ownership are also issues that are emphasized throughout the book. The Rottweiler is not a breed for everyone. While in the right hands a loyal, hard-working, honest dog and a great family dog, in the wrong hands, mistreated or neglected, a Rottweiler can spell trouble. The Rottweiler is a breed that needs to be treated with a firm yet fair hand, it requires proper training, lots of exercise, and a clear position in the social hierarchy within his family and the pack. It must be noted that having already been placed on the list of potentially dangerous breeds in some countries, any one negative headline for our breed can be one too many. Ours is a strong, intelligent and independent-minded breed. It deserves for us all, owners, handlers, trainers and helpers alike to pull together and work the Rottweiler to remain complete: healthy, beautiful and capable of working.

Oliver Neubrand

Tina Finn