Rottweilers as K9 Partners ( Polce Dog)

[JOE G]

Just Wondering, I haven't seen many in a while, worked with a NYSP Bomb dog that was a Rottweiler and he seemed to be a great dog.

What do you guys think of them? Should they be used more or less?

[FL Cracker]

I was going to bring one up as a USAR K9...since I was with FLTF-3....and had multiple trainers available to me...facilities....and so on. The problem here in FL is the heat.....Rotties are not long on stamina in the summer heat....here they have a short outdoor ability. Most USAR dog's are German Shorthair Pointers....Labs....our PD uses German Shepard's from Belgium. I would say it depends where they would primarily work...but given the Rottweiler being a working breed...would say that they could be trained to do the job....and do it well.
Probably where they fall short is the pounding from impact, agility, running, and so on. A solid and proven pedigree would be imperative. Certified hip's, elbow's, ect are a must.
I think they would make one heck of a great partner.

[RottiMomCT]

I know of a SAR police dog in Vermont. This is the handlers second SAR Rottweiler.

Her is Dugan's page: Esmond Rottweilers - Esmonds Sixth Sense CGC

[rottiesrule]

As FLCracker said, they aren't used that much anymore in the US because they lack the stamina that a GSD or Malinois has. But in Germany, they are still used in police work.

[RottiMomCT]

They need the little ones <LOL> The ones that are not 'up to breed standard' but are well bred.

Neelah has as much stamina as a GSD or Malinois - she's got a deep narrow chest, and she's well muscled and healthy at 67 pounds...but she doesn't have the temperament for police work or Schutzhund...but obedience/agility, yes!

[rottiesrule]

Anne, Neelah sounds like a pistol, lol!

[RottiMomCT]

Anne, Neelah sounds like a pistol, lol!

She sure is...BOTH of the girls are! What they lack in size they more than make up for in attitude and insanity!

I stayed at a friends house and took care of her dogs and I had to laugh as her rotties are 'actual sized' and I joke that mine are 3/4 scale models! But, when they lay across your legs or put their head on your chest, you appreciate their smaller stature so much more!

[JOE G]

I have only dealt with one in person, He was a Bomb dog for the NYS Police, he was a dog that the handler had taken off the street and they took him and trained him, I had called for there help with some grenades that we had found and some other Bomb stuff, he was a great dog, I do think he is retired now He wasn't from the Zone I am in so I am not sure.

[FL Cracker]

From the AKC website under "Did you know"...

*The Rottweiler is one of the descendents of Roman drover dogs.

*About 700 AD the local Duke of Arae Flaviae (what is now Southern Germany) ordered a Christian church built on the site of the former Roman baths. Excavations unearthed the red tiles of Roman villas; to distinguish the town, it was then named das Rote Wil (the red tile), which is of course recognizable as the derivation of the present Rottweil.

*As the town increased in prosperity during the uproar of industry, the Rottweiler, called the Rottweil Metzgerhund (butcher dog), decreased considerably in popularity.

*Eventually, in the early 20th century, the reinvigorated Rottweiler re-merged as a police dog.

*The Rottweiler was admitted to the AKC Stud Book in 1931.

*The Rottweiler parent club was founded in 1971.

[JOE G]

That is what I have been told by a lot of the dog Guys in my Dept and others, GSD are the Most Popular around here, the state has one Mal in this zone I tracked with him a few times and he tracked a guy from a home though the woods though a Home Depot then though the parking lot of a staples and Shop Rite right into a McDonalds, About a half mile total though a very people heavy area.