The Rottweiler is a member of the American Kennel Club's (AKC) working group of dogs, a collection of breeds that for centuries have served people as draft animals and guard dogs. The Rottweiler is a big, powerfully built dog originally bred to herd and guard other animals and property. A high-quality diet will keep your Rottie looking and feeling great.
Characteristics
According to the breed standard established by the AKC, an adult male Rottweiler can stand 27 inches high at the shoulder, with a deep chest that should measure a full 50 percent of the animal's height, and may weigh as much as 110 lbs. The bulging muscles, sleek, black coat and characteristic tan markings on the face, chest and feet make the Rottweiler look compact and energetic. Rotties generally are healthy animals, but common illnesses and conditions include hip displaysia, eye problems and cancer.
Dietary Needs
This big working dog needs a diet that will provide adequate protein and fat to keep his muscle mass and coat in good shape, sufficient calcium and other minerals to protect his joints and skeletal system, and a reasonable caloric count to help him maintain a healthy weight. A dog food that includes a judicious blend of meat, vegetables, fruits and grains will fill the bill.
How Much to Feed
In a document endorsed by the American Rottweiler Club, Dr. Tony Buffington recommends feeding Rotties between 1 and 10 years old dry food that amounts to about 1,200 calories daily, with a minimum of 60 g of protein. The label on your bag of dog food will tell you the calorie count per cup.
The simplest way to determine how much food your dog needs is to measure the food before you feed, and keep a close eye on your dog's body condition. A body condition scoring chart, which your vet can provide and explain to you, will help you make sure your dog is getting enough food to keep her healthy and alert, without packing on excess weight.
What the Dog Food Label Tells You
To find out whether your dog food is delivering good quality nutrition, read the label---usually it's on the back of the bag. Look at the Guaranteed Analysis to see what nutrients a serving of the food will give your pet, and in what proportions.
According to the Pet Center, an online animal health website, minimum acceptable nutritional levels are 30 percent for protein and 18 percent for fat. Preservatives should be naturally occurring, like vitamins E and C, and it's also important that the food contains some Omega-3 fatty acids.
The Pet Center strongly recommends a mainly meat-based diet for dogs, though not one composed only of meat.
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