Last Updated on April 16, 2022 by
If you’re looking to buy a Rottweiler, you must know that there are different Rottie families, so you might be wondering about American Rottweiler weight, height, and other differences in comparison to the standard German Rottweiler. In today’s article, we’ll be exploring this separate group of Rottweilers to learn what makes them different from the original.
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Rottweiler Subbreeds
There are many breeders out there who would like you to believe that there are many subbreeds or groups of different breeds within the German Rottweiler breed. Although there are definitely differences between families, genetically, there’s no difference between German and American Rottweilers.
Some breeders nickname their Rottweilers, so the terms ‘Roman Rottweiler’ or ‘Gladiator Rottweiler’ are fairly common – but they don’t mean anything. For example, a Roman Rottweiler breeder will have you believing that Roman Rottweilers are a completely different breed.
However, these dogs are just a group of Rottweilers that happen to be larger and bulkier than the standard. This was achieved by singling out large and heavy male and female Rottweilers and pairing them. In theory, any Rottweiler breeder could develop their own version of the ‘Roman Rottweiler’ if they tried to do it.
So, most of these ‘different’ groups of Rottweilers definitely exist, but they’re genetically no different from the standard German Rottie and they’re just marketing scams that breeders employ in an attempt to have you, the buyer, believe that their dogs are inherently better than some other dogs.
What Are American Rottweilers?
American Rottweilers are a common group of Rottweilers that we mostly see in the USA. As we already explained, they’re genetically no different from the German Rottweiler. There are noticeable differences when it comes to their physique, but we’ll get to that later.
These dogs are so different from German Rottweilers because when the Rottweiler was first imported to the States, there weren’t many Rottweilers that could breed with one another. Just by chance, a large number of Rotties in the States were small for their breed.
Male Rottweilers can weigh up to 135 pounds and they’re usually about 26 inches tall, no taller than 27 inches.
Rotties brought over to the states were a bit smaller and they mated with one another – creating a bloodline with a very specific genetic trait – they’re genetically smaller than your German Rottweiler.
American Rottweiler Weight, Height and Physique
There are three important differences when we’re comparing the American Rottweiler with the standard of the German Rottweiler. Firstly, we notice the height and the weight.
Most American Rotties are a bit shorter and lighter than their German cousins. These differences can be subtle and very hard to spot, but there are male American Rotties that don’t weigh more than 100 pounds, which is very light for a male Rottweiler.
They can also be an inch or two shorter. There’s also the odd American Rottweiler that’s about the same size as German Rottweilers, but most of these dogs are shorter and lighter because they’re genetically conditioned to be shorter and lighter.
The second difference between American and German Rottweilers is their tail. In the States, the American Kennel Club dictates that the Rottweiler’s tail should be docked while the animal is very young. The German Kennel Club dictates that the tail shouldn’t be docked.
Of course, tail docking isn’t a genetic trait, but rather the choice of the owner. However, docked Rottweilers are very rare in Germany, while they’re very common in the States.
Learn more about: Why Do People Dock Rottweilers Tails?
Lastly, there’s a difference in price – German Rottweilers are much more expensive, and with good reason. Admittedly, German Rottweilers are a higher quality Rottweiler in comparison to American Rottweilers. With all due respect to the Americanized version of the dog – the Rottweiler is bred to be large, strong, and intimidating. The American Rottie loses a few points on this.
Aside from these few things, there is no difference between the American and the German Rottweiler – they’re the same dog, genetically, while the American Rottweiler is just a separate subgroup of the German Rottweiler that’s genetically smaller. A full-grown American Rottweiler is only subtly different from the German Rottweiler.
American vs German Rottweiler – Which Is Better?
If I want to participate in dog shows, getting a German Rottweiler is much better than getting an American Rottweiler. They’re usually born to a higher standard and they achieve the classic Rottweiler look much more successfully.
They’re also the better option if you’re looking for a guard dog because of their size. However, if those things don’t bother you, then there’s no important difference between these two Rottweilers.
Read more about: The Russian Rottweiler vs German Rottweiler
FAQ
How big do American Rottweiler get?
They're usually lighter and shorter than the German Rottweiler, but not by a huge margin. There are American Rottweilers that don't weigh more than 100 pounds, while the German Rottie usually weighs about 135 pounds. The exact size depends on the family you're buying from.
What is a healthy weight for a Rottweiler?
For males, anything between 100 and 135 pounds, while females are usually on the lighter side. However, males that weigh about 100 pounds are usually a bit too light, as Rottweilers should be large and muscular. Try to get your dog's weight up if they're too light.
What is the heaviest Rottweiler?
There's another group of Rottweilers called 'Roman Rottweilers' that were created by breeders through selective breeding of large Rottweilers. Some of these specimens can achieve weights of more than 140 pounds. This, however, isn't that healthy.
To Sum Up
Rottweilers are some of the most popular dogs on the planet, so it’s no wonder that there are different groups within the breed. The American Rottweiler is just a bit smaller version of the classic German Rottweiler. Aside from their size, their tails are usually docked at a very young age.
Genetically, there are no differences between these two dogs. There are also a few other groups of Rottweiler breeds, but most of them are just marketing ploys and there are no really important differences between these groups.