How Long Do Female Rottweilers Live?

Last Updated on April 24, 2024 by Dr. Julie

All dog breeds have life expectancies, and those can vary between males and females. Learning how long do female Rottweilers live before you go out to get one is an important bit of information. In today’s article, we’ll be taking a look at Rottweiler’s life expectancy, whether there are any differences between genders, and learn a thing or two about their health in general.

Table of Contents

The life expectancy of a Rottweiler is, according to surveys, between eight and ten years. In practice, the numbers can vary greatly, as there are specimens that can live up to twelve years.

There is a difference between genders, though, as female Rottweilers are usually outliving their male counterparts for about 10 months on average, but possibly even more. This is why getting a female Rottie means that you’ll most likely get to spend more time with your dog.

The most likely reason behind this, even though we’ll go into this more deeply later on, lies in their weight. Male Rottweilers can weigh up to an astounding 135 pounds! Female Rottweilers, on the other hand, rarely weigh more than 100 pounds, but usually even less than that. Because of less weight, they apply less stress on their bones and their skeletal system in general.

Even though male weight in those high numbers isn’t excessive for this breed, it’s still a lot for their bones to carry, which can result in hip dysplasia. Males are also more likely to become obese and owners need to be more careful regarding their feeding schedule than with females. Obesity can lead to a plethora of diseases, such as early-onset arthritis.

Another problem is height – males are noticeably taller and wider than females. This rapid growth can lead to osteochondritis dissecans, a condition affecting the shoulder joints.

Read more about Female Rottweiler Weight Chart

Rottweiler Health

Rottweilers are generally a healthy breed. Comparing them to some illness-riddled breeds like the Bulldog will clearly show you that the very few problems that do occur with Rottweilers are usually a case of the odd-one-out. However, there are a few things to be aware of when raising these dogs.

Obesity

As previously explained, Rottweilers – especially male Rottweilers – can put weight on very easily and that can open Pandora’s box of problems. They’re going to put on plenty of weight in the first two years of their lives, which is completely normal as those are the years of their intense development. However, many owners continue feeding them like they’re professional athletes, and they end up with an obese Rottweiler.

Obesity is a gateway illness to heart problems and problems with the cardiovascular system in general, as well as orthopedic problems such as arthritis, heart failure, as well as reproductive problems, diabetes, and skin conditions. Rottweilers are generally prone to skin conditions, and that state is only fortified by obesity.

To avoid your dog putting on excessive weight, it’s best to count calories and make sure that you don’t overfeed them. Rottweilers are also very active dogs that love to burn calories, so it’s important to take them out for a run every now and then. They need at least one walk per day, but if you can take them for a run or a bike ride, they’ll enjoy it even more.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Plenty of large dog breeds are susceptible to dilated cardiomyopathy and Rottweilers aren’t any different. This is a disease of the cardiac muscle, resulting in the muscle being too weak to actually pump blood through the vascular system. A single, definitive reason behind it is still unknown, but it’s most likely a combination of predisposing genetic factors, a bad diet, and lack of exercise.

Since your dog’s heart can’t pump enough blood throughout your dog’s arteries, there’s less oxygen in your dog’s body. This leads to lethargy, a general lack of energy, and weight loss. It’s also possible for your dog to suddenly collapse, cough blood, and develop arrhythmias.

The only treatment available currently is through medication, in an attempt to improve the pumping function of the heart. Unfortunately, the prognosis isn’t good at all. Even though medication can improve life quality and prolong life expectancy in many dogs, there is still no perfected treatment that can completely heal the heart.

That’s why, for example, Dobermans don’t have good results after therapy, while some other breeds do.

FAQ

What do Rottweilers usually die from?

Rottweilers usually die from old age, which sometimes includes illnesses. However, your dog doesn't have to be sick to die. Some, lucky dogs, simply live long enough for their heart to become too weak to support them and it simply gives out.

Do male or female Rottweilers live longer?

On average, female Rotties usually live longer - up to 10 months longer than males. This is most likely connected to the fact that male Rotties are heavy (up to 135 pounds) and tall, so they're more prone to illnesses connected to body mass (obesity causing arthritis and diabetes, for example).

What age do Rottweilers usually die?

Life expectancy of a Rottweiler is from 8 to 10 years, but there are specimens that live up to 12 years regularly. This vastly depends on the genetic predispositions of the dog, as well as how healthy you're keeping them through feeding and exercise.

How do I keep my Rottweiler healthy?

The two most important things are a healthy nutrition and exercise. Make sure that you're not overfeeding or underfeeding your dog, make sure that they get the right nutrients, and make sure that they work out at least once a day.

To Sum Up

Rottweilers are generally a healthy breed of dog, but they’re prone to obesity if the owner doesn’t feed them properly and exercise them enough. This can shorten their expected lifespan, which is why it’s important to keep these things in mind. Female Rottweilers usually live longer than male Rottweilers, averaging a 10-month-longer life expectancy. This is most likely because they’re smaller and lighter than males.