Last Updated on July 23, 2021 by
How much do Rottweilers shed? Are these lovely large-sized dogs low-maintenance or massive shedders – and what can you do to help lessen the load?
Allergies and general mess are some concerns new dog owners have when shopping for a new pet. This is an important consideration for any household that will do the same. You need to look at each person’s needs and weaknesses in order to have harmony with your pet at home.
What should you know about the Rottweiler shedding season? Read on to learn more.
Table of Contents
The Rottweiler Coat
Rottweilers have a very distinct look and appearance. Before getting one of these breeds, you need to be aware of the properties of its wonderful coat.
Rottweiler Coat Colors
The classic Rottweiler is short-haired, sporting a lustrous black coat with rust markings. Sometimes you may see variations of colors in the markings, such as others in the brown family, namely mahogany and tan. However, the shiny black coat has become standard to the entirety of the Rottweiler breed.
While there may be breeders that try to convince you they have rare colors of Rottweilers, take these claims with a grain of salt. These are likely to be breed mixes that inherited the coat of their other non-Rottweiler breed parent. If it is important for you to have a purebred Rottweiler, you need to keep this in mind. Otherwise, a mix may serve you well.
Rottweiler Coat Type
Rottweilers have a smooth, short-haired double-coat. This means that the coat is composed of two different layers. First, closer to the skin, is an undercoat that is composed of shorter hairs. Second, an overcoat grows over this first layer of hair and acts as a guard coat for the rest of the body. They can appear even denser and fluffier because of this double layer. This also means it takes more work to maintain.
The coat of a Rottweiler overall is very dense. You will notice this as soon as you stroke their lovely fur. They are already a very muscular breed, but the hair adds quite a bit to their heft and size.
While short coats may sound more manageable than long ones, do not be fooled. They still shed and can leave lots of hair around.
Do Rottweilers Shed?
While Rottweilers do shed, it does not necessarily make such a huge mess compared to other breeds. According to the American Kennel Club, Rottweilers score a 3 out of 5 for their shedding level criteria. This standard is scored from 1 (which means no shedding) to 5 (which means hair everywhere)!
How Much Do Rottweilers Shed?
Given the American Kennel Club’s score, just how much hair should we expect a regular Rottweiler to leave all over the home?
A Rottweiler will shed all throughout the year, although the fallout will be manageable. Given their naturally short hair coat, it should not be a huge headache to handle.
However, come spring and autumn, you should get ready to get to work. At this time, they are preparing for the upcoming changes in the weather due to the switch in season. This mechanism helps them be cooler at the appropriate time. They will be losing hair in huge clumps that you will have to clean up!
This process is called “blowing coat” and simply describes this switch. No, you should not expect your Rottweiler to literally blow off their old coat with their breath upon Spring! This is typical behavior for many dogs so you should not be alarmed.
How Does A Rottweiler Coat Compare To Other Breeds?
There are dogs that do not shed. This includes hypoallergenic favorites like the Bichon Frise, Maltese, Poodles, Shih Tzus, and a large handful from the Terrier Group.
Compare this to dogs that shed a lot! This includes Siberian Huskies, Chow chows, Alaskan Malamutes, and other heavily coated large-sized dogs. They will be leaving a trail of fur wherever they go, especially after the winter season.
Read more about: Dogs Similar To Rottweilers: A Definitive List
How bad do Rottweilers shed? Rottweilers sit somewhere in the middle.
Is The Rottweiler A Hypoallergenic Dog?
Many people consider some dog breeds “hypoallergenic” simply because they do not shed a lot. However, this may be a critical health mistake.
This term is usually used in marketing certain breeds, in order to make them more attractive to certain markets. However, allergen researchers have not seen any hard evidence that these dog coat breeds have any less effect on allergic people.
If we consider a “hypoallergenic dog” a dog that does not shed or sheds very little, then a Rottweiler does not fit this category.
How Do You Handle A Shedding Rottweiler?
If you had not anticipated having to consistently clean up after your Rottweiler’s shedding, here are some tips to help you manage the load. The important thing to consider is the reasons why your dog is shedding so much.
Perhaps it’s because of the season. In this case, there is not much you can do, but be prepared with a good vacuum! This will help you pick up more pieces easily and avoid a clumpy mess altogether.
Perhaps it’s because of anxiety. Dogs are known to be emotionally and psychologically affected by various factors. If there is something scaring or worrying them, this may affect them physically. Try to zero in on what is making your pet stressed out and help calm them down.
How Often Should A Rottweiler Be Groomed?
The Rottweiler is as low maintenance of a dog as they come. Their beautiful coat does not need a lot of work and would take a monthly schedule to maintain.
It is a good habit to brush your Rottweiler weekly. While matting and mess is not likely to harm your dog’s coat, you can encourage growth via brushing. The brush can help the circulation in your dog’s body, and they may find the sensation relaxing. You will also help remove more hair stuck amongst the dense double-coat.
Another good habit to maintain is to encourage a healthy diet for your Rottweiler. Nutrition via diet is critical for a beautiful coat. If you find your Rottweiler’s coat is duller than usual, then there may be something wrong with your dog’s health.
And there you have it – the ROttweiler’s beautiful coat will be shed throughout the year. It will be at the heaviest shedding at the turn of the seasons. Despite this schedule, they leave a moderate mess around the home because of their short-haired double-coat.
Do you have some great hacks for handling pet hair shedding all over your home? Share it with us and leave a comment!