| Burnsway,
Oh, there are a lot of pages out there on the Rotts history. Unfortunately, they all say just about the same thing. I'm trying to get beyond that by finding out if anyone knows the little tidbits of information that exists that isn't described in almost every detail of the history of the Rottweiler.
To sum up, most articles say the Rottweiler is descended from the mastiff dogs brought by the Romans over the Alps. The Romans used them as drovers, cattle and depot guards, prisoner guards, etc. These dogs eventually settled in southern Germany, bred with some of the local dogs there, and became what we now know as our Rottweiler. Those Germans used them as herding dogs, carting dogs, guard dogs (putting the bag of coins around their necks, etc.). In the 19th century, at the advent of the railroad, herding with dogs wasn't necessary and carting with dogs was made illegal, so the breed almost became extinct until some police agencies found out they made good police dogs. Then, the breed started to become revitalized in the 20th century.
That's the story that 99% of those 13 thousand pages tell. However, I have come across some tidbits of interest, some discrepancies to the standard story, and some folktales that are very interesting. And they all piece together the "story" of the breed. But, they are so intersparsed, it's hard to find them. So, I was hoping others out there would have some to share.
Let me give you an example of what I mean. And these don't have to be "Truth" with a capital T either. Again, legend, etc., is fine.
1. The Rottweiler WAS the breed brought over by the Romans
2. The Rottweiler was used to fight lions and tigers in gladiator fights.
3. Rottweilers were outfitted in armor and sent to battle by the Romans against opposing armies.
4. Rottweilers with spike collars were sent into battle by the Romans to fight dogs of opposing armies.
etc., etc., etc. . . .
None of this is used to condone the use of the Rottweiler in war or in brutality, it's just to find out what the breed's understood history/folklore is. I do know that there is an exhibit at the Smithsonian of a Roman-era dog-armor suit, so that folk-tale may not be far off.
Don't let the cursory story be enough. I'll do the research to and report my findings to this thread as well because I think that we should all have a better knowledge of the Rottie's history. And by the way, thanks for showing the Google search. A much better search than Hotbot.  |