Do you thinK she'll get bigger?

[MicheleMarie]

I have a 9 mo female that stands (roughly) 21 inches at the withers and I was just curious if you experienced owners think she'll get much bigger? The reason I ask is because her obedience trainer at Petsmart said she's probably done growing. Large or small, it really doesn't make a difference to me, but I thought I'd read that rotti's continue growing until they're about three. She was adopted at four months and I was told she was the runt of a litter of four. Just curious...

[Alaskan]

All of my dogs including my two rotties have stopped growing at roughly 12-15 months of age. If I recall correctly my two rotties gained an inch of height between nine months and fifiteen months of age but then began filling out after that.:)

I'd say your female rottweiler might gain another inch in height but that still puts her within the breed standard for female rottweilers.:)

[LynnS]

Bella has definately grown in height from the time she was 9 mnths of age until now (15mnths)...she has just started to fill out in the last month or two...

Rotties can mature VERY slowly physically....your girl may still have a lot of growing to do =)...

[MicheleMarie]

Thanks for the replies...I'm not knocking my trainer, but I don't know how much experience she has with big dogs. We're on a waiting list to get into a really cool dog school, but after visiting this site and reading train, train, train, I thought a class at Petsmart would be better than nothing and she'd at least get to be around other dogs.

[Greg_1111]

Bigger is not necessarily better. They are just right however big they are. The larger rotties are more prone to serious joint problems which can really make their lives miserable and cause you a lot of grief also. It's interesting that there seems to be a misconception that the larger a rottweiler is the more status it has somehow. Mine is about 85 pounds and 34 inches at the shoulders. She is on the small side,,but I love her just the way she is:)

[Carina43]

Originally posted by Greg_1111
Mine is about 85 pounds and 34 inches at the shoulders. She is on the small side,,but I love her just the way she is:)

Greg, that is WAY tall for any sex Rottweiler! From the AKC standard:

"Dogs--24 inches to 27 inches. Bitches--22 inches to 25 inches, with preferred size being mid-range of each sex. Correct proportion is of primary importance, as long as size is within the standard's range."

Michele, yours may well increase in height a little. And I doubt she's done growing; 9 months old is still a pup. Greg is right that bigger isn't better, though - and the AKC standard doesn't mention weight but I'd guess 80-90lbs is probably about average for a medium-tall female. And as I understand it, the smaller puppies in the litter don't necessarily grow to be small adults; and the large pups don't necessarily grow into very large adults.

[RottiMomCT]

Originally posted by Greg_1111
Mine is about 85 pounds and 34 inches at the shoulders. She is on the small side,,but I love her just the way she is:)

Greg - I hope you mis-typed her height! 34 inches at the shoulder would make her almost 3 feet tall! That's one tall thin rottie!

My boy Ben was 22 inches and 75 pounds when we adopted him at 10 months old. He is now 24 1/2 inches tall and 83 pounds. Like you said, not the biggest, but I don't want a huge dog.

I live with a 27 inch tall, 120 pound rottie male - the big lug...it's a struggle to try to keep him lean (in-laws think 2 cups of food a day for a dog that gets no exercise, never goes anywhere, etc...is not enough). He should be about 115 - he looks OK now, but I think another 3-5 pounds would be good for him healthwise. God forbid he blows out a cruciate or something - they'll never know how to deal with it (I guess that's where I come in to the picture ).

[Greg_1111]

Rotti mom,, you are right, I don't know where I got the 34 from it's actually 24 at the shoulders. And mine did blow a cruciate while in a heat cycle. She will be having TPLO surgery in a few weeks.

[TrishB]

While it's true that the majority of the growing (in height) is done by 9 months, it is by no means finished. ;) You may still expect to see an inch or two. But it won't be at the same rapid rate that you've seen over the last 7 months.

Filling out is another story. Growing out, filling out / in will continue for the next 2 years! In fact, a male is often thought to be in his prime between 4 - 5. I know of one dog in particular that is now 7 and he's now within the last year earned 3 Best in Shows! :D

So we have a very slow maturing breed. Much like great wine - they take time! ;) :D

[Melanie01]

@MicheleMarie

My male is now 20 month old. His growing was very slowly and the last growing in the height was with 17 month. I think, you maybe should ask your breeder how it was at the other litters before.

I would glady post a picture here but I don´t know how it works.

[livertw]

Daisy, the runt of the litter, was so small that we called her our little pocket Rottie. But, she kept growing and growing...her development was slow and steady. At age one, she was about 22" and 64 pounds; at two, 25" and 78 pounds; her third birthday is Sunday, and she is now 27" and 88 pounds. That's one BIG girl! And we thought she was a mini-Rottie!!