Is Bigger Better

[bob_whit]

Is anyone else tired of hearing this statement "I have one at home, in the back yard, that weighs 100 lbs(45.3 kg) to 160 lbs (72.6 kg). I have heard this statement quite a few times in reference to my dog. His working weight was 97 lbs (43.9 kg). Bigger isn't better, it's just bigger. The obsession with size goes into the showring in some registries in the USA.

[lindsey]

what is wrong with wanting a large rottie. as long is he or she is well cared for and has a
great temperment and that your understand that having a large rottie that their life is shorter and that have more medical problems. I don't agree however with people that boast the have a 170 dog who is grossly over weight and is a mean nasty guard dog this does bring down the quality and presentation of the breed.

[Carol Burke]

The AKC standard for Rottweilers calls for a medium large, robust and powerful dog that measures 24 to 27 inches at the shoulder for males, with preferred size being mid-range.
Weight for a dog of this size ranges from 100 to 130 lbs usually. When you get into dogs larger then this you are defeating the purpose of the Rottweiler which is a working dog. A dog in the 150lb weight range tends to be slower, less agile and unable to do the work Rotties are meant to do. Once you start breeding bigger and heavier you lose balance and type. It is a shame that we don't require show dogs to also have working titles as it would help to weed out temperament problems and oversize dogs.

[bob_whit]

Lindsey : I think the dog should conform to the breed standard.Yes temperment is the most important characteristic in thr dog.In our society bigger is equated with better and that just is not so.

[rottiholt]

99% of the people I know looking for a Rottie
puppy is NOT into showing it or working it. All they want is a companion a friend a bud.
So what is the problem with letting them have
their 170 lb (really probly 115 lb anyway) pet? I have not understood why people hammer
other people for different likes???????????
If we all liked the samething what a boring
world this would be!!!!

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[German Vanegas]

You can have your dog any way you like, it is up to you (individual freedom). HOWEVER, bigger is simply not better. Aside from being out of the desired standards of the breed, regardless of whether you want to work it and/or show it (the point is moot), as a GENERAL RULE, the heavier (overweight-fat-obese) the dog is, the more possibilities to develop serious health problems, while the dog loses stamina, endurance, and agility... what a shame that breed standards are ignored in pursue of "feeding" one's ego to have the "biggest" Rottweiler. In most cases, such chunky dogs look horrible, short of being confused with hogs!

[Orville Story]

Rottiholt,
If someone wants a large black dog there are several breeds that fit that bill. The standard is there to give breeders guidance, a blueprint on how to breed. If people choose to ignore those guidelines and breed muts what do expect the breeders that follow those guidelines do? Most will point out why it is a fault. I don't agree with breeding any dog away from the standard. So breed those large dogs thats your right, and I will point that dogs larger than 27" reflect poor breeding thats my right.

[Rrowl]

If everyone started breeding Whatever breed to suit their own individual taste, or FAD...and there are many examples for instance the White Doberman, the Long haired German Shepherd.
I mean.......what is the point? If they have to breed something that is AWAY from the standard because it is more to their liking, then they should go and pick a breed that CONFORMED to their liking in the FIRST place? Not change a whole breed just to suit their fancy. IE "Oh, I like the look of a *insert working breed of dog*, but I don't like the way they are so active all the time"
Nothing puts a bug up my butt more than breeders that state..."We breed *insert breed* that can happily live in ANY pet home" ANY pet home? Come on....not every breed suits EVERY person.....if one doesn't suit your lifestyle then why ruin it's orignal intent for your own vain-glory. Find one of the Myriad of breeds that DOES suit your lifestyle in the first place!

[Ct. Tom]

Bob_Whit,
I hate to say this and i'm sure to get some flak but the size thing enters into the German ring also!I really would have to see these dogs in person but some of the bitches in the klubschau in Germany also look leggy and big!I always thought since i was a kid the german's prefer medium size dogs?Well i guess the judges are at fault for putting up the real large dogs over medium size!Now with the dog base numbers, I'm afraid everyone is going to go with the higher no.'s and huge dogs and bitches?I love personally medium they just have an elegance about them and seem more athletic.Next year i'll be at the Klubschau to see for myself!

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Ct.Tom



[This message has been edited by Ct. Tom (edited August 22, 1999).]

[rottiholt]

First off I never said I bred large dog's. If
I want to I will. My choice. I was refering
to LINDSEY's post. I think all of you know to
well, not everyone has the same goal's as you
do. I am talking puppy mill's here. If a buyer is choosing a puppy from a puppy mill or whoever they are getting their puppy because they are looking for a BIG PET to be
their pal friend etc. then I say they are right to choose what they want. They are not
into the show ring they want a OVER SIZE dog
to walk & to love & show off.
So I say it is THEIR business to choose what
they want & not be hammerd by everyone cuz it
is to large. After all what are they gonna do
now have it put to sleep or take it back to
the person they got it from because you guys
are now telling them it is wrong????????????
I think they have learned from reading other
posts how you feel. I think you need to let
the heat off them cuz they love what they own
like you love your's.


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[Trish]

I too have a "HUGE" male and a even bigger female. My other female is small. At first I too thought that Rotties were 'Supposed' to be BIG. Until I looked at the AKC and German standards, only then did I learn what the standard is. Now my male is 10 months old he weighs 110 lbs, and he is not over weight, he has a distict waist line and you can see his last rib. My one female is even bigger, she is a year old, at 125 lbs, she is also 'NOT' overweight. I ask my vet all the time if their weight is ok.. my third female also a year old weighs 75 lbs. I like her the best, she is more active, has alot more energy, is bouncy and out going and much more muscular than the other two. I see it alot where people 'Look' for a Large Rottie. Nothing wrong with a large one, as long as that person knows that the dog is pet quality. Like me I learned 'after' the fact. So what do I do... put a bullet in their heads for being out of standard. I dont think so. No.... I neutered the male, and spayed the female. and cross my fingers that they dont develop hip problems. Keep the dogs for the rest of their lives. And if I get to a point some day to get another Rottie, I know better what to look for. Simple as that.

Trish

[bob_whit]

Friends, My interest was not to hammer anyone. After posting my statement and seeing Lindsey's response, I did a search and saw her post "Big". Lindsey, this was not directed at you. My statement was an expression of frustation with "I have one that is 100 to 160 pounds". My first rottweiler which I got in 1981, had a roach back and I got lots of unsolicited comments about his structuraL flaw from knowledgeable rottweiler people. That didn't matter, I didn't love him any less because of that. Making fun of someone else's dog is like making fun of their child - wrong. PRACTICE TOLERANCE.

[rottiholt]

Trish, I am so glad for your post :-) You made my day & a few other people who are like
I was at first not gonna say anything.
Size has nothing to do with problems. I have
seen the standard size one's fail OFA just
like a few of the big ones.
Personaly I have seen a few larger one's that
would make any male I have seen in the show
ring GREEN with envoy. Not over weight nice
top line & a to die for head.
I am NOT saying I would breed to them nor get
one for myself. I am simply sating that you
can will & do get bad quality pups from small
or large.
If people like you (didn't care that your pets were large) didn't exhist then our over
size Rotts would not have a home. I am glad
you loved them enough to fix them. You did do
the right thing.
Thanks for the post!

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[German Vanegas]

If anyone wants a giant dog breed then look into the English Mastiff, St Bernard, Tibetean Mastiif, Fila Brasileiro, Neopolitan Mastiff, Great Dane, American Bandog mastiff, Bullmastiff, and so forth; but PLEASE help to maintain the standards of the true Rottweiler, regardless of being kept as a family companion or not. This is the BIG problem here in America: an obsession with the unfounded belief BIGGER is "must" to be better... Bring a heavy chunky Rottweiler to compete with a performance type. I tell you in advance: there is no competition!

[rottiholt]

We were not discussing looking for a large
breed dog, nor were we discussing breeding
dog's.
Also Trisa wasn't intrested in showing her
2 large Rotts either. We were discussing
people who already owned large Rotts & how
they feel about their PET'S.
Thank you.

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