rotties for endurance???

[joanne engel]

We have a three year old German Rottie and my brother-in-law has a three year old American Rottie. We take our rotties horseback riding withus to the mountains, but now his rottie needs surgery on his back legs. this vet says that rotties are not build for endurance and long distant running or walking. I have had no problems with my boy but I am wondering if it is wise to leave him at home this year when we go to the mountains to go horseback riding. Has anyone els been told that rotties cannot handle long distances? and that they are not made for distance?
I would appreciate any feed back.

[Ayoka]

Well to get one of the Schutzhund titles, AD, a dog has to be able to complete 20k....this is basically the human equivalent of a half marathon. I'd say that a healthy dog with sound hips would be fine. Perhaps your brother-in-law's dog had some structural/orthopedic issues like hip displaysia.

If you want to know about your dog and HD you shuld have him OFA tested. Your vet can arrange this for you. your dogs pedegree (if he's registered) should give you an idea of what to expect as these issues are known to be hereditary.

[rsaarinen]

If I remember correctly rotts were used to carry tools and heard in the roman period. I would say going over mountians and even just walking those longs distanced make them an endurance breed. They might not be able to run forever but there in my opinion a work horse of a dog. They have the desire to succeed I would say!

[joanne engel]

Thank you for your information. I have made an appointment for my boy at his Vet to check out his hips, just to be sure.
Thanks again
Joanne

[damp]

Originally Posted by Ayoka

Well to get one of the Schutzhund titles, AD, a dog has to be able to complete 20k....

Don't know about your rules... but I think you mistake AD with BH.
AD is an endurance test and has nothing to do with SchH nor admission to enter SchH. BH (in most countries) is required to enter SchH but it is not a SchH title!

joanne engel,
It never hurts to have your dog's hips checked... but sound Rottweilers with correct conformations (and temperament) have endurance and are better served being out and about than on a coach
Just pay attention to your dog and he will have fun!

[FredAl]

AD is a requirement for Advanced Breed Suitability Test, not SchH.

[Dugganmom]

I have an american rottie and he has knee problems..i think it has to do with how tall he got. His parents are standard size he just got tall and now we are dealing with acl problems.

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by damp

Don't know about your rules... but I think you mistake AD with BH.
AD is an endurance test and has nothing to do with SchH nor admission to enter SchH. BH (in most countries) is required to enter SchH but it is not a SchH title!

joanne engel,
It never hurts to have your dog's hips checked... but sound Rottweilers with correct conformations (and temperament) have endurance and are better served being out and about than on a coach
Just pay attention to your dog and he will have fun!

OOOPS my bad!!!!!!

[joanne engel]

I finally found out what it was that was wrong with my broth-in-laws rottie. His ligaments that hold his knees together, so to say, were shot and not holding anything. What they did was basically cut his leg in half just below the knee and put in a metal plate to hold the knee in the right position.

I guess it is not the distance that probably did it but was probably the climbing of the hills in the mountains, also jumping up on to things excessively, basically excessive use of the hind end for climbing, I guess. So I am not really sure I want to take my boy in case this happens. His hips are fine no probelm there.

[Mavides]

Originally Posted by joanne engel

I finally found out what it was that was wrong with my broth-in-laws rottie. His ligaments that hold his knees together, so to say, were shot and not holding anything. What they did was basically cut his leg in half just below the knee and put in a metal plate to hold the knee in the right position.

Welcome to the world of Rottweilers and torn cruciate ligaments!! I'm sure there are more of us on this board that have gone through with that than you would care to know! It's still up for debate as to whether it's a genetic issue or not...but I know of many dogs that have torn cruciates during normal activities as well as during extremely strenuous activites...and on the other hand I know many dogs that have done incredibly strenuous activities and never had a problem. Keep your dog in good shape, warm him up before activities and cool him down after and wish for the best!! (Oh, and you might want to start a savings account just in case...those knee surgeries are pricey!!! )

[debbiej]

I was at PetSmart once, and someone approached me and said, "oh you have an American Rottweiler. Well, I too have a tall rottie, but she is tall because she falls outside the breed standard. not because she is an "American" rottweiler. She has hip dysplasia as well. there is only one breed of rottweiler, and dogs are either in standard or out. Dogs bred in America can be the right height and weight and be very physically sound due to careful breeding and good genetic research. Whether tall or correct, a rottie that is conditioned should have great endurance. What no dog should do is go for a long grueling hike once or twice a year without building up to that level of endurance through regular exercise and activity.

[Stubby]

Originally Posted by debbiej

I was at PetSmart once, and someone approached me and said, "oh you have an American Rottweiler. Well, I too have a tall rottie, but she is tall because she falls outside the breed standard. not because she is an "American" rottweiler. She has hip dysplasia as well. there is only one breed of rottweiler, and dogs are either in standard or out. Dogs bred in America can be the right height and weight and be very physically sound due to careful breeding and good genetic research. Whether tall or correct, a rottie that is conditioned should have great endurance. What no dog should do is go for a long grueling hike once or twice a year without building up to that level of endurance through regular exercise and activity.

Thank you..


BTW, I have a Canadian Rott Does that open another whole can of worms?

[joanne engel]

Originally Posted by debbiej

I was at PetSmart once, and someone approached me and said, "oh you have an American Rottweiler. Well, I too have a tall rottie, but she is tall because she falls outside the breed standard. not because she is an "American" rottweiler. She has hip dysplasia as well. there is only one breed of rottweiler, and dogs are either in standard or out. Dogs bred in America can be the right height and weight and be very physically sound due to careful breeding and good genetic research. Whether tall or correct, a rottie that is conditioned should have great endurance. What no dog should do is go for a long grueling hike once or twice a year without building up to that level of endurance through regular exercise and activity.

Oh our boy is very well conditioned he rides with us on a reagular basis and also likes to run with the quad when I check the pasture horses each day. With respect to your comments on the "American" rottweiler, I always thought there was a distinct difference between the American and German, do the American's not have a smaller head with a longer nose than a German. I know there is a huge difference in our dog compared to my brother-in-law's dog, his dog's head is totally different than ours, his body is smaller and he is not as bulky either. I thought maybe they were different that is why I stated taht he is and American Rottie and ours is a German rottie in my first question.

[Dugganmom]

Originally Posted by joanne engel

Oh our boy is very well conditioned he rides with us on a reagular basis and also likes to run with the quad when I check the pasture horses each day. With respect to your comments on the "American" rottweiler, I always thought there was a distinct difference between the American and German, do the American's not have a smaller head with a longer nose than a German. I know there is a huge difference in our dog compared to my brother-in-law's dog, his dog's head is totally different than ours, his body is smaller and he is not as bulky either. I thought maybe they were different that is why I stated taht he is and American Rottie and ours is a German rottie in my first question.

I have a american rott and his head is smaller but his body is longer and he is really tall and big.... It is so funny to see the difference in my rott and my friends 2 rotts..she has german rottweilers they are all so cute though!!

[Paulos]

If your doggy was not born in Germany...it is not German period. Any dog in reasonable shape and good health can run for a long time at a comfortable pace. Can they keep up with horses? I don't know.