The Rottweiler is a breed of domestic dog, regarded as medium-to-large or large. The dogs were known in German as 'Rottweiler Metzgerhund', meaning Rottweil butchers' dogs, because their main use was to herd livestock and pull carts laden with butchered meat to market.

This continued until the mid-19th century when railways replaced droving. Although still used to herd stock in many parts of the world, Rottweilers are now also used as search and rescue dogs, as guard dogs, and as police dogs.

The Rottweiler is one of the oldest of herding breeds, known as a mastiff-type dog that was a dependable, rugged dog with great intelligence and guarding instincts.

During their quest to conquer Europe, the Roman legions traveled in large numbers across the continent. The lack of refrigeration meant soldiers brought herds of cattle for food. Drover dogs kept the herd together and guarded it at night.

Around A.D. 74 the Roman army travelled across the Alps and into what is now southern Germany. For the next two centuries the Roman drover dogs were continually used in herding and driving cattle for trade even after the Romans were driven out of the area.

The Rottweiler is good-natured, placid in basic disposition, very devoted, obedient, biddable and eager to work. His appearance is natural and rustic, his behaviour self-assured, steady and fearless. He reacts to his surroundings with great alertness and at the same time even-tempered.

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