Are Rottweilers Good Dogs? What Science Says

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

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Introduction to the Temperament of the Rottweiler

The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Rottweiler out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.

In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Rottweiler based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Rottweiler breed.

We obtained our description of the temperament of Rottweiler by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.

The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.

Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Rottweiler.

The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.

The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.

The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:

  1. Aggression towards stranger
  2. Aggression towards its owner
  3. Aggression towards other dogs
  4. How well they get along with other dogs
  5. Fear of strangers
  6. Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
  7. Fear of other dogs
  8. Separation anxiety
  9. Clinginess
  10. Trainability/ Stubbornness
  11. Prey drive
  12. Excitability
  13. Touch sensitivity
  14. Energy level

In this article, we will discuss the score of the Rottweiler for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Rottweiler.

The summary table below shows the score of the Rottweiler for the different behavioral characteristics.

High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.

Behavior Score
Stubbornness 8.9 percent
Attachment Attention Seeking 61.8 percent
Nonsocial Fear 6.2 percent
Energy Level 55.0 percent
Prey Drive 44.3 percent
Dog Rivalry 38.2 percent
Dog Directed Aggression 36.9 percent
Stranger Directed Aggression 36.8 percent
Excitability 32.1 percent
Owner Directed Aggression 17.4 percent
Separation Related Behavior 17.3 percent
Touch Sensitivity 16.8 percent
Dog Directed Fear 13.6 percent
Stranger Directed Fear 10.5 percent

Note that with proper training, you can better your Rottweiler`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Rottweiler, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Rottweiler.

See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.

Are Rottweilers Aggressive Towards Strangers?

Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.

Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.

Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.

Rottweilers are quite a bit aggressive towards strangers.

This is because the Rottweiler ranks high for aggression towards strangers.

The Rottweiler ranks number 48 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.

This information is based on what 328 Rottweiler owners reported on the temperament of their Rottweiler in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rottweiler has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 36.8 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit aggressive towards strangers just like the Rottweiler are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score
45 Saint Bernard 39.9 %
46 Cairn Terrier 39.6 %
47 Redbone Coonhound 38.8 %
48 Rottweiler 36.8 %
49 Afghan Hound 36.5 %
50 Bull Terrier 36.5 %
51 American Bulldog 36.3 %

The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Dachshund
  3. Miniature Pinscher
  4. Dachshund (Miniature)
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. Siberian Husky
  2. Greyhound
  3. Irish Wolfhound
  4. Samoyed
  5. Black and Tan Coonhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most stranger-aggressive breed to the least stranger-aggressive breed.

Temperament of the Rottweiler

Are Rottweilers Aggressive Towards their Owners?

Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.

Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.

A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.

Rottweilers are somewhat aggressive towards their owners.

This is because the Rottweiler ranks average for aggression towards its owner.

The Rottweiler ranks number 53 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.

This information is based on what 328 Rottweiler owners reported on the temperament of their Rottweiler in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rottweiler has an owner-directed-aggression score of 17.4 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat owner-aggressive just like the Rottweiler are listed in the table below

Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Owner-Directed-Aggression Score
50 Pembroke Welsh Corgi 18.5 %
51 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 18.1 %
52 Schipperke 18.1 %
53 Rottweiler 17.4 %
54 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 17.1 %
55 Black and Tan Coonhound 16.8 %
56 Siberian Husky 16.5 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:

  1. Pekingese
  2. Basenji
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Lhasa Apso
  5. Alaskan Husky

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Pointer
  3. Irish Water Spaniel
  4. Rhodesian Ridgeback
  5. Italian Greyhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to their owners to the ones that are least aggressive to their owners.

Are Rottweilers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?

Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.

A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs

A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.

Rottweilers are a little bit aggressive towards other dogs.

This is because the Rottweiler ranks low for aggression towards other dogs.

The Rottweiler ranks number 79 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.

This information is based on what 328 Rottweiler owners reported on the temperament of their Rottweiler in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rottweiler has a dog-directed aggression score of 36.9 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit dog-aggressive just like the Rottweiler are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Aggression Score
76 Vizsla 38.3 %
77 American Bulldog 37.3 %
78 German Shorthaired Pointer 37.1 %
79 Rottweiler 36.9 %
80 Redbone Coonhound 36.8 %
81 German Wirehaired Pointer 36.7 %
82 Cocker Spaniel (English) 36.5 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Pit Bull mix
  5. Dachshund

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:

  1. Pointer
  2. Black and Tan Coonhound
  3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  4. Irish Wolfhound
  5. Keeshond

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to other dogs to the ones that are least aggressive to other dogs.

Personality of the Rottweiler

Are Rottweilers Afraid of Strangers?

Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.

Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.

Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.

Rottweilers are not fearful of strangers.

This is because the Rottweiler ranks very low for fear of strangers.

The Rottweiler ranks number 107 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.

This information is based on what 328 Rottweiler owners reported on the temperament of their Rottweiler in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rottweiler has a stranger-directed-fear score of 10.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are not stranger-fearful just like the Rottweiler are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Fear Score
104 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 11.1 %
105 Borzoi 10.7 %
106 English Setter 10.5 %
107 Rottweiler 10.5 %
108 Black and Tan Coonhound 10.4 %
109 Anatolian Shepherd 10.2 %
110 Fox Terrier (Smooth) 9.8 %

The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Chinese Crested
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:

  1. Old English Sheepdog
  2. Irish Wolfhound
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Siberian Husky
  5. Giant Schnauzer

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of strangers to the ones that are least fearful to strangers.

Are Rottweilers Afraid of Other Dogs?

Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.

A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.

Rottweilers are not fearful of other dogs.

This is because the Rottweiler ranks very low for fear of other dogs.

The Rottweiler ranks number 112 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.

This information is based on what 328 Rottweiler owners reported on the temperament of their Rottweiler in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rottweiler has a dog-directed-fear score of 13.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are not other-dog-fearful just like the Rottweiler are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Fear Score
109 Bullmastiff 16.5 %
110 Irish Setter 16.4 %
111 Black and Tan Coonhound 14.3 %
112 Rottweiler 13.6 %
113 Siberian Husky 13.5 %
114 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 12.9 %
115 Anatolian Shepherd 12.8 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Chihuahua
  5. Lhasa Apso

The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Ibizan Hound
  3. Eurasier
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of other dogs to the ones that are least fearful of other dogs.

Is the Rottweiler a good pet

Do Rottweilers Have Non-Social Fears?

Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.

Rottweilers are not fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.

This is because the Rottweiler ranks very low for non-social fear.

The Rottweiler ranks number 114 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.

This information is based on what 328 Rottweiler owners reported on the temperament of their Rottweiler in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rottweiler has a nonsocial-fear score of 6.2 %.

Other dog breeds that are not nonsocial-fearful just like the Rottweiler are listed in the table below

Nonsocial-Fear Rank Breed Nonsocial-Fear Score
111 Chinook 12.9 %
112 Schipperke 12.5 %
113 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 12.0 %
114 Rottweiler 6.2 %
115 Portuguese Water Dog 6.1 %
116 English Setter 6.0 %
117 Rhodesian Ridgeback 5.9 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Dingo
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. English Bulldog
  5. Italian Greyhound

The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Siberian Husky
  3. Irish Setter
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations to the ones least fearful of unfamiliar situations.

Do Rottweilers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?

Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.

These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.

Rottweilers are somewhat competitive when dealing with other dogs.

This is because the Rottweiler ranks average on dog rivalry.

The Rottweiler ranks number 64 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.

This information is based on what 328 Rottweiler owners reported on the temperament of their Rottweiler in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rottweiler has a dog-rivalry score of 38.2 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat competition-driven just like the Rottweiler are listed in the table below

Dog-Rivalry Rank Breed Dog-Rivalry Score
61 German Shepherd 38.6 %
62 American Pit Bull Terrier 38.3 %
63 Pit Bull 38.3 %
64 Rottweiler 38.2 %
65 Shetland Sheepdog 38.0 %
66 Akita 36.9 %
67 Shih Tzu 36.4 %

The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Miniature Pinscher
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. French Bulldog
  5. Treeing Walker Coonhound

The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Saint Bernard
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Scottish Terrier

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.

The Rottweiler. Is it aggressive?

Are Rottweilers Easy to Train?

Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.

Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.

Rottweilers are very much easy to train.

This is because the Rottweiler ranks very high for trainability.

The Rottweiler ranks number 8 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.

This information is based on what 328 Rottweiler owners reported on the trainability of their Rottweiler in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rottweiler has a trainability score of 91.1 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much easy to train just like the Rottweiler are listed in the table below

Trainability Rank Breed Trainability Score
5 Irish Water Spaniel 95.0 %
6 Portuguese Water Dog 91.9 %
7 Australian Cattle Dog 91.8 %
8 Rottweiler 91.1 %
9 Australian Shepherd 91.0 %
10 Australian Kelpie 91.0 %
11 Belgian Sheepdog 90.8 %

The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:

  1. Belgian Tervuren
  2. Belgian Malinois
  3. Border Collie
  4. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
  5. Irish Water Spaniel

The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:

  1. Dingo
  2. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  3. Basenji
  4. Afghan Hound
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are easiest to train to the ones that are most difficult to train.

Learn more about how intelligent the Rottweiler is and how the intelligence of the Rottweiler affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Rottweiler is.

Do Rottweilers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?

Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.

Rottweilers are a little bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.

This is because the Rottweiler ranks low for small-pet-chasing.

The Rottweiler ranks number 77 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.

This information is based on what 328 Rottweiler owners reported on the temperament of their Rottweiler in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rottweiler has a chasing score of 44.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Rottweiler are listed in the table below

Chasing Rank Breed Chasing Score
74 Cardigan Welsh Corgi 45.0 %
75 Portuguese Water Dog 44.6 %
76 Bull Terrier 44.3 %
77 Rottweiler 44.3 %
78 Yorkshire Terrier 43.5 %
79 Norwegian Elkhound 42.8 %
80 Chinook 42.1 %

The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Basenji
  2. Dingo
  3. Ibizan Hound
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Borzoi

The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Pug
  2. Bulldog
  3. Shih Tzu
  4. Bernese Mountain Dog
  5. Great Pyrenees

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.

Things to know before getting the Rottweiler

Do Rottweilers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?

Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.

These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.

Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.

Rottweilers are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking.

This is because the Rottweiler ranks high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

The Rottweiler ranks number 42 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

This information is based on what 328 Rottweiler owners reported on the temperament of their Rottweiler in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rottweiler has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 61.8 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking just like the Rottweiler are listed in the table below

Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank Breed Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score
39 Jack Russell Terrier 64.4 %
40 Flat-Coated Retriever 63.2 %
41 Schipperke 62.4 %
42 Rottweiler 61.8 %
43 Cocker Spaniel (American) 61.6 %
44 Havanese 61.6 %
45 Chinese Shar-Pei 61.5 %

The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:

  1. Poodle (Toy)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Australian Cattle Dog
  5. American Eskimo Dog

The dog breeds that are aloof are the:

  1. Norwegian Elkhound
  2. Borzoi
  3. Kuvasz
  4. English Setter
  5. Chow Chow

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.

Do Rottweilers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?

Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.

These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.

They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.

Rottweilers are not prone to developing separation anxiety.

This is because the Rottweiler ranks very low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.

The Rottweiler ranks number 108 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.

This information is based on what 328 Rottweiler owners reported on the temperament of their Rottweiler in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rottweiler has a separation anxiety score of 17.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are not prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Rottweiler are listed in the table below

Separation-Related-Behavior Rank Breed Separation-Related-Behavior Score
105 Irish Water Spaniel 21.8 %
106 Irish Setter 20.7 %
107 Cairn Terrier 17.9 %
108 Rottweiler 17.3 %
109 English Setter 16.6 %
110 Irish Wolfhound 16.6 %
111 Collie 16.5 %

The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:

  1. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Miniature Pinscher
  5. Australian Silky Terrier

The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Giant Schnauzer
  4. Eurasier
  5. Bernese Mountain Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.

Temperament Profile of the Rottweiler

Are Rottweilers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?

Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.

These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.

Rottweilers are not touch-sensitive.

This is because the Rottweiler ranks very low for touch sensitivity.

The Rottweiler ranks number 107 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.

This information is based on what 328 Rottweiler owners reported on the temperament of their Rottweiler in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rottweiler has a touch-sensitivity score of 16.8 %.

Other dog breeds that are not touch-sensitive just like the Rottweiler are listed in the table below

Touch-Sensitivity Rank Breed Touch-Sensitivity Score
104 Boston Terrier 18.5 %
105 Collie 17.4 %
106 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 17.0 %
107 Rottweiler 16.8 %
108 Irish Wolfhound 16.6 %
109 Akita 16.4 %
110 Airedale Terrier 16.2 %

The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  2. Miniature Pinscher
  3. Pekingese
  4. Australian Silky Terrier
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Pointer
  4. Gordon Setter
  5. Portuguese Water Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.

Are Rottweilers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?

Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:

  • going for walks
  • car trips
  • sound of the doorbell
  • arrival of visitors, and
  • the owner arriving home

Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.

Rottweilers are not hyper (excitable).

This is because the Rottweiler ranks very low for excitability.

The Rottweiler ranks number 98 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.

This information is based on what 328 Rottweiler owners reported on the temperament of their Rottweiler in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rottweiler has an excitability score of 32.1 %.

Other dog breeds that are not excitable just like the Rottweiler are listed in the table below

Excitability Rank Breed Excitability Score
95 Shih Tzu 34.2 %
96 Great Dane 33.0 %
97 Chinook 32.7 %
98 Rottweiler 32.1 %
99 Alaskan Husky 32.0 %
100 Chow Chow 31.4 %
101 Basenji 31.3 %

The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Borzoi
  2. Samoyed
  3. Great Pyrenees
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Anatolian Shepherd

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.

The Rottweiler

Are Rottweilers Playful? What is the Energy Level of Rottweilers

Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.

Rottweilers are somewhat energetic.

This is because the Rottweiler ranks average for energy level.

The Rottweiler ranks number 68 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.

This information is based on what 328 Rottweiler owners reported on the temperament of their Rottweiler in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Rottweiler has an energy-level score of 55.0 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat energetic just like the Rottweiler are listed in the table below

Energy-Level Rank Breed Energy-Level Score
65 Irish Setter 56.6 %
66 Siberian Husky 55.7 %
67 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 55.1 %
68 Rottweiler 55.0 %
69 Afghan Hound 54.4 %
70 Cairn Terrier 54.1 %
71 Pointer 54.0 %

The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:

  1. Belgian Malinois
  2. Belgian Tervuren
  3. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  4. German Shorthaired Pointer
  5. Ibizan Hound

The dog breeds that are laziest are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Anatolian Shepherd
  3. Greyhound
  4. Great Pyrenees
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.

Conclusion on Rottweiler Temperament

The temperament of your Rottweiler comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Rottweiler is exposed to.

You cannot change your Rottweiler`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Rottweiler to.

Exposing your Rottweiler to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Rottweiler to what you desire.

Again, with proper training, you can better your Rottweiler`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Rottweiler.

If you think the Rottweiler is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Rottweilers cost and Rottweiler puppy buying guide.

Also, see our list of reputable Rottweiler breeders in the United States and the prices of their Rottweiler puppies.