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Many dog owners choose Rottweilers for their loyal, protective nature, viewing them as ideal for keeping the home safe. Many attacks and bites by Rottweilers occur either when the dog perceives a threat to their owner or because the dog’s owner has not adequately trained and socialized their pet.
According to studies, Rottweilers accounted for 45 fatalities in dog attacks over a 12-year period. While this number ranks Rottweilers second among dog breeds, Pitbulls and Pitbull mixes accounted for 284 deaths over that same period.
Because Rottweilers have one of the most powerful bite forces among dog breeds, they can cause severe, potentially life-threatening injuries in an attack. After somebody’s Rottweiler has bitten you, you may have a claim to recover compensation for your injuries and losses – regardless of the inherent dangerousness (or lack thereof) of the Rottweiler breed.
Are Rottweilers an Aggressive Dog?
Rottweilers have considerable strength and an innate loyalty toward and desire to protect their owners and families. As a result, Rottweilers can seem aggressive or vicious towards someone outside the dog’s home or the family it lives with. In response, some municipalities in the U.S. have barred residents from owning Rottweilers. However, with proper training and socialization, a Rottweiler will not show aggression toward people or other animals unless threatened.
How Big Can Rottweilers Get?
Male Rottweilers can grow to 24 to 27 inches and reach 95 to 135 pounds. Female Rottweilers can grow to 22 to 25 inches tall and reach 80 to 110 pounds. Rottweilers have three sub-breeds: German Rottweilers, American Rottweilers, and Roman Rottweilers. German and American Rottweilers have few physical differences. However, Roman Rottweilers tend to grow larger than the other two types of Rottweilers, potentially reaching heights of 30 inches. Contact our Denver dog bite lawyer today.
What Are Some Myths About Rottweilers?
Because some people perceive the breed as naturally aggressive or dangerous, various myths have developed around Rottweilers. Some of the most common misconceptions that people have regarding Rottweilers include:
- All Rottweilers are vicious. Although Rottweilers rank as one of the strongest dog breeds, they will not act aggressively or viciously if they receive appropriate training.
- Owners should keep Rottweilers away from children. If adequately trained, Rottweilers will show great loyalty and protectiveness toward children in their homes. They should also receive appropriate socialization to prevent them from showing aggressive tendencies toward strangers, including young children who might approach or touch a Rottweiler without first asking the dog’s owner for permission.
- You cannot properly train a Rottweiler. Rottweilers show the same ability and responsiveness to house training and socialization as most other dog breeds. Rottweilers have an extensive history as working dogs. Today, they work in law enforcement, personal assistance/service, and therapy.
- Rottweilers don’t play or work well with other animals. A Rottweiler that receives appropriate socialization training will peacefully share their home with other dogs. However, owners should be careful with smaller pets that a Rottweiler might view as prey, such as small cats, rabbits, or mice.
- Owners should keep their Rottweilers outside. Modern Rottweilers have become a friendly breed that prefers to stay with their family. Although Rottweilers need plenty of exercise like other dogs, keeping a Rottweiler outside and isolated from humans can lead to separation anxiety, depression, poor socialization, and destructive behaviors.
- Rottweilers frequently attack their owners. The Rottweiler breed’s traits include loyalty. These dogs do not turn on their owners unless abused or neglected.
Are Rottweilers Hard to Train?
Rottweilers have served as working dogs for hundreds of years. As a result, the breed has developed intelligence, high awareness, sharp perception, and loyalty (which includes eagerness to please). These traits make Rottweilers open to training and socialization with positive reinforcement training methods. On the other hand, physical discipline can trigger a Rottweiler’s protective nature that can eventually develop into an aggressive or vicious disposition.
How Intelligent Is a Rottweiler?
Canine intelligence comes in several forms, including intuitive, adaptive, and working intelligence. Many breeders and trainers rate Rottweilers highly across all categories of canine intelligence. As a result, organizations frequently choose Rottweilers for complex working roles, such as law enforcement, search and rescue, and personal assistance/service.
However, Rottweilers require lots of mental stimulation throughout the day due to their high intelligence and eagerness to please their owner or handler. They do best when they feel like they have a job to do. Rottweilers who don’t receive enough mental stimulation throughout the day can become anxious or destructive.
What Injuries Can Rottweilers Cause?
When a Rottweiler attacks a person, the dog can inflict severe injuries due to their size and immense bite force. A fully grown Rottweiler can even knock over an adult human if they charge them. Common examples of injuries that may result from an attack inflicted by a Rottweiler include:
- Lacerations
- Puncture wounds
- Bruises
- Broken bones
- Ligament sprains or tears
- Muscle or tendon strains or tears
- Nerve damage
- Severed blood vessels and excessive bleeding
- Neck injuries
- Facial injuries and scarring
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Dismemberment
Getting attacked by a Rottweiler can also cause an attack victim emotional and mental distress for months or years afterward. A dog bite victim can experience depression, anxiety, and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or develop new phobias of Rottweilers or dogs in general.
A dog bite can cause other health complications. Dog saliva can carry various bacteria that may infect the bite wound. Rottweilers without required vaccinations may also carry viruses such as rabies that require a bite victim to undergo preventive medication or treatment for an infection.
Contact a Colorado Dog Bite Lawyer
When you’ve gotten hurt after someone’s Rottweiler attacked you, get the legal help you need to pursue compensation for your injuries and losses. Contact The Wilhite Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation. One of our Colorado dog bite injury attorneys could explain your options and discuss how we can help you pursue the money you need to recover from a devastating animal attack.
