Rottweiler

Expert Grooming Article

BA Rottweiler

Rottweiler

The Rottweiler is considered to be one of the oldest surviving dog breeds. Its origin goes back to Roman times. These dogs were kept as herder or driving dogs. They marched over the Alps with the Roman legions, protecting the humans and driving their cattle. In the region of Rottweil, these dogs met and mixed with the native dogs in a natural crossing. The main task of the Rottweiler now became the driving and guarding of the herds of cattle and the defence of their masters and their property. This breed acquired its name from the old free city of Rottweil and was known as the “Rottweil butcher’s dog”. The butchers bred this type of dog purely for performance and usefulness. In due course, a first rate watch and driving dog evolved which could also be used as a draught dog.

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The Rottweiler

The Rottweiler is considered to be one of the oldest surviving dog breeds. Its origin goes back to Roman times. These dogs were kept as herder or driving dogs. They marched over the Alps with the Roman legions, protecting the humans and driving their cattle. In the region of Rottweil, these dogs met and mixed with the native dogs in a natural crossing. The main task of the Rottweiler now became the driving and guarding of the herds of cattle and the defence of their masters and their property. This breed acquired its name from the old free city of Rottweil and was known as the “Rottweil butcher’s dog”. The butchers bred this type of dog purely for performance and usefulness. In due course, a first rate watch and driving dog evolved which could also be used as a draught dog.

The Rottweiler coat consists of a top coat and an undercoat. The top coat is of medium length, coarse, dense and flat. The undercoat must not show through the top coat. The hair is a little longer on the hindlegs. Their colour is black with clearly defined markings of a rich tan on the cheeks, muzzle, throat, chest and legs, as well as over both eyes and under the base of the tail.

When washing faces always use Plush Puppy Let’s Face It. This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed just for faces. It’s no tear formula features the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean, soothe, add moisture, aid healing and have anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. It can also be used in and around the ears with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows ease of rinsing, yet complete cleaning. Leave this on until all the shampooing of the body is done and then rinse off.

Start your routine with the focus on outcome for your shampoo selection.

As an energetic outdoors working dog, a Rottweiler is often exposed to the elements. For this use Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo. We call this the ‘Shine’ shampoo as it features natural Henna stalk extracts that impart a beautiful gloss and shine to your dog’s coat. All Purpose Shampoo is primarily derived from organic sources and also features Alpine and Lichen herbs. It is wonderful to use on normal to slightly dehydrated coats. Apply at a dilution rate of 1:5 (1 part shampoo to 5 parts water).

For coats that are dehydrated and faded, you need to add back the cool tonal qualities lost in the colour pigment from sun bleaching, or coat aging. Use Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo at a dilution rate of 1:5. Herbal Whitening Shampoo with Ginseng is primarily derived from organic sources with Ginseng extracts, protein, and violet tone combined in a rich formula. It works brilliantly to intensify darker colours by toning with optical brighteners. It will reduce any warm tones to intensify the depth of colour by revitalising any lost cool tones. Thus, a black coat will gain more depth and a red or brown coat will reduce its orange overtones gaining depth to the colour and reflection for a more brownish hue than the faded orange tone of a dried-out coat.

For really dire situations with severe coat damage and fading on a black coat, use Plush Puppy Black Opal Shampoo. After cleansing firstly with the All Purpose Shampoo. This is a black coloured shampoo for toning black coats, giving depth to faded coats and enhancing natural colour. It is not a dye but a strong stain that contains organic sources with herbal extracts and intense black tone. It will not dehydrate or alter the coat or colour. It simply deeply tones the coat colour. Use at a rate of 50:50 (1/2 shampoo:1/2 water) and leave on for as long as the dog will stay still before rinsing.

This is a hard working breed and often outdoors so we need to hydrate, moisturise and protect their coat. A traditional conditioner will flatten and make the coat generally fluffy and not as ‘smooth’ as required. Not ideal for this breed!

The answer is Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil. We cannot recommend this product highly enough, especially for this breed! It is a truly beneficial blend of using extracts of Calendula oil, Wheat germ oil, and Evening Primrose that will not only hydrate but also add shine to the coat. Do this after all shampoo has been rinsed thoroughly out of the coat, applying a diluted mix to the damp coat. Add 1 tablespoon to 4 Litres of water, then either sponge on or sluice well through the coat, down to the skin, and LEAVE IN. DO NOT RINSE.

This is quite a unique product in that it is not greasy and totally water-soluble. It gives an outstanding healthy vigour to the skin and coat. It will maintain the texture and moisture in the coat and help protect from the harsh outdoors. Use the oil at this dilution rate after shampooing for a show. Again LEAVE IN AND DO NOT RINSE. You will get a nice healthy sheen on the coat with this routine.

Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil is a Godsend to the Rottweiler exhibitor as it allows you to maintain skin and coat health without all the negatives of conditioners. You will be addicted to this product once you see the amazing results it gives not only short term but more importantly, long term.

We believe it is important to the overall result and outcome, to blow dry this coat weekly. Yes, we know, most people view the short coated breeds as easy no blow dry dogs but, if you can discipline yourself to doing this as a regular routine, shampoo, oil and blow dry you will never go through those moth eaten stages of coat shedding. The coat will surely shed but never the same as before, always now shedding smoothly and without affecting the overall show presentation of the coat. Use a cool strong force type dryer to get those dead hairs out. No amount of zoom or glove grooming will ever get out what a good blast can do. In between shows, your job is to maintain the health of the coat. If the coat dehydrates, then the coat will start to bunch and fluff up and not stay close lying as is required and desired.

For damaged or brittle coats, use Plush Puppy Coat Rescue. It has been specifically formulated to bring dry or damaged coats back to life. Coat Rescue’s naturally blended essential oils and pure plant extracts help restore strength and elasticity to dehydrated and tired coat hair. The treatment is exceptional on brittle coat hair. Infused with naturally blended essential oils and pure plant extracts including Kaolin, Almond Oil, Cinnamon Bark, Castor Oil and Seaweed Extracts. These extracts are designed to soak into the coat and to help repair by filling up the open areas within each hair. Apply liberally along the topline and head at a dilution rate of 2 tablespoons to 250ml water. Leave on for as long as you can before rinsing. Let the dog run around outside with this on for a few hours or, if you or the dog cannot wait, then a minimum of 10 – 15 minutes before rinsing. Do this once a week or fortnight and follow with Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil routine once more. Remember, we need to hydrate not soften and all these products will do just what is required.

For every day outdoor living, apply Plush Puppy Reviva Coat which is a leave in moisturiser, onto the body of the coat and legs. Apply a golf ball sized amount to your hands and rub in, repeat until all done. This is good for instant quick hydration without softening. It does not substitute for the Seabreeze Oil but is a good addition, especially if you have been tardy with your Seabreeze Oil routine.

So, show day has arrived and your Rottweiler is gleaming with vitality, a square body and well chiselled silhouette emphasised by a perfectly flat lying coat. You have cleaned up with the thinning shears if necessary, those stray tufty bits that can sometimes sprout around the rear end and tail. For those countries where a tail is required these days, then make sure the underneath is clean and smooth and the end hairs have been clenched together with a light twist and then trimmed off as close to the end as possible. No need to have a tail any longer than necessary!

Keep on hand Plush Puppy Wonder Wash to instantly clean up disasters which always occur within 5 minutes of ring time … don’t they just? Spray and lather up with your hands and wipe clean with a towel.

Lastly a quick spray with Plush Puppy Odour Muncher. It literally munches the odour and works well for smelly problems such as emergencies in transit. Leaves a light fragrance, certainly not too much and definitely not too little.

Finally, give the coat a light spray with Plush Puppy Shine and Comb to the topline, head and rear for a fine, natural sheen that exhibits those hairs of the coat to their utmost. Spray from about 12 – 18 inches (s30 – 45 cms) away and allow the mist to fall, and then run your hand over the coat to blend.

An amazing breed that presents perfectly is always a contender in any line up. No hair and glamour but that classic clean outline with the perfect looking healthy coat.

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