Becoming a new Rottweiler parent is an exciting time. Buying new toys, stocking up on food and treats, and making sure your new pup has plenty of comfortable places to sleep are all part of the fun. But you probably also have questions about the health of your new dog.
How can I tell if my Rottweiler is going to be big? Will my Rottweiler have a big head? When does a Rottweiler’s head fill out? These questions and more will be answered here.
When Does a Rottweilers Head Fill Out?
A Rottweiler’s head will start to fill out around the second year, but the body will take a little bit longer to grow because there’s more mass to develop. By the end of their third year the body and head should be about fully grown.
At seven months of age, your Rottweiler’s first growth spurt will occur. They may look disproportionate for the younger years of their life as some parts of their body develop faster than others. At about one year of age they will still appear this way, but they’re continuing to grow!
After a Rottweiler is 2 years old, their maximum height is usually reached and they will start to put on muscle. The head is filled out at this point, but still has the potential to change shape and size slightly as muscle is added. And finally, once your pup turns 3 they are now considered fully grown.
Their head and body should no longer seem lopsided and they’ll look stocky and strong.
Will All Rottweilers Have Big Heads?
The size of a Rottweiler’s head truly varies from dog to dog. They typically have a medium sized head, but there are some differences in Rottweiler’s from different countries. American Rottweilers tend to have slimmer skulls than European Rottweilers. There also comes a difference between male and female Rottweiler head sizes.
In most cases, a male Rottweiler will have a larger skull than a female one. This is mainly because male Rottweilers tend to be, according to the AKC, about 15-35 pounds heavier on average than females. When looking at European breeds, the German Rottweilers tend to have the biggest heads and stockier builds, underscoring the significance of rottweiler head growth.
This is mainly because they are purebred from the German bloodline and they have stricter standards for breeding. The Germans try to keep their Rottweiler’s as close to the original Roman Rottweiler as possible. Roman Rottweilers are close relatives to the Mastiffs that the ancient Romans had.
These dogs were bred as working dogs and would pull carts, guard front lines, and perform a lot of heavier tasks. These dogs had very large heads to match their muscular bodies.
Why Do Rottweilers Have Different Shaped Heads?
Besides the differences that European, German, American, and Roman breeds all present, there are some other reasons why a Rottweiler’s head could be a different shape than the one we’re used to seeing. A distinguishable feature on a Rottweiler’s head is their snout.
You will normally see them have a snubbed snout, meaning it’s pretty short in length. They are thought to be bred to have shorter snouts because Americans see that as a desirable trait in them to be good dogs with children. There are also Rottweilers that have a longer snout.
These dogs were seen as working dogs, such as police companions. They are usually less aggressive to strangers than snub-nosed Rottweilers and tend to cost less because they are not as popular. The difference in the shape of their head is mainly due to how they were bred.
As we said before, Germans are much stricter with their breeding standards and their dogs tend to all look more similar to each other, while American standards are looser which allows more variety in the head shape.
How Big is a Rottweiler’s Head?
The size of a Rottweiler’s head is mainly due to their genetics, so if you know the puppy’s parents you’ll have a good estimate of how big their head is going to grow to be. An adult male’s head will usually range from 13 centimeters to 15 centimeters in length.
A female’s head is almost always smaller, ranging from 12 centimeter to 14 centimeters in length. The length of their snout can range slightly, but the standard is usually 10 centimeters maximum for males and 9 centimeters maximum for females.
As we said previously, their head grows faster than the rest of their body. This makes for a bobble head-like puppy that may seem to stumble and not be able to support their head. This is normal and you shouldn’t worry too much, because their body will catch up with them in time.
How to Tell if Your Rottweiler Is Going to Be Big
There is no way to guarantee how big your Rottweiler will get. There are a bunch of factors that come into play when determining the final adult height and weight. These include genetics, diet, exercise, and any environmental obstacles they could have encountered in their young pup life.
That being said, there are some ways that you can estimate the weight of your pup as an adult. There are even some ways you can help your Rottweiler put on some more muscle and become as bulky as you want them.
If you are buying your Rottweiler pup from a breeder, there’s a good chance you will be able to know both the mom and dad’s weight. With this, you can average them out and your adult dog will most likely be around there.
Also, since the head begins to develop first, it’s safe to say the bigger the head then the bigger the dog will be. Now if you want a big and muscular Rottweiler, there are some things you can do in their adolescent years to help.
A healthy diet with high quality nutrients is definitely key, as well as lots and lots of regular exercise. There are also supplements you can give to them, but be sure to consult your vet before feeding them anything of the sort.
When Do Rottweilers Stop Growing
The growth and development of Rottweilers can vary, but generally, Rottweilers reach their full height by around 18 months to 2 years of age. However, the process of muscle development and filling out can continue for a longer period, up to around 2 to 3 years.
It’s crucial to note that individual factors such as genetics, diet, and overall health can influence the growth rate of Rottweilers. Responsible breeding practices, a well-balanced diet, and regular veterinary check-ups play essential roles in ensuring healthy growth and development.
Monitoring a Rottweiler’s weight and overall physique throughout their growth stages is important to prevent overfeeding or underfeeding. Overfeeding can lead to excessive weight gain, which may impact joint health, while underfeeding can affect proper muscle development.
Conclusion
Rottweilers can become really big dogs, which is part of why so many people use them to feel safe and protected. But they can all vary in size, and with that comes different sized heads. Depending on what country your breed is from, their head may be larger or smaller than the original Rottweilers.
There are so many factors that can go into the size of a Rottweiler, but as long as you take care of them and raise them to be healthy, they will grow to exactly the size they need to be to give you all their love.
