Rottweiler vs American Pitbull Terrier Dog vs Dog – Animal Facts
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The Rottweiler and the American Pit Bull Terrier;
Right off, you’re probably asking, “Why
are you comparing these breeds?”
The simple answer is both breeds are often
misunderstood and illogically feared.
But, those that love these breeds, know them
as loving family companions.
So, let’s jump right in and check out these
two amazing dogs.
Let’s get started, but before we start,
make sure to hit that subscribe button and
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History
The Rottweiler is one of the oldest of herding
dog breeds.
With a history dating back to the Roman Empire,
the Rottweiler is a descendant of an ancient
mastiff-type dog.
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 and dogs to keep
the herd together and guarded it at night.
Around 100 AD the Roman army traveled 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 dog breed that would become the modern
Rottweiler was subsequently named after the
German town of Rottweil.
If you want more info about the breed and
its history, check out the card here.
The American Pit Bull Terrier is nowhere near
as old as a breed.
The modern American Pit Bull Terrier can trace
its roots back to England in the early 19th
century, as crosses between “bully” breeds
and terrier.
The intent was a create a dog with the hunting
skills of a terrier with the strength and
athleticism of a bulldog.
Although much smaller than the modern American
Pit Bull Terrier, these early “bulldogs”
were used as working dogs, controlling unruly
bulls for butchers as well as farmers.
Unfortunately, the courage and tenacity that
made these dogs good at corralling dangerous
bulls made them great at the blood sport of
bull baiting, which has thankfully fallen
out of favor.
When these “bulldogs” accompanied immigrants
to America they began new careers as all-around
farm dogs.
Their jobs included hunting wild game, guarding
property against animal intruders, and providing
companionship.
In keeping with the “bigger is better” mindset
of Americans, the breed became a larger dog
than it had been in England.
Although we are focusing specifically on the
American Pit Bull Terrier, the term pitbull
can be used for a number of breeds, including
the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American
Staffordshire Terrier (which are considered
the same breed by some), American Bully, and
Staffordshire Bull Terrier, as well as many
mix breeds with a physical resemblance to
“pit bulls”.
Size
The Rottweiler is on average a much bigger
dog than the Pit Bull.
A purebred Rottweiler can weigh anywhere between
85-130 pounds and stand 22-27 inches tall.
The smaller American Pit Bull Terrier weighs
between 30-90 pounds and stands between 17-20
inches tall.
Of course with both breeds, males tend to
be larger than males and because of an often
unwise desire to breed larger dogs, both can
exceed these guidelines for height and weight.
Coats and Colors
The Rottweiler is always black with markings
that are rust to mahogany in color.
The markings appear over the eyes, on the
cheeks, on each side of the muzzle, on the
chest and legs, and beneath the tail.
There are also tan lines that resemble pencil
marks on the toes.
Rottweilers have a short double coat that’s
straight and coarse.
The outer coat is medium in length, shorter
on the head, ears, and legs.
The undercoat is found mainly on the neck
and thighs.
The amount of undercoat your Rottie has depends
on the climate in which he lives.
The Rottie tends to shed twice a year.
The Pit Bull’s short single coat is shiny
and stiff to the touch and comes in all colors
— red, blue, brown, gray, black and white,
and brindle, among them.
The American Pit Bull is a heavy shedder year-round
and should have daily brushings to keep the
shedding controllable.
Personalities
The ideal Rottweiler is calm, confident, and
courageous.
It has a self-assured aloofness and doesn’t
make friends with people immediately or indiscriminately.
Instead, it takes a wait-and-see attitude
with new people or situations.
With its family, the Rottie is affectionate,
often following family members around the
house.
This is not a highly excitable dog, but it
has an inherent desire to protect his family
and property.
However, it should never be aggressive toward
people without cause.
The American Pit Bull Terrier loves people
and has no idea that its size is something
of a deterrent to being a lap dog.
Confident and keenly aware of its surroundings,
the Pibble is a watchdog.
It may alert you to the presence of strangers,
but that’s primarily because your Pibble is
eager to greet “their” guests.
While their love of people makes them failures
as guard dogs, their courage is unmatched
and they will defend their family with their
lives.
Both breeds are family friendly, kid-friendly
and pet-friendly.
Like every dog, both breeds need socialization
— exposure to many different people, sights,
sounds, and experiences — when they’re young.
Socialization helps ensure a well-rounded
dog.
Trainability
When it comes to training, Rotties are not
for the meek.
Rotts can be quite stubborn and inpatient
and require firm, consistent, but not harsh
discipline and for you to establish that you
are the leader and have plenty of time to
devote to training.
But, once the role of leader is established
the Rottie is very intelligent and can learn
rapidly.
The American Pit Bull is a dog of average
intelligence but is much more focused than
the Rottie, but like the Rottie, the Pit Bull
needs for your to establish its respect.
Overall, the American Pitty is an easier dog
to train with a high willingness to please.
But, the Pibble does have its stubborn streaks.
Activity Levels
Both breeds have a medium to high need for
exercise.
And both can range from couch potato to whirlwind
as far as energy levels go.
Both breeds will enjoy a 15-20 minute walk
a few times a day, and you can’t go wrong
with playing with balls and taking hikes.
And, both breeds can live happily in any dwelling
from small apartments to large ranches, as
long as your dog is getting enough exercise.
Health and Lifespan
Overall the Pitty is a healthier breed and
has a longer lifespan of 12-14 years, compared
to the Rottie at 8-11 years.
Common ailments that can affect the American
Pit Bull Terrier are hip dysplasia and skin
allergies.
The Rottie’s list of common ailments include
allergies, bloat, hip and elbow dysplasia,
hypothyroidism and several heart-related conditions.
Remember, if you’re considering one of these
dogs or any other breed for that matter, there
are breed specific rescue organizations all
over the world that are usually a simple Google
search away.
So, which of these splendid breeds would you
pick?
Let us know in the comments.
If there are other breeds you’d like us
to compare, shout them out, we’ll give them
a look.
If you like this video, you can check out
some of our other videos here.
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And as always, catch ya next time.
