Please could someone with knowledge of Rotts help me.

I am looking for a puppy and am unsure whether to go for German Lines or English.

I already have an older Rottie bitch but her breeders no longer breed.

I used to have a German bred GSD who was a lovely dog but very 'hyper' and did not have a liveable with personality. I felt he was really too overactive and do not want to make the same mistake with my rott.

I know many of the German lines have Schutzhund trained dogs in them. What I want is a good sized dog (I do not like the Fantasa type - no offence anyone) who has a good temperament with show potential.

Please any comments would help.

SNAP!!!!!!
Thats what I'm looking for too.
I've done quite a bit of research myself and from what I gather the German lines (whether GSD or Rott) have more "drive" in them, giving them better workability (but that also comes down to upbringing and training). That would account for the hyper-active personality of your GSD. Apparently because the German breeders dont "show" their dogs, they prefer to test them in Schutzhund, so are more interested in workability and sometimes hip scores are over-looked unlike those bred over here.
As to deal with size. Some say that the german Rotties are bigger, and others dont. I'm in a fix aswell as you, as I also prefer the "big bear" type rotties. I went to a show the other day but didn't see many that I liked. Speaking to a few breeders, its the smaller ones who seem to do better.
From all the research that I've done, I've always found contradictory information, so please dont take my word for it.
Goodluck for your search, you never know, maybe we'll end up at the same breeders house asking for a pup each from the same litter.
All the best
Josh

Josh
Just to pick up on your comments re breeders not showing german types...both the gsd and rotties are shown at breed shows, regardless of sch training, not sure where you got that info from.
Tracey

>Apparently because the German breeders dont "show" their dogs, they prefer to test them in Schutzhund< "german breeders" = breeders in germany not breeders of german lines in England. You are right that they do show abroad (that why you get international champions), but they certainly put more emphasis on workability rather than look like in country (i'm not knocking any country, its just an observation)

Please dont get me wrong, I didn't say breeders don't show the german types (if we're talking about this country), actually I wrote that I saw a few at the show that I went to (and nice ones that did well at that), but when I was chatting to a few breeders they gave me the info that the samller, lighter ones (fantasa type) SEEM to do better in the show ring. To be honest, I'm not an expert, and certainly not a breeder, and thats why I said that whatever info I get, I always get contradictory responses so dont take my word for it.
I haven't been to any GSD shows so cant comment on that breed, even though I have one myself.
To be honest, I know exactly where the poster is coming from, and when I was looking around, and enquiring about the bigger rotties, a lot of people jumped on my back, so more than anything, I'm just offering a bit of support, rather than a fountain of all knowlegde. :)

Hello Josh. Pleased to meet you because I believe that Sophie is sister to my Zeus!! I bought Zeus from Jackie in November 2001 when he was a tiny 8 weeks old:) (born 24/9/2001).

OH WOW!!!! Very nice to meet you too.
Love name by the way. I was thinking of calling our new pup Zues. So tell us (I know my sister would be over-the-moon to know that we've made contact with one of Sophie's brothers) about him. Maybe you'd like to chat via email.

hi,
why fantasa do well in the ring is because they are bred to the standard, if you like big rotties then they are not bred to the standard, everyone to there own we all interpret things in different ways, regards tina

I cant speak for the original poster, but I'm certainly looking for the broad shoulders/ big head type. I was quite shocked that the images that I see in the Rottie books look like a totally different breed compared to the dogs I saw on show (I've got some lovely picture of what I think a rottie should look like for a Rottie book that I got from Pets At Home, I wish I could post them so you could see what I'm trying to describe). Its true that the ideal height for a male is 25/26' but it also says " The ideal Rottweiler is a large, robust and powerful dog", "Males are characteristically larger, heavier boned and more masculine in appearance" and goes on to say "Proportion should always be considered rather than height alone.

Your statement >if you like big rotties then they are not bred to the standard< is therefore not 100% accuarate. The dogs on show were of good height, but looked very slight, and some males had very feminine looking features. Also there were so many different types of coats.

Your final statement though >we all interpret things in different ways< IMHO is 100% accuarte. We all interpret things in different ways (if you've been watching the news for the past few weeks you'll agree that goes further than just classifcation of dog breeds ) whether its the Kennel Club commitee, Breeders/Judges, or owners/admirers.

Yeah, email anytime Josh! I would love to hear how things are going with Sophie. Zeus is a big, playful, intelligent, spoilt, funny, energetic teddy bear and we wouldn't change him for anything. Speak to you soon:)

hi josh,
if you look at the kennel club breed standard"general appearance, above average size, stalwart dog, correctly proportioned,compact and powerful form,permitting great strength, manoeuvrability and endurance" rotties that are bred for the "pet market" are often very large and unbalanced with a lot of length rather than being compact, in most breed books you will see a variety of pictures not all those that are bred to the standard but are just pet pictures, you are probably not going to get your idea of a rottie from someone that shows, depending on how they breed there line though as you may often get a uneven litter regarding size and conformation and could possibly get dogs that are going to be to big for the ring, but would have the advantage and benefits that go with a reputibale breeder, knoledge of there breed and line, life time aftersales care, hope you get your ideal rottie, regards tina

Thanks for your advice Tina. I really appreciate it :)
Regards
Josh_

thought it was 25-27 inches for the males ????

hi dizzy,
you are correct 25-27in for males and bitches 23-25in thats the k.c standard, new addition, regards tina

im fairly sure when i owned them and judged them that they where that size way back then too :D , theyve been 25-27 for males for at least 20 years,

i think so too, but "ideal" is 25/26.

nope-----ideal is anything within the standard --25-26-27 are all ideal :D

nice one :) :) :)

Josh dont say that Hades is 27 and is a BIG boy :)
If you are going to birmingham champ show at Stafford next month let me know and you can meet my baby :)

Breed stadard is 25 to 27 inches for dogs,though some of the males do seem to be shrinking but they are being bred to come back on size.

just got my email up and running again, will contact you soon. I would like to see Hades too.

I've mailed you. If you dont recieve it please tell me, I'll send it again
Thanks

Is this Liam Brady?? The Fantasa line is a very good line bred for type and temperament which decends from the Rottsann line which in turn comes from the Poirot line (Am I right Liam?) I believe these lines are the best probably because I have that line!! I prefer some of the british lines I haven't seen anything outstanding from any germanic lines yet.

Maybe someone could please explain to me what you mean by "lines".

Usually means a family line, when a breeder has bred geneartions of their breed they will have established a breeding line.

rugrott talks about the "poirot" and "rottsann" lines and another, is Poirot and Rottsann someones affix????

Hi Josh
Yes these will be someones affix and there breeding line will be named after the affix.
Tracey

Hi Josh,

Rottsann and Poirot produced some very nice dogs (my first Rott was sired by Rottsann Classic Crusader).

If you need any information, feel free to drop me an email and I'll help all I can.

Kind Regards.

Ali.

is what liam brady??????? confused ,

Dizzy
I thought it meant was AOIFE ( Liam Brady ) :) who knows... :D :D I'm in the dark too
tRACEY

Hi
Just to let everyone know that AOIFE is not LIAM BRADY she is TINA....a comment made about Liam Brady ?? was made and Aoife has a email of Liam55 but this is definitely Tina and not this Liam Brady whoever he is .
Thankyou just had to put things right
Tracey

Hi Rugrott
No it's Liam Ward...always has been :)
tRACEY

Sorry, you have a similar email address to Liam who is from the Rottsann kennel.

If anyone is interested there is a Rottweiller Champ show in August and September this year. The August show is in Notts and the September one in Stafford. I can post the exact details in you wish.