The Rottweiler is considered to be one of the oldest breeds of dog, their origin dates back to Roman times. The ancestors of the Rottweiler were used to drive, herd and guard cattle, used as a food supply by the Roman legions as they marched across the Alps.
While in Germany, the Romans built a settlement, das Rote Wil. Later this settlement became known as Rotwil, as later still, Rottweil.The breeds' name was derived from this town. During the third century AD, the Romans returned to their homeland after being defeated by a Germanic tribe. They left behind many of the Rottweilers ancestors.
During the Middle Ages, Rottweil, became an important trade center. Dogs were only kept if they could earn their keep, and the Rottweiler proved to have the very useful attributes of courage, stamina, and working ability. Butchers in the area mainly used them for pulling their carts and also carrying their profits. The money the butcher's earn't was placed in a pouch, and fastened to the dogs' neck. Thus deterring any would be robbers!! The dos soon became known as the Rottweil Butcher's Dog. In due cours a first rate droving, draught and guard dog evolved, whose devotion to work and master was unsurpassed.
The nineteenth century saw the decline of this wonderful breed. The coming of railways brought with it a ban on droving, and the Rottweiler use had been lost in the "modern" world. Sadly, by 1905 only one Rottweiler bitch was reported to be registered in Rottweil.
By the beginning of the twentieth century the police decided to test its' use as a Service Dog. It quickly became evident that the Breeds' courage, devotion, alertness, intelligence and flexibility, made it well suited to tasks set for police dogs. In 1910 the Rottweiler became officially recgnised as a Police Service Dog. So began the resurgence of the Rottweiler!