I know a person who trains and buys dogs for the Army in Sweden. He said that the problem with the rotties are not lack of drives or the size, of course 60kg+ are not the best candidate, but there are plenty of rotts between 45-55kg.

The problems is often the relationship with the handler when the dogs get fired up, they are not so easy to control like the GSDs.

Admittedly, Rotts have their shortcomings. One of the major reasons, I believe, that they are nto used more in service work in not ability, intelligence, athleticism, drive or stamina, those are all BS excuses. I think it's because they mature much more slowly than GSD's or Mals and the careers are not as long lived. When I look at my dog at two years, there are 8-10 month old GSD's that are at the same level, all handlers being equal. I would factor in stamina if working in a warm/hot climate. My guy does tend ot bog down in the heat. But in cold weather, he's as good as any other dog out there. Strict cost benefit analysis. Plus, I have been told by a number of people that if you can train and work a Rott through a III, doing the same with a GSD or Mal would be much easier.

 Quote:

Originally posted by Kevin Hier:
walt, just curouius, what do you use your dog for?

I only use him as a chicken diposal now. He's just 10 weeks old. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I'm planning top use him for protection, maybe try a Sch. I to lay a good foundation in obedience but I'm focusing on protection.

Walt

best of luck with your new pup walt..

Kevin I will give you a 20 foot head start and I would love to see you make it to my fence before my big, fat, slow, 120 pound guy. If you win you get to keep your behind, if you lose your behind belongs to the dog <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Nothing, with the exception of an American Bulldog hits as hard as a Rott. I think there is value in the Rottie intimidation factor. Most people simply respect a big rott more than a Mal or GS. It is better to avoid the conflict altogether than to compare speed/quickness vs power/strength.

Probably you haven't seen a good hiting Mal , have you? This is just a math issue. Speed x Body Mass!Sorry, but you are totally off, except for the intimidation factor. However, there are a lot of situations you will need a lot more than an intimidation factor, when then you would only hope that you had a Mal or GSD by your side.
Rottweilers COULD be a lot better if there were more people interested in their working abilities than show! There are excelent working Rottweilers, but they are very few and far between!And most of them are lighter and smaller than the average show dog!
Juan

Micheal you made some awesome points.I couldn't of said it better.I think it is unfair to compare breeds together that are so different in so many aspects.It all depends what type and style,for that matter, of work you want out of your dogs.When the going gets tough I don't think any Rott owners are wishing they had a GSD or Mal. by their side like was mentioned earlier.What has happened to this breed makes me sick but there are still well bred Rotts out there that are willing to step up to the plate when needed.I know mine are.Different strokes for different folks.

Juan
I think they have it right, a Mal won't hit or bite like a rested Rottie. But after a 1-2 mile fast track and then a fight, I'd rather have a GSD or a Mal because of stamina. But if it was a fight right then and there the Rott doesn't need to run and jump, he can just jump and hit or grab you can take you down. There is a considerable amount of power difference.

As for comparison the Rott fars well in what he was designed to do. And the Personal protection field is his strong point, the Rottie in my opinion (with the exception of the AM Bulldog) is the best Matsiff breed available for this type of work. He is smart and quick enough for most man work, but his assets is his power. Some writting has referred to the Rottie as the 44 magnum of the Dog breed, I guess the GSD would be the 357 magnum or 40 S&W now.

I'm a GSD and sorta a Mal man, but I have to give the Rottie its due, its a fine, fine dog. It just happen to had the misfortune of being the no.1 owned dog in American for a couple of years. That blessing seems to ruin any breed look at the Am GSD.

Lets hope this doesn't happen to the Mal or the Lab which is now the no.1 breed. Why come it could happen to the popular Chiuahuah? And leave the working/protection dogs alone. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Originally posted by Don B. Ackerson:
It just happen to had the misfortune of being the no.1 owned dog in American for a couple of years. That blessing seems to ruin any breed look at the Am GSD. Don,

Great reply in all especially the above statement. Popularity can destroy any breed.

Mick.

Originally posted by JLopes:
Probably you haven't seen a good hiting Mal , have you? This is just a math issue. Speed x Body Mass!Sorry, but you are totally off, except for the intimidation factor. However, there are a lot of situations you will need a lot more than an intimidation factor, when then you would only hope that you had a Mal or GSD by your side.
Rottweilers COULD be a lot better if there were more people interested in their working abilities than show! There are excelent working Rottweilers, but they are very few and far between!And most of them are lighter and smaller than the average show dog!
Juan Agree with most of this. But, don't think I'd trade my Rott for a GSd or Mal in any situation. He's one of those small, fast ones. Like I said before, the condition of your dog is YOUR responsibility, not his. You can create speed and power and keep the edge sharp with exercise and work. There is not really any reason at all, except for handler laziness, that small/medium body type Rotts can't be in condition and hit fast and hard as good or better than other breeds.