They are often misjudged as dangerous guard dogs, but Rottweilers can be great family pets. Just like any other dog breed, they need proper training, socialization, and a good and consistent owner who wants to spend a lot of time with these lovely dogs. And, they require regular grooming. From brushing to bathing, Rotties need pampering and grooming, just like a Maltese.
What Grooming Means?
Grooming means taking care of a dog’s entire body, fur, skin, ears, eyes, teeth, nails, and tail. It literally means cleaning and caring for the dog from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail. Depending on the breed, some dogs require more frequent grooming, while others require less frequent but more complicated ones. We can also divide grooming a dog into Home grooming and Professional grooming. Which one you choose depends on many things, but usually, money and transport are the key factors.
The bigger the dog, the more difficult the transport is. Then again, the more complicated grooming, the more money it costs. And don’t forget there is a big difference between locations and prices. It is not the same price to groom your dog in a big city or rural place.
We are focusing on home grooming in this article. We will briefly mention professional grooming, but this article has the intention to show how to successfully groom a Rottweiler dog inside your home.
Professional Grooming
As we mentioned, taking your dog to a professional groomer depends on factors such as location, finances, transportation, and your dog’s emotional state while at the groomer. It doesn’t matter how big your dog is, we have to properly socialize them and prepare them for a groomer.
Think about it like taking your child to a dentist appointment for the first time. You don’t want to scare them but to make a proper relationship with the office, the chair, the smells, and the noises.
It’s the same with a dog and a groomer or a vet. You want to make sure a dog is confident and relaxed when going to the groomer. That’s why it is best to make a first appointment as relaxing as possible. Maybe arrange for a dog to just meet the groomer and its place, smell the instruments, and get to know the place. This helps the dog and the groomer.
When it comes to a Rottweiler, they need to be brushed weekly, and if they don’t get dirty, a bath every 6 to 8 weeks. Generally speaking, if it’s not a shedding season and your Rottie doesn’t get too dirty, you can take him to a professional groomer every 3 to 4 weeks. Shedding season can change things and require you to take him every 2 weeks.
This all depends from dog to dog, our finances, and our time. If you brush your dog regularly and he doesn’t get too dirty, visiting a groomer once a month or once every 2 months for nail trimming and a bath is appropriate.
The cost depends on the groomer, location, dog size, coat type, etc. In most cases, a Rottweiler will cost anywhere from $60 to $120 for a bath and nail trimming. The same goes for the UK, where the price can vary from £40 to £90. The prices increase if you also want teeth, ear, and eye cleaning, and anal glands expressed.
* These prices are general and can vary depending on the city, town, state, or country
1. Brushing
A Rottweiler needs weekly brushing. They have a short to medium-length, smooth, and single coat. However, they do have a double coat on the thighs and around the neck. So, in order to properly brush a Rottweiler, you will need a combination of dog brushes – a bristle and a slicker brush.
The bristle brush is used for the single-coated parts and the slicker brush is for the double-coated parts. A combination of these two brushes removes not only loose hair but also dirt and gets deep into the double coat. You can also use a hound glove instead of a bristle brush.
Important: before you begin brushing, run your hands down your dog’s body to feel for any lumps, bruises, or changes. It also relaxes a dog and gives a good massage.
2. Cleaning Ears
Rottweilers have triangular hanging ears. It is important to check the ears regularly, especially when coming back from a walk. That’s how we check if there are any foreign objects or if there are any changes in or around the ears.
The best way to clean Rotties ears is to use cotton pads and one of the ear-cleaning solutions. You can use boiled water which you cool to lukewarm, if you have nothing else to use. But, it is recommended to use ear-cleaning solutions. And, it is very important not to leave the ears wet. This can lead to secondary infections.
When using cotton pads and solution/water, massage the outer ear and make moves from inside to outside to avoid dirt getting down the ear canal. After you finish cleaning, use a dry cotton pad to dry the ear.
3. Cleaning Eyes
You can clean the eyes first and then ears, or ears and eyes – it doesn’t matter. Use the cotton pads and lukewarm water. Important: always use new and clean cotton pads when moving from ears to eyes and vice versa. Also, always use clean and new cotton pads when moving from one eye to another.
There is no need to wipe the eyes too hard or excessively. When it comes to Rottweilers, cleaning eyes is primarily used to check for any changes (such as redness and swelling) and to clean the discharge that might build up in the corner of the eyes. If you notice any of the changes, the best thing to do is to consult a vet.
4. Teeth Brushing
Even though veterinarians recommend brushing your dog’s teeth twice a day, just like we need to do it, they have also come to terms that three times a week is beneficial as well. Brushing your dog’s teeth helps reduce the risk of gum diseases, calculus buildup, and tooth decay. Your vet can recommend a good toothpaste and a toothbrush for your dog.
Because it is not a natural thing for a dog to have its teeth brushed, you have to start slowly and early while the dog is still a puppy. This way they can get used to the brushing and make it fun for both the dog and you (or the groomer).
Important: Always use toothpaste made for dogs; use toothbrushes with multiple working surfaces;
When To Trim Nails?
Generally speaking, an adult Rottweiler needs to have his nails trimmed every month or every 3 to 4 weeks. If the dog had a lot of outdoor activities where he used his paws and nails regularly, this can be prolonged to every 6 weeks.
Walking on hard ground, lots of digging, running, and playtime outdoors on harder surfaces wear down the nails naturally. However, it is very important to trim the nails and not “leave it to nature” because long nails cause pain, discomfort, and injuries to dogs.
Just like any other activity that is not a natural way of a dog’s life, nail trimming also needs lots of patience in the beginning. Your dog has to get used to it and they need to trust you and the tools you are using.
When To Bathe A Rottweiler?
How often you bathe your dog depends on the dog odor they have, the amount of time they spend outdoors, and how much they get dirty while playing. If your Rottie spends time in an urban area without rolling around in the mud or dirt, they need a bath every 6 to 8 weeks. You might have to bathe your Rottweiler every week if it gets too dirty while playing outside.
Important: Always use a dog shampoo, preferably hypoallergenic; rinse thoroughly after shampooing; Don’t forget to thoroughly dry the ears after bathing;
Final Thoughts
Rottweilers are not difficult to groom. They have a medium-length coat that requires weekly brushing to keep it clean and shiny. A bath combined with trimming the nails is needed every 6 to 8 weeks.
You can choose to groom your dog at home or take him to a professional groomer. In my opinion, if you have the time, all it takes is some practice and the right brush to keep a Rottie well-groomed. You don’t need to trim the fur, and it’s actually not recommended. Clean the ears, and the eyes, and brush the teeth.
If you don’t have the time or you think you’re not doing it correctly, taking your dog to a groomer once a month or once every 6 to 8 weeks will cost you a bit more money, but you’ll rest assured everything is done perfectly.
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