Rottaf

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Rottaf is an impressive mix of strength and majesty, endurance and grace. Bred of the Rottweiler and the Afghan Hound, dogs known for singularities in appearance and/or personality, the Rottaf promises to be a dog like no other. With cross-breeding being an inexact science, there is no sure way to tell which parent breed a hybrid dog will favor, whether both breeds contribute an equal number of characteristics, or even if the cross can combine the best of both parent breeds. As with the usual cases, responsible ownership, proper training, and positive human interaction will largely dictate a dog's development, no matter the parent breeds.

The Rottweiler is a German breed, most probably descended from Roman mastiffs and molosser-type dogs cross-bred with native German breeds. It was primarily a working dog, invaluable and tireless around the farm.

The Afghan Hound, one of the oldest breeds, is a sighthound from the mountains of Afghanistan. Almost extinct during the World Wars, the breed was introduced in the 1900's to Great Britain, and eventually, to the US. Tall with an impressive fall of coat, the Afghan Hound has an imposing appearance and is prized today as a companion dog, although it was also bred for security and hunting.

The Rottaf, if taking after the Rottweiler, will be of stocky build and a deep chest, with muscularity and body proportions well-balanced to give it a compact look. The Afghan Hound look has more elegant lines, with a straight front, long, high nose and arched neck. The paws are notably large and lie flat on the ground. The tail is tapered and has a curl towards the end.

Color

Coat colors are mostly solid, with clearly demarcated tan markings, from the Rottweiler, if present. A black mask will be from the Afghan Hound. Other coat colors --- and possible combinations --- are white, sable, gold, red, gray and blue.

Coat

The Rottaf's coat may be uniformly short and hard, lying flat on the skin. The Afghan Hound parent, on the other hand, can be expressed in fine, thick, silky fur, shorter over the saddle and long over the head in a topknot. A dense undercoat, especially on the legs, are from the Rottweiler.

Personality

The Rottaf is not a dog for everyone. It is not a breed that can be left on the street or in the park for people to come up to and pet. It is a very loyal and affectionate dog, attached to its owner and protective of who it considers its family. It does not suffer strangers, however, going up to it or getting near its "territory." The Rottaf has a strong instinct to protect, and this makes it a very good watch and guard dog. It will also have a strong prey drive, so early socialization with other animals in the house is a must. It is energetic and playful with children, but as with big dogs, it can unintentionally knock over small children. It has its clownish, lighthearted moods, but at first glance, it appears to be a standoffish dog, with head held straight and a calm, faraway look in its eyes. It makes for a faithful companion, an instinctive therapy dog and a solid, stolid member of the household.

Care

A long coat, especially if with a fluffy undercoat, will require extensive brushing and grooming to maintain clean and free of knots. Professional grooming is required at least once a month, but a willing and able owner can spend part of a day brushing, clipping, washing and drying.

Training

Any potentially big dog --- and its owner --- will benefit from early training and socialization, as this becomes more difficult as the dog grows older. The Rottaf is a naturally obedient and intelligent dog; it is eager to please and willing to work. Its herding instinct makes it consider people and animals it has grown up with part of its herd, and it will sometimes be pushy if routines it is used to are not followed, or it thinks other animals are behaving out of bound.s But overall, it is a responsible dog, and once properly taught, will possess good house behavior.

Activity

A Rottaf will need regular exercise to keep its weight controlled and to work out the energy in its muscles. A big dog, it will love long walks or jogs in parks, although a leash is a caution for its prey drive. A big yard will more than make up for small indoor living areas, if activities are daily, varied and vigorous in nature.