Are you the lucky pet parent of a Rottweiler? If so, then you may be looking for a way to help build more muscle into your fur baby. Rottis were bred to be very energetic dogs, and they’re also very intelligent. These are dogs that need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to be happy and healthy in all ways!
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In this article, we’ve put together some information on how to keep your dog healthy with exercise. We’ll also take a look at diet and more.
Rottweiler Exercise to Build Muscle
Rottweilers are large dogs that typically have massive muscles. While they can be very gentle, there are some Rottis who are pretty scary. It depends on their personality, as well as their pet parent.
Rottweilers have a very distinctive look. They are heavily muscled, and their fur is black and tan. They’re very pretty dogs. In fact, these dogs are descended from dogs that were used by the Roman army to herd cattle as they traveled through Europe.
These dogs can weigh up to about 135 lbs, most of which is muscle. They were bred to be working dogs, and they have great instincts and intelligence. You’ll find a Rotti may work on his own, rather than listening to you. So, this means your Rotti will need the right type of training and socialization to keep him from becoming one of those scary Rottweilers everyone tries to avoid. They’re very protective of their home and family, which is one of the reasons Rottis are used as police dogs.
These dogs need to be kept busy. This means tiring them out with exercise, giving them puzzle toys, training every day, and more. This way your dog will have a healthy mind and body. They really love to have work to do, which could include agility competitions, working as a guard dog, and more.
When your dog doesn’t have enough work to do, he will definitely find something to keep himself from becoming bored. He may think of ways to be destructive. They’ve been known to dig in the yard, tear up furniture, and more. Your dog can become highly creative when he gets bored. This is where exercise can really help your dog.
Before we move onto the exercises for your Rotti, let’s take a look at his dietary requirement.
A Healthy Rottweiler Diet
When it comes to your dog’s diet, we’re not talking about bulking your fur baby up with fat. Instead, the goal is to use a balance of healthy, lean proteins along with vegetables that are safe for dogs. Most Rottis require up to 2,500 calories each day, as long as they’re active.
The best foods for creating larger muscles in your dog includes beef- and chicken-based foods. Many vets are against using pork, as it tends to be fatty.
When it comes to food, you can choose to add ingredients to your dog’s normal food, or you can even create special dishes for him that include all the nutrients he needs to build muscle.
Here are some recipes you can use to help your canine companion build up some healthy muscles.
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Ask a Vet Live NowChicken & Veggie Bowl
This dish is pretty easy to make. You’ll need:
- 3 cups baby spinach, chopped
- ½ cup peas (you can use frozen or canned)
- 2 cups of shredded carrots
- 1 cup shredded zucchini
- 3 lbs of ground chicken
- 1 ½ cups brown rice
Directions:
1). In a large saucepan, add 3 cups of water, then cook rice according to package instructions, and set aside.
2). Heat olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven, over medium-high heat. Add ground chicken and cook until the meat is browned (about 3-5 minutes). Remember to make the ground chicken into a crumble, rather than leaving the meat as it is. Just break it up with a wooden spoon to achieve the crumbled consistency.
3). Next, stir in the spinach, carrots, zucchini, peas, and the rice. Cook until the spinach is wilted, and the entire mix is heated through. This can take about 3-5 minutes.
4). Let food cool completely before serving. You should probably ask the vet about how much of this dish your dog should eat at one time. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for about 3-4 days or frozen in airtight containers.
This is just one example of the dishes you can create for your dog. The other option is to add meat and veggies to his normal dog food. Here, again, it’s best to ask your vet if they can recommend a dog food that’s best for bulking up your fur baby’s muscles.
OK, now we’re ready to go on to the muscle-building exercises that can also work to create bigger muscles in Rottweilers.
Too Much Exercise Can Be Harmful for Rottweilers
If a Rotti puppy is exercised too much, it can cause some problems for him. Keep in mind that Rotti puppies take longer to mature than other dog breeds. In fact, it can take 24 months for a puppy to mature and become an adult.
The issue is the puppy’s bones, muscles, and ligaments need time to grow in a healthy manner. Growth plates must solidify and fuse, etc. Exercising your Rotti puppy too soon and too hard can cause problems in these parts of the body, which can create health problems later in life, such as arthritis. And your puppy could become injured by too much exercise. At this point, puppies need gentle, moderate exercise.
If you have any questions about this, please contact your vet. They will have the best guidance on the type and length of exercise that is right for your canine companion. The vet may even want to check your dog’s growth plates before your dog can have more advanced exercises.
In most cases, a Rotti puppy may need up to 30 minutes of exercise a day. These are exercises that won’t put too much stress on your puppy’s bones, muscles, joints, and cartilage. Walking is the safest exercise at this point.
How Much Exercise Does an Adult Rottweiler Require?
Your dog may love to walk farther and even run with you! Other types of exercise can include games such as fetch, frisbee, and other games you can enjoy together. For most adult dogs, you can expect to spend about 90 minutes exercising them a day. This period can be broken into 2 periods during the day.
It might also be possible your dog will enjoy agility competitions, obedience training (which is a must), pulling a cart, herding, search & rescue work (as a volunteer—you can work together), and more. These types of activities will give your canine friend plenty of exercise, while also keeping his mind active.
Tips for Exercising Your Rotti
Some Rottweilers like to keep going, even when it’s not healthy for them. In addition, you’ll need to keep exercise for the coolest part of the day if you live in a region that’s warmer. This means probably exercising early in the morning or in the late evening when it’s cooler.
Exercises Your Rotti May Enjoy Building Muscles
Here are some exercises that are perfect for adult Rottweilers!
1). Take a walk: heading outside with your adult Rotti is a great way to exercise your dog and spend time together. Your fur baby will enjoy a nice walk around the neighborhood, at the park, or even hiking.
2). Fetch: you can do this if you have a yard! And it’s great for spending time interacting with your canine companion! If you don’t have a backyard, then try heading to the park or a dog park. Fetch can be played with a ball, a frisbee, a stick, or even your dog’s favorite toy. Just throw the toy and give your dog the cue to “fetch.” Then watch him run off to grab up the toy! This is a combination of exercise and training at the same time!
3). Frozen Bottle: here’s a great way to keep your dog cool in the warmer months and still get to play outside! Just fill a water bottle with water, then stick it in the freezer. Let it harden, then when you’re both ready to have some full, take the bottle out. The goal here is something like fetch, but with the frozen bottle. All you have to do is throw the bottle and give your dog the cue to fetch! Your fur baby will enjoy this cold bottle on a warm day, while he runs to build up muscles!
4). Tug of War: this is another great game you can play with your dog! Just get a rope toy to use for this game. You can play it indoors or outdoors, though outdoors might be the best option if you live in a small home. All you have to do is take one end of the toy and encourage your fur baby to take the other end. Then pull! Don’t be surprised if your Rottweiler pulls you down! Remember these are very strong dogs, and some of them may not realize how strong they really are. It is possible for your dog to pull or knock you down or even bite trying to get your hand off the end of the rope. So, always use caution.
5). Flirt pole: this sounds weird, but many dogs love it! A flirt pole is a piece of exercise equipment meant to keep your dog busy and have fun. The pole is a wooden stick with a piece of rope attached at one end. All you have to do is drag the rope around the yard in a swinging motion. This makes the dog jump and chase the rope. Be sure to change direction and even increase the speed! You and your fur baby will have fun with this! One word—never hit your dog with this stick. This is a great way to increase aggression or even make your dog fear you. So, just stick to having fun. No dog should be hit with a stick.
6). Create an obstacle course: Rottis love a challenge, so you may want to consider making your dog an obstacle or agility course. This is better to do outside and be sure to use treats to motivate your fur baby. You’ll need to help him learn how to run the course, too.
These are all ways to help your canine companion build muscle. Remember to always consult with your vet as to how much exercise your dog should have. Puppies require gentle, modern activities, while adult dogs can handle more challenging exercises.
We hope you and your Rottweiler enjoy finding ways to spend time together and build muscle at the same time!
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Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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