Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Dogs

Rottweiler puppies will eat you out of house and home without these tips

Vera Lawlor
By

So you’ve decided to add a Rottweiler puppy to your family. Congratulations! You’ve chosen a breed that’s among the most popular in the US. Rottweilers, fondly known as Rotties, are devoted, loyal, and loving companions. They are also known for having huge appetites and are on the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) list of “10 Dog Breeds That Love to Eat.” That doesn’t mean, though, that you should let a Rottie eat you out of house and home. In fact, being a responsible pet parent means providing proper nutrition while helping your dog maintain a healthy weight.

Rottweiler puppy running with a dish in his mouth.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What should I feed my Rottweiler?

Choosing the right food for your Rottie puppy can be a daunting task. In a Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine article, veterinary nutritionist Sally Perea, DVM, MS says that many large breed puppy parents make the mistake of feeding adult dog food to their pets. It’s important, says the nutritionist, to choose a diet specifically formulated for large breed puppies. These diets are designed to meet the nutritional needs of growing puppies who have twice the daily nutritional requirements of mature adult dogs say nutritionists at PetMD. When researching pet food, it’s important to check the label for a “complete and balanced diet” statement which signifies that the food meets the nutritional values established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

Recommended Videos

How much to feed a Rottweiler puppy

It’s important to follow the feeding instructions on the pet food label based on your pup’s age and weight. Puppies should be fed smaller amounts of food several times a day, rather than feeding too much food all at once. It’s essential not to overfeed puppies as it can lead to a life of health problems, with overweight puppies being more likely to become overweight or obese adult dogs, say nutritional experts. Your veterinarian can help determine a healthy weight for your puppy and advise adjustments when necessary during health check-ups.

What is the best food for a Rottweiler puppy?

Following are three puppy foods that have received positive reviews and are also highly rated by pet parents.

Royal Canin Rottweiler Puppy Food

Benefits at a glance:

  • Designed to meet the nutritional needs of Rottweilers 8 weeks to 18 months old.
  • High-quality proteins and prebiotics support digestion and promote optimal stool quality.
  • Helps support the development of a puppy’s immune system with a selection of antioxidants including vitamin E.

Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Puppy

Benefits at a glance:

  • Developed without any GMOs, meat by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives.
  • Specially formulated to provide whole-body nutritional support for a large breed puppy.
  • Supported by omega fatty acids, essential vitamins, antioxidants, glucosamine, and probiotics.

Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food

Benefits at a glance:

  • Supports muscle growth and bone health in active pups with high-quality animal protein and optimized levels of calcium and phosphorous.
  • Supports healthy brain development with DHA.
  • Provides concentrated energy from fat and carbohydrate levels beneficial for growing puppies.

Transitioning to adult dog food

Large breed puppies should be kept on a puppy diet until they reach 12 to 18 months of age says veterinary nutritionist Dr. Lisa M. Freeman. When it’s time to transition your Rottie to adult food choose a diet suitable for large breed dogs. And once again, check that the diet meets the AAFCO standards for a complete and balanced diet. Your veterinarian can help with establishing a healthy diet for your adult dog depending on gender and size. An adult male Rottie can have a weight range of between 85 and 135 pounds while a female can weigh between 80 and 100 pounds.

What human foods can Rottweilers eat?

It can be fun to offer your puppy fruits and vegetables as an occasional healthy treat, but keep in mind that some fruits and vegetables are toxic to pets. When in doubt, check in with your veterinarian before giving any new food to your dog.

Vegetables that are safe for dogs:

  • broccoli
  • brussel sprouts
  • carrots
  • cauliflower
  • celery
  • green beans
  • peas
  • spinach
  • zucchini

Fruits that are safe for dogs:

  • apples
  • bananas
  • blueberries
  • cantaloupe
  • cranberries
  • pineapple
  • raspberries
  • strawberries
  • watermelon
Rottweiler puppy eating a carrot outside.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Finally, Rotties are masters at begging for food but it’s important not to offer leftovers from your plate. Obesity is a serious concern for this breed and can lead to joint problems, digestive disorders, back pain, and heart disease. Providing the right balance of food, exercise, and mental stimulation will help keep your Rottie happy and healthy for years to come.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Vera Lawlor
Vera Lawlor
Contributor
Vera was the pet columnist for 201 Family magazine and has contributed pet and animal welfare articles to Bone-A-Fide Mutts…
Off-leash dog training is easy if you follow these 5 tips
These tips will make this process smoother
Puppy learning to heel

We’re going out on a limb here, but it’s safe to say that if you’ve ever caught the look on a dog’s face when he’s running off leash at the dog park, you’ve caught a glimpse of what pure bliss looks like.

As a pet parent, it’s only natural to want to see that expression more often. And, without disparaging the leashed walk around the neighborhood, your dog would probably tell you he’d prefer being off leash more often. Is that possible, given local leash laws and all the mischief your untethered pet can get himself into? Perhaps, if he is well trained.

Read more
Why do dogs eat cat poop? And how you can get them to stop
These tips will stop your pup from eating cat doo-doo
Dog wears a yellow sweater and looks at the camera

Sometimes you might think you hear your cat using their potty, but when you go into check, it's actually the dog eating cat poop. Gross! While it seems pretty revolting to us, dogs sometimes eat poop, the feline variety included. Coprophagia, which means eating poop, shows up reasonably frequently in pups, and certain diets, environments, and even breeds can make this act more likely (research says hounds and terriers are the groups most likely to chomp poop, in general).

So why do dogs eat cat poop, and what should you do about this behavior? Read on for a few things to check and a couple of tips to prevent this extra meal.
Why do dogs eat cat poop?
Theories abound, but it turns out lots of different mammals eat poop, their own and others'. One possibility is that not all nutrients fully digest when they go through our systems, which means there are plenty of vitamins to have by consuming feces. Sometimes, these cravings result from a nutrient-deficient diet that is easy to fix by changing up your dog's food.

Read more
The Best Salmon Oil for Dogs in 2024
Best salmon oil for dogs in 2024

As a fellow dog lover, I know how much we all want to see our four-legged companions thrive, bursting with energy and good health. But here's the thing – achieving that picture-perfect vitality isn't always as straightforward as we'd hope. Between the confusing array of supplements and the challenge of deciphering ingredient lists, ensuring our pups get the right nutrients can feel like navigating a maze without a map. Enter salmon oil for dogs, a game-changer in the world of canine nutrition.

This powerhouse supplement, brimming with Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, is the secret sauce to supporting not just the physical health of our dogs, but their happy moods too. Today, we're diving deep into the world of salmon oil for dogs, uncovering the gems that promise to bring out the best in our furry friends. Leading the pack is the Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil from Zesty Paws, renowned for its purity and packed with benefits that are hard to beat. As we explore the top picks, remember, our goal is singular: to ensure our dogs not only live but flourish, with tails wagging and hearts full of joy.

Read more