When many of us hear the term “service dog” we think of police dogs, guard dogs, and search and rescue dogs. But in fact, service dogs include dogs trained to perform a wide variety of functions, all of which share the key criteria of helping humans.

So, as well as guard dogs and those performing police work and airport work, service dogs can include those used for mobility, vision and hearing support, as well as diabetic and seizure alert dogs [1]. More recently, therapy dogs and dogs with a role providing psychiatric support have also become more commonplace.

In this article, we’ll consider whether Rottweilers can make good service dogs, as well as discuss the roles of service dogs more generally, and signposting the organizations you can approach if you’re interested in providing a home for a service dog who is no longer actively “employed”.

Read here for more information on Rottweiler as a therapy dog.

Rottweilers as Service Dogs

With proper training and socialization (ideally from a young age), Rottweilers can make excellent service dogs in a variety of roles. A dog service dog must be calm, dependable and well-suited to the specific function that is required, as we’ll discuss in a little more detail below under “Are Rottweilers Good Service Dogs?”

It goes without saying that with their protective instincts and fierce bark, these big dogs are popularly used for security purposes. But as most Rottweiler owners know, these dogs are often very good natured and make excellent companions, meaning they’re also well suited to psychiatric support and therapy dog roles.

Are Rottweilers Good Service Dogs?

How good a breed is at performing a service dog role depends on the particular functions they are expected to fulfil within that role. For example, a service dog used to provide mobility support for an individual with a physical disability will likely need to be a large, strong dog, above to endure the weight of the handler and provide balance where needed [1]. On the other hand, a service dog assisting an individual with a hearing impairment does not need to be large or strong, but rather needs to be calm, easily trainable, and with good hearing.

So as you can imagine, Rottweilers as service dogs will be better suited to some roles than others. In particular, many Rottweilers tend to be well matched to roles as mobility support service animals, as well as certain forms of police work. Rottweilers can also make excellent therapy dogs, bringing joy and companionship to nursing homes, schools and hospitals.

Are Police Dogs Called Service Dogs?

Yes, police dogs come under the heading of “service dogs”. Canine (‘K-9’) agents are trained and deployed to perform a variety of functions within the police force, including detection of contraband; cadaver detection; and as search and rescue dogs. In fact, properly trained dogs are of the utmost importance for effectively executing many of the everyday tasks for which are police forces are responsible.

Can Rottweilers be Police Dogs?

Whilst not overly common, Rottweilers can still occasionally be found as part of the police force in locations around the world, and can provide a valuable contribution following specialized training. Whilst some may feel the breed has a bad reputation, Rotties are an actually an excellent working animal when trained properly, and can perform complex tasks including taking part in search and rescue operations.

Why Did the Police Stop Using Rottweilers?

Rottweilers are no longer commonly used as police dogs, with their previous popularity now largely superseded by the German shepherd, Doberman and bully breed dogs for security roles, and by Bloodhounds, Beagles, Spaniels and the Golden retriever for “sniffer dog” roles.

Whilst a well trained Rottweiler can make an excellent service animal, the reality is that a Rottie’s sense of smell will never be on parr with some of these other dogs. It’s also arguably easier to handle a shepherd or Doberman due to their smaller size and lighter weight, particularly when at times it may be beneficial for a police handler to be able to lift their dog.

It’s also possible that health issues have played a part in the decreasing popularity of the Rottweiler within the police force. The breed are prone to a number of potentially debilitating medical conditions including elbow and hip dysplasia, visual impairments and bone tumors, all of which unfortunately have the potential to strike at a relatively young age, thus shortening the useful career of a Rottweiler service dog.

Can a Rottweiler Make a Good Therapy Dog?

It’s a common misconception that therapy dogs need to start training as a puppy. In fact, therapy dogs come from all walks of life, including rescues and shelters, and may start the journey at any age! And there are no limits imposed on which breeds can or can’t become therapy dogs…so there’s no reason that the Rottweiler should need to be left out!

Therapy dogs are of great value in various settings. For example, research has shown that therapy dogs can help with raising self esteem and improving social skills; easing stress levels in individuals with mental disabilities; and improving behavior as well as engagement with specific tasks in children in a school setting [2].

Can I Teach My Rottweiler to be a Service Dog?

Training Rottweilers is usually relatively easy since the breed is intelligent, level-headed and responds well to positive reinforcement. Of course, Rottweilers can make great service dogs, but in most cases, it’s necessary that training is undertaken by a specialized dog trainer with expertise in training animals for the specific service dog role in question. It is not usually possible to train your own Rottweiler to become a good service dog, although there are a couple of exceptions to this rule.

One notable exception is that it may be possible to train your Rottweiler – especially if they are still a puppy – to make a good therapy dog. Certain personality traits, such as high sociability and low fearfulness, are likely more conducive to a breed being able to provide successful therapy work [3], and Rottweilers do tend to fit these criteria. So, if your Rottweiler is calm, friendly and lacks any indicators of nervousness or aggression, then it’s entirely possible that they can be trained to excel in this role.

You may also be able to train your Rottweiler to make a good guard dog, although only experienced owners with suitable expertise should attempt this. Rotties are obviously very large and powerful dogs, and it can be disastrous if aggressive tendencies are accidentally encouraged outside of the specific role of guarding the home or workplace.

Where Can I Adopt a Service Dog?

Of the thousands of would-be service dogs who em-bark (couldn’t resist!) upon training every year, not every pooch will make the grade. Some dogs simply aren’t cut out to be service dogs, and that’s OK! These animals can still make wonderful, well-behaved pets and companions.

What’s more, sometimes service dogs need to undergo a career change from service animal to pet, perhaps due to illness, injury or simply reaching retirement age!

If you are interested in giving a home to a failed, retired or “career change” service dog, there are a number of organizations that you can approach, including:

• Service Dogs Inc
• Freedom Service Dogs of America
• Guide Dogs for the Blind
• Guide Dogs of America
• Canine Companions

There is usually a small adoption fee involved, which in most cases will be redirected back into training new service dogs, thus making sure these funds are put to good use.

What Disabilities Qualify for a Service Dog?

In most developed countries, there is no set list of disabilities that qualify for a service dog; rather, each unique case is evaluated individually, and the decision of whether or not to provide a service dog is made based on the specific needs and circumstances of the applicant.

In the USA, disabilities that may qualify a person for a service dog are those that substantially limit one or more major life activities. These disabilities can include, but are not limited to:

• Blindness or impaired vision
• Hearing impairments or deafness
• Decreased mobility, including paresis, paralysis or difficulty walking
• Neurological disorders such as epilepsy
• Psychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder
• Diabetes
• Developmental disabilities

Are Rottweilers Good for Depression?

A recent study undertaken in the United States found that dog owners seem to suffer less from depression and loneliness compared to non-dog owners [4]. Furthermore, data collected during the Covid-19 pandemic suggests that dog ownership generally helped improve mood and relieve stress. As such, it certainly appears likely that Rottweilers are good for depression, as well as for bolstering an owner’s mental health generally.

Rottweilers may have been originally bred as herding dogs, but in the 21st century, the joy and positive and empowering influence these wonderful dogs have on the lives of many cannot be understated. In some cases, it can make all the difference.

References

1. Parenti, L., Wilson, M., Foreman, A.M., Wirth, O. and Meade, B.J. (2015)‘Selecting Quality Service Dogs’, ADPT Chronicle of the Dog.
2. Baird, R., Berger, E. and Grove, C. (2023) ‘Therapy dogs and school wellbeing: A qualitative study’, Journal of Veterinary Behavior.
3. Mc Dowall, S., Hazel, S.J., Cobb, M. and Hamilton-Bruce, A. (2023) ‘Understanding the Role of Therapy Dogs in Human Health Promotion’, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
4. Martin, F., Bachert, K.E., Snow, L., Tu, H-W., Belahbib, J. and Lyn, S.A. (2021) ‘Depression, anxiety, and happiness in dog owners and potential dog owners during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States’, PLoS One.