A part of owning a Rottie is ensuring that you know how much to feed a Rottweiler. Feeding your Rottweiler is crucial in keeping it healthy and happy.
Rottweilers are pretty big dogs that love all sorts of physical activities. This means they can have pretty big appetites as well. Hence, it is important to know their nutritional needs and the proper diet for them.
In this article, you’ll find all the information on how to feed your Rottie. You’ll surely learn a thing or two here, so get ready to take notes!
Rottweiler Feeding Chart by Age: How Much to Feed Your Rottweiler?
Depending on how old your Rottweiler pup is, it would need two to six cups of puppy food daily. Meanwhile, adult Rotties typically need around three to five cups of adult food daily.
In general, a Rottweiler needs food intake appropriate for its age and weight. This is why Rottweiler puppies have different nutritional needs from a fully grown Rottie.
Apart from your dog’s weight and age, your Rottie’s food consumption is also largely determined by their activity level and the quality of dog food they receive.
Rottweiler Puppy Feeding Chart (2 months to 12 months)
The first few weeks of life of a Rottweiler puppy is a very significant time for their nutrition. It is essential to establish a proper diet to guarantee their health and longevity early on.
Good breeders play a big role, as they make sure that a Rottie puppy is able to nurse at least four to six times per day. To monitor growth, breeders should be weighing the pups regularly.
By three to four weeks, your pup’s diet will transition from their mother’s milk to solid large breed puppy food. This period is called the weaning phase.
At nine to ten weeks, they should be fed unmoistened dry puppy kibble.
In the chart below, you’ll find the recommended feeding amount for Rottweiler puppies:
Rottweiler puppies grow most rapidly during their first six months of age. This means that despite their cute size, they have hefty nutritional requirements to fuel this rapid growth. Hence, the many cups of food they eat.
When house training your Rottie pup, use healthy treats and remember to adjust the amount of puppy you give accordingly. This way you can avoid giving them too much food, which can lead to excessive weight gain.
Along with providing your Rottweiler puppy with the right amount of high-quality dog food, it is also important they get enough water throughout the day. As puppy owners, it is essential to keep their water bowls filled.
Adult Rottweiler Feeding Chart (1 to 6 years)
Rottweilers typically reach maturity when they reach 18 to 24 months old. By that time, their adult weight would be around 40 to 50 times their birth weight.
You can monitor your dog’s weight as they are growing by using our Rottweiler growth curve guide. This way, you can determine if your pooch’s weight gain is appropriate for its age or if they need to lose or gain pounds.
Here’s what an adult Rottie diet should look like:
As you can see from the chart, adult Rottweilers typically need around 2,100 calories — more if they are pretty active, less if they are less active dogs. Generally, sedentary dogs need only about ⅔ of the calories active dogs get.
Also, it is discouraged to free-feed dogs as this can make them overweight, which can cause health problems. Instead, it is better for them to have two to three meals a day with measured amounts in their food bowl.
Scheduled and measured feeding allows you to keep track of their intake and whether it is more or less consistent. Consistently decreased feeding may suggest an underlying problem.
Apart from the amount, it is also important to know the quality of your Rottweiler’s food. A high-quality diet provides all the nutrients and essential vitamins your dog needs.
When choosing between the different types and brands of adult food, it is also good to read the dog food label to know if it contains other components like antioxidants, healthy fats, and other beneficial ingredients.
Senior Rottweiler Feeding Chart (7 years and above)
As your Rottie ages, they tend to be less active and more prone to health issues. Some of the common issues in senior Rotties are joint problems, obesity, and digestive problems. Fortunately, a proper diet can help prevent these.
Your senior dog’s diet should have more protein and less fat to prevent muscular degeneration. It should also be given less food to keep your Rottie’s weight in check and to prevent an upset stomach.
You can see the suggested amount of dog food for senior Rottweilers below:
As mentioned, older dogs are more prone to digestive system issues like food allergies and inflammatory bowel disease. Dietary changes may be required to prevent these conditions from worsening.
Dog food specifically formulated for senior dogs contains more fiber to help with satiety and bowel movement. Some may also have a softer texture, making them easier to chew.
Other supplements that can be good for a senior dog include calcium which promotes healthy bones and teeth, glucosamine to manage osteoarthritis, and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil to improve mental functioning.
Rottweiler Feeding Frequency: How Often Should You Feed Your Rottweiler?
Rottweiler puppies generally need to have at least three meals a day. Adult Rotties can have just two meals a day, while senior Rotties can be fed once or twice a day.
A healthy Rottweiler diet should include the appropriate feeding frequency, on top of giving enough cups of food. How often you should be feeding your Rottweiler depends on your dog’s age.
Use this chart as a guide on how often to feed Rottweiler puppies, adults, and seniors:
During the first few weeks of life, Rottweiler puppies should be nursed by their mother. When they begin weaning and puppy food is introduced, they can be fed three to four times daily.
At this stage of rapid growth, it is okay to free-feed or let a Rottweiler puppy eat as often as they please, as this ensures they are getting enough calories. They should still be monitored, though, to avoid indigestion and bloat.
Once a Rottie pup reaches two months, it is ideal to have a feeding schedule of thrice a day. Meanwhile, an adult dog can be fed even just twice daily, given that servings are enough.
It is okay to feed a senior Rottie only once a day, at most twice if they express hunger. Less frequent servings are appropriate since they usually are less active and have various health issues.
Optimal Feeding Times for Rottweilers
For Rottweiler pups, the optimal feeding times are 7:00 am, 11:00 am, 3:00 pm, and 7:00 pm. If they have three meals daily, change the schedule to 7:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 7:00 pm. As for older Rotties, feed them at 7:00 am and 7:00 pm if fed twice daily, or 7:00 am or 7:00 pm if fed once daily.
You can come up with the optimal feeding times for your pooch by considering the recommended feeding frequency as well as your lifestyle and preferences.
You can use this chart as a template to plan your own Rottweiler’s meal schedule:
The intervals between the meals of pups are shorter because they get hungrier quicker, thanks to their fast metabolism.
On the other hand, healthy adults can remain full throughout the day if given enough food in the morning and then again in the evening.
The exact time of feeding is not strict and can be an hour later or earlier than suggested. It is best, however, to give the last meal of the day a few hours before bedtime to ensure proper digestion.
In addition, while it is not harmful to adjust feeding times by a few hours, it is recommended for your dog to be fed around the same time daily so that they get used to the routine.
Best Dog Foods for Rottweilers
There are many types of dog food available in the market. Aside from commercial dog food, your Rottweiler can also have other kinds of food. Let’s go over some of the best dog foods to give to your canine companion.
Here is a list of the best dog foods for Rottweilers:
Dry Food: Dry food, also called kibble, is widely available in the market and is one of the more affordable options. It is also a convenient option since it is easy to store and doesn’t spoil quickly. Because of their crunchy texture, dry kibble can also be good for your Rottie’s dental health, as it can help remove plaque buildup.
Wet Food: Compared to dry kibble, wet food has more water content and is considerably softer. This is a good choice for dogs that can’t chew well because of dental issues. These are often sold canned and can be more pricey in the long run. Wet food can be mixed with dry kibble to enhance flavor and moisture.
BARF Diet (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food): Putting dogs on a raw food diet may be controversial but is nonetheless a possible food option for your Rottie. This raw diet includes raw meat, organ meat, bones, fruits, and vegetables. Benefits include lower exposure to preservatives and additives that can be present in commercially sold dog food.
Homemade Food: If you prefer preparing food for your pooch, you are free to do so. A well-balanced diet of natural ingredients is great for your dog’s health. However, it may not be as convenient as dry kibble or wet food. Homemade dog food is not tested for quality and nutritional value like commercial dog foods are. Hence, it is best to follow recipes formulated by or approved by veterinary nutritionists.
You can check out this video to see an example of Rottweilers on a raw diet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYxGR77_-r4
Whichever diet you choose for your Rottie, it is advisable to consult with an expert first to ensure that your dog is getting the right nutrition.
It is also important to learn how to read the labels on dog foods because that way, you know the ingredients your dog is exposed to. This is especially important if your Rottweiler has food allergies.
Certain ingredients may also cause issues with sensitive stomachs. For example, chicken fat and other animal fats can upset your dog’s tummy. Hence, you should be aware of these in their dog food.
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Rottweiler
Now that you know the different types of dog food you can give your Rottweiler, you should also know what foods to avoid giving them.
Avoid giving your pet table scraps because these could contain ingredients that are harmful to dogs. Human food may also trigger food allergies.
There is a long list of foods that should not be given to Rottweilers. This includes grapes, raisins, and prunes that contain a toxic substance that can cause kidney failure.
Coffee, tea, and other caffeinated drinks are also dangerous for dogs. Caffeine can cause your dog’s heart to malfunction and lead to death.
As much as we humans love chocolate, it should not be given to dogs. Chocolates contain a toxic substance called theobromine that, when metabolized in the body, is poisonous to them.
Onion and garlic are indispensable ingredients in our food but are bad for dogs. These vegetables contain thiosulfate, which is toxic to dogs.
These are just some of the foods to avoid giving your Rottweiler. It is good practice to always check food labels and monitor what your pooch is eating to prevent health problems.
For a more extensive list of toxic foods for dogs, read this comprehensive guide by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
How to Transition Your Rottweiler to a New Food
At some point during your pet’s life, you will need to make changes in its diet. For instance, transitioning your pooch from Rottweiler puppy food to adult dog food.
Transitioning to a new food is not a one-step process. Begin by mixing the new food with your dog’s usual cups of food. Add more new food while decreasing the old food each day until your dog gets used to its new diet.
Your Rottie’s body will need time to adjust to the new food, so it is important to transition properly and avoid upsetting the stomach.
For most dogs, including the Rottweiler breed, a suggested transition process can be as follows:
Transitioning to new food usually takes five to seven days. It can be more gradual to gauge the response and monitor for symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, especially if your Rottie has food allergies or a sensitive stomach.
If your dog has signs of food allergies like sneezing, watery eyes, reduced appetite, or lethargy, it is possible that their new food is not working for them.
When you observe any symptoms during or even after successfully transitioning your Rottweiler diet, it is best to consult a veterinarian to see what other diet changes are necessary.
Feeding an Overweight Rottweiler
If your Rottweiler is on the overweight or even obese side of the scale, it might be because they were free-fed, given too many treats, or given too much food during feeding.
Lack of exercise could also be a factor contributing to their weight gain.
If weighing your pet is not convenient, a simple way to check if they are overweight is to look at their waist from the side. Their abdomen should be higher and not on the same level as their chest.
Being overweight can cause various health issues for your dog, including canine diabetes, joint problems like hip dysplasia, and even breathing difficulties.
Because of this, feeding an overweight Rottweiler should focus on decreasing their calorie intake while still providing balanced nutrition. Increasing the amount of exercise they get is also important.
That said, the best way to feed an overweight Rottie is by transitioning its diet to low-calorie dog food. You can also seek a vet’s advice for a dog-specific weight-loss diet plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is My Rottweiler Not Eating?
There are many possible reasons why your Rottweiler is not eating. Common causes include illness, environmental stress, and dental issues leading to loss of appetite. They might also just not want the food served.
If your Rottie is also vomiting, showing discomfort, pain, or any other severe symptoms, bring them to a vet immediately because they need to be checked and treated.
Do Rottweilers Eat a Lot?
You can expect healthy adult Rotties to consume anywhere from 6 to 8 cups of dog food every day since they are large dogs. This can increase with more exercise and activity. It can also decrease if your dog has a smaller appetite.
Can Rottweilers Eat Bones?
Yes, Rottweilers can eat bones, provided that you know the dos and don’ts of giving your pooch a bone to chew on. Bones are a good source of minerals and can have dental benefits for your dog.
It is important to give a Rottie only large raw bones. Keep an eye on them while they chew on the bones to make sure they don’t bite the bones into smaller pieces.
Can Rottweilers Be Vegetarians?
Yes, Rottweilers can live on a vegetarian diet. Dogs can consume both meat and plant-based foods since their bodies can transform protein into micronutrients called amino acids.
Final Thoughts
Just as how we humans put a lot of thought and effort into our diets, Rottweiler owners also need to consider what they feed their pets.
Rottweilers are big and energetic dogs who need enough good-quality dog food to function well and have long, happy lives. Thus, planning their diet is a must, from what food, how much, and even when to feed them.
Hopefully, with this Rottweiler feeding guide, you have learned all about the recommended diet for your own Rottie.
If you have questions, suggestions, or tips on feeding a Rottweiler, feel free to leave them in the comments below!
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