Breed guide
Rottweiler Breeding Guide: Litter Size, Whelping, Puppy Weights and Health Testing
Updated September 6, 2026 · 6 min read · By the BreedBloom team
Rottweilers are a large working breed with big litters and a heavy orthopedic testing burden. JLPP, a lethal recessive, has a DNA test that every breeding pair should be checked against.
Rottweiler at a glance
Typical litter size
6–12 puppies (average around 8)
Birth weight
14–20 oz (400–570 g)
Adult weight
80–135 lb (36–61 kg)
Gestation
About 63 days from ovulation (57–72 from breeding)
Whelping
Generally free-whelping with large litters. A big dam can crush puppies; pig rails and supervision matter.
Breeding and whelping notes
JLPP: affected puppies die young of laryngeal paralysis; carrier-to-carrier matings must be avoided.
Osteosarcoma and other cancers shorten the breed's lifespan; longevity in the pedigree is worth weighing.
Growth control is essential: large-breed puppy food, lean condition, no forced exercise.
Temperament and training expectations should be screened in the family application; this is not a breed for a passive home.
Health testing before breeding
•
Hips: OFA or PennHIP
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Elbows: OFA
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Eyes: CAER exam
•
Cardiac exam (subaortic stenosis)
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DNA: JLPP (juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy), DM
•
Many programs add thyroid
Keep the paperwork attached
Test results are only useful when they travel with the dog. Keep certificate numbers and dates on each dog's record and include copies in every go-home packet.
Tracking a Rottweiler litter
Enter the ovulation or tie date and BreedBloom builds the Rottweiler litter timeline: ultrasound window, X-ray count reminder, temperature checks, the day 3–16 ENS/ESI schedule, deworming and vaccination tasks, and per-puppy weight curves you can compare against the whole litter. Families follow along in the BloomPetz portal, and the go-home packet is assembled from the same records.
About these figures
Figures on this page are typical ranges drawn from breed club and veterinary references; individual lines vary. Confirm health-testing requirements with your breed's parent club, and whelping plans with your reproductive veterinarian.
Frequently asked questions
How many puppies do Rottweilers have?
Typically 6–12, average around 8. Litters of 14 occur.
What is JLPP in Rottweilers?
Juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy, a fatal recessive nerve disease. A DNA test identifies carriers so they are never bred to each other.
Run your program on BreedBloom
Dogs, litters, puppy weights, ENS/ESI tasks, waitlists, contracts and go-home packets in one connected record, with a family portal built in. Free for up to 3 dogs.
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