The Rottweiler Club of Tasmania Inc. is a not for profit organisation, established in 2016 and its main goal is to provide education to the public about responsible rottweiler ownership and breeding, along with regular training and social events throughout the year for the public to attend.  We provide resources, referrals and training of rottweilers, both as puppies, junior and adult dogs, for pets and to train/trial in working disciplines and to show in conformation events both in Tasmania and on the mainland.  We endeavour to link the community to valuable resources and to promote an environment to learn about the rottweiler and the standard it abides by. 

With an increasing incidence of dog bites/aggression issues in society around the world, the RCT Inc., has worked hard and continue to promote the breed, health testing, breeding standards, socialising, diet, training in show and trials, teaching how to manage your rottweiler in the home, lifestyle choices (dogs and children or other animals), basic obedience and much more.  Every dog is capable of poor behaviour both at home and out in the community, but rottweilers do tend to attract a “bad rapp” at times in the media and often the incident was due to a lack of security for the dog or no training by the owner to understand their dog, or educate and socialise it.

The rottweiler is a powerful dog, capable of guarding, security, and protection against adversary.  They are also a large 40-50kg potato who would prefer to sleep during the day on the couch and come alive at night when everyone is home to engage with.  They thrive on engagement, training and are highly trainable, love children and are extremely loyal to family.  Once you have owned one, you will never not have another.

RCT INC. places a high emphasis on conformation/structure and physiology of the rottweiler as both a show dog and a working breed and promotes this at every chance, including at our training and social days which are held every 2 months throughout the year.  These days are highly popular and we have a very good attendance rate.  We also offer the public, who may simply want some extra training/guidance, an opportunity to join a Club and meet with like minded people who love this breed and want to get together to socialise their dogs, do some training and have fun.  RCT INC. is open to members and non-members and to all breeds of dogs (for our training/social days) and to the rottweiler breeder/owner/handlers who are dedicated to working their dogs in trial or competing in the show ring.

All members of the RCT INC. are encouraged to engage in a culture of transparency and honesty that promotes our values and ethics and we all follow the Code of Ethics, Bylaws and Regulations. 

A large part of our activities centre around our training/social days, along with conformation shows and working trials.  The RCT INC. endeavours, where possible, to hold a Rottweiler Specialty Show (breed specific) every two years in November.  We usually fly in internationally recognized breed specialist judges from either Germany (where the breed originated), from Eastern Europe, USA, NZ as well as taking advantage of many Australian specialist judges.  We also hold the National Rottweiler Seiger Show every 6 years, taking turns with other states and territories in Australia.  We usually hold two (2) shows and a Breed Survey over a 3 day weekend and these events attract over 100 entries from all over Australia and are always a great success for our Club and Tasmanian small business who have provided sponsorship.  Our Specialty Shows and National Show attract sponsorship from several local businesses, providing advertising on the grounds, in our schedules, catalogues, on our facebook pages and providing prize awards.  Many rottweilers in Tasmania also take part in trials throughout the year across working disciplines of tracking, track and search, herding, obedience, rally, endurance, trickwork and scentwork, with great success, further promoting the breed as extremely versatile and with an excellent willingness to work and engage with the community.

RCT INC. also engages in the BS and BSE(A) which is a rottweiler Breed Survey Evaluation.  This test requires a specialist/qualified Breed Survey Judge to evaluate male and female rottweilers under a variety of conditions/stressors, with a test pass deeming the male/female as suitable to breed.  For example, the test evaluates the 5 priority of breed type in rottweilers, being height to length ratio, skull to muzzle ratio, coat color and condition, head type, temperament.

Certified health test documents must be provided to show adherence to the ANKC standards in dentition, eye condition, hips and elbows, along with additional health test results for JLPP (disease).  The rottweiler is also placed in a crowded environment and faced with stranger/s to assess its temperament which should be calm, confident and courageous regardless of conditions.  A gun shot test is also conducted to prove stable nerve structure.  All these elements go into assessing whether a dog or female is worthy to breed with.  Not everyone will consider this test or health testing for that matter, as critical to breeding success with rottweilers, like any breed – only the most committed will make the effort to continue the standard required.  Others will only breed dogs for money.

RCT INC. also assists the local State bodies where possible to provide rehoming services for people whose lifestyle or financial situation has changed and they require a rehome of either a puppy or adult dog.  We also offer a litter referral service for those who wish to purchase a rottweiler from a registered breeder.  This service is provided through our facebook pages and via email where introductions are made to registered breeders.