Growth
Slower is better. A lean Rottweiler puppy grows into a stronger, sounder adult.
The growth curve
Rottweilers hit about 60% of adult weight around 6 months, 80% around 12 months and full frame around 18–24 months. Muscle and chest continue to fill out until age 3.
Feed lean, not chubby
You should be able to feel (but not see) the ribs and see a visible waist from above. Extra weight on a growing skeleton is a direct risk factor for hip and elbow dysplasia.
Portion by body condition, not the bag
The label is an average. Weigh your puppy every 2 weeks and adjust up or down by 10% at a time. Growth spurts are normal — sustained weight loss or gain is not.
Exercise and joints
Match exercise to age: no forced running, no repeated jumping on hard floors and no long hikes until growth plates close (around 15–18 months). Free play on soft ground is ideal.