The
Rottweiler, though probably descended from mastiffs accompanying the Roman legions, was named for the German town of Rottweil where the breed was used by butchers to drive herds of cattle. The butchers fastened their money belts around the dogs' necks, since their earnings would be completely safe there. When railroads made cattle driving obsolete, the
Rottweiler almost disappeared. These versatile dogs found new roles in the early 1900's as guards and police dogs.
