Steinplatz Sledding dogs

Website created by Ruth Hartmann 2005

Rottweilers are very versatile dogs and are willing to try almost anything ... as long as they are with YOU!

Remembering that rottweilers were originally bred as working dogs who drove or herded cattle for farmers as well as pull their milk carts, they also kept many would be thieves at bay by having the money bags of their masters strapped around their necks!

With this in mind I wanted to see how they'd do at dog sledding and purchased a small dog sled and pulling gear in 2001. They definately have the strength, with those buns of steel, but need extra encouragment to pull than your more traditional northern sled dogs. I'd still like to train that pesky squirrel they like to harrass in our back yard to run out ahead of them - now that would give us a burst of speed!

My foundation bitch, Kaese, was my primary lead dog in previous years. Her son Petra also did some solo sledding or along side his mom. She also was my lead dog with her daughters, Leia and Brie pulling behind her. Since her passing, I've been working on training her grandson- Blitz to be the lead dog - Kaese's daughters, Brie and Leia, are more content to pull behind side by side.

Who knows, you may just see us in the Iditarod sled race one day !

Enjoy the pictures of our unique sled dog team