rottweiler - The Rottweiler is thought to have descended from the Italian Mastiff and was bred in Rottweil, Germany. These dogs were used as herd dogs in the middle ages. During the 1800s, the breed almost reached extinction, but passionate breeders brought its numbers up early in the 20th century. Throughout history, the Rottweiler has been used for everything from tracking and police work to schutzhund and competitive obedience.