Boy and girl

Rottweilers (or “Rotties) may have a bad-to-the-bone reputation, but their diehard protectiveness comes from a positive place. These large and powerful pups make it their mission to keep you safe but are surprisingly calm when they aren’t on high alert. Full-grown, they typically weigh 80-135 pounds and stand 22-27 inches tall.

Rottweilers are generally okay with older children who know how to handle dogs. Socialization is the top priority if your Rottie is going to be around kids or other animals. Rottweilers can be good playmates for children, cats, and pets, but they need to be socialized early and have positive experience when they’re young. They're relatively quiet and don't bark much.

Rotties need daily exercise to get their energy out and their heart pumping. It’s safe to take them running with you in the open country or the woods, as they don’t like to wander far from their families. Rottweilers are very smart and also love sports like swimming, running beside a bicycle, and playing fetch with a ball. Overall, their exercise needs are moderate.

The Rottweiler has a distinct outer coat of short, thick, coarse fur with a thick layer of hair underneath. All dogs in this breed are black with brown markings. You may find ones with long hair or white chest markings, but these traits are not as common. Grooming-wise, this breed is low-maintenance.

Rottweilers are best suited for a home with a yard, though they can adapt to apartment life with enough exercise. They are highly trainable and eager to learn.

With kind personalities, insatiable curiosity, and energy for days, the Siberian Husky is a dog that loves their family yet can’t wait to escape. If you’re bringing one of these pups into your home, keep the fences high, the temperature cool, and the vacuum nearby. Full-grown, they typically weigh 35-60 pounds and stand 20-24 inches tall.

Siberian Huskys are generally excellent with children of all ages. The Siberian Husky gets along well with other Huskies, but they need to be trained carefully to play nicely with other pets. These dogs tend to be aggressive toward cats and other foreign animals. They're very vocal and bark quite a lot.

The Siberian Husky was bred to pull a heavy sled for countless miles, and their intense activity needs remain today. If you can't have them pull a sled, let your Husky run alongside you as you jog or ride a bicycle, ideally for at least an hour every day. These dogs get destructive and loud if they don’t get enough exercise, so activity is a requirement, not a preference. Overall, their exercise needs are very high.

Siberian Huskies have a dense, smooth undercoat and coarse outer coat of short, straight hair. You can find them in many color combinations, but the most common are pure white or white with black, grey, or copper-red, all with blond markings. Siberian Huskies “blow” their long hair twice a year. Grooming-wise, this breed is low-maintenance.

Siberian Huskys are best suited for a house with a good-sized yard. Because of their size and long coat, Siberian Huskies are not well-suited to apartments or warm climates. They are moderately trainable with consistent effort.