The first recorded Rottweiler in the UK was in 1936 – Diana v.d. Amalienburg ScHI imported by Mrs Thelma Grey.  This bitch was then sold to the owner of the Crowsteps affix (Mrs Simmons).  The second Rottweiler was Enne v. Pfalzgau (which was bred by Herr Weinmann) she was in-whelp when imported, the progeny sired by the Welt Seiger World Champion, Ido v Kohlerwald ScH.II.  Enne was excellent for conformation but had a very poor head – she was sold onto Mrs Paton and had a litter born in quarantine – unfortunately this litter fell foul of distemper and all but one died.  The survivor was Anna V Rozavel who was to become an excellent working dog and winning consistently in the show ring, culminating in Best of Breed at Crufts 1939.

 The Second World War then broke out and Anna was commissioned into the Army where she was to prove most successful.  At the end of her service, she remained with her handler until she passed away at the grand age of 16.

 Thelma Gray imported three other dogs before the Second World War – Asta von Norden, Arnold v.d. Eichener and International Champion Vefa von Kohlerwald.  These dogs had limited show success but then disappeared to Ireland when war broke out.

 The Rottweiler came into its own in the UK after the war and Captain Roy Smith (a military vet) was to import dogs which would become an important basis for the Rottweiler in Britain.    On his return from Germany he brought back a breeding pair – Ajax v Suhrenkamp and the bitch Berny v Weyher.  The bitch was a long coated girl (not able to be registered with the ADRK) so it was perhaps fortunate that this breeding pair was not successful in producing progeny.  The bitch was destroyed in 1956 after six attempted matings which overall produced four puppies and only one survivor.  Captain Smith then acquired a second bitch, Lotte v Osterburg who was to prove an important foundation for the Rottweiler in Britain.  Mated to Ajax, she produced two litters, the first litter in 1958 produced five dogs.  Four were not to remain in the country and the remaining one was bought by Mary Macphail of the famous Blackforest affix – this dog was Rintelna the Bombadier and was destined to become the sire of the first British Champion.

 Also influential in the early days was Mrs Joanna Chadwick of the Mallion Kennels – Rottweilers were imported from Germany (namely the Eulenspiegel Kennel) and then later on, Sweden and Holland.  The first dogs to be imported were another breeding pair – Rudi Eulenspiegel of Mallion and Quinta Eulenspiegel of Mallion – these were to prove to be excellent breeding stock.  The most famous progen was Bruin of Mallion who became the first Rottweiler to gain the Champion title in Working Trials.  Abelard of Mallion was the first Rottweiler to be used by the Police and was ably handled by Inspector Roy Hunter.

 The next notable import was to be made by Larry and Judy Elsden of the Chesara kennels – Ch Chesara Luther from Holland.  However is was to be their second import which would have such impact – Chesara Akilles from Sweden and he was the foundation for the British Rottweiler.  He sired ten champions and was only to be surpassed by the Elsden’s Ch Chesara Dark Charles.

 The next import was Ch Gameguards Bulli v Waldachquelle from Germany imported by Joan Blackmore of Gameguards.  An excellent dog who unfortunately died at the young age of five, however he had been used extensively at stud and left some excellent progeny including Ch Janbicca The Superman who held the breed record of 14 CC’s.  The Bulli line is behind some very successful dogs, click on the link to the left to see the Bulli line.