The Rottweiler descends from a line of powerful dogs that drove and guarded the cattle of the Roman Army as it traversed Europe. In Rottweil, Germany, this mastiff-type dog was crossed with local herding dogs and was bred specifically as the "butcher's dog of Rottweil." The dog would accompany and guard the butcher on the way to cattle sales, carrying his money en route; he would then drive the purchased beef-on-the-hoof home. The breed suffered greatly with the advent of modern transportation and nearly disappeared. Early this century few dogs and no breed standard existed. With the development of canine police service, however, Rottweilers gained popularity as guards and police assistants. These jobs rescued them from near extinction. Having proved invaluable in the war, they are now often used as therapy, guide, police, drug detection, search and rescue, and companion dogs.
 

• The goal is to reward the complete Rottweiler. One of type, sturdy and correct in body and temperament.
  
   

• When you think of the 'typical' Rottweiler, you not only picture body and head, you picture movement and character.

Origin: Germany

Utilization: Companion, service and working dog

Clasification FCI:

Group 2 (Pinscher and Schnauzer type, Molossian type and Swiss Mountain- and Cattle Dogs and other breeds)

Section 2.1 Molossian type, Mastiff type with working trial.

Brief historical summary

The Rottweiler is considered to be one of the oldest dog breeds. Its origin goes back to Roman times. These dogs were kept as herder or driving dogs. They marched over the Alps with the Roman legions, protecting the humans and driving their cattle. In the region of Rottweil, these dogs met and mixed with the native dogs in a natural crossing. The main task of the Rottweiler now became the driving and guarding of the herds of cattle and the defence of their masters and their property. This breed acquired its name from the old free city of Rottweil and was known as the "Rottweil butcher`s dog".

The butchers bred this type of dog purely for performance and usefulness. In due course, a first rate watch and driving dog evolved which could also be used as a draught dog. When, at the beginning of the twentieth century, various breeds were needed for police service, the Rottweiler was amongst those tested. It soon became evident that the breed was highly suitable for the tasks set by police service and therefore they were officially recognized as police dogs in 1910.

Rottweiler breeders aim at a dog of abundant strength, black coated with clearly defined rich tan markings, whose powerful appearance does not lack nobility and which is exceptionally well suited to being a companion, service and working dog.

General Appearance

The Rottweiler is a medium to large size, stalwart dog, neither heavy nor light and neither leggy nor weedy. His correctly proportioned, compact and powerful build leads to the conclusion of great strength, agility and endurance.

Important Proportions

The length of the body, measured from the sternum (breast-bone) to the ischiatic tuberosity, should not exceed the height at the withers by, at most, 15 %.

Behaviour / Temperament

Good natured, placid in basic disposition and fond of children, very devoted, obedient, biddable and eager to work. His appearance is natural and rustic, his behaviour self assured, steady and fearless. He reacts to his surroundings with great alertness.

Head

Cranial Region:

Skull: Of medium length, broad between the ears. Forehead line moderately arched as seen from the side. Occipital bone well developed without being conspicious.

Stop: Well defined.

Facial Region

Nose: Nose well developed, more broad than round with relatively large nostrils, always black.

Muzzle: The foreface should appear neither elongated nor shortened in relation to the cranial region. Straight nasal bridge, broad at base, moderately tapered.

Lips: Black, close fitting, corner of the mouth not visible, gum as dark as possible.

Jaws / Teeth: Upper and lower jaw strong and broad. Strong complete dentition (42 teeth) with scissor bite, the upper incisors closely overlapping the lower incisors.

Cheeks: Zygomatic arches pronounced.

Eyes: Of medium size, almond shaped, dark brown in colour. Eyelids close fitting.

Ears: Medium-sized, pendant, triangular, wide apart, set on high. With the ears laid forward close to the head the skull appears to be broadened.

Neck: Strong, of fair length, well muscled, slightly arched, free from throatiness, without dewlap.

Body

Back: Straight, strong, firm.

Loins: Short, strong and deep.

Croup: Broad, of medium length, slightly rounded. Neither flat nor falling away.

Chest: Roomy, broad and deep (approximately 50 % of the shoulder height) with well developed forechest and well sprung ribs.

Belly: Flanks not tucked up.

Tail: In natural condition, level in extension of the upper line; at ease may be hanging

Limbs

Forequarters: Seen from the front, the front legs are straight and not placed too closely to each other. The forearm, seen from the side, stands straight. The slope of the shoulder blade is about 45 degrees to the horizontal.

Shoulders: Well laid back.

Upper arm: Close fitting to the body.

Forearm: Strongly developed and muscular.

Pasterns: Slightly springy, strong, not steep.

Front feet: Round, tight and well arched; pads hard; nails short, black and strong.

Hindquarters: Seen from behind, legs straight and not too close together. When standing free, obtuse angles are formed between the dog`s upper thigh and the hip bone, the upper thigh and the lower thigh and the metatarsal.

Upper thigh: Moderately long, broad and strongly muscled.

Lower thigh: Long, strongly and broadly muscled at top, sinewy.

Hocks: Sturdy well angulated hocks; not steep.

Hindfeet: Slightly longer than the front feet. Toes strong, arched, as tight as front feet.

Gait

The Rottweiler is a trotting dog. In movement the back remains firm and relatively stable. Movement harmonious, steady, full of energy and unrestricted, with good stride.

Skin

Skin on the head: Overall tight fitting. When the dog is alert, the forehead may be slightly wrinkled.

Coat

Hair: The coat consists of a top coat and an undercoat. The top coat is of medium length, coarse, dense and flat. The undercoat must not show through the top coat. The hair is a little longer on the hindlegs.

Colour: Black with clearly defined markings of a rich tan on the cheeks, muzzle, throat, chest and legs, as well as over both eyes and under the base of the tail.

Size and weight

Heigtht at withers: For males is 61 - 68 cm.

61 - 62 cm is small / 63 - 64 cm is medium height / 65 - 66 cm is large - correct height / 67 - 68 cm is very large

Weight: approximately 50 kg

Heigtht at withers:

For bitches is 56 - 63 cm.

56 - 57 cm is small / 58 - 59 cm is medium height / 60 - 61 cm is large - correct height / 62 - 63 cm is very large

Weight: approximately 42 kg

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

General appearance: Light, weedy, leggy appearance. Light in bone and muscle.

Head: Hound-type head. Narrow, light, too short, long or coarse head. Flat forehead (lack of stop or too little stop).

Foreface: Long or pointed muzzle; split nose; Roman nose (convex nasal bridge) or dish-faced (concave nasal bridge); aquiline nose; pale or spotted nose (butterfly nose).

Lips: Pendulous, pink or patchy; corner of lips visible.

Jaws: Narrow lower jaw.

Bite: Pincer bite.

Cheeks: Strongly protruding.

Eyes: Light, deep set. Also too full and round eyes; loose eye-lids.

Ears: Set on too low, heavy, long, slack or turned backwards. Also flying ears or ears not carried symmetrically.

Neck: Too long, thin, lacking muscle. Showing dewlap or throaty.

Body: Too long, too short or too narrow.

Back: Too long, weak; sway-back or roach back.

Croup: Too sloping, too short, too flat or too long.

Chest: Flat ribbed or barrel shaped. Too narrow behind.

Tail: Set on too high or too low.

Forequarters: Narrow or crooked front legs. Steep shoulder placement. Loose or out at elbow. Too long, too short or too straight in upper arm. Weak or steep pastern. Splayed feet. Too flat or too arched toes. Deformed toes. Light coloured nails.

Hindquarters: Flat thighs, hocks too close, cow hocks or barrel hocks. Joints with too little or too much angulation. Dewclaws.

Skin: Wrinkles on head

Coat: Soft, too short or too long. Wavy coat; lack of undercoat.

Colour: Markings of incorrect colour, not clearly defined.. Markings which are too spread out.

Eliminating Faults:

General: Distinct reversal of sexual type, i.e. feminine dogs or masculine bitches.

Teeth: Overshot or undershot bite, wry mouth; lack of one incisive tooth, one canine, one premolar and one molar.

Eyes: Entropion, ectropion, yellow eyes, different coloured eyes.

Tail: Kink tail, ring tail, with strong lateral deviation

Hair: Definitely long or wavy coat.

Colour: Dogs which do not show the typical Rottweiler colouring of black with tan markings. White markings.

Behaviour: Anxious, shy, cowardly, gun-shy, vicious, excessively suspicious, nervous animals.

N.B.: Male animals must have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

General Appearance

Above average size, stalwart dog. Correctly proportioned, compact and powerful form, permitting great strength, manoeuvrability and endurance.

Characteristics

Appearance displays boldness and courage. Self-assured and fearless. Calm gaze should indicate good humour.

Temperament

Good natured, not nervous, aggressive or vicious; courageous, biddable, with natural guarding instincts.

Head and Skull

Head medium length, skull broad between ears. Forehead moderately arched as seen from side. Occipital bone well developed but not conspicuous. Cheeks well boned and muscled but not prominent. Skin on head not loose, although it may form a moderate wrinkle when attentive. Muzzle fairly deep with topline level, and length of muzzle in relation to distance from well defined stop to occiput to be as 2 to 3. Nose well developed with proportionately large nostrils, always black.

Eyes

Medium size, almond-shaped, dark brown in colour, light eye undesirable, eyelids close fitting.

Ears

Pendant, small in proportion rather than large, set high and wide apart, lying flat and close to cheek.

Mouth

Teeth strong, complete dentition with scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Flews black and firm, falling gradually away towards corners of mouth, which do not protrude excessively.

Neck

Of fair length, strong, round and very muscular. Slightly arched, free from throatiness.

Forequarters

Shoulders well laid back, long and sloping, elbows well let down, but not loose. Legs straight, muscular, with plenty of bone and substance. Pasterns sloping slightly forward.

Body

Chest roomy, broad and deep with well sprung ribs. Depth of brisket will not be more, and not much less than 50 per cent of shoulder height. Back straight, strong and not too long, ratio of shoulder height to length of body should be as 9 is to 10, loins short, strong and deep, flanks not tucked up. Croup of proportionate length, and broad, very slightly sloping.

Hindquarters

Upper thigh not too short, broad and strongly muscled. Lower thigh well muscled at top, strong and sinewy below. Stifles fairly well bent. Hocks well angulated without exaggeration, metatarsals not completely vertical. Strength and soundness of hock highly desirable.

Feet

Strong, round and compact with toes well arched. Hindfeet somewhat longer than front. Pads very hard, toenails short, dark and strong. Rear dewclaws removed.

Tail

Customarily docked.

Docked: Docked at first joint. Strong and not set too low. Normally carried horizontally but slightly above horizontal when dog is alert.

Undocked: Strong and not set too low. Normally carried horizontally but slightly above horizontal when dog is alert. May hang when dog is at rest.

Gait/Movement

Conveys an impression of supple strength, endurance and purpose. While back remains firm and stable there is a powerful hindthrust and good stride. First and foremost, movement should be harmonious, positive and unrestricted.

Coat

Consists of top coat and undercoat. Top coat is of medium length, coarse and flat. Undercoat, essential on the neck and thighs, should not show through top coat. Hair may also be a little longer on the back of the forelegs and breechings. Long or excessively wavy coat highly undesirable.

Colour

Black with clearly defined markings as follows: a spot over each eye, on cheeks, as a strip around each side of muzzle, but not on bridge of nose, on throat, two clear triangles on either side of the breast bone, on forelegs from carpus downward to toes, on inside of rear legs from hock to toes, but not completely eliminating black from back of legs, under tail. Colour of markings from rich tan to mahogany and should not exceed 10 per cent of body colour. White marking is highly undesirable. Black pencil markings on toes are desirable. Undercoat is grey, fawn, or black.

Size

Dogs height at shoulder: between 63-69 cms (25-27 ins); bitches between 58-64 cms (23-25 ins). Height should always be considered in relation to general appearance.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.