Rottweiler
“von der Burgbleiche”©

Just a moment, please!

Rottweiler
Standard
No. 147/
19.06.2000/GB

Origin:

Germany

Date of publication of the valid original standard:

06.04.2000

Utilization:

Companion, Servic and Working dog

Classification 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 breeds of dog. 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 federal town 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, security 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, manoeuvrability 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 and Character

Being good natured, placid and fond of children in basic disposition, he is 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, the skull 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:

Straight nasal bridge, broad at base, moderately tapered. 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.

Lips:

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

Jaw:

Upper and lower jaw strong and broad.

Cheeks:

Zygomatic arches pronounced.

Teeth:

Strong complete dentition (42 teeth) with scissor bite, the upper incisors closely overlapping the lower incisors.

Eyes:

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

Ears:

Medium sized, pendant, triangular, wide apart, set on high. The close fitting ears, set well forward, give the impression of a broad skull.

Neck

Of fair length, well muscled, slightly arched, free from throatiness, without dewlap.

Body

Back:

Straight, strong, sturdy.

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 fore-chest 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, looks straight. The slope of the shoulder-blade is about 45 degrees to the horizontal.

Shoulders:

Well laid back.

Upperarm:

Close fitting to the body.

Forearm:

Strongly developed and muscular.

Pasterns:

Slightly springy, strong, not straight.

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 well muscled.

Lower thigh:

Long, strong, broadly muscled at top and sinewy below, merging into sturdy well angulated hocks, not straight.

Feet:

Slightly longer than the front feet. Just as tight. Arched and with strong toes.

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

Texture of coat:

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 buttocks.

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.

Height and weight

Shoulder height for males.

is 61 - 68 cm

61 - 62 cm small

63 - 64 cm medium height

65 - 66 cm large = correct height

67 - 68 cm very large

Weight males.:

approximately 50 kg

Shoulder height for bitches

is 56 - 63 cm.

56 - 57 cm small

58 - 59 cm medium height

60 - 61 cm large = correct height

62 - 63 cm very large

Weight bitches:

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, racy, weedy appearance. Light in bone and muscle.

Head:

Hound-type head. Narrow, light, too short, too long or coarse head. Flat forehead. Lack of stop or too little.

Foreface:

Long or pointed muzzle; split nose; roman nose or dished nose; aquiline nose; pale or spotted nose (butterfly nose).

Lips:

Pendulous, pink or patchy; corner of lips visible.

Jaws:

Narrow lower jaw.

Cheeks:

Strongly protruding cheeks.

Bite:

Pincer bite.

Ears:

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

Eyes:

Light, showing how, deep set. Also round eyes.

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:

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

Chest:

Flat ribbed or barrel shaped. Lack of spring.

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 straight pasterns. Splayed feet. Too flat or too arched toes. Deformed toes. Light coloured nails.

Hindquarters:

Flat thighs, hocks too close, cow hocks or open hocked. 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:

Mismarking. Smudged, not clearly defined markings. Markings which are too spread out.

Eliminating Faults:

General:

Marked reversal of sexual type, i.e. feminine dogs or masculine bitches.

Teeth:

Overshot or undershot bite, way mouth; missing 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:

Very 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.:

Males must have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.