Rottweiler
TRANSLATOR: Mrs. Chris Seidler
ORIGIN: Germany
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE
VALID ORIGINAL STANDARD:
06.04.2000
UTILIZATION: Companion, service 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 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.
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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.
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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.