BREEDSTANDARD
ROTTWEILER
ORGIN:
Germany
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.
HISTORY
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 defense 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 breeder’s 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.
IMPORTAN
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:
SKULL:
Of medium length, broad between the ears. Forehead line moderately arched
as seen from the side. Occipital bone well developed without being conspicuous
STOP:
Well defined
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.
LOIN:
Ländpartiet skall vara kort, kraftigt och djupt.
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, 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 hipbone, 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
HIND
FEET:
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:
Overall tight fitting. When the dog is alert, the forehead may be slightly
wrinkled.
COAT:
The coat consists of a topcoat and an undercoat. The topcoat is of medium
length, coarse, dense and flat. The undercoat must not show through
the topcoat. The hair is a little longer on the hind legs.
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/WEIGHT
Height
at Withers:MALE
For males is 61 - 68 cm.
61 - 62 cm is small
63 - 64 cm is medium height
65 - 66 cm is large - correct height
WEIGHT FOR MALES:
Approximately 50 kg
Height
at Withers: BITCH
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 FOR BITCHES:
A pproximately 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.
Bite: Pincer bite.
Cheeks: Strongly protruding
Eyes: Light, deep set. Also too full and round eyes;
loose eyelids.
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; swayback 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
colored 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