Rottweiler - F.C.I. Breed standard
(Germany)
The following information
was copied from the official ADRK website, located at at
www.adrk.de.
Rottweiler:
F.C.I.-Standard Nr. 147 / 19.06.2000 / D
Origin: Germany
Date of publication of the valid original standard: 06.04.2000
Utilization: Companion, servic and working dog
Klassifikation 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.
