Official Standard for
the Rottweiler
Approved May 8,
1990; Effective June 28, 1990
General Appearance
The ideal
Rottweiler is a medium-large, robust and powerful dog, black with
clearly defined rust markings. His compact and substantial build
denotes great strength, agility and endurance. Dogs are
characteristically more massive throughout with large frame and
heavier bone than bitches. Bitches are distinctly feminine, but
without weakness of substance or structure.
Size,
Proportion, Substance
Dog: 24 inches to
27 inches
Bitches: 22 inches
to 25 inches
with preferred
size being midrange of each sex. Correct proportion is of primary
importance, as long as size is within the standard's range.
The length of body
from prosternum to the rear-most projection of the rump, is slightly
longer than the height of the dog at the withers, the most desirable
proportion of the height to length being 9 to 10. The Rottweiler is
neither coarse nor shelly. Depth of chest is approximately fifty
percent (50%)of the height of the dog. His bone and muscle mass must
be sufficient to balance his frame, giving a compact and very
powerful appearance.
Serious Faults:
Lack of proportion, Undersized, oversized, reversal of sex
characteristics (bitchy dogs, doggy bitches).
Head of medium
length, broad between the ears; forehead line seen in profile is
moderately arched; zygomatic arch and stop well developed with strong
broad upper and lower jaws. The desired ratio of backskull to muzzle
is 3 to 2. Forehead is preferred dry, however some wrinkling may
occur when dog is alert.
Expression is
noble, alert and self-assured.
Eyes of medium
size, almond shaped with well-fitting lids, moderately deep-set,
neither protruding nor receding. The desired color is a uniform dark brown.
Serious Faults:
Yellow (bird of prey) eyes, eyes of different color size, hairless
eye rim.
Disqualification:
Entropion. Ectropion.
Ears of medium
size, pendant, triangular in shape; when carried alertly the ears are
level with the top of the skull and appear to broaden it. Ears are to
be set well apart, Hanging forward with the inner edge lying tightly
against the head and terminating at approximately mid-cheek.
Serious Faults:
Improper carriage (creased, folded or held away from cheek/head).
Muzzle - bridge is
straight, broad at base with slight tapering towards tip, The end of
the muzzle is broad with well developed chin. Nose is broad rather
than round and always black. Lips - always black; corners closed;
inner mouth pigment is preferred dark.
Serious faults:
Total lack of mouth pigment (pink mouth).
Bite &
Dentition - Teeth 42 in number (20 upper; 22 lower), strong,
correctly placed, meeting in a scissors bite; lower incisors touching
inside of upper incisors.
Serious faults:
Level bite; any missing tooth.
Disqualifications:
Overshot, undershot (when incisors do not touch or mesh);
wry mouth; two or more missing teeth.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck - Powerful,
well muscled, moderately long, slightly arched and without loose skin.
Topline - The back
is firm and level, extending in a straight line from behind the
withers to the croup. The back remains horizontal to the ground while
the dog is moving or standing.
Body - The chest
is roomy, broad and deep, reaching to elbow, with well pronounced
forechest and well sprung, oval ribs. Back is straight and strong.
Loin is short, deep and well muscled. Croup is broad, of medium
length and only slightly sloping. Underline of a mature Rottweiler
has a slight tuck-up. Males must have two normal testicles properly
descended into the scrotum.
Disqualifications:
Unilateral cryptorchid or cryptorchid males.
Tail - Tail docked
short, close to body, leaving one or two tail vertebrae. The set of
the tail is more important than length. Properly set, it gives an
impression of elongation of topline; carried slightly above
horizontal when the dog is excited or moving.
Forequarters -
Shoulder blade is long and well laid back. Upper arm equal in length
to shoulder blade, set so elbows are well under body. Distance from
withers to elbow and elbow to ground is equal. Legs are strongly
developed with straight, heavy bone, not set close together. Pasterns
are strong, springy and almost perpendicular to the ground. Feet are
round, compact with well arched toes, turning neither in nor out.
Pads are thick and hard. Nails short, strong and black. Dewclaws may
be removed.
Hindquarters -
Angulation of hindquarters balances that of forequarters. Upper thigh
is fairly long, very broad and well muscled. Stifle joint is well
turned. Lower thigh is long, broad and powerful, with extensive
muscling leading into a strong hock joint. Rear pasterns are nearly
perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from the rear, hind legs are
straight, strong and wide enough apart to fit with a properly built
body. Feet are somewhat longer than the front feet, turning neither
in nor out, equally compact with well arched toes. Pads are thick and
hard. Nails short, strong, and black. Dewclaws must be removed.
Coat - Outer coat
is straight, coarse, dense, of medium length and lying flat.
Undercoat should be present on neck and thighs, but the amount is
influenced by climatic conditions. Undercoat should not show through
outer coat. The coat is shortest on head, ears and legs, longest on
breaching. The Rottweiler is to be exhibited in the natural condition
with no trimming.
Fault: Wavy coat
Serious faults:
Open, excessively short, or curly coat; total lack of under-coat;
any trimming that alters the length of the natural coat.
Disqualifications:
Long coat.
Color - Always
black with rust to mahogany markings. The demarcation between black
and rust is to be clearly defined. The markings should be located as
follows: a spot over each eye; on cheeks; as a strip around each side
of muzzle, but not on the bridge of the nose; on throat; triangular
mark on both sides of prosternum; on forelegs from carpus downward to
the toes; on inside of rear legs showing down the front of the stifle
and broadening out to front of rear legs from hock to toes, but not
completely eliminating black from rear of pasterns; under tail; black
penciling on toes. The undercoat is gray, tan, or black. Quantity and
location of rust markings is important and should not exceed ten
percent of body color.
Serious faults:
Straw-colored, excessive, insufficient or sooty markings; rust marking
other than described above; white marking any place on dog
(a few rust or white hairs do not constitute a marking).
Disqualifications:
Any base color other than black; absence of all markings.
Gait - The
Rottweiler is a trotter. His movement should be balanced, harmonious,
sure, powerful and unhindered, with strong forereach and a powerful
rear drive. The motion is effortless, efficient, and ground-covering.
Front and rear legs are thrown neither in nor out, as the imprint of
hind feet should touch that of forefeet. In a trot the forequarters
and hindquarters are mutually coordinated while the back remains
level, firm and relatively motionless. As speed increases the legs
will converge under body towards a center line.
Temperament - The
Rottweiler is basically a calm, confident and courageous dog with a
self-assured aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and
indiscriminate friendships. A Rottweiler is self-confident and
responds quietly and with a wait-and-see attitude to influences in
his environment. He has an inherent desire to protect home and
family, and is an intelligent dog of extreme hardness and
adaptability with a strong willingness to work, making him especially
suited as a companion, guardian and general all-purpose dog. The
behavior of the Rottweiler in the show ring should be controlled,
willing and adaptable, trained to submit to examination of mouth,
testicles, etc. An aloof or reserved dog should be not be penalized,
as this reflects the accepted character of the breed. An aggressive
or belligerent attitude towards other dogs should not be faulted.
A judge shall
excuse from the ring any shy Rottweiler. A dog should be judged
fundamentally shy if, refusing to stand for examination, if shrinks
away from the judge. A dog that, in the opinion of the judge menaces
or threatens him/her, or exhibits any sign that it may not be safety
approached or examined by the judge in the normal manner, shall be
excused from the ring, A dog that in the opinion of the judge attacks
any person in the ring shall be disqualified.
Summary
Faults: The
foregoing is a description of the ideal Rottweiler. Any structural
fault that detracts from the above-described working dog must be
penalized to the extent of the deviation.
Disqualifications:
Entropion, ectropion. Overshot, undershot (when incisors do not touch
or mesh); wry mouth; two or more missing teeth. Unilateral
cryptorchid or cryptorchid males. Long coat. Any base color other
than black; absence of all markings. A dog that in the opinion of the
judge attacks any person in the ring.
©The American
Kennel Club
