USRC Breed Standard
F.C.I.-Standard Nr. 147 / 19.06.2000 / D Rottweiler
Translator: Mrs. Chris Seidler
Origin: 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
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
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 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 %.
Behavior / 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 behavior 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 conspicuous
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
color. 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. USRC Adopted Exception: Docked at the
first or second joint within 7 days of birth or left in its natural state.
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: 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
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.
Color: 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 Males Females
Height at withers: 61 - 68 cm 56 - 63 cm
61 - 62 cm is small 56 - 57 cm is small
63 - 64 cm is medium height 58 - 59 cm is medium
height
65 - 66 cm is large - correct height 60 - 61 cm is
large - correct height
67 - 68 cm is very large 62 - 63 cm is very large
Weight: approximately 50 kg 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. (level 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 colored 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.
Color: Markings of incorrect color, 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.
Color: Dogs which do not show the typical Rottweiler
coloring of black with tan markings. White markings.
Behavior: Anxious, shy, cowardly, gun-shy, vicious,
excessively suspicious, nervous animals.
Male animals must have two apparently normal
testicles fully descended into the scrotum.