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 larger frame and
heavier bone than bitches. Bitches are more distinctly feminine, but
without weakness of substance or structure.
Size, Proportion, and Substance:
Dogs - 24 inches to 27 inches. Bitches - 22 inches to 25 inches, with
preferred size being mid-range 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 rearmost 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
(bitch 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 the dog is alert. Expression is noble,
alert, and self-assured. Eyes are of medium size, almond shaped with
well-fitting lids, moderately deep-set, neither protruding or
receding. The desired color is a uniform dark brown.
Serious Faults - Yellow (bird or prey) eyes, eyes of different color
or 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 and 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 the elbow, with
well pronounced forechest and well sprung, oval ribs. Back is
straight and strong. Loin is short, deep and well muscled. Croup is
brad, of medium length and only slightly sloping. Underline of 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 and 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 find 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 laying
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 breeching. 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
undercoat; any trimming that alters the length of the natural coat.
Disqualification - 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 hocks 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
forquarters and hindquarters are mutually coordinated while the back
remains level, firm and relatively motionless. As speed increases the
legs will converge under the 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 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 shall be
judged fundamentally shy if, refusing to stand for examination, it
shrinks away from the judge. A dog that in the opinion of the judge
menaces or threatens him or her, or exhibits any sign that it may not
be safely 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.
Disqualifications:
Entropion, extropion. Overshot, undershot (when incisors do not reach
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.
