Rottweiler Breed Standard -
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 larger frame and heavier bone than females. Females are distinctly feminine, but without weakness
of substance or structure.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Males--24 inches to 27 inches. Females--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.
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. 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. 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.
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.
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 elbow, with well pronounced forechest and well sprung, oval ribs. Back is straight and strong. Loin
is short, deep and well muscled.
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. 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. 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 breeching. The Rottweiler is to be exhibited
in the natural condition with no trimming.
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; un-der 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.
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.
