| Translator : |
Mrs. Chris Seidler |
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| Origin : |
Germany |
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| Date of publication
of the valid original standard : |
06.04.2000 |
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| Utilization : |
Companion, service and working dog |
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| 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. |
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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
: |
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| Cranial Region : |
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| Skull
: |
Of medium length,
broad between the ears. Forehead line moderately arched
as seen from the side. Occipital bone well developed without
being conspicuous. |
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| Stop: |
Well defined. |
|
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| Facial Region : |
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| Nose : |
Nose well developed, more
broad than round with relatively large nostrils, always black. |
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| Muzzle : |
The foreface should appear neither
elongated nor shortened in relation to the cranial region. Straight
nasal bridge, broad at base, moderately tapered. |
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| Lips : |
Black, close fitting, corner of the
mouth not visible, gum as dark as possible. |
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| 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. |
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| Cheeks : |
Zygomatic arches pronounced. |
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| Eyes : |
Of medium size, almond shaped, dark
brown in colour. Eyelids close fitting. |
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| 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. |
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| Neck : |
Strong, of fair length, well muscled,
slightly arched, free from throatiness, without dewlap. |
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| Body : |
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| Back : |
Straight, strong, firm. |
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| Loins : |
Short, strong and deep. |
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| Croup : |
Broad, of medium length, slightly
rounded. Neither flat nor falling away. |
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| Chest : |
Roomy, broad and deep (approximately
50 % of the shoulder height) with well developed forechest and
well sprung ribs. |
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| Belly : |
Flanks not tucked up. |
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| Tail : |
In natural condition, level in extension
of the upper line; at ease may be hanging. |
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| Limbs : |
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| 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. |
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| Shoulders : |
Well laid back. |
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| Upper arm : |
Close fitting to the body. |
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| Forearm : |
Strongly developed and muscular. |
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| Pasterns : |
Slightly springy, strong, not steep. |
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| Front feet : |
Round, tight and well arched; pads
hard; nails short, black and strong. |
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| 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. |
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| Upper thigh : |
Moderately long, broad and strongly
muscled. |
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| Lower thigh : |
Long, strongly and broadly muscled
at top, sinewy. |
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| Hocks : |
Sturdy well angulated hocks; not steep. |
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| Hindfeet : |
Slightly longer than the front feet.
Toes strong, arched, as tight as front feet. |
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| 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. |
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| Skin : |
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Skin on
the head : |
Overall tight fitting. When the dog
is alert, the forehead may be slightly wrinkled. |
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| Coat : |
|
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Size/Weight
: |
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Height 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 |
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| Weight : |
Approximately 50 kg |
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Height 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 |
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| Weight : |
Approximately 42 kg |
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| 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. |
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General
appearance : |
Light, weedy, leggy appearance.
Light in bone and muscle. |
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| Head : |
Hound-type head. Narrow, light, too
short, long or coarse head. Flat forehead (lack of stop or too
little stop). |
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| 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). |
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| Lips : |
Pendulous, pink or patchy; corner
of lips visible. |
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| Jaws : |
Narrow lower jaw. |
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| Bite : |
Pincer bite. |
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| Cheeks : |
Strongly protruding. |
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| Eyes : |
Light, deep set. Also too full and
round eyes; loose eye-lids |
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| Ears : |
Set on too low, heavy, long, slack
or turned backwards. Also flying ears or ears not carried symmetrically. |
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| Neck : |
Too long, thin, lacking muscle. Showing
dewlap or throaty. |
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| Body : |
Too long, too short or too narrow. |
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| Back : |
Too long, weak; sway-back or roach
back. |
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| Croup : |
Too sloping, too short, too flat or
too long. |
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| Chest : |
Flat ribbed or barrel shaped. Too
narrow behind. |
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| Tail : |
Set on too high or too low. |
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| 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. |
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| Hindquarters : |
Flat thighs, hocks too close, cow
hocks or barrel hocks. Joints with too little or too much angulation.
Dewclaws. |
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| Skin : |
Wrinkles on head. |
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| Coat : |
Soft, too short or too long. Wavy
coat; lack of undercoat. |
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| Colour : |
Markings of incorrect colour, not
clearly defined. Markings which are too spread out. |
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| Eliminating
Faults : |
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| General : |
Distinct reversal of sexual type,
i.e. feminine dogs or masculine bitches. |
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| Teeth : |
Overshot or undershot bite, wry mouth;
lack of one incisive tooth, one canine, one premolar and one
molar. |
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| Eyes : |
Entropion, ectropion, yellow eyes,
different coloured eyes. |
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| Tail : |
Kink tail, ring tail, with strong
lateral deviation |
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| Hair : |
Definitely long or wavy coat. |
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| Colour : |
Dogs which do not show the typical
Rottweiler colouring of black with tan markings. White markings. |
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| Behaviour : |
Anxious, shy, cowardly, gun-shy, vicious,
excessively suspicious, nervous animals. |
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| N.B. : |
Male animals must have two apparently
normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum. |
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