ROTTWEILER

Country of origin: Germany Specific Breed Suitability:
COMPANION, PROTECTOR and WORKING DOG
FCI Classification:

1. GENERAL APPEARANCE of the DOG

The Rottweiler is a medium‑large, robust dog, neither gross nor slight, nor spindly. In correct proportion he is compactly and powerfully built indicating great strength, maneuverability and endurance.

2. IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS

The length of the body measured from the point of the breastbone to the rear edge of the pelvic edge (ischal protuberance) should exceed the height at the highest point of the withers by 15%.

3. DEMEANOR and CHARACTER

He is descended from friendly and peaceful stock and by nature, loves children, is affectionate, obedient, trainable and enjoys working. His rough appearance belies his ancestry. His demeanor is self‑reliant, with strong nerves and fearless character. He is keenly alert to, and aware of his surrounding

4. HEAD

4.1 SKULL
Medium long, the backskull broad between the ears, the forehead line seen from the side only moderately arched. The occiput is well developed without protruding excessively.

4.2 FOREFACE
Nose: The bridge of the muzzle is straight, broad at the base and slightly tapering. Nose is large, rather broad than round, always black with proportionately large nostrils. Muzzle: Must never be long or short in comparison to the backskull. Lips: Black, close‑lying with the corners closed, gums should be dark. Jaw: Strong, broad upper and lower jaw cheeks.

Dentition: Complete (42), bite is strong with the upper incisors closing like scissors over those of the upper of the underjaw.

Eyes: Medium‑large, almond‑shaped, of dark brown color with tightly fitting lids.

Ears: Medium‑large, pendent, triangular set well apart and high, when brought forward, well placed ears will broaden the appearance of the backskull.

5. NECK
Powerful, moderately long, well‑muscled, slightly arched, dry, without dew or throatiness.

6. BODY (Trunk)
Back: Straight, strong, tight. Loin is short, strong and deep. Croup: Broad, medium‑long, gently sloping, neither flat nor steep.

Chest: Roomy, broad and deep (approximately 50% of the height of the dog at the withers) with a well developed forechest and well‑arched ribs.

Abdomen: Flanks not drawn up.

Tail: Docked short so that one or two tail vertebrae remain.

7. QUARTERS

7.1 FOREQUARTERS
Overall: Seen from the front, the forelegs are straight and not close together. Seen from the side, the lower leg is straight. Shoulder: The shoulder angulation should be approximate 45 degree, well placed.

Upper Arm: Lying correctly on the body.

Forearm: Strongly developed and muscular.

Pasterns: Somewhat springy, strong and steep.

Feet: Round, well closed and well knuckled, pads hard, nails short black and strong.

7.2 HINDQUARTERS
Overall: As seen from the rear, the rear legs are straight and not set close together. In a natural stance, the angulation between the upper thigh and the lower thigh forms an obtuse angle.

Upper Thigh: Moderately long, broad and very muscular.

Lower Thigh: Long, powerful and heavily muscled, sinewy with strong tendons, well angulated, not steep.

Feet: Somewhat longer than the front feet, nevertheless tight, knuckled with strong toes, no dewclaws.

8. MOVEMENT
The Rottweiler is a trotter. The back remains firm and relatively motionless. The gait is harmonious, positive, powerful and free with long strides.

9. SKIN
Skin on the head is tight fitting but allowance is made for some wrinkles when dog is alert.

10 COAT

10.1 QUALITY
Consisting of outer coat and under coat. The outer coat is medium long, coarse, thick and straight. The under coat must not show through the outer coat. On the back of the rear legs the hair is somewhat longer,

10.2 COLOR
Black with sharply defined dark reddish‑brown markings on the cheeks, muzzle, under the neck, on the chest and legs and also over the eyes‑and under the tail.

11  HEIGHT and WEIGHT

HEIGHT of MALES

61 to 68 cm 61 to 62 cm = small
63 to 64 cm. = medium
65 to 66 cm = large
67 to 68 cm = very large

WEIGHT about 50 kilos

11 HEIGHT of BITCHES

56 to 63 cm 56 to 57 cm = small
58 to 59 cm = medium
60 to 61 Cm = large
62 to 63 cm = very large

WEIGHT about 42 kilos

12. FAULTS:

Overall: Large boned, poorly muscled, insufficient leg appearance.

Head: Houndy, too narrow, weak, too short, too long or too coarse.

Foreface: Long or pointed muzzle, rams or split nose, convex or concave bridge of the muzzle, light or spotted nose. Lips: open pink‑colored or flecked lips, or lips with open corners.

Jaw: Narrow underjaw.

Cheeks: overly prominent cheeks.

Bite: Level bite.

Ears: Too low set, heavy, long leather, too thin, pulled back in such a manner as to stick up and ears that are not properly carried.

Eyes: Light, protruding (lids not fitting tightly) too deep set or too round eyes.

Neck: Too long, thin, poorly muscled neck, or throaty.

Body: Too long, short, narrow. Chest: Flat‑ribbed rib cage, round rib cage, shallow rib cage.

Back: Too long, weak or sway backed, roach backed.

Croup: Steep croup, too short, too flat or too long.

Tail: Too high set or too low set.

Forequarters: Narrow set or crooked forelegs. Straight shoulder, faulty or deficient elbow placement, too long, too short or too straight upper arm, weak or straight pasterns, spread toes, too flat or too arched toes, stunted toes, light nails. Hindquarters: Poorly muscled thighs, sicklehocked or cowhocked or bowlegged, too little or too much angulation. Dewclaws.

Skin: wrinkled loose headskin.

Coat Condition: Soft, too short, too long coat, curly coat, lacking under coat.

Color: Incorrect color, poorly defined, too extensive markings.

13. DISQUALIFYING FAULTS

Overall: Obvious reversal of sex characteristics (bitchy dogs and the reverse).

Demeanor: Anxious, shy, cowardly, gunshy, vicious, excessively suspicious, (distrustful) nervous animals.

Eyes: Entropion, ectropion, yellow eyes, two (2) eyes of different color.

Dentition: overshot, undershot, dogs with missing premolars or molars.

Testicles: Unilateral cryptorchid or cryptorchid males. Both testicles must be well developed and properly descended into scrotum.

Coat: Exceptionally long and curly coated dogs.

Color: Dogs that do not have the typical black ground color in combination with correctly placed brown markings, white marks.