Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub (ADRK) e.V.F.C.I.-Standard Nr. 147 /
19.06.2000 / D
Rottweiler
Translator: Mrs. Chris Seidler
Origin:Germany

Date of publication of the valid original standard:
06.04.2000

Utilization:Companion, servic and working dog

Classification FCIGroup 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 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:
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
conspicious.
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 colour. 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.
NeckStrong, 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

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:Long, strongly and broadly muscled at top, sinewy.
Hocks:Sturdy well angulated hocks; not steep.
Hindfeet:Slightly longer than the front feet. Toes strong, arched, as
tight as front feet.
GaitThe 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.
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.

Size and weight
Heigtht 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
Weight:approximately 50 kg

Heigtht 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
Weight: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.
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 coloured 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.
Colour:Markings of incorrect colour, 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.
Colour:Dogs which do not show the typical Rottweiler colouring of black