_{THE ROTTWEILER IN GENERAL}

 

Introduction

Physical appearance

Temperament

Introduction

The Rottweiler is a dog of many talents, ready for anything; easy to train, if treated with respect and consistency; loyal and protective, strong yet very gentle, aloof and dignified with strangers, playful and loving to his family extremely attached to children. Short, the Rotti is the typical "tough guy with a heart of gold."

Developed from the Molossus dog of Italy, a Mastiff-type dog bred to fight and serve the army in its campaigns. They traveled with the conquerors, driving and protecting cattle that fed the warriors on their long and arduous treks through inhospitable terrain. Dogs often stayed behind as the armies pressed on, breeding with the native canines and producing working dogs suited to particular climates, conditions, and occupations.

The Romans crossed the Alps into southern Germany and settled in a village by the name of Rottweil. So did the dogs.

Cattlemen used the descendants of the Roman dogs to bring the herds to the butcher for sale and to guard their purses of money on the way home, and the butchers in turn used the dogs to pull the carts carrying the meat. The butchers developed a larger strain of dogs for draft work, but it is the smaller herding-type Rottweilers that are most popular today.

Eventually, donkeys replaced Rottweilers as city cart dogs. Since dogs were prized more for the work they did than the companionship they provided, Rottweilers declined in population; in 1900, only a single Rotti bitch was recorded in all of Rottweil.

The breed's resurgence began a few years into the new century when Rottis were recognized as potential police dogs for their intelligence, loyalty, and strength. The rest is history. In 1921 the Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Club was established with the motto "Rottweiler breeding is working dog breeding." No Rottweiler can have a German championship without first proving his mettle as a working dog.

The Rotti came to the US with a German emigrant, probably in the late 1920s. The first Rott was registered by the American Kennel Club in 1931. The original stock in this country came from Germany, but breeding requirements in the US were not as strict as in the homeland. Rotti owners get involved in Schutzhund or protection work with their dogs. German breeders still insist on working ability in their dogs and championships are withheld if the dog cannot prove himself in the field as well as the show ring.

Popularity in the US has accelerated puppy production (PUPPY MILLS) and caused health and temperament problems in the breed. Rottweiler registrations numbered in the hundreds in the late 1940s and now reach more than 100 thousand per year. Today, the breed ranks second after the Labrador of AKC.

Physical appearance

The ideal Rottweiler is a medium large, robust and powerful dog, black with clearly defined mahogany (rust) markings. His compact and substantial built denotes great strength, agility and endurance.

Size

Males 24” to 27” in height and 100 - 135 lbs in weight (adult)
Bitches 22”to 25” height and 75-100 lbs in weight (adult)
Correct proportions is of primary importance, as long as size is within the standard’s range.
Rottweilers are slow maturing, there is a great difference between males and females physically,
males are clearly masculine and females definitely feminine in appearance.
FAULTS: Lack of proportion, undersized, oversize.

Coat

The Rotti coat is smooth and short with an undercoat present on the neck and thighs. Wavy or curly coats are faulted and long coats are disqualifications for breeding and the show ring.

Head

Of medium length between the ears, forehead line seen in profile is moderately arched,
stop well developed with strong broad upper and lower jaws. Forehead is preferred dry, however
some wrinkling may occur when dog is alert. Expression is noble, alert & self-assured

Eyes

Of medium size, almond shaped with well fitting lids, moderately deep set, desired color is a uniform dark brown.
FAULTS: yellow eyes, different color or size
DISQUALIFICATION: entropian, ectropian

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.

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 (Flews)

Always black, corners closed, inner mouth pigment is preferred dark.
FAULTS: total lack of mouth pigmentation, pink mouth

Bite-Dentition

Teeth 42 in number (20 upper, 22 lower) strong correctly placed meeting in a
scissors bite -lower incisors touching inside of upper incisors.
FAULTS: level bite, any missing tooth
DISQUALIFICATION: Overshot, undershot, 2 or more missing teeth

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 forces
and well sprung, oval ribs. Back is straight and strong. Loin is short, deep and well muscled.
Croup is broad, of medium length and slightly sloping. Underline of a mature Rottweiler has a slight tuck-up.
Males must have two normal testicles properly descended into the scrotum.
DISQUALIFICATION: unilateral crypt orchid or crypt orchid males

Tale

Docked short, close to body leaving one tail vertebrae.

Movement is elegant yet powerful with strong reach in front and forceful drive in the rear. A well-conditioned Rott is athletic. 

Temperament

Due to irresponsible unknowledgeable breeders and/or owners the Rottweiler is often often misjudged. A well-bred Rottweiler is calm, confident, and courageous with an inherent aloofness towards strangers and a reserved attitude in new situations. Combined with his great devotion to home and family, these characteristics can be subverted from their original purpose by poor breeding practices, lack of socialization, and failure to teach basic good manners. Rottweiler owners without substantial knowledge of the breed's nature can find themselves in trouble if the dog has been badly bred or assumes leadership of the family.

The Rottweiler standard is clear in regard to temperament: "The behaviour of the Rottweiler in the show ring should be controlled, willing, and adaptable, trained to submit to examination of the 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.

This standard for temperament can be easily related to daily interaction with the dog. If the dog does not accept examination by the owner or by anyone chosen by the owner, such as a veterinarian, without either shrinking away or becoming aggressive, the dog does not exhibit acceptable Rottweiler character. Any Rottweiler that does not exhibit true breed character should be spayed or neutered to prevent passing unacceptable temperament to its offspring.