One of the oldest dog breeds is thought to be the Rottweiler. Its beginnings date back to the Roman era. These canines were used as driving or herding dogs. They
accompanied the Roman troops as they crossed the Alps, driving their animals and guarding the people. These dogs naturally crossed over in the Rottweiler area and mingled with the local canines. The driving and guarding of cow herds as well as the protection of their owners and their property became the Rottweiler’s primary duties.
Cattle herds defending their owners and their property.
This breed was referred to as the “Rottweiler butcher’s dog” and took its name from the former free city of Rottweiler. These dogs were specifically bred by the butchers for performance and utility. Over time, a superior driving and watch dog that could also be employed for draughts emerged. The Rottweiler underwent testing when several breeds were required for police duty around the turn of the twentieth century. It quickly became clear that the breed was ideally suited for the duties assigned by the police service, and in 1910 they were given formal recognition as police dogs.
Breeders of Rottweilers strive to produce a dog with a lot of strength, a black coat, distinct rich tan markings, a powerful appearance that doesn’t lack noblesse, and outstanding aptitude for being a companion, service, rescue, and working dog.
The Rottweiler is a medium to large-sized steadfast dog that is neither hefty nor light, lanky nor weedy. His well proportioned, strong frame suggests that he has exceptional strength, agility, and endurance.
NOTEFUL PROPORTIONS: There should be no more than a 15-inch difference between the body’s length from the point of the sternum (breast bone) to the ischiatic tuberosity and the height at the withers.
HEAD
CRANIAL HEAD REGION:
Medium-sized and fairly broad between the ears is the skull.
Viewed from the side, the forehead line is slightly arched. Occipital bone is prominent without being overt.
Stop: Make a relatively firm stop. Not too deep a frontal groove.
Well-developed nose with comparatively large nostrils that are broader than round; invariably black.
Muzzle: The foreface shouldn’t appear disproportionately long or short to the cranium.
The ratio of the skull’s length to the muzzle’s length is roughly 1 to 1,5. Straight, broad at the base, gently tapering nasal bridge.
Lips: Black, close-fitting, gum as dark as possible, corner of the mouth hidden.
Upper and lower jaws are powerful and broad, as are the teeth. Strong, 42-tooth dentition with a scissor bite and closely overlapping upper and lower incisors.
Zygomatic arches are evident on the cheeks.
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 o be
broadened.
NECK: Strong, of fair length, well muscled, slightly arched, clean,
free from throatiness, without excessive 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, strong, level in extension of the upper
line; while paying attention, when exited or while moving it can
be carried upward in a light curve; at ease may be hanging. While
positioned along the leg, the tail reaches approximately to the
hocks or is a bit longer.
LIMBS \sFOREQUARTERS: The front legs are straight and not too near to one another when viewed from the front. When viewed from the side, the forearm is upright and straight. The shoulder blades are inclined at a 45-degree angle to the horizontal.
Shoulders: Very relaxed.
Closely fitted to the body, upper arm.
Muscular and well-developed forearm.
Strong, slightly springy, and not steep pasterns.
Front feet: round, compact, and well-arched; hard pads; short, strong, black nails.
Legs should be straight and spaced out when viewed from behind. Obtuse angles are created by the dog’s upper thigh and hip bone, lower thigh and metatarsal, and lower thigh and metatarsal when it is standing unrestrained.
Moderately lengthy, wide, and heavily muscled upper thigh.
Long, thickly and firmly muscled, sinewy lower thigh.
Hocks: Solid, well-angulated, and not steep hocks.
Front feet are a little bit shorter than the back feet. Strong, arched, and just as closed as the front feet.
The Rottweiler moves with a trotting gait. The back maintains its firmness and relative stability while moving. Harmonious, steady, energizing, unrestrained movement with good stride.
SKIN: The skin on the skull is generally constrictive. The dog’s brow may furrow slightly when it’s alert.
Hair on the COAT: The coat has an undercoat and a top coat. The top coat is flat, coarse, dense, and of medium length. The top coat must not be able to see through the undercoat. On the hindlegs, the hair is a little longer.
Black with distinct tan markings on the legs, cheeks, nose, throat, chest, and eyes, as well as under the tail’s base and above both eyes and under the base of the tail.
SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height at withers: For males is 61 – 68 cm.
61 – 62 cm is small 63 – 64 cm medium height.
65 – 66 cm is large – correct height 67 – 68 cm very large.
Weight: 50 kg.
Height at withers: For bitches is 56 – 63 cm.
56 – 57 cm is small 58 – 59 cm medium height.
60 – 61 cm is large – correct height 62 – 63 cm 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 and its effect
upon the health and welfare of the dog.
• General appearance: Light, weedy, leggy appearance. Light
in bone and muscle.
• Head: Hound-type head. Narrow, light, too short, long,
coarse or excessively molossoid head; excessively broad
skull, (lack of stop, too little stop or too strong stop). Very
deep frontal groove.
• Foreface: Long, pointed or too short muzzle (any muzzle
shorter than 40 percent of the length of the head is too
short); split nose; Roman nose (convex nasal bridge) or
dish-faced (concave nasal bridge); acquiline nose; pale or
spotted nose (butterfly nose).
• Lips: Pendulous, pink or patchy; corner of lips visible.
• Jaws: Narrow lower jaw.
• Bite: Pincer bite. Molars of the underjaw not standing in
one line.
• Cheeks: Strongly protruding.
• Eyes: Light, deep set. Also too full and round eyes; loose
eyelids.
Ears: Set on too low or too high, 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, crooked or not parallel standing
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 long. Wavy coat; lack of undercoat.
• Color: Markings of incorrect color, not clearly defined.
Markings which are too spread out.
SEVERE FAULTS:
• General appearance: Too molossoid type and heavy
general appearance.
• Skin: Skin at the head strongly wrinkled, strong wrinkles
in the area of the forehead, the muzzle and the cheeks,
strong dewlap.
• Gait: Sluggish action while trotting.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
• Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral
abnormalities.
Behaviour: Anxious, shy, cowardly, gun-shy, vicious,
excessively suspicious, nervous animals.
• General appearance: 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 or one molar.
• Eyes: Entropion, ectropion, yellow eyes, different coloured
eyes.
• Tail: Kink tail, ring-tail, with strong lateral deviation,
natural bobtail.
• Hair: Definitely long or wavy coat.
• Colour: Dogs which do not show the typical Rottweiler
colouring of black with tan markings. White markings.
N.B.:
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed
typical conformation, should be used for breeding
ADRK standard you can check here https://adrk.de/index.php/en/rasse/standard
