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AKC
Breed Standard for the Rottweiler
General
Appearance
The
ideal Rottweiler is a medium large, robust and powerful dog, black
with clearly defined rust markings. His compact and substantial build
denotes great strength, agility and endurance. Dogs are
characteristically more massive throughout with larger frame and
heavier bone than bitches. Bitches are distinctly feminine, but
without weakness of substance or structure.
Size,
Proportion, Substance
Dogs--24
inches to 27 inches. Bitches--22 inches to 25 inches, with preferred
size being mid-range of each sex. Correct proportion is of primary
importance, as long as size is within the standard's range.
The
length of body, from prosternum to the rearmost projection of the
rump, is slightly longer than the height of the dog at the withers,
the most desirable proportion of the height to length being 9 to 10.
The Rottweiler is neither coarse nor shelly. Depth of chest is
approximately fifty percent (50%) of the height of the dog. His bone
and muscle mass must be sufficient to balance his frame, giving a
compact and very powerful appearance.
Serious
Faults--Lack of proportion, undersized, oversized, reversal of sex
characteristics (bitchy dogs, doggy bitches).
Head
Of
medium length, broad between the ears; forehead line seen in profile
is moderately arched; zygomatic arch and stop well developed with
strong broad upper and lower jaws. The desired ratio of backskull to
muzzle is 3 to 2. Forehead is preferred dry, however some wrinkling
may occur when dog is alert. Expression is noble, alert, and
self-assured. Eyes of medium size, almond shaped with well fitting
lids, moderately deep-set, neither protruding nor receding. The
desired color is a uniform dark brown. Serious Faults--Yellow (bird
of prey) eyes, eyes of different color or size, hairless eye rim. Disqualification--Entropion.
Ectropion. 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 and terminating at
approximately mid-cheek. Serious Faults--Improper carriage (creased,
folded or held away from cheek/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-Always black; corners closed; inner mouth
pigment is preferred dark. Serious Faults--Total lack of mouth
pigment (pink mouth). Bite and Dentition--Teeth 42 in number (20
upper, 22 lower), strong, correctly placed, meeting in a scissors
bite--lower incisors touching inside of upper incisors. Serious
Faults--Level bite; any missing tooth. Disqualifications--Overshot,
undershot (when incisors do not touch or mesh); wry mouth; two or
more missing teeth.
Neck,
Topline, Body
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 forechest and well sprung, oval ribs. Back is
straight and strong. Loin is short, deep and well muscled. Croup is
broad, of medium length and only 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 cryptorchid or cryptorchid males.
Tail--Tail docked short, close to body, leaving one or two tail
vertebrae. The set of the tail is more important than length.
Properly set, it gives an impression of elongation of topline;
carried slightly above horizontal when the dog is excited or moving.
Forequarters
Shoulder
blade is long and well laid back. Upper arm equal in length to
shoulder blade, set so elbows are well under body. Distance from
withers to elbow and elbow to ground is equal. Legs are strongly
developed with straight, heavy bone, not set close together. Pasterns
are strong, springy and almost perpendicular to the ground. Feet are
round, compact with well arched toes, turning neither in nor out.
Pads are thick and hard. Nails short, strong and black. Dewclaws may
be removed.
Hindquarters
Angulation
of hindquarters balances that of forequarters. Upper thigh is fairly
long, very broad and well muscled. Stifle joint is well turned. Lower
thigh is long, broad and powerful, with extensive muscling leading
into a strong hock joint. Rear pasterns are nearly perpendicular to
the ground. Viewed from the rear, hind legs are straight, strong and
wide enough apart to fit with a properly built body. Feet are
somewhat longer than the front feet, turning neither in nor out,
equally compact with well arched toes. Pads are thick and hard. Nails
short, strong, and black. Dewclaws must be removed.
Coat
Outer
coat is straight, coarse, dense, of medium length and lying flat.
Undercoat should be present on neck and thighs, but the amount is
influenced by climatic conditions. Undercoat should not show through
outer coat. The coat is shortest on head, ears and legs, longest on
breeching. The Rottweiler is to be exhibited in the natural condition
with no trimming. Fault--Wavy coat. Serious Faults--Open, excessively
short, or curly coat; total lack of undercoat; any trimming that
alters the length of the natural coat. Disqualification--Long coat.
Color
Always
black with rust to mahogany markings. The demarcation between black
and rust is to be clearly defined. The markings should be located as
follows: a spot over each eye; on cheeks; as a strip around each side
of muzzle, but not on the bridge of the nose; on throat; triangular
mark on both sides of prosternum;on forelegs from carpus downward to
the toes; on inside of rear legs showing down the front of the stifle
and broadening out to front of rear legs from hock to toes, but not
completely eliminating black from rear of pasterns; un-der tail;
black penciling on toes. The undercoat is gray, tan, or black.
Quantity and location of rust markings is important and should not
exceed ten percent of body color. Serious Faults--Straw-colored,
excessive, insufficient or sooty markings; rust marking other than
described above; white marking any place on dog (a few rust or white
hairs do not constitute a marking). Disqualifications--Any base color
other than black; absence of all markings.
Gait
The
Rottweiler is a trotter. His movement should be balanced,
harmonious, sure, powerful and unhindered, with strong forereach and
a powerful rear drive. The motion is effortless, efficient, and
ground-covering. Front and rear legs are thrown neither in nor out,
as the imprint of hind feet should touch that of forefeet. In a trot
the forequarters and hindquarters are mutually coordinated while the
back remains level, firm and relatively motionless. As speed
increases the legs will converge under body towards a center line.
Temperament
The
Rottweiler is basically a calm, confident and courageous dog with a
self-assured aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and
indiscriminate friendships. A Rottweiler is self-confident and
responds quietly and with a wait-and-see attitude to influences in
his environment. He has an inherent desire to protect home and
family, and is an intelligent dog of extreme hardness and
adaptability with a strong willingness to work, making him especially
suited as a companion, guardian and general all-purpose dog.
The
behavior of the Rottweiler in the show ring should be controlled,
willing and adaptable, trained to submit to examination of 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. A dog that in the opinion of the judge
menaces or threatens him/her, or exhibits any sign that it may not be
safely approached or examined by the judge in the normal manner,
shall be excused from the ring. A dog that in the opinion of the
judge attacks any person in the ring shall be disqualified.
Summary
Faults
- The foregoing is a description of the ideal Rottweiler. Any
structural fault that detracts from the above described working dog
must be penalized to the extent of the deviation.
Disqualifications
Entropion,
ectropion. Overshot, undershot (when incisors do not touch or mesh);
wry mouth; two or more missing teeth. Unilateral cryptorchid or
cryptorchid males. Long coat. Any base color other than black;
absence of all markings. A dog that in the opinion of the judge
attacks any person in the ring.
Approved
May 8, 1990
Effective
June 28, 1990
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