1979 AKC Standard for the Rottweiler(Approved September 11, 1979)General Appearance The ideal Rottweiler is a large, robust and powerful dog, black with clearly defined rust markings. His compact build denotes great strength, agility and endurance. Males are characteristically larger, heavier boned and more masculine in appearance. Size Males are 24in. to 27in., Females are 22in. to 25in. Proportion should always be considered rather than height alone. The length of the body, from the breast bone(Sternum) to the rear edge of the pelvis(Ischium) is slightly longer than the height of the dog at the withers; the most desireable proportion being as 10 to 9. depth of chest should be fifty percent of the height. Serious Faults: Lack of proportion, undersize, oversize. Head Of medium length, broad between the ears, forehead line seen in profile is moderately arched. Cheekbones and stop well developed; length of muzzle should not exceed distance between stop and occiput. Skull is preferred dry; however, some wrinkling may occur when the dog is alert. Muzzle Bridge is straight, broad at base with slight tapering towards tip. Nose is broad rather than round, with black nostrils Lips Always black; corners tightly closed. Inner mouth pigment is dark. A pink mouth is to be penalized. Teeth 42 in number (20 upper and 22 lower); strong, correctly placed, meeting in a scissors bite lower incisors touching inside of upper incisors. Serious Faults: any missing teeth, level bite. Disqualifications: undershot, overshot, four or more missing teeth. Eyes Of medium size, moderately deep set, almond shaped with well-fitting lids. Iris of uniform color, from medium to dark brown, the darker shade always preferred. Serious Faults: yellow (bird of prey) eyes; eyes not of same color; eyes unequal in size or shape. Hairless lid. Ears Pendant, proportionatly small, triangular in shape; set well apart and placed on skull so as to make it appear broader when the dog is alert. Ear terminates at approximate mid-cheek level. Correctly held, the inner edge will lie tightly against cheek. Neck Powerful, well muscled, moderately long with slight arch and without loose skin. Body Topline is firm and level, extending in straight line from withers to croup. Brisket Deep, reaching to elbow. Chest Roomy, broad with well pronounced forechest. Ribs Well-sprung. Loin Short, deep and well muscled. Croup Broad, medium length, slightly sloping. Tail Normally carried in horizontal position giving impression of an elongation of top line. Carried slightly above horizontal when dog is excited. Some dogs are born without a tail, or very short stub. Tail is normally docked short close to the body. The set of the tail is more important than length. Forequarters Shoulder blade long, well laid back 45 degree angle. Elbows tight, well under body. Distance from withers to elbow and elbow to ground is equal. Legs Strongly developed with straight heavy bone. Not set closely together. Pasterns Strong, springy and almost perpendicular to ground. Feet Round, compact, well arched toes, turning neither in nor out. Pads thick and hard; nails short, strong and black. Dewclaws may be removed. Hindquarters Angulation of hindquarters balances that of forequarters. Upper thigh Fairly long, broad and well muscled. Stifle joint Moderately angulated. Lower Thigh Long, powerful, extensively muscled leading into a strong hock joint; metatarsus nearly perpendicular to ground. Viewed from rear, hind legs are straight and wide enough apart to fit in with a properly built body. Feet Somewhat longer than front feet, well arched toes turning neigth in nor out. Dewclaws must be removed if present. Coat Outer coat is straight, coarse, dense, medium length, lying flat. Undercoat must be present on neck and thighs, but should not show through the outer coat. The Rottweiler should be exhibited in a natural condition without trimming, except to remove whiskers, if desired. Fault: wavy coat. Serious Faults: excessively short coat, curly or open coat; lack of undercoat. Disqualification: long coat. Color Always black with rust to mahogany markings. The borderline between black and rust should be clearly defind. The markings should be located as follows: a spot over each eye; on cheeks, as a strip around each side of the muzzle, but not on the bridge of nose; on throat; triangular mark on either side of breastbone; on forelegs from carpus downward to toes; on side of rear legs showing down the front of stifle and broadening out to front of the rear legs from hock to toes; but not completely eliminating black from back of legs; under tail. Black penciling markings on toes. The undercoat is gray or black. Quantity and location of rust markings is important and should not exceed ten percent of body color. Insufficient or excessive markings should be penalized. Serious Faults: excessive markings; white markings any place on dog (a few white hairs do not constitute a marking), light color markings. Disqualification: any base color other than black; total absence of markings. Gait The Rottweiler is a trotter. The motion is harmonious, sure, powerful, and unhindered, with a strong fore-reach and a powerful rear drive. 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 co-ordinated while the back remains firm; as speed is increased, legs will converge under body towards a center line. Character The Rottweiler should possess a fearless expression with self assured aloofness that does not lend itself to Immediate and indiscriminate friendships. 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. A judge shall dismiss from the ring any shy or vicious Rottweiler. Shyness A dog shall be judges fundamentally shy if, refusing to stand for examination I shrinks away from the judge; if it fears an approach from the rear; if it shies at sudden or unusual noises to a marked degree. Viciousness A dog that attacks or attempts to attack either a judge or its handler is definitely vicious. An aggressive or belligerent attitude towards other dogs shall not be deemed viciousness. 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 Undershot, overshot, four or more missing teeth. Long coat. Any base color other than black; total absence of markings. |