GENERAL APPEARANCE:
The Rottweiler is a medium to large size, stalwart dog, neither heavy nor
light and neither leggy nor weedy. correctly proportioned, compact, powerful build shows his great strength, manoeuvrability
and endurance.
IMPORTANT
PROPORTIONS:
Length of the body, measured at the sternum (breast-bone) to the ischiatic tuberosity, shouldn't exceed
the height at the withers by, at most, 15%.
BEHAVIOUR AND CHARACTER:
Placid and fond of children in basic disposition, very devoted, obedient, eager
to work. a natural and rustic appearance, behaviour self assured, steady and fearless. Reacts to his surroundings with great
alertness.
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Of medium length, the skull is broad between the ears. Viewing the Forehead line from the side it is moderately arched.
Occipital bone well developed without being conspicuous.
Stop: Well defined.
FACIAL REGION
Nose: Straight nasal bridge, broad at base, moderately tapered. 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.
Lips: close fitting, black, corner of the mouth not visible, gum as
dark as possible.
Jaw: Upper and lower jaw strong and broad.
Cheeks: Zygomatic arches pronounced.
Teeth: Strong
complete dentition (42 teeth) with scissor bite, the upper incisors closely overlapping the lower incisors.
Eyes: Of
medium size, dark brown in colour. Eyelids almond shaped and close fitting.
Ears: Medium sized, pendant, triangular,
wide apart, set on high. The close fitting ears, set well forward, give the impression of a broad skull.
NECK: Of fair length, well muscled, slightly
arched, free from throatiness, no dewlap.
BODY
Back:
Straight, strong, sturdy.
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 fore-chest
and well sprung ribs.
Belly: Flanks not tucked up.
Tail: If docked at the first or second vertebrea. The tail may
be left in its natural state.
FOREQUARTERS:
Seen from the front, the front legs are straight
and not placed too closely to each other. The forearm, seen from the side, looks straight. The slope of the shoulder-blade
is about 45 degrees to the horizontal.
Shoulders: Well laid back.
Upperarm: Close fitting to the body.
Forearm:
Strongly developed and muscular.
Pasterns: Slightly springy, strong, not straight.
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
well muscled.
Lower thigh: Long, strong, broadly muscled at top and sinewy below, merging into sturdy well angulated
hocks, not straight.
Feet: Slightly longer than the front feet. Just as tight. Arched and with strong toes.
GAIT:
The 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.
TEXTURE OF COAT: 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 buttocks.
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.
