Canadian
Rottweiler Breed Standard
CH Elswick's Pink Floyd & CH
Jacraila's Scotts Pride
Floyd is the son of CH Jacraila's Scotts Pride
The Canadian Kennel Club and American Kennel
Club adopt similar standards for the Rottweiler. The standards
posted here are from the Canadian Kennel Club. If you are looking
for a good book on Rottweilers, then we recommend the The Ultimate Rottweiler
which is available at Amazon books.
General
Appearance
The ideal Rottweiler is an above medium-sized, robust, and powerful
dog, black with clearly defined rich tan markings. His compact build
denotes great strength, agility, and endurance. Males are
characteristically larger, heavier boned and more masculine in
appearance.
Temperament
The Rottweiler should possess a fearless expression with a
self-assured aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and
indiscriminate friendships. He has a strong willingness to work. In
examining a Rottweiler, one should bear in mind that this dog reacts
with alertness to his master and his surroundings, and in performing
his function in life, the Rottweiler is not expected to submit to
excessive handling by strangers. However, the judge shall dismiss
from the ring any shy or vicious Rottweiler. A dog shall be judged
fundamentally shy if, refusing to stand for examination it shrinks
away from the judge; if it fears an unexpected approach from the
rear; if it shies at sudden or unusual noises to a marked degree. A
dog that attacks or attempts to attack, without provocation, either
the judge, or its handler is definitely vicious. An aggressive or
belligerent attitude towards other dogs shall not be deemed
viciousness.
Size
Dogs 24-27 inches (60-68 cm). Bitches 22-25 inches (55-63 cm).
Proportion should always be considered rather than height alone. The
length of the body, from the breastbone (sternum) to the rear edge
of the pelvis (ischium) is slightly longer than the height of the
dog at the withers, the most desirable proportion being as 10 to 9.
Depth of chest should be fifty per cent of the height.
Coat and Colour
Outer coat is straight, coarse, dense, medium length, lying flat.
Undercoat must be present on neck and thighs. The Rottweiler should
be exhibited in a natural condition without trimming, except to
remove whiskers, if desired. The colour is always black with rich
tan to mahogany markings. The borderline between the black and the
colour should be clearly defined. 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 the nose; on throat; a
proportionate triangular mark on either side of the breastbone not
to exceed 25 per cent of the forechest; on forelegs from carpus
downward to 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 eliminating the black from the back of the legs; under
tail. Black penciling markings on the toes. The undercoat is grey or
black. Quantity and location of markings are important. Insufficient
or excessive markings should be penalized.
Head
Of medium length, broad between the ears; forehead line seen in
profile is moderately arched. The cheekbones and stop are well
developed. The length of the muzzle should not exceed the distance
between the stop and the occiput. The skull is preferred dry;
however, some wrinkling may occur when the dog is alert. The bridge
of the muzzle is straight. The muzzle is broad at the base with
slight tapering towards the tip but not snipey. The nose is broad
rather than round, with black nostrils. The lips are always black
with the corners tightly closed. The flews should not be too
pronounced. The inner mouth pigment is dark. A pink mouth is to be
penalized. The teeth are 42 in number (20 upper and 22 lower). They
are strong and should be correctly placed meeting in a scissors
bite--lower incisors touching the inside of the upper incisors. Eyes
should be of medium size, moderately deep set, almond shaped with
well-fitting lids. The iris should be of uniform colour, from medium
to dark brown, the darker shade always preferred. Ears should be
pendant, proportionately small, triangular in shape, set well apart
and placed on skull so as to make it appear broader when the dog is
alert. The ear should terminate at approximately mid-cheek level.
When correctly held, the inner edge will lie tightly against the
cheek.
Neck
Powerful, well muscled, moderately long with slight arch and without
loose skin
Forequarters
The shoulder blade should be long and well laid back at a 45 degree
angle. The elbows are tight and under the body. The distance from
the withers to the elbow and the elbow to the ground is equal. The
legs are strongly developed with straight, heavy bone. They are not
set close together. The 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 are short, strong and black. Dewclaws may be removed.
Body
The topline is firm and level, extending in a straight line from the
withers to the croup. The brisket should be deep, reaching to the
elbow. The chest is roomy and broad with a well-developed forechest.
The ribs are well sprung. The loins short, deep, and well muscled.
The flank should not be tucked up. The croup is broad, of medium
length and slightly sloping.
Hindquarters
The angulation of the hindquarters balances that of the
forequarters. The slope of the pelvis from the horizontal is between
20-30 degrees. The bone of the upper thigh is fairly long and the
thigh is broad and well muscled. The stifle joint is moderately
angulated. The lower thigh is long, powerfully muscled, leading to a
strong hock joint. The metatarsus is perpendicular to the ground.
Viewed from the rear, the hind legs are straight and perpendicular
to the ground. The feet are somewhat longer than the front feet,
with well arched toes turning neither in nor out. Dewclaws must be
removed.
Tail
The tail is normally carried in a horizontal position giving the
appearance of an elongated topline. It is carried above the
horizontal when the dog is excited. The tail is normally docked
short close to the body. If left in natural condition, tail is level
in extension of the topline; at ease may be handing. A kinked tail
or a ring is undesirable. The set of the tail is more important than
length.
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 not thrown either in or out, as
the imprint of the hind feet should touch that of the forefeet. In a
trot, the forequarters and hindquarters are mutually coordinated
while the back remains firm. As speed increases the legs will
converge under the body towards the centre line.
Faults
The foregoing is a description of the ideal Rottweiler. Any
structural fault that detracts from the ideal must be penalized to
the extent of the deviation. Included as faults are: pink mouth,
wavy coat, insufficient markings, undercoat showing through outer
coat. Faults considered serious are: lack of proportion, undersize,
oversize, level bite, yellow eyes, eyes not of same colour, eyes
unequal in size or shape, hairless eyelids, excessively short coat,
curly or open coat, lack of undercoat, white markings any place on
dog (a few white hairs do not constitute a marking), excessive
markings, light-coloured markings.
