The Rottweiler

1. American Rottweiler Club Approved Seminar The Rottweiler

2. Formalities Presented by: Add your name Logistics: Restrooms, breaks, interruptions Introductions: us (our brief Bios) and you Name Breed you started with Breeds you judge Expectations of this seminar Outline: History What is correct for our breed Serious faults Disqualifications

3. History The Rottweiler is believed to be descended from the ancient breeds originating in Roman times. He performed the duties of guard and drover dog. When the Roman Legions traversed the Alps, the dogs accompanied them protecting the soldiers and driving the herds. Settling in the area of Rottweil, the Roman Army dogs came into contact with dogs native to the area. The natural result was an interbreeding of the two.

4. History Continued The principle duties remained guarding and driving of large herds, the defense of their masters and the master's property, and a cart dog. There was a concentration of these dogs in the Old German Empire City of Rottweil, where the dog acquired the name: ROTTWEILER, "butcher dog." In the 20th Century, his natural protective instinct, hardness, willingness to please, and trainability led to his use in military and police work. The Rottweiler was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1935. The first revision to the standard was made in 1979 and the second in 1990.

5. General Appearance Medium large, robust, powerful, compact, substantial Denotes great strength, agility and endurance Black with rust markings

6. Size, Proportion, Substance Males more massive 24 to 27 inches Females - feminine without weakness 22 to 25 inches Preferred size is midrange of each sex. Correct proportion is of primary importance.

7. Size and Proportions • Length is measured from prosternum to the rear-most projection of the rump • height of the dog measured at the withers. • Proportion - height to length is 9 to 10. This is nearly square. • Depth of chest is 50% of the height

8. Head • medium length • broad between the ears • forehead moderately arched • zygomatic arch and stop well developed • strong broad upper and lower jaws. • ratio of backskull to muzzle is 3 to 2. • Forehead is preferred dry, some wrinkling may occur when dog is alert.

9. Head continued • Expression is noble, alert, and self-assured. • Eyes, a uniform dark brown, medium size, almond shaped, moderately deep-set with well-fitting lids. • Ears of medium size, pendant, triangular in shape; level with the top of the skull hanging forward with the inner edge lying against the head and terminating at mid-cheek.

10. Head continued • 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 and always black. • Lips – black, corners closed, inner pigment preferred dark.

11. Bite and Dentition Teeth 42 20 upper 22 lower strong, correctly placed scissors bite

12. Neck Neck - Powerful, well muscled, moderately long, slightly arched and without loose skin.

13. Topline - Backline The back is firm and level, extending in a straight line from the withers to the croup. The back is horizontal to the ground while moving or standing.

14. Body The chest reaches to elbow. Forechest is pronounced. Oval ribs are well sprung. Loin is short, deep and well muscled. Croup is broad, of medium length and slightly sloping. Underline has a slight tuck-up.

15. 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.“ Note the letter from ARC at the back of the illustrated standard and in your packets.

16. Forequarters Shoulder blade is long and well laid back. Upper arm equal in length to shoulder blade, set so elbows are well under body. Legs are straight, heavy bone. Pasterns are strong, springy and almost perpendicular to the ground. Feet are round, compact with well arched toes. Pads are thick and hard. Nails short, strong and black. Dewclaws may be removed.

17. Hindquarters Angulation of hindquarters balances that of forequarters. Upper thigh is long, broad and muscled. Stifle joint is well turned. Lower thigh is long, broad and powerfully muscled leading into a strong hock joint. Rear pasterns are perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from the rear, hind legs are straight, strong and properly wide. Feet same as in front, but are longer than the front feet, Dewclaws must be removed.

18. Front and Rear

19. Coat Outer coat straight, coarse, dense medium length, lying flat shortest on head, ears and legs, longest on breaching Undercoat present on neck and thighs influenced by climatic conditions should not show through outer coat Exhibited natural with no trimming

20. Color Always black with rust to mahogany markings. Demarcation between black and rust clearly defined Markings should be located as follows: a spot over each eye cheeks a strip around each side of muzzle, but not on the bridge of the nose throat triangular mark on both sides of prosternum forelegs from carpus to toes 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 under tail black penciling on toes undercoat is gray, tan, or black. Quantity of rust markings should not exceed 10% of body.

21. Gait A trotter – balanced, harmonious, sure, powerful and unhindered strong forereach and a powerful rear drive Effortless, efficient, ground-covering Front and rear legs move forward Imprint of hind feet touch that of forefeet Back remains level, firm and motionless. As speed increases convergence occurs.

22. 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 be not be penalized, as this reflects the accepted character of the breed. An aggressive or belligerent attitude towards other dogs should not be faulted.

23. Faults Wavy coat

24. Serious faults Lack of proportion, Undersized, oversized Reversal of sex characteristics Yellow (bird of prey) eyes, eyes of different color size, hairless eye rim Improper ear carriage (creased, folded or held away from cheek/head)‏ Total lack of mouth pigment (pink mouth)‏ Level bite; any missing tooth Open, excessively short, or curly coat; total lack of under-coat; any trimming that alters the length of the natural coat Straw-colored, excessive, insufficient or sooty markings; rust marking other than described; white marking any place on dog (a few rust or white hairs do not constitute a marking)‏

25. Disqualifications Eyes - Entropion, ectropion Mouth - Overshot, undershot; wry mouth; two or more missing teeth Coat - Any base color other than black; absence of all markings; long coat In agreement with AKC requirements: Unilateral cryptorchid or cryptorchid males A dog that attacks any person in the ring

26. Thank you for your attention Questions? Have we met expectations? Answered all your questions? Bring on the dogs!