BRIEF HISTORICAL SURVEY - The Rottweiler is considered to be one of the oldest breeds of dog.� Its origin goes back to Roman times.� These dogs were kept as herders or driving dogs.� They marched over the Alps with the Roman legions, protecting the humans and driving their cattle.�
In the region of Rottweil, these dogs met and mixed with the native dogs in a natural crossing.
The main task of the Rottweiler now became the driving and guarding of the herds of cattle and the defence of their masters and their property.� This breed acquired its name from the old federal town of Rottweil and was known as the "Rottweil butcher's dog".� The butchers bred this type of dog purely for performance and usefulness.
In due course, a first rate watch and droving dog evolved which could also be used as a draught dog.
When, at the beginning of the twentieth century, various breeds were needed for police service, the Rottweiler was amongst those tested.� It soon became evident that the breed was highly suitable for the tasks set by police service� and therefore they were officially recognised as police dogs in 1910.

GENERAL APPEARANCE - The Rottweiler is a medium to large size, stalwart dog, neither heavy nor light and neither leggy nor weedy.� His correctly proportioned, compact and powerful build leads to the conclusion of great strength, manoeuvrability and endurance.
Important Proportions: The length of the body, measured from the sternum (breast-bone) to the ischiatic tuberosity, should not exceed the height at the withers by, at most, 15%.

CHARACTERISTICS - Rottweiler breeders aim at a dog of abundant strength, black coated with clearly defined rich tan markings, whose powerful appearance does not lack nobility and which is exceptionally well suited to being a Companion, Security and Working dog.
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TEMPERAMENT - Behaviour and Character: Being good natured, placid and fond of children in basic disposition, he is very devoted, obedient, biddable and eager to work.� His appearance is natural and rustic, his behaviour self assured, steady and fearless.� He reacts to his surroundings with great alertness.

HEAD AND SKULL - Cranial Region: Of medium length, the skull broad between the ears.� Forehead line moderately arched as seen from the side.� 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: Black, close fitting, corner of mouth not visible, gums as dark as possible.
Jaw: Upper and lower jaw strong and broad.
Cheeks: Zygomatic arches pronounced.
Skin: Skin on the head overall tight fitting.� When the dog is alert, the forehead may be slightly wrinkled.���
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EYES - Of medium size, almond shaped, dark brown in colour.� Eyelids 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.

MOUTH - Teeth: Strong, complete dentition (42 teeth) with scissor bite, the upper incisors closely overlapping the lower incisors.

NECK - Of fair length, well muscled, slightly arched, free from throatiness, without dewlap.

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.

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.

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 rear pastern (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 - Front: Round, tight and well arched; pads hard, nails short, black and strong.
Hind: Slightly longer than the front feet.� Just as tight.� Arched and with strong toes.� No rear dewclaws.

TAIL - Preferably docked at the first or second joint.� In those countries where docking is forbidden by law, the tail may be left in its natural state.

GAIT/MOVEMENT - 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.

COAT - 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.

SIZE -�
Shoulder height for males is 61-68 cm (24-26� ins).
�� 61-62 cm� is small
�� 63-64 cm� is medium height
�� 65-66 cm is large - correct height.
�� 67-68 cm is very large
Weight approximately 50 kg (110 lbs)

Shoulder height for bitches is 56-63 cm (22-25 ins)
�� 56-57 cm is small
�� 58-59 cm is medium height
�� 60-61 cm is large - correct height
�� 62-63 cm is very large.
Weight approximately 42 kg (95 lbs)
(Note: Imperial measurements in brackets are approximate only.)

FAULTS
General Appearance: Light, racy, weedy appearance.� Light in bone and muscle.
Head:� Hound-type head. Narrow, light, too short, too long or coarse head.� Flat forehead. Lack of stop or too little.
Foreface: Long or pointed muzzle; split nose; roman nose or dished nose; aquiline nose; pink or patchy; corner of lips visible.
Jaws:� Narrow lower jaw.
Lips:� Pendulous, pink or patchy; corner of lips visible.
Cheeks: Strongly protruding cheeks.
Skin:� Wrinkles on head.
Ears:� Set on too low, heavy, long, slack or turned backwards.� Flying ears or ears not carried symmetrically.
Eyes:� Light, showing haw, deep set.� Round eyes.
Bite:� Pincer bite.
Neck:� Too long, thin, lacking muscle.� Showing dewlap or throaty.
Forequarters: Narrow or crooked front legs.� Steep shoulder placement.� Loose or out at elbow.� Too long, too short or too straight in upper arm.� Weak or straight pasterns.� Splayed feet.� Too flat or too arched toes.� Deformed toes.� Light coloured nails.
Body:� Too long, too short or too narrow.
Chest: Flat ribbed or barrel-shaped.� Lack of spring.
Back:� Too long, weak; sway-back or roach back.
Croup: Croup too sloping, too short, too flat or too long.
Hindquarters: Flat thighs, hocks too close, cow hocks or open hocked.� Joints with too little or too much angulation.� Dewclaws.
Tail:� Set on too high or too low.
Coat:� Soft, too short or too long.� Wavy coat, lack of undercoat.
Colour: Mismarking.� Smudged, not clearly defined markings. Markings which are too spread out.�

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
General:� Marked reversal of sexual type, i.e. feminine dogs or masculine bitches.
Behaviour: Anxious, shy, cowardly, gun-shy, vicious, excessively suspicious, nervous animals.
Eyes: Entropion, ectropion, yellow eyes, different coloured eyes.
Teeth:� Overshot or undershot bite, missing premolars or molars.
Coat Texture: Very long or wavy coat.
Coat Colour: Dogs which do not show the typical Rottweiler colouring� of black with tan markings.� White markings.

NOTE - Male animals must have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.