FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE (AISBL)
SECRETARIAT GENERAL: 13, Place Albert 1er B – 6530 Thuin (Belgique)_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

24.07.2018/ EN_______________________________________________________________

FCI-Standard N° 147

ROTTWEILER

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TRANSLATION: Mrs. Chris Seidler. Revised by Peter Friedrich.
Official language (DE)ORIGIN: Germany.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID
STANDARD: 15.06.2018.
UTILIZATION: Companion, service and working dog.
FCI-CLASSIFICATION:

Group 2

Pinscher and Schnauzer
type, Molossian type,
Swiss Mountain- andCattle Dogs.
Section 2.1 Molossian type, Mastiff
type.
With working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: The Rottweiler is considered
to be one of the oldest dog breeds. Its origin goes back to Romantimes. These dogs were kept as herder or driving dogs. Theymarched over the Alps with the Roman legions, protecting thehumans and driving their cattle. In the region of Rottweil, these dogs
met and mixed with the native dogs in a natural crossing. The maintask of the Rottweiler now became the driving and guarding of theherds of cattle and the defense of their masters and their property.
This breed acquired its name from the old free city of Rottweil andwas known as the « Rottweil butcher’s dog’ ». The butchers bred thistype of dog purely for performance and usefulness. In due course, afirst rate watch and driving dog evolved which could also be used asa draught dog. When, at the beginning of the twentieth century,
various breeds were needed for police service, the Rottweiler wasamongst those tested. It soon became evident that the breed washighly suitable for the tasks set by police service and therefore they
were officially recognized as police dogs in 1910.

FCI-St. N° 147 / 24.07.2018

3Rottweiler breeders aim at a dog of abundant strength, black coatedwith clearly defined rich tan markings, whose powerful appearance
does not lack nobility, and which is exceptionally well suited tobeing a companion, service, rescue and working dog.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: The Rottweiler is a medium to large
size, stalwart dog, neither heavy nor light and neither leggy norweedy. His correctly proportioned, compact and powerful build leads
to the conclusion of great strength, agility and endurance.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: The length of the body, measured
from the point of the sternum (breast-bone) to the ischiatic
tuberosity, should not exceed the height at the withers by, at most, 15%.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT: The Rottweiler is goodnatured, placid in basic disposition, very devoted, obedient, biddable
and eager to work. His appearance is natural and rustic, hisbehaviour self-assured, steady and fearless. He reacts to hissurroundings with great alertness and at the same time eventempered.
HEAD
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Of medium length, relatively broad between the ears.
Forehead line moderately arched as seen from the side. Occipitalbone well developed without being conspicuous.
Stop: Stop relatively strong. Frontal groove not too deep.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Well developed, broader than round with relatively large
nostrils, always black.
Muzzle: The foreface should appear neither elongated nor shortenedin relation to the cranial region.

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The ratio between the length of the muzzle and the length of theskull is about 1 to 1,5. Straight nasal bridge, broad at base,moderately tapered.
Lips: Black, close fitting, corner of the mouth not visible, gum asdark as possible.
Jaws/Teeth: Upper and lower jaw strong and broad. Strong, complete
dentition (42 teeth) with scissor bite, the upper incisors closelyoverlapping the lower incisors.
Cheeks: Zygomatic arches pronounced.
EYES: Of medium size, almond-shaped, dark brown in colour.
Eyelids close fitting.
EARS: Medium-sized, pendant, triangular, wide apart, set on high.
With the ears laid forward close to the head, the skull appears o bebroadened.
NECK: Strong, of fair length, well muscled, slightly arched, clean,
free from throatiness, without excessive dewlap.
BODY:
Back: Straight, strong, firm.
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 shoulderheight) with well-developed forechest and well sprung ribs.
Belly: Flanks not tucked up.
TAIL: In natural condition, strong, level in extension of the upper
line; while paying attention, when exited or while moving it canbe carried upward in a light curve; at ease may be hanging. While
positioned along the leg, the tail reaches approximately to thehocks or is a bit longer.

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5LIMBSFOREQUARTERS: Seen from the front, the front legs are straightand not placed too closely to each other. The forearm, seen from theside, stands straight and vertical. The slope of the shoulder blade isabout 45 degrees to the horizontal.
Shoulders: Well laid back.
Upper arm: Close fitting to the body.
Forearm: Strongly developed and muscular.
Pasterns: Slightly springy, strong, not steep.
Front feet: Round, tight and well arched; pads hard; nails short, blackand strong.
HINDQUARTERS: Seen from behind, legs straight and not too closetogether. When standing free, obtuse angles are formed between thedog’s upper thigh and the hip bone, the upper thigh and the lower
thigh, and the lower thigh and metatarsal.
Upper thigh: Moderately long, broad and strongly muscled.
Lower thigh: Long, strongly and broadly muscled, sinewy.
Hocks: Sturdy, well angulated hocks; not steep.
Hindfeet: Slightly longer than the front feet. Toes strong, arched, astight as front feet.
GAIT: The Rottweiler is a trotting dog. In movement the backremains 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.
COAT
Hair: The coat consists of a top coat and an undercoat. The top coat
is of medium length, coarse, dense and flat. The undercoat must notshow through the top coat. The hair is a little longer on the hindlegs.
Colour: Black with clearly defined markings of a rich tan on thecheeks, muzzle, throat, chest and legs, as well as over both eyes andunder the base of the tail.
FCI-St. N° 147 / 24.07.2018

6SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height at withers: For males is 61 - 68 cm.
61 - 62 cm is small
63 - 64 cm medium height.
65 - 66 cm is large - correct height
67 - 68 cm very large.
Weight: 50 kg.

Height at withers: For bitches is 56 - 63 cm.
56 - 57 cm is small
58 - 59 cm medium height.
60 - 61 cm is large - correct height
62 - 63 cm very large.
Weight: Approximately 42 kg.
FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should beconsidered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be
regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effectupon the health and welfare of the dog.
• General appearance: Light, weedy, leggy appearance. Lightin bone and muscle.
• Head: Hound-type head. Narrow, light, too short, long,coarse or excessively molossoid head; excessively broadskull, (lack of stop, too little stop or too strong stop). Verydeep frontal groove.
• Foreface: Long, pointed or too short muzzle (any muzzle
shorter than 40 percent of the length of the head is tooshort); split nose; Roman nose (convex nasal bridge) or
dish-faced (concave nasal bridge); acquiline nose; pale orspotted nose (butterfly nose).
• Lips: Pendulous, pink or patchy; corner of lips visible.
• Jaws: Narrow lower jaw.
• Bite: Pincer bite. Molars of the underjaw not standing inone line.
• Cheeks: Strongly protruding.
• Eyes: Light, deep set. Also too full and round eyes; looseeyelids.

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Ears: Set on too low or too high, heavy, long, slack orturned backwards. Also flying ears or ears not carried
symmetrically.
Neck: Too long, thin, lacking muscle. Showing dewlap orthroaty.
Body: Too long, too short or too narrow.
Back: Too long, weak; sway back or roach back.
Croup: Too sloping, too short, too flat or too long.
Chest: Flat-ribbed or barrel-shaped. Too narrow behind.
Tail: Set on too high or too low.
Forequarters: Narrow, crooked or not parallel standing
front legs. Steep shoulder placement. Loose or out at elbow.
Too long, too short or too straight in upper arm. Weak orsteep pastern. Splayed feet. Too flat or too arched toes.
Deformed toes. Light coloured nails.
Hindquarters: Flat thighs, hocks too close, cow hocks orbarrel hocks. Joints with too little or too much angulation.
Dewclaws.
Skin: Wrinkles on head.
Coat: Soft, too short or long. Wavy coat; lack of undercoat.
Colour: Markings of incorrect colour, not clearly defined.
Markings which are too spread out.

SEVERE FAULTS:• General appearance: Too molossoid type and heavy
general appearance.
• Skin: Skin at the head strongly wrinkled, strong wrinkles
in the area of the forehead, the muzzle and the cheeks,strong dewlap.
• Gait: Sluggish action while trotting.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:• Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behaviouralabnormalities.
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Behaviour: Anxious, shy, cowardly, gun-shy, vicious,excessively suspicious, nervous animals.
General appearance: Distinct reversal of sexual type, i.e.
feminine dogs or masculine bitches.
Teeth: Overshot or undershot bite, wry mouth; lack of one
incisive tooth, one canine, one premolar or one molar.
Eyes: Entropion, ectropion, yellow eyes, different colouredeyes.
Tail: Kink tail, ring-tail, with strong lateral deviation,
natural bobtail.
Hair: Definitely long or wavy coat.
Colour: Dogs which do not show the typical Rottweiler
colouring of black with tan markings. White markings.

N.B.:• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum.
•Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed
typical conformation, should be used for breeding.

The latest amendments are in bold characters.

FCI-St. N° 147 / 24.07.2018