About the Breed

The origin of the Rottweiler can found in a town called Rottweil. The ancient Romans established it. In those times the cattle had to be brought to the butchers fresh so the Romans chose a suitable companion in the Rottweiler who is a descendant of the Mastiff. The Mastiff was used for hunting boar and bears. The Rottweiler was used to herd cattle, worked as drover and protection dogs for butchers of the town Rottweil by protecting them from robbers and other wild animals. At this time the Rottweiler acquired a second name (Butchers dog). The butcher would strap their money purse around the neck of their dog because a robber would have his hands full when he approached the dog in an attempt to take the butchers earnings. The Rottweiler was almost extinct by the end of the 18th century however there was one female that could be traced back to the town of Rottweil. Prior to WWI, there was a sudden demand for Rottweilers as protection dogs because of it's enormous strength, it's intelligence and the ability to take orders and please it's handler made it a natural weapon of war.

General Appearance: The Rottweiler is medium to large build, powerful, black with clearly defined rust or mahogany markings. His compact and substantial build denotes great strength, agility, and endurance. Dogs are more massive throughout with larger frames than bitches. Bitches are more slender in frame with feminine characteristics.

Size: Dogs are 24-27 inches. Bitches are 22-25 inches. Okay as long as the proportions are within the standard range.

Head: Medium in length, wide between the ears, seen from a side view the head should be arched slightly. They should appear noble, alert, and self-assured.

Body: The chest is broad and spacious reaching to the elbow. The back is straight, without a slump and is strong. The neck is powerful, usually long with good muscle structure.

Forequarters: The legs are strong in straight alignment with equal space in between so that the legs are not closely together.

Hindquarters: The hindquarters balance is that of the front quarters. The upper thigh is distinctively muscular and much larger.

Coat: Is straight and coarse. The undercoat around the neck and thigh should be present. It changes in the amount depending on the location where the dog is raised.

Color: Always black with rust to mahogany markings that are clearly defined in locations as follows: a spot over each eye, on cheek stretching to the lower part of the muzzle to midway down the neck, triangle marks on the post sternum; in the forelegs down to the toes, inside the rear legs, down the front of the strife, under the tail.

Gait: The Rottweiler moves like a horse with the front and hind legs working together. The movement is balanced and explosive with strong forereach to cover ground and powerful rear drive for momentum. When speed increases the front and rear will converge under the body to the center.

Temperament: Basically a calm, self-assured, courageous dog. He does not make to much noise when he responds to influences in his environment. His natural ability to protect home and family are inherited of the breed. Very intelligent with the capability to adapt to the harshest environment, strong drive to work which makes him very suitable to be a companion, guardian and a all- purpose dog.