The origin of the Rottweiler is obscured by the shadowy mists of history. However, most historians of the breed agree that the original blood was of Roman origin. The dog that accompanied the eleventh legion that was to conquer the area we now know as Rottweil in AD74 would not be recognizable as the breed we know today.

To understand the Rottweiler lineage, it is necessary to go even further back in time. Long before Christ, dogs were used in the amphitheaters of Rome for fighting large cats (there were usually three dogs pitted against one lion). These dogs were known as Lollosus dogs. Dogs of this type were also used in the Asiatic wars against rival armies. So it can be understood that planned breeding is not a new idea. There are accounts of dogs of Mastiff type being exported from Britain to Rome through an agent known as the Procurator Pugnacium (provider of dogs). Only the best were good enough to grace the amphitheaters; a second class performance by man or beast was not tolerated and would probably lead to the inevitable 'thumbs down'. It is reasonable to assume therefore, that there would be a residue of canine stock, who for one reason or another would be deemed unsuitable to die for the perverted pleasure of the gloating Roman nobility.

The dog which the eleventh legion would have taken with them would need some herding instinct, be fleet of foot and be powerful enough to guard the herd against wolf or bear. Color or general type was not important. Driving the cattle that was to feed the troops through the Alps was a Herculean task and it would have been impossible without the dogs.

It is known that dogs of herding and hunting ability were already in north Switzerland and south Germany, an area once known as Helvetia. Best know is the marsh dog of the Swiss Lake people, which was capable of speed and also had a strong powerful jaw. Also domestication of dogs and cattle had been undertaken some twelve hundred years ago in southern Europe by Azilian hunters who used dogs to corner their prey. They were the first known tamers of animals.

The dogs that came with the Romans probably mated with the indigenous population, helping to form many of the breeds we know today. In fact, the indigenous population probably had more influence than most historians believe. The Rottweiler is almost more of a Swiss-type dog than a German one. By this I mean, in Switzerland the Rottweiler has many close cousins, including the Bernese Mountain Dog, Appenzeller and Entlebuch. The Entlebuch is also docked and resembles the Rottweiler to such a degree that it is easy to believe in a common ancestry.

The Rottweiler originates from a town of the same name, Rottweil, known as Area Flaviae by the Romans. It was an important administration and social center and had been populated at least two thousand years BC. With the coming of the Romans, the town was developed and transformed. The Orphic mosaic found in Rottweil probably enhanced the house of a wealthy Roman. The Bath House, also discovered in town, tells us how important a site this was. Building continued and the town was upgraded to a fortified villa. The most important buildings would have had red handmade tiles on the roof and for this reason, the region became known as Rottwil (red villa). This name was changed over a period of time to the name we know today, Rottweil. Between AD250 and 260, the town was conquered by Suebi and Alemanni tribes who slaughtered the Roman habitation. One can only guess what became of the dogs of the town, for they were usually trained to guard their master's property to death. Needless to say some did survive and prosper.

History of the Rottweiler Breed

By the middle ages, the town had become fortified and a royal court of justice, with jurisdiction over a wide area. It is the cattle dealers and butchers of the town who are of most interest to us, for it was they who took the dog of Rottweil and turned him to their use with great effect. Long drives were undertaken from town to town, even country to country. Over a period of time, the dog was molded to his master's needs, calling on all the virtues of his ancestors: herding ability, speed, guarding ability, strength and power, but most of all, intelligence.

Two types began to emerge: a large ponderous type, used in a draft capacity, for instance, for pulling the butchers' carts full of meat; secondly a smaller, more agile type, used mainly for herding. The latter is nearest to what we know today. Although very large dogs can still be found, they do not excel in the show ring or in the trials arenas.

It was because of this close association with the butchers and cattle drovers, that the Rottweiler was to become known as the metzgerhund, or butcher's dog. One story is told of drovers who, at the end of a long drive, having sold their cattle, would go to the bierkeller to celebrate, but before they did, they would tie the money from the sale around the dog's neck, secure in the knowledge that no matter how drunk they became, their money would be safe until morning! These were good times for the intrepid forefathers of our breed. However, it was not to last.

Excerpted from: Rottweilers, an owner's companion - by Les Price.

Official Standard for the ROTTWEILER

General Appearance

The ideal Rottweiler is a medium-large, robust and powerful dog, black with clearly defined rust markings. His compact and substantial build denotes great strength, agility and endurance. Dogs are characteristically more massive throughout with large frame and heavier bone than bitches. Bitches are distinctly feminine, but without weakness of substance or structure.

Size, Proportion, Substance
Dog: 24 inches to 27 inches
Bitches: 22 inches to 25 inches
with preferred size being midrange of each sex. Correct proportion is of primary importance, as long as size is within the standard's range.

The length of body from prosternum to the rear-most projection of the rump, is slightly longer than the height of the dog at the withers, the most desirable proportion of the height to length being 9 to 10. The Rottweiler is neither coarse nor shelly. Depth of chest is approximately fifty percent (50%)of the height of the dog. His bone and muscle mass must be sufficient to balance his frame, giving a compact and very powerful appearance.

Serious Faults: Lack of proportion, Undersized, oversized, reversal of sex characteristics (bitchy dogs, doggy bitches).

Head of medium length, broad between the ears; forehead line seen in profile is moderately arched; zygomatic arch and stop well developed with strong broad upper and lower jaws. The desired ratio of backskull to muzzle is 3 to 2. Forehead is preferred dry, however some wrinkling may occur when dog is alert.

Expression is noble, alert and self-assured.

Eyes of medium size, almond shaped with well-fitting lids, moderately deep-set, neither protruding nor receding. The desired color is a uniform dark brown.

Serious Faults: Yellow (bird of prey) eyes, eyes of different color size, hairless eye rim. Disqualification: Entropion. Ectropion.

Ears of medium size, pendant, triangular in shape; when carried alertly the ears are level with the top of the skull and appear to broaden it. Ears are to be set well apart, Hanging forward with the inner edge lying tightly against the head and terminating at approximately mid-cheek.

Serious Faults: Improper carriage (creased, folded or held away from cheek/head).

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 rather than round and always black. Lips - always black; corners closed; inner mouth pigment is preferred dark.

Serious faults: Total lack of mouth pigment (pink mouth)

. Bite & Dentition - Teeth 42 in number (20 upper; 22 lower), strong, correctly placed, meeting in a scissors bite; lower incisors touching inside of upper incisors.

Serious faults: Level bite; any missing tooth.

Disqualifications: Overshot, undershot (when incisors do not touch or mesh); wry mouth; two or more missing teeth.

Neck, Topline, Body
Neck - Powerful, well muscled, moderately long, slightly arched and without loose skin. Topline - The back is firm and level, extending in a straight line from behind the withers to the croup. The back remains horizontal to the ground while the dog is moving or standing.

Body - The chest is roomy, broad and deep, reaching to elbow, with well pronounced forechest and well sprung, oval ribs. Back is straight and strong. Loin is short, deep and well muscled. Croup is broad, of medium length and only slightly sloping. Underline of a mature Rottweiler has a slight tuck-up. Males must have two normal testicles properly descended into the scrotum. Disqualifications: Unilateral cryptorchid or cryptorchid males.

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.

Forequarters - Shoulder blade is long and well laid back. Upper arm equal in length to shoulder blade, set so elbows are well under body. Distance from withers to elbow and elbow to ground is equal. Legs are strongly developed with straight, heavy bone, not set close together. 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 short, strong and black. Dewclaws may be removed.

Hindquarters - Angulation of hindquarters balances that of forequarters. Upper thigh is fairly long, very broad and well muscled. Stifle joint is well turned. Lower thigh is long, broad and powerful, with extensive muscling leading into a strong hock joint. Rear pasterns are nearly perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from the rear, hind legs are straight, strong and wide enough apart to fit with a properly built body. Feet are somewhat longer than the front feet, turning neither in nor out, equally compact with well arched toes. Pads are thick and hard. Nails short, strong, and black. Dewclaws must be removed.

Coat - Outer coat is straight, coarse, dense, of medium length and lying flat. Undercoat should be present on neck and thighs, but the amount is influenced by climatic conditions. Undercoat should not show through outer coat. The coat is shortest on head, ears and legs, longest on breaching. The Rottweiler is to be exhibited in the natural condition with no trimming. Fault: Wavy coat
Serious faults: Open, excessively short, or curly coat; total lack of under-coat; any trimming that alters the length of the natural coat.
Disqualifications: Long coat.

Color - Always black with rust to mahogany markings. The demarcation between black and rust is to be clearly defined. The markings should be located as follows: a spot over each eye; on cheeks; as a strip around each side of muzzle, but not on the bridge of the nose; on throat; triangular mark on both sides of prosternum; on forelegs from carpus downward to the 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 completely eliminating black from rear of pasterns; under tail; black penciling on toes. The undercoat is gray, tan, or black. Quantity and location of rust markings is important and should not exceed ten percent of body color. Serious faults: Straw-colored, excessive, insufficient or sooty markings; rust marking other than described above; white marking any place on dog (a few rust or white hairs do not constitute a marking).

Disqualifications: Any base color other than black; absence of all markings.

Gait - The Rottweiler is a trotter. His movement should be balanced, harmonious, sure, powerful and unhindered, with strong forereach and a powerful rear drive. The motion is effortless, efficient, and ground-covering. Front and rear legs are thrown neither in nor out, as the imprint of hind feet should touch that of forefeet. In a trot the forequarters and hindquarters are mutually coordinated while the back remains level, firm and relatively motionless. As speed increases the legs will converge under body towards a center line.

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.

A judge shall excuse from the ring any shy Rottweiler. A dog should be judged fundamentally shy if, refusing to stand for examination, if shrinks away from the judge. A dog that, in the opinion of the judge menaces or threatens him/her, or exhibits any sign that it may not be safety approached or examined by the judge in the normal manner, shall be excused from the ring, A dog that in the opinion of the judge attacks any person in the ring shall be disqualified.

Summary

Faults: The foregoing is a description of the ideal Rottweiler. Any structural fault that detracts from the above-described working dog must be penalized to the extent of the deviation.

Disqualifications: Entropion, ectropion. Overshot, undershot (when incisors do not touch or mesh); wry mouth; two or more missing teeth. Unilateral cryptorchid or cryptorchid males. Long coat. Any base color other than black; absence of all markings. A dog that in the opinion of the judge attacks any person in the ring.

©The American Kennel Club

(http://Rottweiler.searchking.com/official.htm)

Socialize your puppy from an early age. Your puppy so far has met his vet and several other new faces in recent weeks and has spent some time with older children. Always supervise children and your new puppy as they play together.

It's important to play with your Rottweiler puppy. . .but it's even more important that you win. Never let a Rottweiler think he can get the best of his owner. You must always remain the "alpha dog" in order to maintain control of your favorite pup.

Brush your puppy’s teeth from an early age.

Brush your puppy’s coat often, and give a bath at least every 6 -12 weeks, depending on weather. Don’t give your dog a bath and then put him/her outside in cold or hot weather until their coat is dry.

Your Rottweiler needs mental stimulation and he loves to feel needed. To keep our Rottweiler in peak shape, give him a job (or several) to do every day.

Keep your Rottweiler's water cool on a hot day by periodically placing cubes of ice in it. We have discovered that Rottweilers do not care for heat or very cold temperatures. Our dogs like to exercise and then retire for a time in front of the fan in the summer.

We have not yet had a Rottweiler that has enjoyed swimming. We have had one that would go into a lake but she did not enjoy it.

Your Rottweiler will take up to three years to fully develop his canine personality and reach his adult size.

Don't let your Rottweiler push you around . . . but don't be surprised if he tries. If your Rottweiler bumps or pushes you, anyone else, or even other animals, it's because he's following his inborn herding instinct. Gently discourage the behavior, but don't mistake it for aggression.

You will know your Rottweiler really loves and trusts you when he/she does what many call the "Rotty lean". They tend to lean against you and want to cuddle, regardless of age or size. Don’t be frightened of this.

While there is much more to tell you and even much more that we have yet to learn we do hope that this will give you a start. Most of all enjoy your new puppy!

E-Mail:  mailto:westwoodsrotts@attbi.com

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