The Rottweiler is good-natured, placid in basic disposition, very devoted, obedient, biddable, and eager to work. Their appearance is natural and rustic, and their behavior is self-assured, steady, and fearless. They react to their surroundings with great alertness and at the same time even-tempered.

Neck

The neck is strong, of fair length, well muscled, slightly arched, clean, free from throatiness, without excessive dewlap.

Body

The back is straight, strong, and firm. The loins are short, strong, and deep. The croup is broad, of medium length, and slightly rounded, neither flat nor falling away. The chest is roomy, broad, and deep (approximately 50% of the shoulder height) with a well-developed fore chest and well-sprung ribs. The flanks are not tucked up.

Tail

The FCI 2018 Standard states:

In natural conditions, strong, level in extension of the upper line; while paying attention, when excited, or while moving it can be carried upward in a light curve; at ease, it may be hanging. While positioned along the leg, the tail reaches approximately to the hocks or is a bit longer.

Historically the tail was traditionally docked at the first or second joint. However, docking is now banned in most countries and this is reflected in the FCI Country of Origin Breed Standard.

Although once “preferred” in early Standards, in 2018 the FCI Standard was amended to classify the Natural Bob Tail (aka “Stumpy”) as a “Disqualifying Fault” along with “kink tail, ring-tail, with strong lateral deviation.

Limbs

When seen from the front, the front legs are straight and not placed close to each other. The forearm, seen from the side, stands straight and vertical. The slope of the shoulder blade is about 45 degrees. The shoulders are well laid back. The upper arm is closely fitting to the body. The forearm is strongly developed and muscular. Pasterns are slightly springy, and strong but not steep. The front feet are round, tight, and well-arched, the pads hard, nails are short, black, and strong.

When seen from behind, the rear legs are 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 lower thigh and metatarsal. The upper thigh is moderately long, broad, and strongly muscled. The lower thigh is long, strongly, broadly muscled, and sinewy. The hocks are sturdy, well-angulated, and not steep. The hind feet are slightly longer than the front feet. The toes are strong, arched, and as tight as the front feet.

The skull is of medium length, relatively broad between the ears. The forehead line is moderately arched as seen from the side, with the occipital bone well developed without being conspicuous. The stop is relatively strong. The frontal groove is not too deep.

The Rottweiler nose is well developed, more broad than round, with relatively large nostrils and always black. The muzzle should appear neither elongated nor shortened in relation to the cranial region. The ratio between the length of the muzzle and the length of the skull is about 1 to 1.5 The nasal bridge is straight, broad at the base, and moderately tapered.

The lips are black and close fitting with the corner of the mouth not visible. The gums should be black, or as dark as possible. Both the upper and lower jaws are strong and broad. According to the FCI, Standard Rottweilers should have strong and complete dentition (42 teeth) with scissor bite, the upper incisors closely overlapping the lower incisors. The zygomatic arches should be pronounced (but not exaggerated).

Upper and lower jaw strong and broad. Strong, complete dentition (42 teeth) with scissor bite, the upper incisors overlapping the lower incisors.

The eyes should be of medium size, almond-shaped, and dark brown in color. The eyelids are close-fitting and should not droop. The ears are medium-sized, pendant, triangular, wide apart, and set high on the head. With the ears laid forward close to the head, the skull appears to be broadened. The skin on the head is tight-fitting overall. When the dog is alert, the forehead may be slightly wrinkled.

COAT
The coat consists of an outer coat and an undercoat. The outer coat is of medium length, coarse, dense, and flat. The undercoat should be present on the neck and thighs. The undercoat must not show through the outer coat. Rottweilers living in hot climates may have acclimatized and may be missing the undercoat. Rottweiler coats tend to be low maintenance, although they experience heavy shedding before their seasons (females) or seasonally (males). According to American Kennel Club breed standards, a Rottweiler’s coat is short and straight. A coat that is long or wavy is considered a flaw to the AKC.^[21]

Color & Markings

The color and markings of a Rottweiler are very distinctive. A Rottweiler is always, by any breed club standards, black with well-defined mahogany or rust-colored markings that do not take up more than ten percent of the dog’s body color. All Rottweilers standard to AKC specifications have one mahogany dot above each eye on the inner brow ridge, on the cheeks, and one strip on each side of the snout; cheek markings do not cross over the bridge of the nose, the top of the nose should remain black. The markings on the face should move down onto the dog’s throat. On the chest, a Rottweiler will have two downward-facing triangular marks. On each front leg, the marks will stretch from the forearm to the toes. On the hind legs, the markings will begin on the inside and move outward onto the stifle, then out onto the hock stretching to the toes as well. AKC standards recognize that the black base color is not completely voided on the rear pasterns. There is a patch of rust or mahogany underneath the tail that resembles a triangle as well. A thin strip of black should be present on each of the Rottweiler’s toes.^[21]