Page 45 - ShowSight Presents The Rottweiler

Judging The RoTTweileR
The Rottweiler is an ath- letic breed that is com- pact and well muscled that gives the appear- ance of being capable of trotting in a field all
day long. Rottweilers are used for driving cattle, being a utilitarian farm dog, pull- ing a cart, search and rescue and is a loyal family pet and protector. The Rottweiler should appear powerful and robust. With this in mind, we will look at this breed more closely.
Proportion
The ideal Rottweiler proportion is 9 to 10. When viewed by the human eye, this will look square. The Rottweiler will appear square when standing, and the small degree of length may be observed when the dog is moving. When the dog is moving, you should be able to observe the power and strength of this breed in a balanced trot. This is not an extended trot- ting breed, and is best observed at a ‘mod- erate’ pace. They are built for endurance, not short fast bursts of speed. This breed should not look ‘long in body’ or ‘short on leg’. Be aware of the proper proportions as it affects the overall impression of power and strength.
Balance and Movement
A Rottweiler needs to be balanced front and rear. They should not be straight in the front shoulders and upper arm, nor having extreme angulation in the rear. This would create a dog that would tire easily and would have difficulty extending the rear hock for good rear drive. A balance of front and rear angles helps give the endurance needed for this working dog, and to main- tain a strong, level topline and produce an ‘effortless’ trot. To complete the package to sustain endurance and good movement,
By Lew Olson, PhD
the Rottweiler needs round, compact feet with well-arched toes.
Head
While the head is important in this breed for specific breed characteristics, the movement and structure are equal Rottweiler breed type features. Ideally the proportion of the head is a ratio of 3 to 2 in the back skull to the muzzle. The zygo- matic arch (The part of the temporal bone of the skull that forms the prominence of the cheek) and stop are well developed and the muzzle is broad at the base, with a slight tapering to the end of the muzzle. Under jaw is also strong with a well-devel- oped chin. The eyes are almond shaped and dark. The ears are medium, level with the top of the head and inner ear lies tight- ly to the skull. When erect, this set give the head a broader appearance. The head should be in proportion to the body and bone of the whole dog.
Examining the Rottweiler
The AKC Standard describes the Rott- weiler as a somewhat aloof breed, which doesn’t make indiscriminate friendships. An aloof or reserved Rottweiler is not to be penalized. With that in mind, the examination of this breed should be light handed. The Rottweiler does not need to be ‘massaged’, leaned on, poked or prod- ded. Breed type and structure are eas- ily evaluated through movement,, muscle tone and athletic presence. The examina- tion is useful to check for disqualifying faults, testicles and cosmetic details such as eye color, markings and expression. It is often easier to examine the bite first in the individual examination, as the window of tolerance in this breed can narrow the longer one spends examining them. Exam- ine the dog by looking at the head and expression, check the bite and then, while
238 • SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, AUGUST 2014