Why, after all these years, do Americans keep going back to West Germany to buy Rottweilers? Why do the best Rottweilers seem to always come from West Germany? Why is it that there have been only a handful of American-bred Rottweilers to reach the title of Schutzhund III?

The answer to these questions is simple, yet rather complex. In simplistic terms all of these questions may be answered by the statement that the Germans must adhere to the rather strict Breeding Regulations of the Allgemelner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub, the German Rottweiler Club. And, in order to understand this statement to its fullest extent, we must learn more about the ADRK and its purpose.

In 1907 the Deutscher Rottweiler Klub (or DRK, German Rottweiler Club) was formed to preserve and improve the Rottweiler breed by establishing and administering breeding standards. In 1921 a competing club, the International Rottweiler Club, merged with the DRK to form the Allgmeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub or ADRK (the general German Rottweiler Club). The ADRK is the only breed group responsible for definition, promotion and enforcement of the German Rottweiler Standard and issuance of Ahnentafels (pedigrees).

The goals of the ADRK are as follows:

1. The preservation, consolidation and strengthening of the peculiar characteristics of the Rottweiler breed and the enhancement of its physical attributes and character.

2. The supervision of the breeding and training of Rottweilers. A special emphasis is placed on the promotion of the Rottweiler as suitable dog for use in the public sector, as a guide dog for the blind, as a guard dog to protect life and property and as a first-aid dog in times of emergency or disaster.

3. The definition of the German Standard for the Rottweiler.

4. Assistance and advice to all members in matters of breeding, rearing and care of Rottweilers. Also included in this is the acquisition and disposal of Rottweilers.

5. To bring the Rottweiler to people’s attention, especially in the case of the younger generation, and to promote interest in its breeding, general usefulness and versatility.

6. The establishment of rules for breeding and judging Rottweilers. The conducting of tests for breeding suitability, performance, and conformation shows and the publication of such results.

7. The promotion of the participation of man and his dog in controlled and systematic training programs for the Rottweiler. The promotion of scientific research in the canine field in general.

8. The promotion of scientific research in the canine field in general.

9. The cooperation with all Rottweiler lovers throughout the world.

If one studies all aspects of the Rules and Regulations of the ADRK, one will see that every aspect of the Club emphasis its now 85-year-old motto "Rottweiler breeding is and remains the breeding of working dogs."

Breeding Regulations of the ADRK

Members of the ADRK who want to breed dogs are encouraged to obtain the best possible dogs for breeding. It is important to understand the German Standard for the Rottweiler and consider the following characteristics. Dogs should be chosen which demonstrate unambiguous sexual characteristics, health and vitality, perserverance, good strong body and bone structure, good scissor bite with correct dentition, good nerves, self-confidence, courage arid steadfast character. Since hip dysplasia is a degenerative trait with a strong hereditary link which can greatly decrease the animal’s working ability, every responsible breeder is obligated to only breed dogs with select hip joints. Matings that produce litters with hereditary faults should not be repeated. The main breed warden is obligated to ban such matings and, should the ban not be heeded, prevent the registration of such a litter.

Age Requirements For The Breeding of Dogs

The minimum age for breeding females is twenty months and for males is twenty-four months. The maximum age for breeding is eight years for females and nine years for males. The actual mating date is the date used in determining whether the dog is too young or old to be bred.

Breeding Frequency

A male Rottweiler may not service more than two females in one week, nor more than forty females during one year. All breedings, including those with females from a foreign country, must be reported to the Stud Book office. In correspondence with the breeding regulations of the VDH, the ADRK female Rottweilers are allowed to bear only one litter per calendar year. The breeder is allowed to freely choose the breeding partners within the regulations of the ADRK. But, it is recommended for their own good to seek the advice of their local breed warden. The breed warden should recommend at least two eligible SELECT males for the female to be bred to. It is the responsibility of the owners of the male and female to make certain before mating that both partners possess an ADRK pedigree and have passed a Breed Suitability Test and, furthermore, that one of the partners has a Schutzhund title and one has select hip joints.

Members of the ADRK are openly allowed to breed registered Rottweilers that have passed a Zuchttauglichkeitsprufungen or Breed Suitability Test. At the time of mating one of the partners must have at least a Schutzhund I degree and one of the partners must have Korung “Select’ hips; meaning HD— or HD±. The minimum age requirement at the time of mating is 24 months for males and 20 months for females.

The Zuchttauglichkeitsprufungen, or Breed Suitability Test consists of conformation examinations and temperament evaluations. The purpose of the BST is to select Rottweilers which are suitable for breeding and exclude those that are unsuitable. The minimum age for taking the Breed Suitability Test is eighteen months for both males and females. The judge evaluates the males first, then the females. Each dog is measured thoroughly from head to toe in various positions and then weighed. His overall conformation is recorded with special attention given to eye color, bite, number of teeth, topline, rear angulation, coat, etc. Structure as it relates to movement is very important in their evaluation. The dog’s temperament is then tested. Two gunshots are fired approximately twenty feet from the dog as he is walked off lead. The dog must not react shyly or aggressively to the gunshot. The dog is walked into a group of people and told to sit. The dog should be indifferent to the group. Once again shyness or aggressiveness is reason for failure. An attack on the handler occurs whereby the dog must react to attack by an agitator wearing a protection suit by biting the sleeve while being driven by the agitator and taking two controlled stick hits. The final part of the temperament test is called the courage test whereby the dog must go after an agitator that is running straight away from the dog. As the dog gets within fifty feet of the agitator the agitator turns and faces the dog, making threatening gestures with the stick and sleeve. Once again the dog can show no fear. He must bite the sleeve and take two pronounced stick hits while being driven by the agitator. Rottweilers that fail the breed suitability test may enter again as often as their owner desires.

Breed Qualification Tests

The Konung, or Breeding Qualification tests are the most selective breeding tests for Rotteilers. According to the ADRK breeding regulations, the purpose of the Korung is..."to select the best from among the dogs suitable for breeding to be able to utilize them more intensively in the breeding program. The minimum age requirements for the Korung are thirty months for females and thirty-six months for males. Only the best of the best Rottweilers are permitted to try for the Korung. The dogs must have excelled in conformation by placing at least Very Good (Sehr Gut/SG) at three conformation shows under at least two different judges. The dogs must have achieved working titles - shutzhung titles or IPO titles. Males must have a schutzhund III and females must have at least a Schutzhund I title. The dogs myst have received their Breed Suitability Test with hip ratings in the highest categories. The dogs must have passed a twelve mile endurance test called an AD (Ausdaurprufung). Another important requirement is that the dogs must have very dark mouth pigmentation and eye color.

The Korung is offered in the Spring and Fall each year. The actual test is very similar to the Breed Suitability Test but more intensified. Generally, less than half of the dogs trying for the Korung actually pass it. Dogs which pass the Korung are awarded the title for two years, abbreviated Angekort. During this two-year period the dog’s offspring are examined and if the offspring are good then the parent may try to obtain the highest breeding rating - Breeding Qualified until the end of Breeding Utilization Age, abbreviated Gekort bis EzA. For males a minimum of three good litters are required and for females one good litter is required.

The breeding value of a Rottweiler is derived from its ancestors and reflected in the quality of its offspring. Rottweilers of value for breeding carry pedigrees that indicate the accomplishments of their ancestors. The pedigrees reflect the following levels of breeding:

Selection and Achievement Breeding: A breeding whereby both parents are "Selecteds" (have passed the Korung) and the grandparents have schutzhund titles;

Selection Breeding: A breeding whereby both parents are "Selected"; Achievement Breeding: A breeding whereby both parents and grandparents have schutzhund titles;

Working Dog Breeding: A breeding whereby the parents have schutzhund titles;

Simple Breeding: A breeding whereby one parent has a schutzhund title. This is the minimum requirement for breeding.

The various pedigree descriptions mentioned above are inherited by the puppy based solely on the achievements of its ancestors. The individual dog’s own performance determines whether or not he will be able to pass this on to his offspring. The ideal event occurs when an offspring of a Selection and Achievement breeding goes on to pass the Breed Suitability and Korung himself.

Hip Dyspiasia Ratings

HD ratings are as follows:

HD - or Hip Dysplasia free. There is no sign of hip dysplasia. The dog would be suitable and qualified for breeding; Zucth-und korfahig;

HD ± - some minor changes in the hips are observed. These dogs are also suitable and qualified for breeding; Zuchtund korfahig;

HD + - slight hip dysplasia is evident. These dogs are suitable for breeding, Zuchtfahig, but these dogs cannot go for Korung;

H + + - moderate hip dysplasia is evident. These dog cannot be bred: Zucthverbot;

H + + + - severe hip dysplasia. These dogs cannot be bred; Zuchtverbot.

Breeding Methods

The ADRK makes use of a variety of breeding methods: Inbreeding, Line Breeding, and Out-crossing.

Inbreeding: Breeding based on close blood relationship whereby at least one ancestor appears one time each on the maternal and paternal side in the first six generations of the pedigree. There are three recognized types of inbreeding: Very Close Inbreeding, Close Inbreeding, and Distant Inbreeding.

In Very Close Inbreeding (incestuous inbreeding) one has the breeding of parents to offspring, grandparents to grandchildren, or brother to sister. Thus we have a breeding between relatives of first and second degree, or direct and branching lines. Very Close Inbreeding can seldom be successful. In order for it to succeed both partners must possess all desired traits in a nearly pure or homozygous hereditary state. The written consent of the main breed warden must be obtained prior to a Very Close Inbreeding.

Close Inbreeding entails the breeding of relatives of the third or fourth degree, for example, uncle to niece, nephew to aunt, or cousins.

Distant Inbreeding is the breeding of relatives of the fifth or sixth degree.

Linebreeding is a less extreme form of breeding where closely or more distantly related dogs are carefully selected for their physical and temperamental traits to produce a breeding true to original type.

Outcrossing is the mating of animals which are of the same breed, but totally unrelated.