How to Tell if You have A German or American Rottweiler

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 Rottweilers are a popular breed and quite distinctive even for those who are not dog aficionados. Their robust build and trademark appearance sets them apart from the other dogs with the same coloring. But, did you know that there are American Rottweilers and German Rottweilers? For most of the world, Rotties are one and the same breed but there are actually two kinds of Rottweilers. The differences are actually not so discernible to the untrained eye and some of the differences are not in the appearance of the dogs at all but in their temperament or their personalities.

German Origins

Before anything else, let us have a look at the origins of the Rottweiler. These strong and noble dogs originated from Germany as products of interbreeding of local German dogs and dogs that the Romans brought with them to watch their cattle. The Roman drover dogs were described as mastiff-like dogs that were intelligent and protective of their cattle charges. Eventually, the Romans left that part of Germany but some of their drover dogs got left behind and mated with the local dogs. The result is a sturdy dog that was used by the local butchers in the town of Rottweil as guard dogs.As time passed, the popularity and the use of the butcher’s guard dog faded and the breed was actually in danger of losing its singularity. World War I came about and the interest in the breed was revived due to their protective nature, intelligence and strength. After the war, some of the dogs were brought out of Germany, specifically to the United States. Due to the limited dogs in the United States, care was taken in breeding them and maintaining the standards. At the same time, Rottweiler fanciers in Germany redefined their standards for the remaining Rottweiler dogs.So, it is safe to say that all Rottweilers are from German stock. The actual defining point between a German Rottweiler and an American one is where the dogs are born. In Germany, the ADRK (Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub) is the kennel club that defines the standards of the breed nationwide. They are very strict when it comes to which dogs can be bred and whether the puppies that they produce shall be registered with the kennel club. Suffice to say that this particular kennel club is serious in maintaining the standard of the Rottweiler. Before the puppies are registered, they have to pass a test that will check their physical and mental attributes. Having parents that have passed the test, does not mean that the puppies will pass. The puppies will be judged on their own attributes and merits. Once the puppies pass, they will be registered with the ADRK and may be deemed suitable to breed with other Rotties that have also passed and are registered with the club.On the other hand, the AKC has a very similar set of standards for their Rottweilers but the kennel club is not very discriminate when it comes to which dogs can be bred and which puppies can be registered. Herein lies the difference between the two. While the German club micromanages the selection process of the dogs, the American one is not as discriminate. As long as the American sire and the dam are registered with the club, their puppies can be registered. In some cases, breeders do not even need to bring their dogs in to be inspected by the club, registration can be done through mail. 

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