German & American Rottweiler: Differences & Similarities


Rottweilers originated in Rome but were not called Rottweilers then.  It wasn’t until the Roman army crossed the Alps with their dogs into Germany that the breed acquired the name they still carry today. Rottweilers were named after the German town, Rottweil. They were called “Rottweiler Metzgerhunds” then. So technically, all Rottweilers were once German dogs of Roman descent. Eventually, some of these dogs migrated with their humans to the United States of America. The breed grew in popularity and in 1931, Rottweilers were recognized by the American Kennel Club. So, how did this migration and subsequent breeding in a different region bring about the American Rottweiler, and how do they differ from what we now know as the German Rottweiler?  Today we’re going to find out! Welcome to the Big Dog Den, I’m glad you’re here!

In this article, you’ll discover the most accurate and up-to-date information from canine experts like  The Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler­-Klub (ADRK), The American Kennel Club (AKC) and The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Ironically, the largest canine organization in the world, The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), does NOT add a regional prefix like “German” or “American” to the Rottweiler breed at all.

Today we will go over:

  • What Makes a Rottweiler German or American
  • The Differences in Standards & Breeding Standards for German & American Rotties
  • Rottweiler Colorings
  • How German & American Rotties Measure Up, Size-Wise
  • Which Rottweiler is More Expensive to Buy

…And so much more! We’ve got a lot of information to comb through, so let’s get started!

What Determines if a Rottweiler is German or American?

Whether your Rottie is German or American depends on whether he (or she) was born in Germany or America. Period. There are some breeders that have imported German Rottweilers for breeding here in the United States, and there is certainly nothing wrong with that, but the pups they produce in America are American Rottweilers. There are benefits to acquiring the offspring of these imported Rotties though. These benefits will become clear as we compare the breed (and breeding) standards for Rottweilers in Germany with the standards for Rottweilers in the United States.

Standards for Registering German Rottweilers

The Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler­-Klub (ADRK) governs the standards for Rottweilers in Germany. I’ve got to say, they have VERY strict standards for registering a Rottweiler! So much so that a Rottweiler may not be bred until it has been proven to meet all the standards of a “true” German Rottweiler via a Breeding Suitability Test. To pass this test, a Rottweiler must meet the standards for the following specific areas:

  1. Head (eyes)
  2. Snout (teeth, tongue)
  3. Dewlap (throat, neck skin)German vs American Rottweiler
  4. Shoulder
  5. Elbow
  6. Forefeet
  7. Highest Point of the Rump
  8. Legs (thighs and hips)
  9. Hock
  10. Hind feet
  11. Withers
  12. Stifle
  13. Paws
  14. Tail

Any flaws in these standards will disqualify a Rottweiler (or any subsequent puppies they might produce) from being registered. It’s interesting to note that a docked tail would be a disqualification, as well. Germany amended the breed standard in 1999 when tail-docking and ear-cropping were banned.

Additionally, the potential parent Rottweilers must also have certification pertaining to any potential genetic diseases and/or defects. The goal of the ADRK is to “better the breed”. If a mating union won’t accomplish that, the dogs cannot breed and have the pups recognized as registered Rottweilers.

Standards for Registering American Rottweilers

In the United States, The American Kennel Club (AKC) sets the standards for Rottweilers. Although these standards touch on the same points as I listed above, a flaw in any of the areas will not prevent the dog from being registered with the AKC, providing he (or she) has papers.

Furthermore, a flaw in either parent will not prevent the pups from being registered. One simply reports the parents’ names and the number of pups born, pays the fee and waits for the registration paperwork to arrive.

american or german rottweilers

Without question, registering pups in the United States is much, much easier, but here’s the thing. A buyer of the pup has no clue of either parent’s potential flaws and no information regarding possible genetic defects or predispositions.

With each additional generation of “American” in an American Rottweiler’s bloodline, the pups produced are an additional step away from the original Rottweilers of Germany, resembling them less and less, both in stature and temperament. Where Germany’s goal is to better the breed through breeding, it seems as though the United States breeds Rottweilers to meet the demand, with little to no governing as to the “quality” of the dogs being bred.

Don’t think for a moment that this is true of all breeders! There are certainly breeders who strive to maintain the standards set forth by the ADRK to better the breed. These breeders are known as “Code of Ethics Breeders”. The puppies they will offer will be American Rottweilers who are correct in conformation, and indistinguishable in appearance and temperament to their relatives from Germany.

Sadly, there are breeders that do not follow the Code of Ethics for Rottweilers, and the result is becoming more and more visible with each new generation of American Rottweilers.

When breeding standards are lowered, here’s what happens to the Rottweiler breed over time:

  • The broad skull and short muzzle narrow and elongate.
  • The well-defined markings in the fur become muddled and faded.
  • The compact and muscular frame becomes more “leggy” and less solid.
  • Dark gums become pink gums.
  • Dark eyes become pale eyes.

More than a visible change, when the breed’s structure begins to change from its original form, physical health problems WILL accompany the change, as well as a change in temperament. This can include disruptive, or even destructive, behaviors.

Lower breeding standards are the ONLY reason that an American Rottweiler might look or behave any differently than a German Rottweiler!

German vs American Rottweilers

Are German & American Rottweilers the Same Colors?

Rottweilers are always, by any breed club standards, black with mahogany or rust-colored markings on up to ten percent of his (or her) overall color. All Rottweilers have one mahogany mark above each eye, on the cheeks, and on each side of the snout. The top of the nose is black. On the chest, a Rottweiler will have two triangular marks, facing down. On each front leg, he (or she) will have marks stretching from the forearm to the toes. On the hind legs, the markings are visible from the inside and move outward onto the stifle. Additionally, Rottweilers have a patch of rust or mahogany underneath the tail that resembles a triangle.

If a breeder claims they have a “rare colored” Rottweiler, think RED FLAG!! Although we know that variations (like albinoism) do occur in nature, it is extremely rare. In almost every case, these “rare-colored” Rotties have other breeds involved in the equation causing the variances in coloring. 

Here are a few more RED FLAGS that indicate a Rottie is far removed from his (or her) original German heritage:

• A “lightness” in bone and muscle structure, with “gangly” legs at full maturity.
• A pale or spotted nose, long or pointed muzzle
•  A lower jaw that is visibly more narrow than the upper jaw.
• Overly rounded eyes with loose eyelids.
•  A flat or barrel-shaped rib cage.
• Permanent wrinkles on the forehead.
• A wavy coat, lack of undercoat, or inappropriate colorings (proper colorings can be found above).

German & American Rottweilers: A Size Comparison

The German Rottweiler is bigger, but only by the slightest margins, and only because of the breeding standards we have already gone over. An adult male American Rottweiler will weigh from 110-130 pounds (50-60kg). The German adult male Rottie will likely be at the highest end of that weight. The same applies to height. An adult male Rottweiler will stand from 24-27 inches (61-69cm) tall, with the German Rottie at the higher end of that range.

Adult female Rottweilers will weigh from 77-110 pounds (35-48kg) and stand from 22-25 inches (56-63cm) tall. A female German Rottweiler will be at the higher end of both measurements than a female American Rottweiler of the same age.

Additionally, as we previously touched upon, the American Rottweiler’s legs are slightly longer than a German Rottweiler’s and the skull of an American Rottie is smaller and more narrow. The bigger the variance in legs and/or skull, the more generations of “American” in the dog’s ancestry.

To reiterate what we learned earlier in this article; if an American Rottweiler is bred with the same code of ethics as German Rottweilers, the dogs would be indistinguishable side by side.

Are German Rottweilers More Expensive?

You can buy a Rottweiler in the United States for as little as $500 or you can pay upwards of $4000. I’m thinking by now you have a general idea of why the range is so vast. Quality comes at a price. A Code of Ethics breeder that has conformed to the ADRK standards for breeding Rottweilers is going to offer puppies at a higher cost than a breeder that conforms to the AKC standards. Or a breeder that doesn’t conform to any standards at all.

If we took a look at the overall cost of owning a Rottie for his (or her) lifetime though, we might discover the “cheaper” puppy will end up costing more. When sub-standard standards are used in breeding (especially in generational succession) health problems become increasingly more frequent, and healthcare can get expensive!

When you buy a Rottweiler that has been bred according to strict Rottweiler standards, you know you’re getting a healthy pup that doesn’t have a predisposition to major health issues later in his (or her) life.

Rottweiler Temperament: German & American

The breed standard for Rottweiler temperament, according to the ADRK, is this:

“The Rottweiler is good-natured, placid in basic disposition, very devoted, obedient, biddable and eager to work. His appearance is natural and rustic, his behavior self-assured, steady and fearless. He reacts to his surroundings with great alertness and at the same time even-tempered” (source)

How then, did Rottweilers end up on the American “Bully-Breed List”? The experts agree. Lower breeding standards “breed” more than physical problems. Intelligence and temperament are both adversely affected. Again, the more generations of sub-standard breeding in the bloodline, the more prevalent the issues become.

3 Places to Buy a German Rottweiler in the United States

  1. Look at the handsome German Rottweiler pictured above. What a regal specimen! He is just one of the Rottweilers featured on the Von Der Siegbach” website.  Owner Jamie Smith lives in Tennessee and is a bonafide Code of Ethics Breeder. Mr. Smith sells Rottweiler puppies that have a 100% German bloodline, even though they are born in the United States. They are still called “American Rottweilers” by definition.  You can access the website via this handy link.
  2. On the west coast of the United States in California, there is another Code of Ethics Breeder of Rottweilers with puppies to sell. You can access the “Von Ruelmann Rottweilers” sight via this link.
  3. “Von Evman Rottweilers” is located in Groveland, Florida and is the third on our list of Code of Ethics Breeders. They have a state-of-the-art whelping facility and too many awards to list! You can peruse their website by clicking right here.

If you’re searching for an “American” Rottweiler that comes from a verifiable German bloodline, I would encourage you to visit any of (or ALL of) the above-mentioned sites! You’ll pay more for a pup than you would if you bought one from a breeder who only adheres to the AKC’s standards, but the “pay-off” will be a healthier puppy that is closer in structure and temperament to his (or her) German ancestors.

Here’s the bottom line: There are really only two varieties of Rottweilers: The type that has been bred well, and the type that has not. 

I would be remiss to end this article without mentioning that there are countless Rottweilers today that are waiting to be rescued or adopted. Each year in the United States alone, thousands and thousands of Rottweilers are euthanized simply because they’re unwanted. Thankfully, the numbers of Rotties euthanized are beginning to drop as more and more rescue organizations are being formed.  Responsible breeding and adoption are two ways to help decrease the number of unwanted Rottweilers.

german or american rottweilers

 

Did any of the information you learned today surprise you? Did it answer your questions pertaining to the differences and similarities between German Rottweilers and American Rottweilers? I hope so!  Your time is valuable to me, so I try to provide as much pertinent information as possible in every article. The more we know about our furry companion, the more pleasant our experience of Rottweiler ownership will be! We are always expanding our library of knowledge here at the Big Dog Den, so stop in again soon!

 

 

*This article has been reviewed in accordance with our editorial policy.

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