"Welcome to Vom Atubros Rottweilers

..:: ABOUT US ::..

Welcome to vom Atubros Rottweilers' home on the world wide web. We are twin brothers, Erik and Jason. Which is where we came up with our kennel name meaning; from the two brothers. We are Rottweiler Code-of-Ethics breeders, located in beautiful Southwest Florida. We are professional handlers showing our dogs in AKC, UCI, and European-style shows, as well as, obedience trainers. Our dogs are family raised, and kept in our air conditioned homes for year-round comfort. We both own ¼ acre lots that are securely fenced, with large areas for our dogs to get plenty of exercise. We were introduced to the Rottweiler breed for over 20 years. Our first Rottweiler was a “backyard bred” female by the name of AMBER. She was a great companion, and a true working dog. Our father trained her up to Utility Dog (UD), however, we learned early on, that in her bloodlines had a history of bad hips. So her career was stopped well short of what she could have (and would have) achieved. Conformationaly, AMBER was lacking in type, along with a few other structural problems, which never led us down that path. However, she was a great friend, and the insperation for us starting our kennel.

We are proud to bring you our search for bloodlines that combine the best working and show lines in the world. Our motto : “ BREED TO EXCEED AND THE BREED WILL SUCCEED.” To accomplish this we have learned from past and present breeders and we are determined to set precedence for the future. Our focus is on the highest breed standards including conformation, structure, type, temperament, health and function. Which is why we breed quality not quantity. We strive to produce the total Rottweiler in accordance with the FCI Breed Standard. Our dogs are good with children and family raised. We only breed dogs that have passed all their health certifications. We are members of the United States Rottweiler Club (USRC) and the American Rottweiler Verein (ARV).

The Rottweiler Standard as of June 4, 2000 for the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale). The FCI is the World Canine Organization. It includes 80 members and contract partners (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI makes sure that the pedigrees and judges are mutually recognized by all the FCI members.

Translated By : Mrs. Chris Seidler
Origin : Germany
Utilization : Companion, Service, and Working Dog

Brief Historical Summary : The Rottweiler is considered to be one of the oldest dog breeds. Its origin goes back to Roman times. These dogs were kept as herder or driving dogs. They marched over the Alps with the Roman legions, protecting the humans and driving their cattle. In the region of Rottweil, these dogs met and mixed with the native dogs in a natural crossing. The main task of the Rottweiler now became the driving and guarding of the herds of cattle and the defence of their masters and their property. This breed acquired its name from the old free city of Rottweil and was known as the « Rottweil butcher’s dog’ ». The butchers bred this type of dog purely for performance and usefulness. In due course, a first rate watch and driving dog evolved which could also be used as a draught dog. When, at the beginning of the twentieth century, various breeds were needed for police service, the Rottweiler was amongst those tested. It soon became evident that the breed was highly suitable for the tasks set by police service and therefore they were officially recognized as police dogs in 1910. Rottweiler breeders aim at a dog of abundant strength, black coated with clearly defined rich tan markings, whose powerful appearance does not lack nobility and which is exceptionally well suited to being a companion, service and working dog.

General Appearance : The Rottweiler is a medium to large size, stalwart dog, neither heavy nor light and neither leggy nor weedy. His correctly proportioned, compact and powerful build leads to the conclusion of great strength, agility and endurance.

Important Proportions : The length of the body, measured from the point of the sternum (breast-bone) to the ischiatic tuberosity, should not exceed the height at the withers by, at most, 15 %.

Behaviour / Temperament : Good-natured, placid in basic disposition and fond of children, very devoted, obedient, biddable and eager to work. His appearance is natural and rustic, his behaviour self-assured, steady and fearless. He reacts to his surroundings with great alertness.

Head : Cranial Region
Skull : Of medium length, broad between the ears. Forehead line moderately arched as seen from the side. Occipital bone well developed without being conspicuous.
Stop : Well defined.

Head : Facial Region
Nose : Well developed, more broad than round with relatively large nostrils, always black.
Muzzle : The foreface should appear neither elongated nor shortened in relation to the cranial region. Straight nasal bridge, broad at base, moderately tapered.
Lips : Black, close fitting, corner of the mouth not visible, gum as dark as possible.
Jaws/Teeth : Upper and lower jaw strong and broad. Strong, complete dentition (42 teeth) with scissor bite, the upper incisors closely overlapping the lower incisors.
Cheeks : Zygomatic arches pronounced.
Eyes : Of medium size, almond-shaped, dark brown in colour. Eyelids close fitting.
Ears : Medium-sized, pendant, triangular, wide apart, set on high. With the ears laid forward close to the head, the skull appears to be broadened.

Neck : Strong, of fair length, well muscled, slightly arched, clean, free from throatiness, without dewlap.

Body :
Back : Straight, strong, firm.
Loins : Short, strong and deep.
Croup : Broad, of medium length, slightly rounded. Neither flat nor falling away.
Chest : Roomy, broad and deep (approximately 50 % of the shoulder height) with well developed forechest and well sprung ribs.
Belly : Flanks not tucked up.

Tail : In natural condition, level in extension of the upper line; at ease may be hanging.

Limbs :
Forequarters : Seen from the front, the front legs are straight and not placed too closely to each other. The forearm, seen from the side, stands straight and vertical. The slope of the shoulder blade is about 45 degrees to the horizontal.
Shoulders : Well laid back.
Upper arm : Close fitting to the body.
Forearm : Strongly developed and muscular.
Pasterns : Slightly springy, strong, not steep.
Front feet : Round, tight and well arched; pads hard; nails short, black and strong.
Hindquarters : Seen from behind, legs 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.
Upper thigh : Moderately long, broad and strongly muscled.
Lower thigh : Long, strongly and broadly muscled, sinewy.
Hocks : Sturdy, well angulated hocks; not steep.
Hindfeet : Slightly longer than the front feet. Toes strong, arched, as tight as front feet.

Gait : The Rottweiler is a trotting dog. In movement the back remains firm and relatively stable. Movement harmonious, steady, full of energy and unrestricted, with good stride.

Skin :
Skin on the head : Overall tight fitting. When the dog is alert, the forehead may be slightly wrinkled.

Coat :
Hair : The coat consists of a top coat and an undercoat. The top coat is of medium length, coarse, dense and flat. The undercoat must not show through the top coat. The hair is a little longer on the hindlegs.
Color : Black with clearly defined markings of a rich tan on the cheeks, muzzle, throat, chest and legs, as well as over both eyes and under the base of the tail.

Size and Weight :
Height at withers : For males is 61 - 68 cm.
61 - 62 cm is small
63 - 64 cm medium height
65 - 66 cm is large - correct height
67 - 68 cm very large
Weight : Approximately 50 kg

Height at withers : For bitches is 56 - 63 cm.
56 - 57 cm is small
58 - 59 cm medium height
60 - 61 cm is large - correct height
62 - 63 cm very large
Weight : Approximately 42 kg

Faults : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
General appearance : Light, weedy, leggy appearance. Light in bone and muscle.
Head : Hound-type head. Narrow, light, too short, long or coarse head. Flat forehead (lack of stop or too little stop).
Foreface : Long or pointed muzzle; split nose; Roman nose (convex nasal bridge) or dish-faced (concave nasal bridge); acquiline nose; pale or spotted nose (butterfly nose).
Lips : Pendulous, pink or patchy; corner of lips visible.
Jaws : Narrow lower jaw.
Bite : Pincer bite.
Cheeks : Strongly protruding.
Eyes : Light, deep set. Also too full and round eyes; loose eyelids.
Ears : Set on too low, heavy, long, slack or turned backwards. Also flying ears or ears not carried symmetricaly.
Neck : Too long, thin, lacking muscle. Showing dewlap or throaty.
Body : Too long, too short or too narrow.
Back : Too long, weak; sway back or roach back.
Croup : Too sloping, too short, too flat or too long.
Chest : Flat-ribbed or barrel-shaped. Too narrow behind.
Tail : Set on too high or too low.
Forequarters : Narrow or crooked front legs. Steep shoulder placement. Loose or out at elbow. Too long, too short or too straight in upper arm. Weak or steep pastern. Splayed feet. Too flat or too arched toes. Deformed toes. Light coloured nails.
Hindquarters : Flat thighs, hocks too close, cow hocks or barrel hocks. Joints with too little or too much angulation. Dewclaws.
Skin : Wrinkles on head.
Coat : Soft, too short or long. Wavy coat; lack of undercoat.
Color : Markings of incorrect colour, not clearly defined. Markings which are too spread out.

Eliminating Faults :
General :Distinct reversal of sexual type, i.e. feminine dogs or masculine bitches.
Teeth : Overshot or undershot bite, wry mouth; lack of one incisive tooth, one canine, one premolar or one molar.
Eyes : Entropion, ectropion, yellow eyes, different coloured eyes.
Tail : Kink tail, ring-tail, with strong lateral deviation.
Hair : Definitely long or wavy coat.
Color : Dogs which do not show the typical Rottweiler coloring of black with tan markings. White markings.
Behaviour : Anxious, shy, cowardly, gun-shy, vicious, excessively suspicious, nervous animals.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

..:: BREED STANDARD ::..

The FCI Breed Standard is the official standard recognized throughout the world. The U.S. is the ONLY major country that does not abide by the FCI Standard. The current FCI standard mandates a natural tail. Since we show our dogs internationally, we must have natural tails in order to compete. Both the ARV and USRC allow American breeders to show their dogs with natural tails. We have found that our puppies with natural tails begin walking sooner, open their eyes earlier and have much better balance than their docked counterparts. As trainers, it is easier to "read" a Rottweiler with a tail.

..:: GERMAN vs. AMERICAN ::..

German breeders must breed in strict compliance to the standard. Their dogs must pass a breed suitability test and have their hips certified before breeding. One parent must be Schutzhund titled. These requirements eliminate lesser quality dogs from the gene pool. ADRK breeders are required to use Dogbase before they can breed a litter. Not every German dog is superior, many "rejects" get exported to the U.S. as adults if they are not of quality.

The American Kennel Club will register pups from any Rottweiler combination provided that both parents are AKC registered. The parents may have bad hips, missing teeth, yellow eyes, white spots, or weak temperament. This is why the overall quality of American bloodline dogs is very poor. These dogs do not meet the Breed Standard, despite having American Championship titles. Many are oversized with very light eyes, pink mouths, missing teeth, wrinkly heads, unstable temperaments and NO working ability!!

A true Rottweiler exemplifies breed type, possesses a stable temperament and has strong working ability. He should be free from inheritable diseases such as hip dysplasia. The Rottweiler is a working breed, he is always ready to work and will protect his family without being unpredictable and dangerous. He is a loyal friend and is eager to please.

..:: DOGBASE NUMBERS ::..

The ADRK uses a computer program called 'Dogbase'. Since July 1, 1999, ADRK breeders are required to use Dogbase as a tool for selecting the most suitable breeding partners. Dogbase is updated quarterly and is available on CD.

This database provides a numerical score in 5 categories: HD, ED, Head, Cheekbone, and Bone strength . For every trait, "100" is average. A number higher than 100 means that a dog is more likely to exhibit that trait, a number lower than 100 decreases the likelihood of that trait. The first two categories (HD, ED) are the most important, they must not exceed 110 (if they are higher then the scheduled breeding is not allowed). The last three categories are "recommended". Optimally, for the first 2 categories the lower the number, the better. This means the dog is less likely to throw these traits. An example of a "good" HD number is around 95, a great one is around 85-90. It is not hard to find hips under 100, but good elbows (since they have only recently been examined) are more difficult to find. As a result, "100" is almost a good number for elbows, less than 100 is great and less than 90 is outstanding. For the last three categories, (Head, Cheekbone, Bonestrength), a higher number is better. Good bone strength is 110 and greater, with some numbers as high as 125. Head and cheekbone ratings are similar, anything over 110 is very good.

The numbers are dynamic, as the dog get its HD/ED ratings, its numbers will change and affect its parent's numbers (and further back), as well as its siblings. The numbers on a prospective (or already born) litter are simply the average of both parents until the offspring themselves get HD/ED ratings, Ztp / Koerung reports and show critiques.

Dogbase is a very good tool, but, is no substitute for good research. German bloodline dogs are superior because, in Germany, they take dog breeding seriously.

..:: GOOD BREEDING ::..

The most important factor in a good breeding program is a QUALITY bitch. Too many people expect the stud dog to improve all of their bitch's faults, this rarely happens, and the stud dog always gets blamed. A Quality bitch is one who is V-rated in conformation, proven on the working field, has a friendly stable temperament, sound structure and has passed a breed test or a temperament test. She must come from bloodlines that have reproduced these traits for several generations.

There are always breeders looking for a bargain bitch. They do not want to invest in a quality female, and are willing to settle just to produce puppies. Our goal is simple, we want to produce a dog that will exemplify the breed type, one who is of sound temperament, correct in their structure, and possesses strong working drives. With all of the bad publicity that Rottweilers have recieved, we will not breed a dog with a questionable temperament. Even if he is the most beautiful dog, or has an incrediable pedigree, or has every working title. If his character is weak, we will NOT use him.

Before we consider a stud, we research the offspring that he has produced, and the bitches that he has bred to. We follow it further to see how those offspring have developed, and which traits were passed. We also look at his DOGBASE numbers as a tool in our selection process. Once we select a stud dog, we make sure the our female is in top breeding condition. The bitch must be healthy, wormed and current on vaccinations. The bitch must lead a stress free life during her pregnancy with the best possible nutrition.