Difference Between an American Rottweiler and a German Rottweiler

The difference between a German and American Rottweiler is where each one is born. The standards for Rottweilers vary slightly between the Allegemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub (ADRK) and the American Kennel Club (AKC), but the differences pertain to the height of the dog and not any other characteristics.

  1. Rottweiler

    • Rottweilers are part of the working group, recognized by the AKC in 1931. Rottweilers are medium-size dogs with endurance, agility and strength. Tails are cropped when the dogs are young, except in Germany, where the ADRK requires that the tail be intact, as of 1999. Rottweilers are black and brown with a broad head and floppy ears.

    ADRK Males

    • The height standard for a male German Rottweiler is between 24.01 to 26.77 inches at the shoulders. Small Rottweilers stand 24.01 to 24.4 inches tall at the shoulders, medium-size Rottweilers stand 24.8 to 25.19 inches at the shoulders and very large Rottweilers stand 26.37 to 26.77 inches at the shoulders. Large Rottweilers stand 25.59 to 25.98 inches at the shoulders, which is the correct and ideal height, according to the ADRK.

    ADRK Females

    • The height standard for a female German Rottweilers is between 22.04 to 24.8 inches at the shoulders. Small Rottweilers stand 22.04 to 22.44 inches tall at the shoulders, medium-size females stand 22.83 to 23.22 inches at the shoulders and very large females stand 24.4 to 24.8 inches at the shoulders. Large female Rottweilers stand 23.62 to 24.01 inches at the shoulders, which is the correct and ideal height, according to the ADRK.

    AKC

    • AKC standards for females are 22 to 25 inches, and for males it's 24 to 27 inches at the shoulders. The preferred height is midrange, but the correct height is within the standard range. The AKC standard requirement for show allows females to be about 1/8 inch taller than German born females and about 1/4 inch taller for males.