The ADRK

• 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); aquiline 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 eye-lids.
• Ears: Set on too low, heavy, long, slack or turned backwards. Also flying ears or ears not carried symmetrically.
• 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 too long. Wavy coat; lack of undercoat.
• Colour: Markings of incorrect colour, not clearly defined. Markings which are too spread out.

• 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 and 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.
• Colour: Dogs which do not show the typical Rottweiler colouring of black with tan markings. White markings.
• Behaviour: Anxious, shy, cowardly, gun-shy, vicious, excessively suspicious, nervous animals.

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

Diseases: Hip joint dysplasia (HD)

The hip joint dysplasia is a quite common disease in the Rottweiler and other dog breeds. The definition of HD in the literature is quite different, but there is broad agreement that this is a malformation of the hip joint, in which the hip joint socket and the thigh head do not fit together correctly. In addition, looseness in the hip joint may occur, and the symptoms may occur only on one side or both sides.

As a result of the malformation, as a result of growth, there may be misalignments, strains of the joint capsule, as well as arthrotic changes in the joint, which can cause pain in the animals and lead to movement disabilities.

Generally recognized is a genetic disposition (predisposition) to the expression of HD. This does not mean, however, that such an animal must become ill, but can become ill or be healthy in the case of corresponding environmental influences. This shows a problem of the selection of breeding animals on the basis of their X-ray evaluation. Of two animals with the same genetic predisposition one can have a tadellose the other a bad X-ray result. One is admitted to breeding, the other is not.

Conversely, what is much more tragic, two animals after the X-ray evaluation can be HD-free, that is, healthy, whereby the one despite genetic predisposition for HD but thanks to favorable environmental influences is taken as well as the other, the genetic predisposition likewise Is in order. Thus the selection is of course ineffective.

It is noticeable in HD that there are very great differences in races, and that large and heavy breeds are more affected than small ones. The cause is assumed to be that the joints of the former are much more strongly loaded by their weight and rapid growth. The normal development of the hip joint, which must continue to grow after birth, can thereby be adversely affected by a corresponding genetic disposition.

A lot has been written about the “correct” diagnosis of HD, and many approaches to objective and standardized evaluation have been proposed. For animal breeding, the detection of genetic predisposition is of central interest. Therefore, the evaluation method should be oriented towards this aspect.

• The hips of the breeders must be x-rayed in the ADRK for quite a long time. The table below provides information on the admission to breeding and the classification of HD.
• ADRK HD Description Breed assessment VDH FCI
• HD – Free Breeding and grazing HD 0 A 1I2
• HD +/- Transitional form Breeding and grazing HD 1 B 1I2
• HD + Easy Breeding HD 2 C 1I2
• HD ++ Medium Breeding Bans HD 3 D 1I2
• HD +++ Heavy breeding ban HD 4 E 1I2
• HD 0 Examination is missing Non-breeding

Diseases: elbow joint dysplasia

• Surgical Veterinary Clinic of the Justus Liebig University of Giessen
• Dr. B. Tellhelm – Department of Surgery
• HD- / ED-expert of the ADRK e.V.

In recent years, diseases of the elbow are diagnosed more frequently in dogs as a lameness cause in the area of the anterior limbs.

These are usually chronic degenerative arthropathies, which in the vast majority of cases have their cause already in diseases of the joint during the growth phase in the juvenile dog. Growth disturbances in the region of the joint surfaces or in the growth zones of the joint-forming bones lead to incongruities and / or instabilities, which subsequently lead to more or less considerable arthrosis depending on the degree of severity.

Among the basic diseases that cause these arthrosis are: isolated processus anconaeus (IPA), fragmented (isolated) process coronoideus medialis ulnae (FPC) osteochondrosis of the condylus medialis humeri (OCD), inconguence / step formation and other anomalies of the articular cartilage.

In 1989 the International Elbow Working Group (IEWG) was founded in Davis, California. The aim of this group is to coordinate efforts to reduce these diseases worldwide: research, dissemination of information. Recommendations for the management of national registers and information on the diseases listed above.

Although not medically correct, these diseases are summarized under the term “elbow joint dysplasia ED”. The members of the IEWG agree that heredity plays an essential role in the development and expression of ED.

Since the basic diseases are often diagnosed too late, in order to treat them successfully or the treatment successes are unsatisfactory, a breeding selection is recommended, which is based on X-ray series investigations and has the goal of being healthy Dogs to breed.

The following prerequisites must be fulfilled:

Dogs should be at least 15 months old at the time of the examination.
The radiographs must have a very good technical quality. The recording format should not exceed 18×24. No streaks are necessary. Both elbow joints are too X-ray.

At least one lateral (medio-lateral) receptacle is to be made from each joint in a bent position. The angle between humerus and radius should be about 45 degrees and the joint should be orthograd.

The recordings are to be provided with the complete data of the dog. This assumes that the dog is marked accordingly (eg tattoo). The recordings are to be archived centrally and can be lifted for at least 10 years.

The results of the research should be published so that breeders and persons interested in science can get information.

The exposure must be selected in such a way that the superimposed regions of the Proc. Anconaeus and the radius head are still to be assessed. Projected and incorrectly exposed or developed x-ray images can not be evaluated. Very strongly flexed joints allow a better assessment of the proximal contour of the Proc. Anconaeus, but are almost always projected, and the cranial articulation is difficult to assess.

A joint is judged as abnormal when arthrosis or the following primary diseases are detected radiographically:

• Deformed or fragmented Prc. Coron. Ulnae FPC
• Isolated Proc. anconaeus IPA
• Osteochondrosis medially at the trochlea humeri OCD
• Incongruent joint surfaces
• Metaplastic calcifications of tendons in the region of the epicondyle medialis humeri.
• The arthroses are classified according to the following scheme:
• No indication of arthrosis / borderline

There is a zone of increased bone density (sclerosis) at the distal end of the incisura trochlearis in the region of the Proc. Coron. Lat. It is recommended that these dogs once again x-ray after half a year.

• Low arthrosis / grade I
• Bone formation with a size less than 2 mm at one or more of the following joint sections:
• Dorsally at Proc. anconaeus
• Cranial to the radius head
• On the epicondylus med.
• On the epicondylus lat.
• At the Proc. Coron. Med.
• And considerable sclerosis of the incisura trochlearis.

Moderate arthrosis / grade II
Bone formation with a size between 2 and 5 mm at one or more of the locations mentioned in grade I.

High grade osteoarthritis / grade III
Bone formation with a size of more than 5 mm at one or more of the sites mentioned in grade I.

In Sweden, far more than 20,000 dogs have been assessed according to this scheme. In dogs with moderate or high grade osteoarthritis, the association takes the assessment costs. The results go to owners and breeders who publish them.

A breed is not given. Since more and more breeders have recourse to dogs with healthy joints or with slightly arthrotically modified joints in their matings, the arthrosis frequency has already decreased markedly.

Since 1 August 1996 an ED investigation has also been required by the decision of the Advisory Board meeting of April 1996 with the HD.

In the ADRK, the following scheme is used:

• ED Description Arthrosis Breed evaluation
• ED – Free-Breed and Compatible
• ED +/- Transitional form Transitional form Breeding and bodily
• ED + Light degree 1 = I Breeding and grazing
• ED ++ Grade 2 = II Breeding
• ED +++ Difficulty 3 = III Breeding prohibition
• ED 0 Examination is missing. Not breedable

VACCINATIONS

Doris Jessen, specialist journalist, Hamburg

Doris Jessen (45) studied communication science and market and advertising psychology in Munich. After ten years of working as a press clerk of various companies, she ventured into self-employment in 1996 and has been working as a PR consultant and freelance journalist since then. Apart from information and communication technology, her main focus is on topics related to her two hobbies: dogs and horses.

Her particular interest is in veterinary medicine, whereby she attaches great importance to presenting complex facts easily. In this environment, she will continue to support the Allgemeine Deutsche Rottweiler-Klub eV in future with regular contributions.

Doris Jessen is married and lives in Hamburg. In addition to her husband Lars Jessen, the small family still includes the Australian Shepherd Bitch “Apron” as well as the two American Quarter Horses “Peppy” and “Pago”.

Parvovirus – Close the immunological gap (PLEASE READ!)

The risks of an infectious disease are known to every responsible dog breeder and dog owner. For puppies particularly dangerous, because in 80 percent of cases lethal, is the parvovirus. To date, they have not been vaccinated at a particularly vulnerable age between the 5th and 8th week because the maternal antibodies were a barrier against vaccination. With the modern vaccination virus (CPV 2b), an early vaccination has also been possible recently.

The paper also contains extensive recommendations on how a breeder should behave, whose operation is affected by parvovirus.

The parvovirus, caused by canine parvovirus (CPV), is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases for the dog. It affects especially the immune system and the intestinal mucosa. “Three to ten days after infection, which takes place over the nose and mouth, the dog gets fever, becomes dull and appetite. Shortly thereafter, the typical symptoms are vomiting and nauseating, increasingly bloody diarrhea. If the animal is not treated immediately, it can die within a few days, “explains Dr. med. Vet. Günter Allmeling, specialist for surgery and head of the animal clinic Börnsen near Hamburg.

Intensive medical therapy usually has to be carried out in an inpatient clinic. “The goal is to keep the animal stable in its constitution and condition until its own defense takes hold. Since the virus itself is not very effective, the treatment mainly consists of continuous infusion in order to stabilize the fluid balance. In addition, there are strong antibiotics against secondary infections and virus-specific interventions such as the administration of interferon and hyperimmune sera, “says Dr. Allmeling.

Puppies protected by mother’s milk

It is important in every case that the mother dog is vaccinated, the puppies are protected during the first weeks of life by the “maternal” (maternal) antibodies. They take this in the first two days of life with the beast milk of the bitch. The maternal antibodies are, however, different in their number during the first weeks of life, and since the puppy does not yet produce its own antibodies, the protection becomes ever lower and the risk of infection is higher.
vaccination1

The “immunological gap”

Patients are particularly prone to infection – depending on the number of maternal antibodies – between approximately the fourth / fifth and tenth / twelfth weeks of life. To vaccinate the dogbabies at this time was not very useful until recently. Because the remnants of the maternal antibodies regard the vaccine virus as infection and inactivate it. However, they are not sufficient for protection against an actual infection. This phase is called an “immunological gap”.

Another problem the breeder has when one of his dogs falls ill. Then the immune protection should be refreshed in the still healthy stock again. This, however, was at least risky for other breeding bitches of the breeder with the present live vaccines because the vaccination viruses could infect or damage the fetuses via the placenta of the mother animal.

Researchers are developing early vaccine

As a result, the research and development efforts of vaccine manufacturers have long been waged to produce vaccines that can be used to shorten this critical phase to a minimal period. The advantage was that the parvovirus CPV type 2 formed smaller mutations with time: the antigens CPV 2a and, for some years, also increasingly CPV 2b. The changes are very small. They nevertheless ensure that the new “Virbagen Puppy 2b” vaccine is not inactivated by maternal antibodies in the puppy organism (whose mother was usually vaccinated against type 2 or 2a) on type 2b. Nevertheless, the vaccination virus produces a so-called “cross-immunity” which protects the puppy against the other virus strains.

The vaccine had no influence on the course of gestation, birth or litter size and the healthy puppies developed normally.
vaccination

When to vaccinate?

Eight to ten days a healthy body needs at least to form the first antibodies after vaccination. Until full immune protection, the immune system has had to deal with the second vaccination four to six weeks (booster effect). The puppies are already 16 weeks old. “However, since the maternal antibodies often fall below the protective limit (limit titer) after only a few weeks of life, the puppies should be vaccinated for the first time with the new CPV 2b vaccine in the fifth week to minimize the risk of parvovirus To make it possible, “says Dr. Allmeling.

From the 8th / 9th The regular vaccinations can be carried out in the usual way, as recommended on the relevant websites of the VDH (Volltextsuche: Vaccination Recommendation).

The devil does not sleep

Parvovirus infection can occur despite all precautions. Because the virus is excreted in large amounts with the faeces of diseased animals, it is very robust and can survive for months in the environment. Thus, it is infectious at temperatures of 4 to -25 ° Celsius after 13 months, at 32 ° Celsius it still retains its pathogenic effect for more than six months. Even 80 ° Celsius is at least 30 minutes – as does chloroform or acid.

Extensive list of measures

Now the whole organization of the breeding company has to adjust itself to the fight against the Parvovirose. First and foremost, the (still) healthy dogs have to be protected. This is done by means of quarantine areas for each individual animal, which are strictly separated from the “normal stations” and, if possible, by different persons. The sick animals must be supplied as last.

Vaccination

Disinfection measures are of particular importance. Hands must be washed regularly or wear rubber gloves for each animal. Potential carriers include shoes, clothing and feed or transport vehicles. It is advisable to use protective kits (better than overalls), disposable shoes or disinfecting mats at the transition points from the quarantine to the normal stations. The entire dirt wash must first be stored in sealed bags and disinfected before washing.

Only a few agents are suitable for disinfection since the canine parvovirus is very resistant. This includes:

• 0.2% sodium hypochlorite solution
• 0.5 – 4% formalin
• 2% glutaraldehyde solution
• 0.01 M sodium hydroxide solution

More detailed information is provided by hygienic manufacturers, e.g. Interhygiene GmbH in Cuxhaven, HWR Chemistry in Emmering or Noack GmbH in Warendorf.

Before the preparation of the disinfectant or at the time of exposure, it should be checked whether the mixture and thus the concentration is correct. Generally more important than much disinfection are targeted measures, which also “sit”. What can not be disinfected must be radically removed in case of acute illness.

Caution should always be exercised by the breeder on new arrivals: They must have received a basic immunization at least two to four weeks before their “entry” and should be quarantined for two to three weeks. Last certainty about the virus-freeness is gained only by a blood and Kotuntsuchung.

Therapies and immunization measures in the affected herd are indispensable to minimize the excretion of pathogens and to protect all healthy and infected “non-susceptible” dogs. This can now be done via a “booster vaccination” with the above-mentioned new vaccine “Virbagen Puppy 2b”. The treatment of diseased dogs during the incubation period, ie in the first three to nine days, and in the acute phase, is the same as for prophylaxis by feline interferon.

In order to ensure harmless pregnancy and rearing, the mother beasts must be housed in an anuric-free environment at least three weeks before the birth date. If the mother animal already had a litter with parvovirus symptoms, the puppies should be already deposited and isolated after four to five weeks.

Overall, the various measures must complement each other in order to reduce the infection pressure as much as possible. This is the only way to counteract new illnesses. But no breeder can close a sad truth: The absolute virus-freeness is hardly to be achieved. A bit of luck is therefore part of the breeders’ business.

ADRK:

KLZ = Koer- und Leistungszucht (Koerung and Performance Breeding) – HIGHEST CLASS OF BREEDING IN THE WORLD. We are extremely proud that our Yaris vom Schwaiger Rathaus has been the sire in two KLZ breedings (the highest class of quality breeding there is in the world as per ADRK. His last KLZ breeding was with the beautiful eza Koerung female, Cleo vom Kuchenberg.

Both parents have got a Koerung and grand-parents have got a working title.
KZ = Koerzucht (Koerung Breeding)

Both parents have got a Koerung.
LZ = Leistungszucht (Performance Breeding)

Parents and Grandparents have got a working title.
GZ = Gebrauchshundzucht (Working-Dog-Breeding)

Parents have got a working title.
EZ = Einfachzucht (Basic Breeding)

Only one parent has got a working title.
AD = Auslandsdeckakt (Foreign Bitches are bred with an ADRK stud dog)

WHAT IS A KOERUNG AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TOWARDS IMPROVING THE BREED FOR THE ADRK:

SO WHO ARE THE ADRK AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

The “Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub (ADRK) e.V.” is a nation-wide association based in Minden/Westfalen. It is currently the only association in Germany taking care of the breed of Rottweiler and the only association which is recognized by the VDH e.V.

The VDH is the umbrella organization for all in Germany approved Dog Breeding-Clubs as well as some Dogs-organisations.

As a member of the VDH e.V., we are also a member of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) based in Bruessels. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale is the World Canine Organisation. It includes 90 members and contract partners (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges.
Aim

The statutes of the ADRK describe the purpose of the association as following:

• Fixing the breeding marks
• Preservation, stabilization and consolidation of the properties of the (trace-) companion, service- and working dog
• Increase the character as well as the physical capabilities of the Rottweiler
• Control of the breeding and education
• With the objective of promotion the Rottweiler as a service dog for all public authorities, as guide dog as well as rescue dog.
• Guidance of all members with their breeding and attitude of Rottweilers
• Advise of all the members in questions of canine
• Assistance by purchasing Rottweilers as well as helping in case the member has to hand over the Rottweiler to a third party
• It is our task to arouse the interest of the breed Rottweiler especially to show Teenagers as well as all other people the versatility of working with our Rottweiler as well as the breeding
• Assessment of the breeding rules as well as the rules of the judges
• Implementation of ZTPs, Koerungen and IPO trials
• Record and publication of the stud book
• Sponsorship and supporting of sanctioned dog shows as well as IPO trials of the country and district members of the ADRK Germany
• Supporting the targeted training of the Human-Dog Team in the individual sectors
• We execute national and international Championships in order to support the comradeship in the dog sports
• Encouragement of scientific research in the field of cynology
• Cooperation with all joint ventures of Rottweilers in the whole world
• Education and appointment of breed & performance judges
• Publishing the Rottweiler-News as well as advertise Rottweilers about breeding, training and application

The sphere of influence of the ADRK e.V. is currently Germany. From this point of view the activities are limited to Germany. Therefore it is not possible to have a ADRK breeding station as well as ADRK Trials in foreign counties.

Breeding

As per today we do not have any home-animal protection law with mandatory regulations for the breeding of home-animals, each person is allowed to mate two random dogs without having any kind of health Certificate or any test of character of the dogs. After the mate he is allowed to sell those puppies as a Breeder. (Backyard/puppy mill breeding)

Often, the result out of this is that the dogs look like a pure bred dog but the character of the dogs as well as the health is a far cry from this.

Inside the ADRK e.V. it is only allowed to mate two Rottweiler with well-known ADRK derivation, pedigree, radiologic test of hip- and elbow joints as well as successful passed companion dog test and well as breed suitability test.

The main target is to breed social acceptable Rottweilers with a huge number of applications.

This will be ensured due to:

• Breed selection
• Elimination from breeding
• Strict restrictions worldwide
• Monitoring of the Breeder0

The implementation is done by:

• BH (Begleithundeprüfung) companion dog test
• IPO Trials
• ZTP (Zuchttauglichkeitsprüfung) breed suitability test
• Dog Shows (please note that this is LAST on the list of importance – shows and show results are pretty low in terms of responsible breeding)
• Workshop for Breeders with expertise tests as well as the acceptance of the breeding station through the breed warden.

Software Dogbase

**An interesting article on those who might want to know what this “Dog Base” is we talk of when doing Breed planning**

1. Introduction – The Dog Database

Breeding, whether animal or plant breeding, means to select individuals from a population as future parents according to specific characteristics so that the resulting offspring on average meet the breeding target on average rather than the average of the parent generation. This is selection.

It is an old wisdom that good breeding work requires a reasonable data documentation. Data is understood to mean both the descent of an animal, its offspring and its own quality. The quality, in turn, is composed of the appearance of an animal, its appearance as measured by the standard, which is the breed of the breed, and other benefits which, depending on the breed, may be of hunted ability, family or recreational or protective suitability. However, performance in breeders’ sense is also the freedom from certain diseases such as hip joint dysplasia, lens luxation, etc.

All the characteristics of an animal which is important for the breeding are also designated as characteristics and are used for the selection of future parent animals. However, since the amount of data can not be managed quickly by hand, and computer technology has been rapidly developing and is available almost in every household, it is obvious to do the entire data organization with the help of the computer.

Now it helps the practical breeding little, if the data is nicely in the computer stuck, but in the breeding decisions are not available on the spot. The breeder, the breeder and other interested persons have to get an up-to-date insight into the data. This can not be reasonably guaranteed with lists that are fast-growing in large populations. So the idea came to bring this information electronically to the breeding public as an excerpt from the entire data set of the Breeders’ Association. A realization for this is DOGBASE.

The name DOGBASE is a combination of Database, which is called German Database and Dog, the English term for dog. DOGBASE actually consists of two components. On the one hand it contains the available data on the dog, on the other hand it is at the same time a program for the representation and query, for the visualization of the information contained in the database. The program is not intended to be a breedbook, because it does not allow any input, which goes beyond the search and the presentation of data as well as the insertion of individual additional information to an animal or a kennel.

DOGBASE is not linked to a specific breed. In fact, it is used in practice in different breeds, with individual data on tests, titles or specific characteristics being race-specific.

2. Content

DOGBASE also contains kennel and dog data, which are described in detail in the following chapters.

Zwinger

The kennels are listed alphabetically according to the Zwingernamen or ascending according to the Zwingenernummer Zwingernummer and can be durchblättert. However, there is also the possibility to search for a specific kennel by specifying the breeding name, the kennel name or the kennel number. For each kennel certain data are to be viewed, which may be different from club to club.

First of all, the names, numbers and addresses of the kennels including telephone numbers are included. Another indication may include whether the kennel has been active in recent years, i. Whether bred, and when the last kennel took place. On the same page there is a throwing statistics about all litters in the kennel as well as a list (for example, A-litter, 5 puppies, 23.05.1997).

If a litter is selected, the first dog appears in the litter with the name and the breed-book number so that one can search for further information about the litter. It is also possible to print on individual data or on breeders’ lists.

Dog data

The dogs are also available as a list, which can be ordered either by name or by breed number. According to these two criteria it is also possible to search individual dogs from the list. When you select a specific dog from the list, additional information on this animal is displayed at the bottom of the screen. These are e.g. Information on HD or ED status, examinations, titles, breed values, breeding suitability, etc.

By branching to the closer data of the dog appear again the data to breeders and kennels, litter day, parents. The additional details (see above) are also listed again, the characteristics being also named for the breeding values. A further possibility is to calculate the inbreeding coefficient; This is the value by which the animal is more bred than the average of the population. On the subject of inbreeding can not be dealt with here more closely, but it is said that inbreeding is basically nothing bad, one must only be able to deal with it.

Another branch from the dog list leads to the ancestors of the animal, which are represented on a screen three generations ago. By selecting an animal from the ancestral list, the respective breed values appear again at the bottom of the image. To each ancestor can also be retrieved the data about breeders and kennels or other ancestors. Thus, three ancestor panels can be displayed one behind the other, which contain a total of 10 generations, thus providing a very good overview of the “family” of the animal.

Via an infofeld, you can also make your own markings and entries on each animal which is considered important and which can be used in case of a possible selection.

Breeds

Since the goal of each breeding is to create offspring that are better or at least as good as the parents, the parent animals must be found that are genetically best predisposed. These are not always the ones who present themselves best, although their own achievements also represent estimates for their genetic properties.

The value of an animal for breeding is the breeding value. It is a measure of genetic quality. It expresses how much the offspring will be better or worse than the average of the population. Genetic quality, however, can not be directly measured; more or less exact information is needed. These are, as I have said, the animals’ own achievements, but they are modified by environmental effects. These are, however, also the information of relatives, for, according to the degree of kinship, relatives share a part of their genetic stock, since they are descended from the same ancestors, and only the genes that also existed in their ancestors are to be found in the offspring.

From this information, a breeding value can now be estimated with a relatively complex statistical method, which has a certain accuracy as a function of the amount of information and the quality of the information and thus is more or less close to the truth. Such estimated breeding values are given in DOGBASE to some characteristics. The characteristics are race-dependent and specified by the respective Breed Breeders Association.

At the moment breeding values can be displayed in 5 different characteristics. They are given as relative numbers, the value 100 being the mean value of the breed and deviations up and down being possible. A value greater than 100 means “more of the feature”, a value less than 100 means “less of the feature”.

An example is the size of an animal. If his breeding value is indicated by 106, this means that this animal is inherited by 6 units larger than the racial average. Depending on where the path of the breed is to go, a higher, a lower or a medium value is better.

An animal, of course, is not just one of the five features mentioned. Therefore, it is not enough to look only at the breeds in the case of mating, but the most effective method is the consistent attention paid to breeding values in order to improve certain characteristics.

Selection options

Firstly, in DOGBASE, there is the possibility to carry out a theoretical mating in order to test how the inbred and homogeneity coefficient (a measure of the litter balance) and the breeding values in the offspring would look. For this purpose, only the input of two parent animals is necessary, whereby it is also checked whether there are actually two different sexes.

A second possibility is to select a group of animals that meet specific criteria such as birth year, gender, breed values, titles or self-defined criteria. This group can in turn be sorted according to different criteria. This makes it much easier and faster to find a pairing partner for your own dog. The resulting list can be printed or saved in a file for further processing.

3. Benefits

DOGBASE is actually meant and suitable for every dog breeder interested in breeding. Occasionally the question arises whether DOGBASE replaces the breeding book or contains more than the breeding book. Well, as I said before, what is contained in DOGBASE depends on what the breeders ‘breeders’ association wants to have contained in their central database in DOGBASE. This also applies to the breeding book, which also contains a very specific extract from the entire data stock.

Apart from the fact that a breeding book does not require a PC or requires the computer to start and is also very nicely placed on the bookshelf, it may contain a series of additional information that may not be displayed in detail in DOGBASE. This is however to be checked separately for each breed.

It should be pointed out that DOGBASE can not be used to construct dogs on the computer. The breeder’s eye and feeling (and happiness) will continue to be required to breed successfully. The program is an up-to-date tool and can support breeders in their decision, but it can not replace them.

Before the true Dogs Sport (IPO), each dog needs to pass the Companion-Dog-Test in which he shows that he masters basic instructions and behaviours which are useful in the daily life. The Dogs Sports itself is divided into different sectors, e.g. Agility, Tournament Dogs Sports, Flyball, Mantrailing. However, the main focus of the Rottweiler sport is on the sector of working and tracking dog. These sectors are exercised in the Versatility Sports for Working Dogs (VPG which is conducted according to the International Trial Regulations (IPO). The trial is divided into the following three sectors:

• Tracking
• Obedience
• Protection

Tracking – Section A

At the tracking the Rottweiler has to search a fixed distance in a given time frame and has to remit some placed items. This tracking has to be prepared by the dog leader (at the training) or at the exam itself by a third party the so called track layer.

Obedience – Section B

At the obedience the focus is on different sit, settle and standing exercises. Added exercises with step- and direction changes, Retrieve on level ground as well as over obstacles and to send the dog forward with settle down. The exercises need to be done fast and precisely.

Protection – Section C

In this section of the trial the Rottweiler is exposed to several extreme situations in which he has to be under the control of the handler all the time, and he has to obey the orders. It is important that he shows the changing behaviours, which are required, accurate, stable, fast and at a high level. Exercise parts are: search for the helper, hold and bark, prevent an attempted escape and defence of attacks.

The ADRK will remain the single most influential ambassadors of the Rottweiler breed until time infinite. They “own” the breed and will always attempt to act in the best interests. Our belief is that only countries that follow in the steps of the ADRK in terms of priorities will be able to carry the breed forward in a healthy and balanced manner.
We are committed to serving the history and legacy of the ADRK, as well as actively participating in the preservation of its future dreams for our beloved breed, the Rottweiler.