The Breed Standard Evaluation (BSE) is a standards evaluation which certifies that the tested dog has met all mandatory health criteria as outlined by the American Rottweiler Club (ARC), is free of disqualifying faults under the AKC standard, and passes temperament/mental testing conducted in a public setting. All outcomes will be documented and certified with the judge’s signature. A full critique will be given with results of all testing listed. Results will remain the property of ARC and will be published in the ARK. The original BSE form will be provided to the owner of the dog entered and a copy will remain with the club.
This is not an obedience test and no formal obedience training is necessary to enter or pass. The dog must be leash sure and able to walk in differing situations in control on a leash at the handler’s side.
- The dog must carry permanent identification through microchipping or permanent tattoo.
- Dog must have an AKC registration certificate with the current owner’s name listed.
All dogs presented for the Breed Standard Evaluation must have passing/acceptable clearances for the following health tests per ARC Mandatory Practices:
- Hips: OFA passing hip rating at 24 months or older (Excellent, Good, or Fair)
- Elbows: OFA Normal or DJD 1 at 24 months or older (Normal strongly recommended)
- Heart: OFA Normal at 24 months or older
- Eyes: OFA Certification # at 24 months or older (Normal strongly recommended) and eye certification must be dated within 3 years prior to the date of the BSE
- CHIC #
- JLPP: DNA testing for the genetic mutation known to cause Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis & Polyneuropathy (JLPP) must be performed and recorded with OFA. Dogs who are JLPP clear by parentage must show both sire and dam recorded with OFA as clear by DNA test.
- Optional – Dentition: If dog is missing more than one tooth, OFA dentition certificate must be presented showing that the tooth was previously present.
- BSEs without proper documentation will be disqualified. Fees are non-refundable.
Microchip will be scanned, read out loud, and recorded at time of assessment. Dogs will be weighed and measured.
- A veterinarian issued weight certificate (issued within 20 days of the test) must be presented at time of test. The host club may also opt to provide a scale for dogs to be weighed at time of test.
- Dog’s height, body length, and chest depth and width will be measured with a wicket; chest circumference measured with a seamstress tape; and skull, back skull and muzzle length shall be measured with an ADRK approved standard head measuring device or equivalent.
- Bite and dentition will be documented. At the judge’s discretion, a dog with one missing tooth may be disqualified and entry partially refunded. A dog with one missing tooth may still qualify for an ARC BSE per the AKC Breed Standard, but will not qualify for an ADRK BSE per the FCI Breed Standard.
- Eye color will be measured against an ADRK approved eye color chart or equivalent and color documented.
- A full critique will be given of the overall structure and movement of the dog using the AKC Rottweiler standard. The tail on natural-tailed dogs will be critiqued using the FCI Standard for the Rottweiler.
- The initial phase of the temperament test is conducted through the measurement process and dog’s temperament throughout the process will be noted.
- A public safety test will be conducted. This will, at the discretion of the judge, include walking on a leash through a crowd of eight or more people, a crowd closing in on the dog, pass by a neutral dog or neutral dog pass by, handler pause and greet a stranger, encounter bicycle riders, joggers, and cars passing, be secured and left by the handler for a brief period of time, and a sound sensitivity test.
- Gun sureness test: a starter pistol will be shot to assess aggressive, shy, or neutral reaction.
Test Procedure:
All testing shall take place in full view, with measuring being conducted inside of the ring or a designated adjacent area, on a mat, board, concrete, or other flat and firm surface to ensure a thorough and accurate exam.
Judge:
Only Rottweiler breed judges from FCI, VDH, or AKC may be used to conduct ARC Breed Standard Evaluations.
Health Testing:
All dogs entered in an ARC Breed Standard Evaluation must submit copies of OFA certification at time of entry. Originals must be available for inspection at time of evaluation. A weight certificate, issued within 20 days of the exam, must be presented upon evaluation, unless a scale is provided for dogs to be weighed at the test.
Inspection:
- Dog will be presented in a fur saver collar on dead ring.
- The tattoo or microchip number shall be read out loud and recorded as part of the measuring and critique.
- All measurements will be documented while the judge is completing the exam.
- Weight will be documented.
- A wicket will be used to measure dog’s height, body length, and chest depth and width.
- A seamstress tape will be used to measure the chest circumference.
- An ADRK approved standard head measuring device or equivalent will be used to measure skull, back skull and muzzle length.
- Eye color will be assessed against an ADRK approved eye color chart or equivalent.
- Bite and dentition will be inspected and documented.
- Dog will free stack while full examination and critique takes place; a second person may bait the dog with toy to assist with attention.
- Dog will be gaited to assess movement.
Temperament Test:
During the temperament test, which shall include the measurement phase, the dog evaluated must not show undue fear or aggression with signs of flight or attack. The judge has the authority to evaluate the dog’s temperament throughout the totality of the exam. If at any time the judge feels the dog is unfit due to fear or aggression, he/she may terminate the test and the dog shall not pass. At the judge’s discretion a dog may be allowed to retest following a 3- to 6-month waiting period.
The following tests will be conducted, at the discretion of the judge, to establish safe interaction in a group and sensitivity to noise.
- Handler and dog will enter the field, introduce themselves and their dog, and what they are presenting for (BSE). The judge will then direct the handler in the next step of the of the exam.
- The Group: The handler with dog on a loose leash will walk through a group of eight or more people. The handler and dog will return to the center of the group where the dog sits. The group, when instructed by the judge, converges on the dog and handler and remains there until told by the judge to disperse.
- The handler will walk dog through a line of people at which time the judge will shake a bottle of rocks or similar item to assess noise sensitivity and reaction and recovery from a sudden noise.
- The Gun: The handler and dog will walk away from the judge. At a distance of twenty paces, a .22 short blank starter pistol, or its equivalent, will be fired twice within a short interval. The dog shall not show fear or aggression towards the gun shots.
- Should the dog have a reaction to the gunfire, this exercise may be varied and repeated at the judge’s
- If the dog continues to show a strong reaction to gunfire, the test is stopped and the dog shall not pass.
- While walking on leash or staked out (at the discretion of the Hosting Club and the judge):
- the dog and handler will have a neutral person walk up to greet them, shaking hands,
- a jogger will pass by,
- a bicycle, car, or both will pass by, and
- the handler and dog will walk past a neutral dog and handler.
If the dog is found free of disqualifying faults according to the AKC breed standard, and it passes the temperament test, the dog shall be awarded the title of ARC BSE. If an ADRK judge is presiding, the dog is found free of disqualifying faults according to the FCI Breed Standard, and it passes the temperament test, the dog may also be awarded the title of ADRK BSE.