Organizations & Registries
The clubs and registries that issue Rottweiler papers worldwide.
ADRKAllgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler-Klub
The German Rottweiler parent breed club, founded 1907. The ADRK writes the breed standard the rest of the world uses, runs the most-watched Rottweiler shows on earth, and issues the Ahnentafel (pedigree certificate) for German-bred Rottweilers. When a Rottweiler is described as “ADRK-registered,” that means full German papers.
FCIFédération Cynologique Internationale
The international dog federation that sets the breed standard globally and issues International Champion (Int.CH.) titles. The ADRK, French SCC, and most European national clubs are FCI members. AKC (US) and the UK Kennel Club are not FCI but have reciprocal recognition.
VDHVerband für das Deutsche Hundewesen
The German national kennel club — the umbrella body that includes the ADRK. Many champion titles you'll see (DT.VDH-CH, VDH-EJS) are issued by the VDH rather than the ADRK directly.
SCC / LOFSociété Centrale Canine / Livre des Origines Français
France's national kennel club (SCC) and the French stud book (LOF). A French-bred Rottweiler is “LOF-registered.” The SCC issues French confirmation titles (see Cotation 1 below).
AKCAmerican Kennel Club
The US national kennel club. Issues AKC registration and pedigree certificates. AKC is not an FCI member; AKC papers and FCI papers are equivalent but separately tracked.
IFRInternational Federation of Rottweiler Friends
An international organization that holds an annual World Show specifically for Rottweilers. Titles like “IFR World Champion” and “IFR World Best Producer” come from these events.
Pedigree Documents
What the official paperwork is called and what's on it.
Ahnentafelliterally: ancestor table
The official ADRK pedigree certificate. Lists three generations of ancestors with every dog's registration number, title abbreviations, hip/elbow ratings, and JLPP/health DNA results printed directly on the document. The Ahnentafel is the dog's papers in Germany.
DT.(ADRK) / DT.VDH-CHDeutscher Champion (German Champion)
German national Champion title — awarded after the dog wins required CAC points under multiple German judges. DT.(ADRK) is the parent-club version, DT.VDH-CH is the kennel-club version.
INT.CH.International Champion (FCI)
FCI International Champion. Requires CACIB points won in at least three different countries under multiple judges, with a working-dog leg (BH or higher) for breeds like Rottweiler.
Breed Suitability & Confirmation
The tests that prove a dog is breed-worthy under European rules.
ZTPZuchttauglichkeitsprüfung
The ADRK Breed Suitability Test — a formal evaluation by a German Rottweiler Club specialist judge that examines structure, type, temperament, and working drive. Passing the ZTP means the ADRK has officially certified the dog as worthy of breeding. Mandatory for ADRK-registered breeding under German rules.
Zucht- u. Körfähigbreed-suitable AND körung-suitable
A stamp on the Ahnentafel that means the dog passed both the basic breed suitability exam and the Körung — an even stricter ADRK breeding-suitability evaluation that includes character testing. The highest formal breeding clearance on a German pedigree.
Cotation 1 ConfirméeFrench breed confirmation, top grade
The French equivalent of breed-worthy status. Cotation runs 1–6 in France, with 1 reserved for adults that meet the breed standard at confirmation under SCC/LOF rules. “Confirmée” means the confirmation has been formally recorded.
Working & Sport Titles
The training and protection-sport titles that prove a dog actually works.
BHBegleithundeprüfung — Companion Dog test
The entry-level temperament + basic obedience test required before a dog can compete in higher working titles. Tests obedience under distraction, traffic safety, and stable temperament. Considered the minimum bar for a serious working-line Rottweiler.
IGP I / II / IIIInternationale Gebrauchshundeprüfung
The current FCI working-dog title system — tracking (A), obedience (B), and protection (C) phases, scored out of 100 each. IGP III is the highest level and requires years of training. IGP replaced the older IPO name in 2019. A Rottweiler with IGP III is a real working dog, not just a show dog.
SchH / VPGSchutzhund / Vielseitigkeitsprüfung
The German names for the same working sport, used before the FCI rebranded it as IPO and then IGP. SchH I/II/III, VPG I/II/III, IPO I/II/III, and IGP I/II/III are all the same titles under different decade-by-decade names.
FH / IFHFährtenhundeprüfung — Tracking Dog
Advanced tracking title — the dog follows an aged scent trail over distance with multiple turns. FH II is significantly harder than the tracking phase of IGP III.
FPr / SPrFährten- / Stoberprüfung
Tracking-only (FPr) and search-only (SPr) titles — phase-specific titles for dogs who excel at one element of IGP. Roman numerals indicate level.
AD / IADAusdauerprüfung — Endurance Test
A 20-kilometer endurance trot beside a bicycle, with a recovery and obedience component at the end. Proves the dog is structurally and cardiovascularly sound for sustained work.
Major Show Wins
The big-name titles you see on a top European Rottweiler's record.
KSKlubsieger
German national breed-specialty winner — the dog that wins Champion Class Males (or Females) at the ADRK Klubsiegerzuchtschau, the largest and most-cited Rottweiler show in the world. KS’25 means “Klubsieger 2025.” The most prestigious show title a Rottweiler can earn in Germany.
BSBundessieger
German national federal show winner. Awarded at the VDH Bundessieger show, which is multi-breed but draws top Rottweiler entries. BS’23 means “Bundessieger 2023.”
ESEuropasieger
European Sieger — awarded at the FCI European Dog Show, an annual rotating-host event that is the European continent's equivalent of a world show.
WSWeltsieger
World Winner — awarded at the FCI World Dog Show. “ADRK Weltsieger V2” means the dog placed Vice (second) in the Rottweiler classes at the World Show under ADRK judging.
KJS / BJS / JSKlubjugendsieger / Bundesjugendsieger / Jugendsieger
The junior-class equivalents of the above. Jugend = junior. KJS’13 means “Klubjugendsieger 2013” — the year's top Rottweiler in the under-18-month class at the German national specialty.
BOB / BOG / BISBest of Breed / Best of Group / Best in Show
Standard FCI/AKC ring placements. BOB beats every other Rottweiler at the show; BOG beats every breed in the Working Group; BIS beats every breed at the entire show. CAC and CACIB are the German/FCI championship-point system that lead to DT.CH. and INT.CH. titles.
V1 / VVorzüglich (Excellent)
The top grade a dog can receive at a German FCI show. V1 means the judge awarded the dog the #1 spot in its class with the “Excellent” rating. The classes below Excellent are SG (Very Good), G (Good), and so on.
Health Clearances
The genetic and orthopedic tests printed on the Ahnentafel.
HDHüftgelenksdysplasie — Hip Dysplasia
German hip-rating system. HD-A (normal/no signs) is the best result; HD-B (near-normal/transitional), HD-C (mild), HD-D (moderate), HD-E (severe). The German “Frei” means HD-A or HD-B — passing for breeding under ADRK rules. Equivalent to OFA Excellent/Good in the US system.
EDEllbogendysplasie — Elbow Dysplasia
German elbow-rating system. ED-0 means no signs of dysplasia (best); ED-1, ED-2, ED-3 are increasing severity. “ED-Frei” means free of elbow dysplasia (typically ED-0). Equivalent to OFA Normal Elbows.
HD-Frei / ED-Frei“free of”
Literally “hip free” / “elbow free” — the German term used on the Ahnentafel and on breeder websites to mean “passed,” with no clinical signs of dysplasia.
JLPPJuvenile Laryngeal Paralysis & Polyneuropathy
A heritable neurological disease identified in Rottweiler lines. Tested by DNA. Results: N/N (clear, two normal copies), N/JLPP (carrier, won't develop the disease but can pass the gene), JLPP/JLPP (affected, will develop the disease). Two clear parents cannot produce an affected puppy — the test makes the disease completely avoidable.
LEMPLeukoencephalomyelopathy
Another DNA-tested heritable neurological disease in Rottweilers. Same N/N / N/X / X/X result format as JLPP. ADRK breeding-stock dogs are tested as standard practice.
NADNeuroaxonal Dystrophy
A third DNA-tested neurological disease included on most modern ADRK health panels. Result format identical to JLPP and LEMP.
N/N · N/X · X/Xgenetic result notation
Standard DNA-test notation. N/N — clear, two normal copies of the gene. N/X (e.g., N/JLPP) — carrier, one normal and one affected copy; the dog itself is unaffected but can pass the disease gene to half its offspring. X/X — affected, both copies carry the disease.
Long Coat · Coat LengthHr Gen / FGF5
A DNA test for the recessive long-coat gene in Rottweilers (FGF5). “Long Coat: Free” means N/N — no copies of the long-coat allele. Long coats are a disqualifying fault under the breed standard, so most ADRK breeders test for it.
OFAOrthopedic Foundation for Animals
The US equivalent of the German HD/ED rating bodies. OFA reads hip and elbow x-rays and grades them
Excellent,
Good,
Fair (all passing), or
Borderline /
Mild /
Moderate /
Severe (failing). OFA also maintains public health-test databases at
ofa.org.