THE IMPORTANCE OF EXAMINING THE ROTTWEILER’S BITE & DENTITION
mouth, and an experienced handler will also stretch the back lips to give a better view. If they do not, ask them. You need the see the M3s in the very lower back. Specify which tooth you can’t see, and most exhibitors will help for you to see those teeth. It is important when examining a Rottweiler to avoid direct eye contact. I do this with all breeds I judge, as for some dogs it is a confrontational and threatening gesture. I always ask the exhibitor to show the bite first. The Rottweiler is an aloof breed, and generally will only tolerate so much examination. I do the bite first while the tolerance level is highest. They don’t get better if done at the end, and often dance around more at that point. I don’t care if the dog is standing or sitting, if I have a good view to see the bite and dentition. It is important in my breed that the judge does the entire examination at once (examine bite, look overhead for proportion, and then check testicles and tail. Once I remove my hands from the dog, I am finished and do not return. I want the examination to be a win-win for both the dog and the judge. There is no reason to linger over them. Move- ment will show soundness and any structural issues. I move them twice around the ring when they enter and again at the end in large classes. Once I have found the best-moving dogs, I pick the ones that have the best breed type for my placements. And no, I don’t go back and touch them again (e.g., shoulders, loin, head, etc.). It is my goal to make sure all judges understand the dentition of the Rottweiler and take the time to look at the bite and be able to count teeth in the groups I’ve outlined above; that would be to count the front teeth or incisors (six top and bottom), to find the four premolars on each side (know- ing that the P1 is the most common missing tooth, although it can happen with any of them), and to check for the M3 (small molar farthest back on the bottom jaw). I ask the exhibitor to show me the front teeth, then one side, then the other, and then open the mouth to view the M3s. The Rottweiler was one of my first breeds (45 years ago), so while exam- ing the bite and dentition may seem easy to me, I understand the difficulty for those coming from breeds that don’t count teeth. However, this is VERY IMPORTANT to understand and learn for judging this breed. I hope everyone found this to be clear, but if you are still confused or have questions, please contact me. I am happy to help.
The Rottweiler has a scissors bite. On occasion, Rott- weilers can be missing an incisor (the front teeth). Usually it is only one, and often only on the top or bottom. Make sure, as you see above, the seams between the teeth line up. If a tooth goes on top of a seam, most often one of the incisors is missing and this means taking a second look. Remember, level bites are a serious fault, and overshot and undershot are disqualifications.
The side bite has four premolars. These are right behind the canine teeth. Most often, a P1 is one of the most common missing teeth. Note how small they can be, so it is important to ask the exhibitor to show these and not put their fingers in the way. Behind the three premo- lars, are the regular, larger molars.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lew Olson has had a lifelong love of dogs. She started showing dogs in 1974, with a Doberman Pinscher. Later, she saw her first Rottweiler in 1978 and has had one ever since. She has bred 100 champions and has had Best in Show and Specialty winning Rottweilers. Lew has attended several Rottweiler shows in Germany and has judged Rottweilers in Finland, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Trinidad, and Jamaica. She has judged at the American
This illustration shows a complete view of the side dentition; three premolars on both sides, three larger molars on both sides. However, the bottom jaw has an extra molar, called the M3 or sometimes referred to as the “popcorn” molar. This M3 is another common missing tooth and takes some effort to see and determine whether it is missing or not. I have the exhibitor open the dog’s
Rottweiler Club twice and the Canadian Rottweiler Club National. Lew started judging in 2001 and currently has the Working, Toy, and Non- Sporting Groups and is working on her fourth. She has a Facebook page called Rottweiler Education Uncensored and continues to update it weekly. Lew has had Brussels Griffons for 13 years and is still showing both the Brussels Griffons and Rottweilers in Conformation and Performance Events.
298 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MAY 2023
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