The renewal of interest in Rottweilers came about in northern Germany rather than in the southern part where the breed formerly had enjoyed such success. This increase in popularity came not thorough their work with cattle, but due to another of their talents-police work. In 1970, recognition as the fourth breed (joining Airedales, Dobermans and German Shepherds) accepted for police duty was granted to Rottweilers by the German Police Dog Association, a direct result of the excellence of the first two Rottweilers recruited for that purpose, Max von der Strahlenberg and Flock von Hamburg.

A combined Rottweiler and Leonberger Club was formed in 1901, its claim to fame being that it is the club that drew up the first Standard of Protection for the Rottweiler breed. This club existed only briefly.

The German Rottweiler Club (DRK) was founded at Heidelberg on January 13, 1907, leading many to consider Heidelberg as the birthplace of today's modern Rottweiler. The DRK became associated with the German Police Dog Association, but its existence was short-lived due to internal strife. Only three months later, in April 1907, and also in Heidelberg, the South German Rottweiler Club was formed. Again dissension was created by personal factors, and shortly thereafter a third group was organized, the International Rottweiler Club (IRK). This club then absorbed the South German group, leaving DRK and IRK the only two remaining.

Representatives of the DRK and the IRK met at Gassel on July 3, 1921. Then followed a general meeting in Wurzberg on August 14 of that year, when the two groups merged to become the General German Rottweiler Club (Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub or ADRK) and the two previous stud books were combined as one.

The first German Rottwilers, we undrstand, came from Germany to the United Stated during the 1930s, while in 1936 the first Rottweilers arrived in Great Britain and were exhibited there at the famous Crufts Dog Show. It was in 1968 that the Allgemeiner D3eutsjher Rotttweiler Klub did the ground work for the creation of an International Federation for Rottweiler Friends (IRF), which meets every few years for the purpose of cementing relationships between Rottweiler breeders in all parts of the world and establishing common goals by which the ultimate benefit to Rottweilers of the future can be assured. Delegates are sent from specialty clubs throughout Europe and the United States to meet with ADRK delegates.