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...THE WHITE MARK ON MY ROTTWEILER'SCHEST INDICATE,...

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Answer by Rottie Mommy
Submitted on 3/23/2004
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Well, the white patches are indeed "faults". Obviously it doesn't affect the quality of your pet, just the quality of his show potential. HOWEVER, it is supposed to be rare, and after reading how many of all your dogs have this white marking, I can say it's because too many people are breeding Rotties irresponsibly!! People are willing to get any old Rottie because they don't want to pay a responsible breeder. Lucy's Mom may need a little polishing in her manners but she is dead-on RIGHT. Irresponsible breeding is leading to the decline (and wide-spread banning!) of this fantastic breed of dog. White rotties? For crying out loud. For a side note, many large breed dark dogs are DEAF when born white. So CHE'CHE -- and all of you posters who seem to think it would be the coolest "trophy" in the world to have a white rottie at your feet, DON'T be surprised when one of your dogs turns out to be deaf and/or have other serious health defects. HEALTH, TEMPERAMENT AND FORM are why responsible breeders do what they do. MONEY, STATUS AND INSTANT GRATIFICATION are why irresponsible breeders do what they do. And irresponsible breeders turn out white patches, white coats, health defects, bad temperaments, and shaky genealogy. Sorry, but I'm with Lucy's Mom. However, I also agree that a little white patch is no reason not to love your dog. JUST DON'T BREED HER! Thanks!

Answer by Stunned
Submitted on 3/29/2004
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I can't believe this has become a market place for puppy mills! Thousands of unwanted dogs., mixed & purebred, conforming or not, are needlessly destroyed every month in municipal shelters. Breed-specific rescue groups are simply overwhelmed! Before you capriciously breed your rottie to make a few bucks or encourage the burgeoning puppy mill trade by insisting on getting an adorable puppy (after all, who would want an adult dog, right??), take a moment to check the resources for adult or senior rotties available through rescue groups or shelters. I just adopted my second rottie, a gentle 3 y.o. female who had been dumped at the local shelter after throwing 2 large litters for an owner who apparently decided some of her offspring might be more "conforming" than she. Please remember that Rotties in shelters are very often NEVER adopted, due to misconceptions about their disposition by a misinformed public. Large dogs like rotties are expensive for shelters to house & feed and are much less frequently adopted than smaller dogs. They are often destroyed simply to make room in the shelter. Please think before you act...these loving and loyal animals deserve our care...not just when they're cute and profitable, but for life!

Answer by Rottweiler
Submitted on 4/17/2004
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In my experience some Rottweilers do have white hairs / patches. I would say that if you wish to breed or show the animal do NOT buy these dogs. The odd white hair is acceptable in a show-dog but not patches. In my experience, the white patch will NOT go away and I have had a recent case where it got significantly worse. Moreover, the Rottweiler with white patches is generally not a sick animal just one with white bits. Nor is he an ALBINO. However, if you do not wish to show or breed these dogs, they still make wonderful "pets". These dogs may have great pedigrees but for the sake of the pure KC breed, they should not be bred further. If the a breeder is confident that the white will go away, ask him to sign a document to that effect, with him giving you back half your money if he is wrong. If you are so concerned as to the �pure breed� of your dog, perhaps it might be a good idea to look elsewhere, as even the all black / brown siblings may carry the propensity to white patches. Then if you put your dog to stud / dam and the puppies come out with white patches you will not realize the amount you figured. HOWEVER, if you shave a Rotty you will see that its skin is pure white. GENERALLY, a dog�s coat will follow the color of the dogs skin. Dog�s with a coat like an Indian Horse, will usually have skin color to match the fur. I believe that if you bred Rottweilers with a propensity to have white patches, after a few years you could produce white or black and white Rottweilers. As their skin is white, this lends itself to believe that these dogs were once white, but then only the ones with black bits were bred, thus producing all black/brown dogs. So it is not a genetic defect just a throwback. I can only agree with Sparkle Wunderkind: � While you people are all so terribly concerned with the color of these dogs, why don't you consider breeding out their propensity to bone cancer, arthritis, and dysplasia that cripples these animals and makes their life expectancy so short? I would rather have a healthy animal with a white spot than a perfect color any day. � I further feel that in the name of PC, Rottweilers with white patches, will be acknowledged and allowed under KC rules. Though the �pure� black / tan will always be the winner. Thanx Roy G Symonds http://www.rottweiler-dog.fsworld.co.uk

Answer by Matt&Clay
Submitted on 4/29/2004
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Hmmm... white spots are a flaw by the breed standard, that may change much like some clubs allowing rott's with tails... Even though it's a flaw by breed standards does not mean they won't make excellent pets. I would not however encourage the breeding of such dogs since rott's, along wth labs PB's G. Shepards and Dalmations, are some of the most popular dogs to breed and consequently the most over breed dogs in the US. There are more rott shelters in the US than any other type of breed specific shelter. This is due in large part to the misconceptions about buying a "used" rott. The bottom line is that no matter how many people on this forum are impressed by the novelty of owning a rott with a white patch the demand for these dogs is no there - this is made even more evident by the number of rott's that are currently being imported from Germany as pet's even though they should be shown..... and as previously mentioned, you can take a look at any of the rott shelters online and you'll quickly find that the breed standard rott's are adopted much quicker than any of the mixes or the AKC "flawed" rotties. And if you'd like to take it a step further the real bottom line is that if you're not showing your dog, no matter what breed (flawed or not,) you should have it spayed or neutered because they live longer and it helps to relieve congestion in all of the shelters.

Answer by ROCCO
Submitted on 5/10/2004
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I OWN A BLACK ROTTY. ALL BLACK AND NOT A TRACE OF THAT BROWN AND A SLIGHT DUSTING OF WHITE ON HIS CHEST. HE WAS THE FIRST OF A LITTER OF FIVE.THE REMAINING FOUR PUPS LOOKED LIKE PLAIN OLE ROTTWEILERS.MY ROTTY (HARLEY) IS NOW FIVE YEARS OLD AND STILL THE MOST BUEATIFUL DOG IN TOWN.HARLEY BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS EXCEEDS ANY OTHER DOG IN HEALTH AND INTELLIGENCE.AT LEAST THATS WHAT THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAY.HARLEY ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDS ENOUGH ENGLISH (WITHOUT BRAINWASH REPETATIVE PROGRAMMING TACTICS OF VARIOUS ONE WORD COMMANDS)TO RESPOND TO REGULAR CONVERSATIONS/REQUESTS. NO I'M NOT AN OLD LONELY COOT WHOSE LOST HIS MARBLES.ANYONE CAN TELL HIM (EXCUSE ME...REQUEST )TO SOME TASK IN A SHORT SENTENCE OR PHRASE AND HE WILL DO IT (PROVIDING THE PERSON IS WORTHY OF LISTENING TO). I.E. HARLEY , GET IN THE LINCOLN ;OR GET IN THE VAN ,GO GET ....(NAME ANY COMMON OBJECT OR PERSON)..THIS IS EVOLUTION..NOT MUTATION.. WHAT I SAY AS FACT NOT EXAGERATION BELIEVE IN PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT AND THOSE WHO DONT , BELIEVE BLACK AND WHITE ROTTY'SARE MUTANTS.BUT BY THE MUTANT BELIEVERS STANDARDS ,EINSTEIN AND ANY GORGEOUS PERSON ARE ABOMINATION TO THE HUMAN RACE...THNX...ROCC N HARLEY

Answer by ROCCO
Submitted on 5/22/2004
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IN RESPONSE TO "LUCY'S MOM"....... THE ONLY MISLEADING GOING ON IS THE PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE THE EXTREMELY OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT THE BLACK AND ALBINO ROTTY SHOULD BE REGISTERED AND ACCEPTED AS A PURE BREED LINE . THEIR TRUE REASONS FOR THEIR NARROW MINDED HARD HEADED OPINION IS THE MARKET VALUE OF THE "STANDARD" BROWN AND BLACK ROTT WOULD DROP SIGNIFICANTLY SHOULD THIS BREED BE RECOGNIZED (AS A RARE OR LESS ABUNDANT LINE OF ROTTWEILER).GOING BY THEIR STANDARDS , ALL "PURE BREED" DOGS WERE AT SOMETIME MUTATED INTO EXISTENCE.BREEDING PREDOMINANTLY {{AND CONSISTENTLY}}ALL BLACK OR WHITE ROTTWEILERS ,WITHOUT INBREEDING, CERTAINLY DOES IMPLY A "CLEANER" OR "PURER" BREED THAN A "MIXED" BROWN AND BLACK BREED.AS OTHERS HAVE NOTICED , THE "BLACK" ROTTY'SPOP UP ALL OVER THE WORLD . SO I GUESS YOU THINK THEY ALL HAD THE SAME "FAMILY TREE".{WOULDN'T THAT TREE LOOK MORE LIKE A LINE??}.....THINK A LITTLE MORE THAN YOU'RE ACCUSTOMED TO !! ....BY THE WAY EINSTEIN INTELLIGENCE AND HEALTH MOST CERTAINLY DOES INDICATE A BREED THAT IS "PURE"............. ROCC.

Answer by Lucy's Mom
Submitted on 5/27/2004
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ROCCO wrote: "BY THE WAY EINSTEIN INTELLIGENCE AND HEALTH MOST CERTAINLY DOES INDICATE A BREED THAT IS "PURE" WHOA, back up.....pay attention and UNDERSTAND what I am stating. A white dog is not smarter than a black dog simply because the dog is WHITE? Ya got that? Your dog is not SUPERIOR in intelligence because he lacks markings. He's intelligent because you taught him something! Ya get that? ROCCO wrote: "THE ONLY MISLEADING GOING ON IS THE PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE THE EXTREMELY OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT THE BLACK AND ALBINO ROTTY SHOULD BE REGISTERED AND ACCEPTED AS A PURE BREED LINE." First and foremost, WHAT EVIDENCE? Cite your source so that I may view this "EVIDENCE" Second, if you feel so passionately about this, what are YOU doing to change the "standard" Standards are written, amended and rewritten. If you have "evidence" that can be presented in a fashion to sway the opinion of the "knowledgeable" Rottweiler community, why don't you? Barb, some pure bred Rottweilers can and do have white markings, not so much as being spotted, but is is QUITE possible, genetically, for a pure bred Rottweiler to have some white. It's a recessive gene and by AKC standard is a disqualifying fault for "showing" purposes, but it is not a fool proof indicator that a dog is a mixed breed.

Answer by mojotherotti
Submitted on 7/12/2004
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First and foremost..."Lucys' mom" is 100% correct in her statements about breeding lines and faults. I see nothing wrong with "Albino" rotties as long as the pups are from natural breeding faults. YOU SHOULD NOT...I repeat...SHOULD NOT breed for these colors. The results on the puppies could and 99.9% will be devastating to the health and temperment of those lines. You're tampering with.....for 1-an already considered to be an aggressive breed that is highly feared,........For 2-a breed whose puppies are among the highest to be most susceptible to disease anyway! Why would you want to be responsible for the decline of healthy rottweilers? (IT WILL EVENTUALLY HAPPEN) Back door breeders should never experiment in crossing or pulling lines. Most of them can't even account for the history of their own bloodlines. Breeding is fine, however let the "strengthening" of the breed to people who have the knowledge to do so. All in all, love your pet, pure, mixed, whatever. But please spay or neauter, your pet will be happier!

Answer by opel
Submitted on 8/23/2004
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hi, i have have a 9 week old rotti, he is ment to be a full rotti the day i went to pick him up from the breeder he introduced me to his parents they were healthy 100% rotties, as i then went to the pup i noticed a white line across his chest the breadder told me that it would fade out as he grows but im having douts about that, dont get me wrong i have my pup for over a week now and i love him to bits and i wodnt change him 4 nothing in the world, but what botherd me is that he is Kc registerd, no if he isnt a full rotti the hole system is bing ripped off by money hungry breeders, so there fore if there is any1 reading this and they have full knowleg about a the rotti (apperance) i wold be great full if u were to contact me on the e-mail adress opel_13@hotmail.com so from there i can show u pics of my pup and u can give ur opion on if he is a full rotti if not i will do the must i can to put an end to this breder from using the KC name to sel cross pups tank u

Answer by TalonGray
Submitted on 9/2/2004
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I remember my high school biology, coat color has nothing to do with other genetics, like guinea pigs, labs and dobs, rotties can and do come in a multitude of colors, go back in history, it is stated that the rottweiler came in many colors because they were being bred to work, not to show, it was only when a few interested people noticed that the breed was forced into the colors they have now. As far as I'm concerned half the dogs in the show ring could never be put to work doing what they were meant to do. People should be less concerned with color and more concerned with workability, like the border collie, rotts should be allowed to be any color when in the working ring, if in the show ring maybe they should be given their own group like they did this year with the Jack Russles, now broken into high groups, long legged and short legged. Albino is like albino people, rabbits, horses, ect... It is merely a double recessive gene which changes the skin hair and eye pigment in the animal, a white coat is different then an albino, as is a red or blue rottie. You used the sleeping dog inn, the litter they show came from a responsible breeder with two dogs unrelated, only each carried a recessive gene, that isn't a reason to call them not pure breed, just cause my black thoroughbred breeds to another black thoroughbred and produces and brown doesn't mean my colt isn't pure, give me a break people

Answer by Rottmeister
Submitted on 9/2/2004
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Ok, I have read all the posts above, and I cannot fathom the ignorance of those speaking against the greatest canine on earth for the mere fact of a white patch? And only against it for the fact of possible inbreeding, cross breeding or whatever the case may be? Has any of those "against the white" actually studied the history of the Rottweiler? The breed of Rottweiler known today didnt even exist until we Germans "cross bred" them to help us win the first world war. Until then they were a little known, alot smaller and much different colored sheep dog. So those folks speaking so negatively against crossbreeding should think again before speaking against it, as there would be no such animal today without it. As far as the "patch of white" being due to crossbreeding, this is completely unwarranted folklore. My family has bred champion Rottweilers in Germany for over 120 years, and the white patch can come from out of nowhere. We cannot explain it, but it has appeared on various lines of the same breed, and, on the same token, we have bred the white patched canine and sired patchless offspring! So in my expert opinion, "crossbreeding" has nothing to do with the mysterious white patch. In our experience, it is due only to genetic change or freak accident, and is not hereditary in specific lines of the same breed. Although it is known that some bloodlines do however carry the "spot" throughout their family, they have also been known to sire "spotless" offspring on occasion. In closing, the Rottweiler is undeniably the greatest dog known to man, with or without its spot, and those who feel theirs may be superior to those without the spot perhaps are in need of making themselves feel superior for unknown reasons. It is not the dog, but the owner which is lacking proper breeding. And those breeds of owners are what concern me and in my opinion don't deserve such a loving, obedient and glorious animal. The only important thing is that they are loved and cared for and they will love you in return regardless of their color.

Answer by proud owner
Submitted on 9/5/2004
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I have 1 pure rotty and 1 mix. I had another pure who died because of bone cancer. My mix is rotty/lab and is a wonderful dog. My last rescue (pure) was starved and abused to the point of almost death. She was 3 yrs old and was less then 35lbs. I don't have a problem with breeders as such...but the one's who breed and could care less who gets the dog. I now have become a rotty rescue or adoption home. I love all of them. Yes a pure rotty can have white makings. It's a "defect" in the color gene. Doesn't mean the dog will or will not be healthy.Just not "show" quailty. White rotty'swill NOT be blind no more then any other color. They are also just not "show" quality. They can live just as long as perfect color rotty's My friend h