Ok few things here. One is that white spots on Rottweilers are NOT the sign of mixed breeds. That is totally false and please stop spreading fallacies like that. White spots are caused by what are called recessive genes. If you are breeding litters and getting lots of white spots it means that one or both of the parents or grandparents carry a recessive for white spots that is dominant. White spots occur mainly in backyard bred, irresponsibly bred or puppy mill dogs. Even with as careful as some Code of Ethics breeders are, it can still pop up here and there on an OCCASIONAL puppy. If you are producing white spotted puppies every litter than you need to take a serious look at your female.
Now, while white spots certainly do not render a dog 'defective' per se, please keep in mind that there is a reason that there is a Rottweiler standard. The Rottweiler standard is the 'blueprint' for Rottweilers. Its what keeps Rottweilers looking like, walking like and talking like Rottweilers. What was the first thing that attracted us to Rottweilers??? Their LOOK!!! Then we fell in love with their personalities, their heart and their minds. When people breed irresponsibily and not following the Rottweiler standard they are contributing to the demise of the Rottweiler breed as we know it. For if you are not following the standard, before we know it Rottweilers are not going to look or act like Rottweilers any longer. Instead they will look like Dobermans, Mastiffs, Black and Tan Coonhounds, etc. The standard is there to maintain the integrity of the breed we love. Anyone not breeding to the standard is doing a great injustice to the Rottweiler breed and all of us out there who love them.
Now with that said, also bear in mind reasons why there are a set coloring on the dog, other than we like the look. Don't you think back in the day when they were developing the Rottweiler breed they came across all different colors variations until they found the one that worked? Sure they did. BUT think about WHY they stuck with that color variation OTHER than looks. ITS ALSO ABOUT GENETICS and GENES! Pick up ANY genetics book and the first thing that they will tell you is that one gene is linked to many different things. For instance in the case of hip dysplaysia, it is called a polygenic recessive, meaning that the gene that causes hip dysplaysia is linked to genes for other things as well such as joints, mucsles, etc. One reason we have not had great progress with managing hip dysplasia is that it is being treated as a single gene disease. Its the same with RECESSIVE COLORS such as what your are all describing...Red Rottweilers, White Rottweilers, Brindle Rottweilers and Chocolate Rottweilers. Problem is that when you start purposely breeding these recessives, you are also opening up a can of worms since recessives that have been bred out purposely is because they have been found to have been linked to other less than desireable traits such as certain diseases, temperament issues and structure issues. Blue eyed Dals and deafness is a perfect example of what I am talking about. These two genes have been found to have been strongly linked. Blue eyes are not the norm for the Dal and when bred purposely were linked to high amounts of deafness. There is another interesting study about eye color and temperament. This was in the case of dark eyed breeds like Rottweilers. Rottweilers are supposed to have a VERY, VERY dark eye. In studies with Rottweilers and other dark eyes breeds, they found that when careless breeding practices took place and eyes became lighter and lighter, that temperaments became worse and worse. Yet another good genetic example of why certain dogs are supposed to look certain ways. Other studies have found links between recessive colorations and diseases.
As far as the comment asking why people were breeding dogs with cancer, well wish we knew. Hell I wish they knew in people and then my father and father-in-law would still be alive. Trust me NO ONE purposely breeds cancer into their lines. At this time there are no less than THREE Rottweiler cancer studies at top vet schools trying desperately to find out why bone cancer is so high in Rottweilers over the last 10 years. I am going to hazard a guess here and say that I am sure that it has something to do with haphazard and careless breeding practices in addition to environment and the foods we feed. And remember, those white, red and chocolate 'Rottweilers' might look great, but what if the color recessive in those dogs is tied to devastating diseases such as cancer, Sub-aortic stenosis, Cushings, Wobblers, hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma...??? Guess those colors would not be so cool then?
This is why one must be very, very careful and use a very strict genetic and scientific protocol when trying to introduce and new coat color or variation into a breed. Dobes have been doing reserach for YEARS on recessive white coats as have Shepherds. Very controlled breeding programs, very controlled studies and they STILL do not have the kinks worked out.
So if you are hapharzardly breeding all these 'new colors' etc., think for one moment before you put the money in your pocket for those puppies, the future heartbreak you might be sending someone home with. Unless you just don't care.
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