The Complete Guide to Rottie Colors

Let's dive into the wonderful world of Rottie colors. The Rottweiler breed has a rich history, and its coat colors are a result of centuries of selective breeding.

The most common Rottie colors are black and tan, which is a result of the breed's origins in ancient Roman cattle herding.

A black Rottweiler's coat is actually a deep, glossy black, not a dark brown.

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The Rottweiler's color is a unique and distinctive aspect of their breed. The base coat is always black.

The markings on a Rottweiler are a key part of their color. They should be a shade of tan, rust, or mahogany.

You'll often see a spot over each eye, which is a classic Rottweiler marking. This spot should be a clear, defined tan or rust color.

The markings on a Rottweiler's muzzle are also characteristic. A strip of tan or rust color should run along each side of the muzzle, but not on the bridge of the nose.

The throat and chest area of a Rottweiler are also marked with a tan or rust color. This marking should be triangular in shape and located on both sides of the prosternum.

Rottweilers also have distinctive markings on their legs. A strip of tan or rust color should run from the carpus (the joint below the forearm) down to the toes on the front legs.

On the rear legs, the tan or rust marking should start on the inside of the leg, near the stifle, and broaden out to the front of the leg from the hock to the toes. However, the black color should not be completely eliminated from the rear of the pasterns.

The underside of a Rottweiler's tail and the toes should also have black penciling, which is a small, precise line of black color.

The breed standard for Rottweilers is a set of guidelines that outline the ideal characteristics of the breed. This includes the color and markings that are accepted within the breed.

One of the breed standard colors is Black & Tan. This color combination is a traditional and well-known color in the Rottweiler breed.

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) describes the Rottweiler standard as a dog with a black coat and rich tan markings. This description emphasizes the importance of the breed's distinctive coloration.

According to the FCI Standard, a Rottweiler is always black with clearly defined markings of a rich tan on the cheeks, muzzle, throat, chest, and legs. This color pattern is a key characteristic of the breed.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) also has specific requirements for the color and markings of a Rottweiler. They call for mahogany or rust-colored markings that do not take up more than ten percent of the dog's body color.

Here are the specific markings required by the AKC:

Rare Colors are a unique aspect of Rottweilers, and apart from Red Rottweilers, there are some other rare colored Rotties which are the blue, albino, and white Rottweilers.

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Blue Rottweilers are a rare variation of the breed, but their exact origins are unclear.

Albino Rottweilers are extremely rare and lack pigmentation, making them stand out from the usual colored Rottweilers.

White Rottweilers are also a rare color variation of the breed, and their exact genetics are still being researched.

These rare colors are a result of specific genetic combinations that can occur in Rottweilers.

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The AKC Breed standard specifies that the only acceptable color for the base coat is black, with markings of a shade of tan/rust/mahogany.

A spot over each eye, on cheeks, as a strip around each side of the muzzle, on throat, triangular mark on both sides of prosternum, on forelegs from carpus downward to the toes, and under the tail are all part of the standard markings.

Other rare Rottweiler colors include blue, albino, and white Rottweilers, which can be a result of poor breeding practices.

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The Rottweiler's distinctive markings are a key part of their unique appearance. They have a black base coat with tan, rust, or mahogany markings.

A Rottweiler's markings should be located in specific places, including a spot over each eye, on their cheeks, and as a strip around each side of their muzzle.

Their markings should also be on their throat, chest, and legs, as well as under their tail. The exact placement of these markings can vary slightly depending on the breed standard being referenced.

The American Kennel Club specifies that the markings on a Rottweiler's face should move down onto their throat, and that there should be two downward-facing triangular marks on their chest.

The markings on their front legs should stretch from the forearm to the toes, while those on their hind legs should begin on the inside and move outward onto the stifle, then out onto the hock.

Rottweilers also have a distinctive patch of rust or mahogany underneath their tail, resembling a triangle.

Blue Rottweilers are a rare color variation that results from the normal black pigment of the Rottie's coat being diluted, making it appear lighter than usual.

This color variation is often the result of poor breeding practices, which can lead to other health issues in the dog.

Blue Rottweilers are more prone to health issues than normal Rotties, but the exact nature of these issues isn't specified in the article.

Despite their unique appearance, blue Rottweilers are not considered desirable by many breeders and owners.

The article doesn't provide information on the specific characteristics or traits of blue Rottweilers beyond their color and potential health issues.

Blue Rottweilers are not a result of crossbreeding with another breed, but rather a dilution of the normal black pigment.

Inbreeding or overbreeding can also lead to the appearance of blue Rottweilers, as mentioned in the article.

Overall, blue Rottweilers are a rare and unique color variation that requires careful consideration and attention to potential health issues.

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Red Rottweilers are extremely rare because the breed has been selectively bred for generations to produce only black with tan/mahogany markings.

The chances of a red Rottweiler being produced naturally by two purebred parents are extremely low, making it a stunning exception like Kayla, the gorgeous red Rottie featured on this page.

For purebred Rottweilers to produce a red Rottweiler puppy, they would both need to carry the elusive gene responsible for the color.

Most breeders and Rottweiler experts believe that red Rottweilers are the result of cross-breeding with another breed, not within the Rottweiler breed itself.

Red Rottweilers are not recognized or accepted by Rottweiler Breed Clubs or registering organizations due to their non-standard color.

Breeding red Rottweilers can lead to various health issues, such as eye problems, heart problems, and hip/joint problems, which can damage the breed as a whole.

In the early days of the breed, the acceptable colors for a Rottweiler were much more varied, including red with black nose, dark wolf grey with black head and saddle, and ash grey with yellow markings.

The ADRK in Germany limited the acceptable Rottie coat to "black with clearly defined mahogany to yellow markings" in 1921, making other coat colors and variations undesirable.

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The German Rottie is a striking example of a Rottweiler mix, often retaining the Rottweiler's overall appearance with a coat that can come in a variety of colors including black, brown, red, grey, white, and cream.

Their calm and independent nature makes them a great companion, but they do require proper socialization as puppies to avoid aggression.