All Black Rottweiler

The All Black Rottweiler

Have you ever wondered if your eyes were playing tricks on you when you see Rottweiler and then it dawns on you that the dog is actually all black, lacking the very specific tan or red markings that define the breed? Don’t worry, far from going to an optometrist for an eye check up, read on to learn about the all black Rottweiler. 

Is It Really a Rottweiler?

The AKC, FCI and ADRK have very definite standards for Rottweilers. The gist of the standard is that the dog should have a solid black base color with a range of tan to red markings found specifically above the eyes, anywhere on the muzzle up to the cheeks, part of the throat, some parts of the chest, the legs and at the base of the dog’s tail. Dogs that have an excess or lack of markings according to the standard cannot join shows and some can not even be registered with the club.

With this fact in mind, let us tackle the issue of an all black Rottweiler. The explanation goes back to the origins of the breed when the Romans brought their mastiff-like dogs with them when they tried to conquer as much land as they could. These Roman drover dogs herded the cattle that the Romans brought with them for food and protected the cattle from wild animals and thieves. The dogs did not have any standard whatsoever except for their size and their ability to herd and protect the animals that they herded. The Romans eventually reached Germany and stayed for an extended period of time in a place that would eventually be known as Rottweil. Over time, the locals would “create” what would be the very first Rottweilers with the same function as the original drover dogs from Rome. Standards were set to preserve the breed and to define it from the other breeds of dogs. The base color black was desirable because the dog would then be virtually invisible at night when it acted as a guard dog for the cattle. So, although selective breeding produced what is now the standard for the modern Rottweiler but let us not forget that the breed originated from randomly colored dogs. There are very rare times when an errant gene pops up and produces an all black puppy to a litter borne from two purebred parents. This means that while the all black Rottweiler is unacceptable for show and may not even be registered because it does not adhere to breed standards, it is still a purebred Rottweiler.

For people who love dogs and are not so conscious of breed standard, color and markings do not matter. Professional breeders, on the other hand, consider solid colored dogs and those with an excess or lack of specific markings not suitable for breeding. The deliberate proliferation of black or any other solid colored Rotties outside the standard is discouraged. There are some people, though, who wish to capitalize on the rarity of such an animal. What these so called breeders do not understand is that there is a reason why all black Rotties are discouraged. Due to selective breeding, the magnification of the elusive gene that produces the solid black color might also carry genetic problems for the dog. These genetic problems come to the surface when rare colored Rotties (usually related to each other to a very close degree) are bred with each other to produce more of the same dark color. Spaying and neutering is encouraged to prevent the spread of the demand for black Rotties. 

Now that unscrupulous breeders have come into the picture, there are also some all black Rottweilers that may not be the product of an elusive gene. These dogs could be mixed breed dogs that look awfully like Rotties and are passed off as a rare dog. This is actually not difficult to do and some people are not ashamed to deceive others. Be very wary of people who are selling rare Rottweilers for an exorbitant amount.

Health Issues

Generally, Rottweilers are healthy and robust but may be plagued by the usual slew of health problems that come with dogs of the same size and bulk. Hip and joint issues may be more prevalent in the all black Rottweiler because of the same gene that made it a solid black. Solid black Rotties may also be prone to obesity especially if somewhere along the way their lineage was mixed with solid black Labradors. Labradors are prone to overeating and obesity but at the same time they have a close resemblance to Rottweilers which make them ideal for interbreeding to produce a solid black coat.

One concern that professional breeders have for their Rottweilers is that puppies are more prone to contracting parvovirus than most other breeds. Some surmise that an all black Rottie might be more susceptible to this deadly disease because of the genetic flaw that made it just one solid color. Other issues that might be magnified with this particular color includes, but are not limited to, colitis, bloat, heart disease and cancer. All these may be more serious with the solid colored dog because of the difference that the one elusive gene makes.

Aside from the fact that health issues may be more prevalent in the solid black Rottie, there is no evidence that shows deviation from the standard temperament of the Rottweiler. This means that whatever color the dog comes in does not affect the protective and loyal nature that the breed is well known for. Rottweilers have been known to be aggressive at times and proper socialization can prevent your puppy from being uncontrollable and aggressive towards strangers and children. If the herding instinct is not curbed, some of the dogs may herd small children aggressively when their instinct kicks in. This can alarm the children resulting to chaos. Always supervise your dog when it is with children to avoid any accidents or mishaps.

Now you know that the all black Rottweiler can still be a purebred Rottweiler even when its coat does not adhere to breed standards. Breed standards are just the basis of judging show dogs and they help to keep the breed intact by discouraging any variations to the standard. It is also good to know that there are some breeders who have no scruples when it comes to making a quick buck by selling a dog that is supposed to be purebred even if it is not. The gene that makes the dogs rare can also negatively influence their health so it is wise to spay or neuter dogs with this genetic flaw so as not to spread the gene that cause it.

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