more info on white markings

[robsaun317]

i was just curious if anyone knew exactly where white markings come from. i have read that they were used to identify rotties that would carry money for bankers but i dont think i believe that. i was just curious i saw a lovely rescue at the animal shelter and was curious why the white spot on the chest. i was obviously all rottie. and i have read about white marking but didnt know exactly where they came from.

[Rottlva]

I think it was Diane of Frontier Rottweilers that said it was from one of the rottweiler's ancestors the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. Do a search though and I'm sure you'll find all of what she's written on that !

[Anubis's Parent]

Just about any puppy I have seen with a white patch on their chest was a German Shepard/Rottweiler cross of some kind.

Oh yes! Possible border collie too.

James

[TrinityRun]

Oodles upon oodles of purebred (without a doubt!) Rottweilers have white spots, flashes, stripes, toes, etc.

[Steve Craftman]

I'd always been led to believe that the white chest flash was a throwback to the Pyren... Pyrhenn... Swiss mountain dog

Sometimes a puppy loses her/his flash, sometimes they don't. Teal'c was originally known as "bigboynoflash" - he now has slight white feathering on his thighs and a tuft of white at the end of his tail. Teal'c's littermate Lordi, (originally "bigboybigflash") now shows not a trace of white, but is more than 50% of the way to being long-haired.

[Carina43]

I've also heard the throwback to Swiss mountain dog types.

Cooper had a few white hairs until he shed his winter coat at about 14 months old. My previous male had a white patch that he never lost, I don't think it's terribly uncommon.

[Roscoe's dad]

like our coated rotts that get the long hair from a hiding gene, I believe the white hairs pop up that way too. just like the curly long hair, the white splotches are major faults. doesn't change the dog, he/she is still a rotty, they just can't be shown, and should not be bred.

[Carol Burke]

Many times a very well bred litter will have one or more puppies with a white spot or splash on the chest. A small spot will usually disappear. I saw a very well bred dog at a specialty show with a noticeable white marking on his chest. Didn't slow him down as he placed in a large class.

My understanding is that originally Rottweilers had white on their chests, it was bred out for some reason but still shows up through recessive genes. And I have heard the relationship to the Greater Swiss Mountain dog as being the reason for the white.

[ILoveRotts]

If you see pictures of the Swiss Mountain Dog it looks exactly like a Rottie with white on the chest.

[Sheenagirl]

Conformation/stocky build - yes looks like a Rottie but strange to see a white blaze between the eyes, white muzzle, white down the throat, big white chest and four white feet!! I like the way our Rottie's look better! :p