Red Rotti

[Argosen]

I just got Brutus from the Human Society maybe a month ago. The reason I chose him was because I LOVE rottie's and knew I couldn't afford a purebreed one but I was ASTONISHED when they told me he was in fact a purebreed RED rottweiler. I wanted to learn everything i could about them. I know it is a genetic defect that could be a problem later on down the road I understand all this...This is my problem EVERYWHERE I go to learn more about this unusual rottie it is like i have just adopted an abomination that should be disposed of IMMEDIATLY. HELP i love my guy and i think of him as one of the most beautiful rotties i've yet seen. So my question is this does anyone know where i could get more info on this genetic veriation? Also i want to get into a rottie club but am too affraid they would take my dog out back and shot him just because of his color. Does color really matter? I don't want to breed him, he is already neutered. Any and all info would be appretiated.

[moondog]

As long as his health checks out, the only thing a red coat means is that he should not be bred.

[damp]

Originally Posted by Argosen

Also i want to get into a rottie club but am too affraid they would take my dog out back and shot him just because of his color. Does color really matter? I don't want to breed him, he is already neutered. Any and all info would be appretiated.

The only Rottweilers not allowed in my club, were the mental screwed and overly aggressive out of control!
Most training clubs love dedicated owners and dogs able to work and care less or nothing about correct colors and conformations.

[RottyMom]

As long as your dog is not going to be bred I can't see anyone having a problem with your dogs colouring.

[BostonRott]

Who told you there could be long term effects?? And what exactly would those be? Sounds like someone fed you a line!!

Red Rottweilers are thought not to be purebred, but instead to have red Doberman mixed in along the way. There are some discussions online if you do some searching via Google. Just because a pedigree "says" a dog is purebred does not mean it is. It's very easy to lie with AKC breedings. You don't ever hear of red rottweilers in other countries, only here.......somewhere in the US, someone mixed a few things.

That being said, as long as your dog is healthy and happy, that is all that matters. Yes, he should be neutered and not bred but given that you know he's a rescue, I'm sure you're well aware of that. Enjoy him, train him and have fun doing so!!

[Argosen]

It is said that Red Rotti's are inbred with which come all sorts of problems...if he were inbred wouldn't i see those kinds of problems all ready or is that later on down the road? All so with the lighter coat comes much lighter eyes which i've read on the ,American Rottweiler Club's website, could lead to cataracts and blindness...plus i live in Tucson where it is sunny ALL the time which doesn't help...HEY don't they sell dog sunglasses which could help that problem. And for the past week i've have been sitting at this computer for almost 8 hours a day trying to find SPECIFIC information about this genetic anomoly like what to expect later on down the road but every website i've been too has the same info...well the search contiues...By the way how come Red Rottweilers can't be bred together in such a way as to make a new standard that could benifit the breed as a whole?

[moondog]

As far as health goes, the only reference I've seen to the red coat and health problems is that they have a higher incidence of eye and heart problems.

Why would anyone want to breed for a color that is not to the Rottweiler standard? How would a red coat "benefit the breed"?

[damp]

Originally Posted by Argosen

By the way how come Red Rottweilers can't be bred together in such a way as to make a new standard that could benifit the breed as a whole?

In your first post you said:

Originally Posted by Argosen

I know it is a genetic defect that could be a problem later on down the road I understand all this...

Now I am really confused
What do you think two dogs with genetic defect can add to a breed??? When you in the same sentence state it will give problems down the road.

No matter what we believe, mix or genetic... such dog should not be breed!

ps.
I have never seen a red Rottweiler and first time I heard about such, was here on the Forums.

[Argosen]

Well i guess it wouldn't "benefit" the breed per se but it couldn't hurt it either...I'm a first time dog owner so maybe i am a little naive about purebreeds and all that because if you have a dog that loves you and respects you and you in turn love him/her and respect him/her it really doesn't matter (to me at least) if you have one of the rarest purebreeds around or the stray mutt from the pound...and besides I've seen the standard Rotti and let me tell you Brutus my red rotti is ALOT prettier(i'm his dad so i'm differental lol)...and damp sorry to ignored your question i know what i said but couldn't two totally unrelated red rotti's bred sucessfully without any problems?

[Mavides]

I'm on the board of the Grand Canyon State Rottweiler Club in Phoenix - and we'd LOVE to have you join our club!!! Please get in touch with me via Private Message as soon as you're a regular member on the board (since we can't post email addresses here). As others have said...the only thing we would have a problem with would be if you wanted to breed him...or of course we'd be disappointed if he were purchased from a breeder that was breeding out-of-standard dogs...but since he's neutered and you were kind enough to rescue him and bring him into your household...we'd welcome you with open arms!!!!!! Hope to hear from you soon!!

[BostonRott]

A) Inbreeding does not "cause" red coats unless there is some other breed mixed in, and the recessive genes combine. I can think of many US and German bred dogs, that are inbred and are NOT red coated, nor have they produced the same.

B) I have never seen a reference to light eyes leading to catarcts and blindness. The ARC website says that it "may" be linked to eye problems, however, when you search on Google and on PubMed, you will find no such info. Here is the CERF site, feel free to browse: http://www.vmdb.org/dxspot.html

Perhaps the reason you can't find much info is b/c it doesn't exist? If you are concerned about eye and cardiac problems, search on the OFA website for a health clinic near you and get your dog CERF'd and cardiac cleared each year.

[Argosen]

i hope i haven't pissed anyone off with my questions like i said i am a first time dog owner and don't know awhole lot and i want to give Brutus the kind of life i would want if our rolls where reversed...maybe your right maybe i am worrying about this too much but who could blame me I love my dog very much and want to show him to the world with out i guess people thumbing their noses at him just because he isn't "up to standard" and i guess all of you feel the same about your Rotti's that they are the best and none can even come close to them

[onthedl74]

yeah and the shelter in NJ told me they had a rottie with blue eyes..when i got there to pick him up, he had blue eyes alright.....they are shaded blue- gray which are calcium deposits from a low thyroid that was never treatd

Get him neutered!

[Argosen]

well maybe i am worrying about nothing...I just want to get enough info now while the getting is good so that i can prepare and provide a life that i would want if the roles where reversed...I love him very much and i guess i knew he wasn't up to the typical rottweiler standards(though only in his eye color and coat color)but aside from that and i know all of you here can agree with me that each and everyone of you thinks your rotti is the best there is and i am no different so thank you all for the information and answers to my questions
John

[BostonRott]

Right, but the eye color itself (i.e. yellow eyes vs the correct dark brown eye) did NOT cause the eye problem. The calcium deposits did. There is a difference between incorrect pigment as a symptom of a problem and the insinuation that the actual color of the eyes CAUSES cataracts or blindness.