Crooked Teeth and the Show Pup

[rottcrazed]

Just a question for anyone who has ANY ideas on this sublect because I have been asking everyone I know who has shown Rottweilers for years and the only answer I have been getting is "I don't know", so I am bringing it here for all of you ....

One of my male pups, who was not sold on a show contract but I asked the owners if I could show him, they agreed, and he is to be neutered after he finishes, should he finish, has a teeth issue of sorts. Parker is a wonderful boy, really nice structure, personality, the whole package. Teeth are coming in nicely, scissor bite and all, we are still waiting to see if the molars are all there, but that is all we are waiting for with him.

His two top teeth, middle, are almost all the way in, however, instead of coming straight down, they are coming in at eachother. I have no doubt that if they came in the same length as a canine they would criss-cross, however, they are almost all the way in and simply crooked.

Now, his owners are not too worried as he is a pet to them. They waited for him for a year after their other 2 died (the same year, within months of eachother), and wanted a pet, but when I saw how he was turning out, I asked them if I could show him (they live 5 minutes from me, so this couldn't be better).

So, my question is, has anyone had this happen, seen it happen or any other thoughts on this? Standard calls for scissor bite with complete dentition and he should have all of that, just 2 crooked teeth as well. No mention of crooked teeth anywhere in any standard I can find.

At a recent sieger show I was at, one of the judges made mention of one of the male dogs have crooked teeth, but he was still V-rated.

I am guessing that was my answer, but I want to hear more .... PLEASE!

Kristi

[Judi W]

If they are too crooked, they will interfer with the meeting of the lower teeth for a proper sissors bite and that will mean quite a bit in the bite area. Are you sure there is not an extra P1 that is causing crowding?

I would not count them permanently crooked until the jaw has finished growing. It might be that they are simply crowded at this time (although I've not experienced or seen this, it is a possibility). My bigger concern would be that interference I mentioned.

[rottcrazed]

That was what I was concerned with too when they were describing it to me over the phone. When I actually looked in his mouth (he is such a good boy about that too), what I saw was a scissor bite with a bit of a gap still for growth, and two crooked teeth. They are, by all accounts, coming in as they should be, just at eachother. It is so hard to describe in words ...

I can't see how they would interfere at all with the bite because they are not going backwards at all, so as to come to a final stop behind the lower teeth.

I should take a pic of his mouth.

Kristi

[marianne]

You are showing in CKC. All I remember about showing a young dog in AKC, was the judge really looking for the pee-bees coming in. The crooked tooth thing might be a problem! But all dogs do have some small faults...if the boy is worthy......go for it! The standard is really very limited.Have you seen a dog measured for height lately?

[Judi W]

Sorry Marianne, but incorrect dentition is a disqualifying fault and heigth is not so you will not see a dog measured in the Rottweiler ring. Dogs are only measured in or out where it is a DQ issue.

[marianne]

Judy...sorry I might have seen things abit different. When one of my boys was a young pup he "fit" the standard for height. As he got older his height did not. It did make a difference to me that he was NOT tall enough for the AKC standard. Now if he were shown in Germany at that time, that 1/2 " would have kept him in the ring. And YES there have been winners in the ring who Had those slight crooked teeth. If I had not been there, believe I would not post this.

[Judi W]

If you read the standard, it states that proportion is always to be considered more then height. There are some breeds that do have height DQ's but not the Rottweiler and no dog is dumped because of that as long as they have appropriate substance. I have seen lovely smaller dogs and lovely larger dogs all do well in the ring.

As far as the crooked teeth are concerned, as long as they do not interfere with a sissors bite they probably won't make "the" difference. A missing tooth certainly will and sissors is mandatory but if the dog is the best, I doubt it would be moved back because of that.

[rottielover2004]

I have seen at seiger shows, dogs be DQ with in correct teeth, not bite, but teeth

[Judi W]

Yes, they must have full dentition and a sissors bite.

[rottcrazed]

Thanks guys,

We are still awaiting his molars (the litter is 20 weeks this Saturday). THUS far the two crooked teeth are not interfering with the bite, and in my opinion, should not based on where they are coming in and the gap still between his upper and lower jaw. Neither are aiming backwards - we were laughing last night that he is going to be a buck-toothed Rottweiler (you know, new RARE breed ).

But, as with everything with puppies, it is a waiting game.

We shall see!

Kristi