I was visiting a friend of mine the other day who had a pair of really cute puppies. One of them was all black but the other had the fur coloring of a Rottweiler, black with the brown markings in the correct areas. The pair were a couple of sweethearts, even if they weren’t Rottweilers, and they got me to wonder…
Can Rottweilers be all black or other colors?
Traditionally speaking NO, Rottweilers can NOT be all black… But some are…find out what that means and other colors a Rottie can be…
What colors can Rottweilers be, then? Rotties are officially designated as having a black fur coat with distinctive brown markings of either a lighter, tannish color or a deeper mahogany color.
The brown can also be an in-between shade, like an oak or pine wood. On rare occurrences, Rotties can be white.
Are Rottweilers with Other Colors ‘Purebred’?
When it comes to the fur’s coloration, there are several variations that are identified. However, these Rottweilers are technically not classified as Rottweilers, for they do not meet the officially recognized definition in accordance with the base black coat and has brown spots.
These “Off-step” Rottweiler variations aren’t permitted to participate as purebred show dogs. It is generally believed these variations have a crossbred ancestor although recessive alleles in the Rottweiler’s genome can naturally result in such variations.
Without a way to know for sure which it is, the varied color Rottie is disqualified from the competition.
Other Rottweiler Colors
What colors do Rottweilers come in?
As it turns out, there are at least six known variations of Rottweiler coloring. The standard Rottweiler is defined as having a black-based fur coat with distinctive brown spots. If a Rottweiler doesn’t fit into that specified coloring description, she\he is considered to have a genetic deformity.
Find out about variations in the Rottweiler breed…
Variations of the Rottweiler are very rare and are somewhat shunned by the breeding community at large. Most professional breeders don’t really want to risk getting outside of the established Rottweiler breeding guidelines.
This might sound crazy, but have you ever wondered…
Can Rottweilers can be Blue? Blue Rottweilers are another variation but are a bit of a misnomer.
They’re called blue but their fur coat is actually more of a grayish color where the black would normally be. Other than that, they retain the brown markings which are generally on the lighter side of the spectrum.
Being an owner of the breed, I’ve wondered if Rottweilers could be all White? I’ve seen other animals be all white. 
White Rottweilers, just like an albino in other species, lacks a certain genetic trait that defines their standard fur color pigmentations. The results are creatures on the paler sides of colorations, with white fur and often having pinkish tones to the eyes.
The albino Rottweilers commonly have serious problems with their eyes that may require surgery & carry a heavy possibility of being blind.
Well, if Rotties can be black, white or blue…I wonder if Rottweilers could be Red! Red Rottweilers are one of the more popular coloring variations actually. They have a base fur color of the varying shades of brown but they have little-to-no black coloration in the coat.
The shades of brown blend together, which gives the over-all fur coat a reddish hue.
Can Rottweilers be all Black?
Black Rottweilers have only the black part of the coat. Like the previously mentioned variations, this one is expected to have medical problems in accordance with their genetic deformity. The most common method designer breeders use to get this coloration is to breed a Rottweiler with a black Labrador.
Other than that; purebred, all-black Rottweilers are very rare. They can be born of purebred Rottweiler parents and can be purebreds themselves. So yes, all black Rottweilers exist. However, they aren’t considered Rottweilers in accordance with the officially recognized definition, so, therefore, it’s also a no.
Is There A Long Haired Rottweiler?
Yes. long-haired Rottweilers are simply Rottweilers with long fur. This isn’t a frequent occurrence but isn’t considered uncommon either. They don’t meet the official criteria for purebred due to having longer hair instead of the commonplace short-haired Rottweilers as outlined in established standards, but they are Rottweilers, through-and-through.
Long haired Rotties are also called “rough-haired”.
Any hair that is “shaggy” or has a wiry texture fits into the rough-haired category, too. What Rottweilers with the hair variation have going for them, over the other variations, is that the genetic deformity is not known to be linked to any additional or particular medical issues.
They have the same medical risk assessment as that of any given standard Rottweiler.
No matter the length of your Rottie’s hair, he WILL shed! To find out more, read “Do Rottweilers Shed?”
How are Breeds of Rottweilers Defined?
Rottweiler breeds are mostly defined by location. There are American, Asian, German and Roman Rottweilers, just to name a few. They all tend to have the same black fur with brown spots.
If the hair and color on a Rottie could be different I wondered if they all still have the Same Shaped Body? I found out that different breeds of Rottweilers have slightly different body shapes, just like humans.
German Rottweilers, for instance, are known to have larger heads & be more stout than the American breed. The broadness of shoulders varies with breed, as well as the length of legs.
What About Cross-breeding, Inbreeding, and Overbreeding in Rottweilers?
These variations in typical Rottweiler coloring are considered to be a result of crossbreeding, inbreeding or over breeding. They are also believed to be a precursor to the Rottweiler having to deal with significant medical issues throughout his life.
This is an undesirable situation for breeders or those without copious amounts of money to spend at the vets. It’s best to not purchase a pup has these coloring variations.
Do Breeders Cross-Breed Rotties on Purpose?
Less-than-scrupulous people have been known to attempt to crossbreed a Rottweiler with another breed to achieve these variations and market it as an exotic, unique or rare variation of a purebred Rottweiler.
Without consideration to the Rottie’s health, these breeders profit from people who will pay for “unique”. Conscientious dog breeders believe there are only two types of Rottweilers, those that are well-bred & those that aren’t.
Are Crossbred Rottweilers Sold?
The practice of selling Rottweiler subspecies as purebreds are generally considered to be an underhanded sales technique that probably won’t work well on people knowledgeable about Rottweilers.
The average person, though, may not notice the subtle differences if they aren’t fluent in the appearances and builds of different breeds of dogs. It does happen, though.
What About Rottweilers who are Variations?
Most professional breeders prefer that Rottweiler owners with pups having these kinds of deformities be spayed or neutered to prevent the spread of such medical-issue indicating genetic patterns to the rest of the Rottweiler population.
This is to such an extent that kennels will even euthanize these beautiful beasts, based on that same principle.
Related Topics
Are you contemplating getting a Rottweiler puppy? You’ll learn everything you need to know in our Complete Guide for purchasing a Rottie pup!
No matter what type of Rottweiler you have, or plan to get, you’ll want to know how to keep that coat fresh and shiny. Look no further! We’ve got you covered HERE.
No matter what type or color of Rottweiler you have or plan to get, you’ll need quality supplies. I’ve done the research to save you time and money! Below you’ll find helpful (and quick) links to some Best-Selling Rottweiler Owner “Must Haves”. Each link will take you directly to the product(s) on Amazon.
My Rottie, Maximus, has the FurHaven bed shown below. It’s an Extra Large size. It has worked well for him, held up well and he’s 120 pounds. You can unzip the cover and wash it in the washing machine. I dried it in the dryer on low.
*This article has been reviewed in accordance with our editorial policy.
